FOUNDERS OF THE LAKE MICHIGAN CHAPTER
1st Row: Andrea Valasek, Maria Sedor and
Arlene Gardiner
2nd Row: Ivan
Skala, Tom Sedor, Charlotte Pribish Conjelko (secretary),
Ken Cuprisin, Rev. Fr. John Lucas (treasurer)
3rd Row: John Sutko, Lisa Terlecki,
Rev. Fr. William Conjelko,
Ron Pyke, Jim Kaminski, Tim Cuprisin (president),
Richard Trojanowski
Founding President Tim Cuprisin made his last presentation, A Peek at Some Early Rusyns in Northwest Indiana”, on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, IN. The 100th anniversaries of St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church and Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church were also recognized. James Lane, Ph.D., an Indiana University Northwest professor, focused on what brought immigrants to Northwest Indiana. Little did those present know that in another month Tim would be sharing his stories with the angels.
Next came the highlight of the day--the unveiling of a banner created for the chapter by Brendan Barry, a board member and talented graphic artist. The funds for the banner and stand were donated by Ron Pyke, a former board member, in honor of his deceased grandparents.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK56LBZyKqgqOCKT7ZQsyuP4Wkxirh_3g3A1W7OiMrAkxiuiKtfxO1_vf6Dd3gg4kHnxeD4S684-I14wig4WDfiW_93V3ygs2uiOBYuOe48iHSn4okBB20JQ-pfA4GwY2RO0UD1NY_UtD/s640/CPC+&+BB+UNVIEL+BANNER+1.jpg)
Chapter President Charlotte Pribish Conjelko and Board Member Brendan Barry unveil the banner that he created for the chapter.
Following the unveiling, Very
Rev. Protopresbyter William Conjelko blessed the food and Tom Sedor made a
toast. Attendees then enjoyed a very delicious three-meat feast created by Aviana Banquet owner
Myron Rodak, a fellow Rusyn, and his staff.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQavROwwGP6Du8wb5x_5jX9__9csjJrgAQL5nSZLdq-Jd_6w_ux_gVe-lUJEdZJ3co0XEpBxVMxLyh_14cwlArANm0TjQT93LOCFO9Kphi8KJN_S7qAEV8zZd5B7ZFPfKvzMDCZFnOmTZx/s320/NataliaPlayingHarp1.jpg)
After the luncheon, the Tatra
Slovak Dancers of Milwaukee posed for a picture before taking to the floor in
their colorful new dance outfits from Slovakia.
Back Row: Ryan Schlink, Timothy Kusik, Andrew Tiarks
Front Row: Gina Lubonovic, Jessica Laing, Katarina Scheel, Sabrina Madgett
Oh, how their skirts twirled and their heels clicked as the women sang
and moved about the floor after the luncheon.
The men also sported new outfits from "The Old Country" as they danced and
hopped between the two rows of tables as the women followed them.
Once again, the women's skirts twirled and their heels clicked
as their partners twirled them about the dance floor.
as their partners twirled them about the dance floor.
The smiles on the faces of the Carpatho-Rusyns who attended as well as the non-Rusyns and the Aviana staff indicated that a good time was had by all as one can see from the photos below. Unfortunately, some of the attendees were not at their table when Tom Sedor, our official photographer, came to take their picture.
TABLE
1 Seated:
Zofia Zededziec, Carrie Baran, Chapter President Charlotte Pribish Conjelko,
Joe and Treasurer Maureen Solan. Standing: Jim Lilek, Board Member
Michael Baran, Rev. Fr. Andrew
Harrison and Rev. Fr. William Conjelko.
TABLE 2 Seated:
Jim Gardiner, Anna Sandman, Karin Sandman, Andrea Vojik, Brendan
Barry, Bob Dremak, Ann Michovic and Sharon Dorencz. Standing: Ervin (Rusty) Mihalko and Arlene Gardiner.
TABLE
4 Nick
Sutko, Alice Sutko, Maria Sedor, Anna & Thomas Sedor and Bob
Ciolino.
TABLE 5 Joanne
Nacik, Mary Halko, Dorothy Mihalko, Tom& Kathy Obmascik, Mary Obmascik, Kathy
Pradun, John Nacik & Mike Halko.
TABLE
6 Board
Member Paul Kaderabek, Nancy& Robert Yurschak and Bill Romanchak.
TABLE 7 Gerald& Pat Gutek, Helen Koranda, Helen
& Peter Mihalkanin, Mary Raschke, Ann
Matthews, Fred & Marilyn Polaniecki.
TABLE 8 Bill
Petrisko, Larry Latuca, Al Strelec, John & Stella Ilas, Ann Petrisko, Terrie Maneher, Debbie Latuca, Vicky Blidy and Esther Thomas.
TABLE 9 Daniel
Bandura, Phyllis Muryn Zaparaniuk, Orysia Burdiak, Walter Zaokopny and Patsy
Zaokopny Healy.
TABLE
10 Nancy
Hlebasko, Carole Chambers, Susan
Hlebasko, Maria
Lukaseiwicz, Dr. Jerry Villaseñor, Joe Banchak and Mike Banchak.
TABLE 11 #1 seated woman?,
#2&3 standing couple?, Chuck
Pinkowski (black shirt), Anita Tummillo, Marty
Tummillo, Matt Tummillo, #4 woman, #5man, #6 man, #7 woman, Daphne
Siskaninetz Myers
If you can identify any of the above people with the red question mark,
please send their number(s) and name(s) to:
lakemichiganrusyns@gmail.com so that we could add their names to the posting.
Thank
you immensely,
The C-RS/LMC Board of Directors