Congratulations! And Thanks!
Congratulations to the following members who, on the 6th May, stood as candidates in either the General Eelction or in the Borough Council Election; Colin Bothwell, Alan Bullion, Greg Clark, Peter Crawford, Dianne Hill, Trevor Poile and Jackie Prance. Thanks to all of them for their community spirit and endeavour.
Also well done Elaine Lawrence who received a Civic Award at the Town Meeting on 13th April. A long over-due recognition of her splendid community work. Remember to call in and see her at the Bliss Cafe opposite the Library.
Thanks to Colin Bothwell who has been a splendid President for us for two years and grateful thanks to Peter Crawford who has agreed to become our new President. We wish both Peter and Colin well in the years ahead.
Also well done Elaine Lawrence who received a Civic Award at the Town Meeting on 13th April. A long over-due recognition of her splendid community work. Remember to call in and see her at the Bliss Cafe opposite the Library.
Thanks to Colin Bothwell who has been a splendid President for us for two years and grateful thanks to Peter Crawford who has agreed to become our new President. We wish both Peter and Colin well in the years ahead.
Comments
Do you have an idea for a fundraising event?
We are always open to new ideas. In order that the organisation can continue, and able to help with future projects we are in need of further funds. We would love to hear from you.
Why I went to Ukraine in March by Mike Handcock
This Summer Southborough should be hosting the Euro Youth Project but instead our youngsters will be involved in EuroCamp 2010 at Swattenden, near Cranbrook, a project organized by the Kent Youth Service of K.C.C. Also taking part will be eight young people from Kaniv provided they can get their visas and their parents can afford the air-fares.
At the A.G.M. it was agreed that one of our projects this year would be to support the Ukranian group by providing funds to help the payment of their visas. So armed with official invitations and all we could afford to help them I paid a short but well worth-while visit as ever enjoying kind hospitality and consideration from friends in Kaniv.
Group of youngsters with their two leaders, who are coming for the EuroCamp 2010 in July. (Taken on my last visit)
Some of you may recognise Oleksandra Kucha and Viktoria Voyutska, the girls who danced for us at the Open Gardens event last year. (They are third and sixth from the left in the group photo.) and of course Iryna Datsenko (far right), who will be paying her third visit to Kent as one of the group leaders
At the A.G.M. it was agreed that one of our projects this year would be to support the Ukranian group by providing funds to help the payment of their visas. So armed with official invitations and all we could afford to help them I paid a short but well worth-while visit as ever enjoying kind hospitality and consideration from friends in Kaniv.
Group of youngsters with their two leaders, who are coming for the EuroCamp 2010 in July. (Taken on my last visit)
Some of you may recognise Oleksandra Kucha and Viktoria Voyutska, the girls who danced for us at the Open Gardens event last year. (They are third and sixth from the left in the group photo.) and of course Iryna Datsenko (far right), who will be paying her third visit to Kent as one of the group leaders
Vladimir and Vitaly Klichko
As reported some time ago the Klichko brothers, who between them hold four of the five versions of the world heavyweight boxing title, donated to SAKA two pairs of signed sparring gloves. We have decided to sell these to the highest bidder, rather than use them as prizes in our Grand Draw, because we can find another prize for the draw, resulting in the proceeds for the gloves raising extra revenue.
We did try E-Bay, though unsuccessfully. In hindsight we did place too high a reserve price on them. We have contacted all the companies selling memorabilia and one of the company directors wants the gloves for his own private collection. He has offered us £150 for two pairs. Before we agree to a sale, we want to advise all members of the situation and to the boxing fans amongst us, giving them the first opportunity to purchase the gloves.
If anyone is interested, would they please notify Mike Handcock by 7th June 2010.
Brian Dobson, Publicity Officer
We did try E-Bay, though unsuccessfully. In hindsight we did place too high a reserve price on them. We have contacted all the companies selling memorabilia and one of the company directors wants the gloves for his own private collection. He has offered us £150 for two pairs. Before we agree to a sale, we want to advise all members of the situation and to the boxing fans amongst us, giving them the first opportunity to purchase the gloves.
If anyone is interested, would they please notify Mike Handcock by 7th June 2010.
