Talks have taken place with the office of the Council General of Ukraine and the University Of Illinois/Chicago on the possibility of having a Ukrainian/American Police Association page on the Internet. Things look promising and more information will be forthcoming. Until then however, I could be reached via E-mail. My screen name is mshepster@aol.com. For those of you who dabble in computers, feel free to contact me anytime.
 

Song and Dance Ensemble:

As many of you read in our last newsletter, our association invited the Song and Dance Ensemble from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to perform in concert tours in 11 American cities. The following is a brief breakdown of their visit.

October 20th--- the group arrived at JFK airport in New York. They were transported by tour buses to Soyuzivka (Ukrainian Resort) in Kerhonkson N.Y.
October 21--- Traveled to Philadelphia P.A., and performed a very successful concert before 700 people despite bad weather.
October 22--- Left Philadelphia and traveled to Passaic N.J. They performed a concert at the Ukrainian House before 450 people. After this concert, they traveled to New York City and performed a second concert before 750 people. After the concert they had a reception at the Ukrainian National Home which was sponsored by the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union N.Y.
October 23--- After breakfast and lunch at Soyuzivka, they traveled to Albany New York and performed before 500 people at the local high school. The crowd was fifty percent all American and they enjoyed the performance tremendously. A reception was held at the Ukrainian American Club sponsored by the Ukrainian Congress Committee. After the reception they traveled back to Soyuzivka.
October 24--- With little to no sleep, the group spent the day sightseeing in New York City including the Statue of Liberty. In the evening, a concert was held at Soyuzivka with 350 in attendance. The reception following the concert was sponsored by Mr. John Flis.
October 25--- The group traveled to Yonkers N.Y. and performed a concert at the Ukrainian Youth Home with 450 attending. The reception and dinner after the concert was sponsored by SUMA Federal Credit Union.
October 26--- This was a travel day between New York and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The sponsor of the Pittsburgh trip was Mychailo Komiczak, President of the Ukrainian National Group at Pittsburgh University.
October 27--- A tour of the city of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh followed by a concert at the Soldier and Sailors Memorial Hall. Approximately 600 mostly Americans attended this concert. This concert was a last minute change due to the cancellation of concert performance in Cleveland Ohio, therefore there was very little publicity for this performance.
October 28--- The group traveled to Detroit, Michigan and performed before approx. 750 people. A following banquet was sponsored by the Ukrainian Cultural Center.
October 29--- Group left Michigan and traveled to Chicago, Illinois, where they performed a concert in front of approximately 700 people, including the honorable United States Congressman Luis Guttierrez. Also performing at this concert was the Ukrainian Men's Choir SURMA .

Following the concert, a reception was held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center sponsored by our association.

The First Security Federal Savings Bank and Self Reliance Federal Credit Union assisted our association with ticket sales and financial support.
October 30--- The group left Chicago and traveled to Mankato, Minnesota where they performed a very successful concert before an all American crowd (except for 2 ukes) of 450 people. They received five standing ovations during this concert which probably took the record of ovations.. This trip was sponsored by Prof. D. Thompson of Bethany Lutheran College.
October 31--- After lunch, the group traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota where they spent some time shopping and sightseeing. They performed at an evening concert before 420 people. After the concert they were taken by host families to spend the night.
November 1--- Group spent the day traveling between Minneapolis and McHenry, Illinois where they gave a mini-concert at the Tamara Inn. Approx 250 people attended this farewell dinner and reception, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Tyshczenko owners of Tamara and our association.
November 2--- After breakfast at Tamara=s Inn, the group spent all day shopping. They departed for Kyiv from Chicago's O'Hare airport that afternoon.

FOOTNOTE: while counting bodies at O'HARE airport for the trip home, it seems one body was missing, suitcases and all. As of this writing, he is still sightseeing America!!

Given that this ensemble was unknown in the United States, over 5,000 people came to see them perform.

It was a long and exhausting tour, even with all the predictions of boycotts by certain Ukrainian groups and financial shortfalls, this concert was a great success and one our members should be proud of. We managed to cover all expenses and each tour member went back to Ukraine with some wonderful memories and a few dollars in his pockets.
Ihor Rakowsky, DEA (retired)