What’s new in your corner of Carpatho-Rusyn culture?

Delaware Valley Chapter

The Delaware Valley Branch has started up again this year with Maria Silvestri hosting a movie, The Resurrection of a Nation, last September. That was followed by a Vatra in October. We hosted the Meet the Author event in December with Prof. Paul Robert Magocsi, Nicholas Kupensky and Patricia Krafcik for Prof. Magocsi’s Fifth Edition of Our People. January started with a pysanky writing class. April ended with our involvement the International Spring Festival at North Penn High School in Montgomery County, PA. We plan to have a polka party in late summer, early fall. Then we have a Rusyn folklore seminar with Elena Boudovskaia in October.

National Capital Branch

The National Capital Branch reinvigorated its efforts last year following a member survey that solicited event ideas and volunteers to serve on a leadership committee. We kicked off last year with a summer picnic in August and a film viewing at the October 26 Celebration. For this year, we have recently contributed an expert Genealogy speaker for the 4-session Genealogy series sponsored by C-RS National in April, who worked with series organizers in developing the program. We are currently planning our second annual summer picnic to be held in August; a potential group trip in October for the 30th anniversary Carpatho-Rusyn celebration near Pittsburgh; a winter holiday gathering; and a virtual Lenten cooking demonstration.

Southeastern Chapter

Bonnie Burke, coordinator of the Southeastern Chapter was asked to do a presentation in June to the Carolina Women’s Group. The Travel and Culture Club of this organization enjoys learning about other countries and cultures. Since it is a luncheon combined along with the presentation, the women contribute food that represents the culture. We had holupki, cucumber salad, pirohi and kolachy. It was rewarding to see how extremely interested and grateful they were to learn about our history, culture and little-known ethnicity. Were any Rusyns present? Of course, one person was from Binghamton, NY!