Brian Dobson, Publicity Officer
Our School is 25! by Alina Kharchenko
In 1984, on the picturesque bank of the Dnipro, on Shevchenko Street, leading to Taras Hill and the Museum of the Great Kobzar, a new building appeared - The Kaniv Secondary School named after the great Georgian poet, A Tsereteli. In 1997 this educational establishment got a status of the School Specializing in Learning Foreign Languages (English, German and French). 25 years have passed since that time and 2009 was a jubilee year for our alma mater. Our pupils and teachers are our pride. Almost 1500 school-leavers left our school for this period of time, 83 of them got gold medals, 38 silver ones, 37 former pupils became teachers, giving knowledge to students, bringing them up, taking care of them. The pupils of our school take part in Olympiads in different subjects, contests and sport competitions, they attend numerous clubs - dancing, singing, sporting, drama ones.
9 teachers of foreign languages work in our school. They help pupils understand themselves, teach them moral values, about our country and the world around us. At the lessons of the English and American literature our pupils get acquainted with the world of W. Shakespeare and Defoe, Ch. Dickens and G. Byron, J. London and Hemingway, R. Burns and W. Scott. Teaching languages, my colleagues and I use communicative fluency activities/questioning, discussion games, role plays, problem-solving activities. At the town English Olympiads the pupils of our school are mainly the winners, and it brings our teachers pleasure and pride.
Extra-curricular activities are an inseparable part of our work. Strengthening ties with the sister cities, and with Southborough in particular, encourages pupils to learn foreign languages, increases their outlook and urges them to work. Senior students worked at the projects – “Many People, One Heart”, “English in My Life”, “Our Friends All Over the World”. They also willingly put into practice the ecological project embarked by SAKA, planting trees and flowers, watering young seedlings, weeding flowerbeds round our school and in the neighbouring area.
Annually the English teachers arrange the English language week in our school. It includes contests for the best composition or poem, the best wall newspaper, reciting poems, preparation of concerts devoted to Christmas and New Year, St. Valentine's Day, Easter, and Halloween.
A very memorable period was the one devoted to the 25th birthday of our school. Our senior students prepared the film about our school, they acted in the play by Bernard Shaw “Pygmalion”, in the scene from Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet”, recited the sonnets of the great playwright, sang songs of the famous Group The Beetles and modern English songs about love and friendship. The choir solemnly sang “The Anthem of the European Youth”. The atmosphere of the party was very exciting, and the pupils were so proud of their performance.
Really, teachers' job is difficult, but how honourable is to be an adviser, a supporter, a creator, a leader and a friend! How nice it is to discover the world of Knowledge and teach children to be kind and merciful, loving and helpful! This is a Teachers' task. And we, teachers, give our pupils our Heart full of Faith and Love.
Alina Kharchenko, Kaniv
9 teachers of foreign languages work in our school. They help pupils understand themselves, teach them moral values, about our country and the world around us. At the lessons of the English and American literature our pupils get acquainted with the world of W. Shakespeare and Defoe, Ch. Dickens and G. Byron, J. London and Hemingway, R. Burns and W. Scott. Teaching languages, my colleagues and I use communicative fluency activities/questioning, discussion games, role plays, problem-solving activities. At the town English Olympiads the pupils of our school are mainly the winners, and it brings our teachers pleasure and pride.
Extra-curricular activities are an inseparable part of our work. Strengthening ties with the sister cities, and with Southborough in particular, encourages pupils to learn foreign languages, increases their outlook and urges them to work. Senior students worked at the projects – “Many People, One Heart”, “English in My Life”, “Our Friends All Over the World”. They also willingly put into practice the ecological project embarked by SAKA, planting trees and flowers, watering young seedlings, weeding flowerbeds round our school and in the neighbouring area.
Annually the English teachers arrange the English language week in our school. It includes contests for the best composition or poem, the best wall newspaper, reciting poems, preparation of concerts devoted to Christmas and New Year, St. Valentine's Day, Easter, and Halloween.
A very memorable period was the one devoted to the 25th birthday of our school. Our senior students prepared the film about our school, they acted in the play by Bernard Shaw “Pygmalion”, in the scene from Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet”, recited the sonnets of the great playwright, sang songs of the famous Group The Beetles and modern English songs about love and friendship. The choir solemnly sang “The Anthem of the European Youth”. The atmosphere of the party was very exciting, and the pupils were so proud of their performance.
Really, teachers' job is difficult, but how honourable is to be an adviser, a supporter, a creator, a leader and a friend! How nice it is to discover the world of Knowledge and teach children to be kind and merciful, loving and helpful! This is a Teachers' task. And we, teachers, give our pupils our Heart full of Faith and Love.
Alina Kharchenko, Kaniv
Annual General Meeting-5th February 2010
Twenty members attended the A.G.M.including two new members. Iris Veness and
Jean Jenkins, who joined prior to the start of the Meeting.
The Chairman reported that four events, plus the Grand Draw had been held during the year. TheAnnual Dinner in March was much enjoyed and well attended. Our four Ukranian guests arrived on the 12th June and so were able to take part in the Open Gardens event held on the following day. We were particularly grateful to John Cooper and Tom Rusbridge, who are not members, but opened their delightful gardens for us and, of course, to Val and Bert Alldis and Jackie and Robert Prance, who are members and who made their lovely gardens available for visitors.
A new venture was the Quiz held in July and Mike Bailey was particularly involved in getting that successful event underway. Tickets for the Grand Draw were sold throughout the Summer and a full list of winners appeared in Newsletter No.15. This was our main fund-raiser and the Draw itself was made at the Cabaret Evening, held in October. As usual, that event was great fun and Colette Marsh had assembled a splendid cast, mostly family members, who, together with a group of youngsters from the Cannon School of Irish Dance, provided great entertainment during the evening. Once again the Fish and Chip Supper was much appreciated.
The Mayor of Southborough, Councillor Colin Bothwell, presided over the election of the
Committee for the next 12 months and with the exception of Jackie Prance and Ann Nolan, who were not continuing, all the other Committee Members were re-elected. Paddy Moran also joined the committee and Lynda Emberson was later co-opted as Hon. Secretary in place of Jackie, to whom tribute was paid for her sterling efforts in this crucial role. Lynda has taken over on a temporary basis until such time as someone else can be found to take over permanently. Thanks were also expressed to Ann for her efforts and to David Coward who has moved from the area and can no longer be our Financial Scrutineer. We are therefore looking for someone willing to take on this task.
Projects: The £900 we were able to send to Kaniv is being used to help with aid and welfare for a few elderly Residents and for the environmental garden being established at
School Number Six. Both are very worthwhile projects chosen in conjunction with K.A.S.A, our Friendship Organisation in Kaniv. So we supply the funding and they deliver the projects in the community.
The Chairman and Hon. Treasurer's Reports were both accepted.
Our guest speaker Professor Alan Mayhew gave a most interesting talk entitled: After the Presidential Election a brighter future for Ukraine?
The first round of the Election had taken place and the two candidates to contest the second round to determine who would be President of Ukraine would-be Viktor YANUKOVYCH, who received 35% of the votes in the first round, and Yulia TYMOSHENKO, who had 25%. So this decider would be held on Sunday 7th February. A higher percentage of people voted in the West and Central Ukraine, where Tymoshenko’s support is but her opponent’s support, mainly in the Eastern part and in the South around the Black Sea, appeared to be well ahead. People's displeasure with the constant bickering between the President Viktor YUSHCHENKO and his Prime Minister TYMOSHENKO seem likely to reverse the result of the Orange Revolution of 5 years ago. Ukraine has very serious financial problems, continues to suffer severely from corruption and whoever wins, massive problems remain, especially with their powerful northern neighbour Russia with whom both candidates want better relations. A question and answer session followed and Professor Mayhew was warmly thanked for his contribution to the Meeting.
After the break a couple of minor amendments were made to the Constitution and it was agreed to raise the membership subscription to £4.00 p.a. or £7.00 p.a. for a family membership.
It was also agreed to continue to support the 2 projects referred to above from 2009 and to give financial help to the group coming to England in July for the Youth Project in respect of the high cost of Visas.
A membership target of 55 was set for the year ahead.
Jean Jenkins, who joined prior to the start of the Meeting.
The Chairman reported that four events, plus the Grand Draw had been held during the year. TheAnnual Dinner in March was much enjoyed and well attended. Our four Ukranian guests arrived on the 12th June and so were able to take part in the Open Gardens event held on the following day. We were particularly grateful to John Cooper and Tom Rusbridge, who are not members, but opened their delightful gardens for us and, of course, to Val and Bert Alldis and Jackie and Robert Prance, who are members and who made their lovely gardens available for visitors.
A new venture was the Quiz held in July and Mike Bailey was particularly involved in getting that successful event underway. Tickets for the Grand Draw were sold throughout the Summer and a full list of winners appeared in Newsletter No.15. This was our main fund-raiser and the Draw itself was made at the Cabaret Evening, held in October. As usual, that event was great fun and Colette Marsh had assembled a splendid cast, mostly family members, who, together with a group of youngsters from the Cannon School of Irish Dance, provided great entertainment during the evening. Once again the Fish and Chip Supper was much appreciated.
The Mayor of Southborough, Councillor Colin Bothwell, presided over the election of the
Committee for the next 12 months and with the exception of Jackie Prance and Ann Nolan, who were not continuing, all the other Committee Members were re-elected. Paddy Moran also joined the committee and Lynda Emberson was later co-opted as Hon. Secretary in place of Jackie, to whom tribute was paid for her sterling efforts in this crucial role. Lynda has taken over on a temporary basis until such time as someone else can be found to take over permanently. Thanks were also expressed to Ann for her efforts and to David Coward who has moved from the area and can no longer be our Financial Scrutineer. We are therefore looking for someone willing to take on this task.
Projects: The £900 we were able to send to Kaniv is being used to help with aid and welfare for a few elderly Residents and for the environmental garden being established at
School Number Six. Both are very worthwhile projects chosen in conjunction with K.A.S.A, our Friendship Organisation in Kaniv. So we supply the funding and they deliver the projects in the community.
The Chairman and Hon. Treasurer's Reports were both accepted.
Our guest speaker Professor Alan Mayhew gave a most interesting talk entitled: After the Presidential Election a brighter future for Ukraine?
The first round of the Election had taken place and the two candidates to contest the second round to determine who would be President of Ukraine would-be Viktor YANUKOVYCH, who received 35% of the votes in the first round, and Yulia TYMOSHENKO, who had 25%. So this decider would be held on Sunday 7th February. A higher percentage of people voted in the West and Central Ukraine, where Tymoshenko’s support is but her opponent’s support, mainly in the Eastern part and in the South around the Black Sea, appeared to be well ahead. People's displeasure with the constant bickering between the President Viktor YUSHCHENKO and his Prime Minister TYMOSHENKO seem likely to reverse the result of the Orange Revolution of 5 years ago. Ukraine has very serious financial problems, continues to suffer severely from corruption and whoever wins, massive problems remain, especially with their powerful northern neighbour Russia with whom both candidates want better relations. A question and answer session followed and Professor Mayhew was warmly thanked for his contribution to the Meeting.
After the break a couple of minor amendments were made to the Constitution and it was agreed to raise the membership subscription to £4.00 p.a. or £7.00 p.a. for a family membership.
It was also agreed to continue to support the 2 projects referred to above from 2009 and to give financial help to the group coming to England in July for the Youth Project in respect of the high cost of Visas.
A membership target of 55 was set for the year ahead.
SAKA newsletter 15
The latest SAKA newsletter is now available to download or read in your browser as .pdf file.
You can read or download it here
It features articles on October's Grand Charity Cabaret, the Euroforum 2009 in Kaniv and much more.
You can read or download it here
It features articles on October's Grand Charity Cabaret, the Euroforum 2009 in Kaniv and much more.
The Great Famines in Ukraine 1932-1933
On the flight home from Ukraine following my second visit I read a magazine article by Myroslava Barchuk outlining a story of an event I knew absolutely nothing about. It shocked me as I’m sure it will shock you if you read it. It shocked me too that, having studied history to some depth at school, I knew nothing about a terrible tragedy which killed between seven and ten million people in a European country. I determined to do whatever I could to raise awareness of the awful famines which only seventy years before had led to such slaughter in a country often referred to as “The Bread Basket of Europe”.
To appreciate why our Association is important and must continue to grow in numbers and understanding I believe we need to comprehend what Myroslava Barchuk means when he writes, “It is increasingly horrifying to realize that millions of my fellow Ukrainians who were imprisoned physically and spiritually murdered by the Soviet regime, who were killed by the Famine of 1932-1933, were not just the victims of a terrible injustice – they were the carriers of truth, mercilessly destroyed.”
Ukraine will be marking the 75th Anniversary of the Famine this year. There will be exhibitions, conferences and meetings. Much material will be published and S.A.K.A. will focus its fund-raising activities on trying to make the lives of the poor, elderly in Kaniv a little more tolerable. Amazingly there are some survivors of the Famines, who managed also to live through the “Patriotic War” of the 1940’s and the Chernobyl disaster. I hope you will be able to help us in our endeavours.
I have copies of the magazine article to which I have referred as do the Prime-Minister, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Our Member of Parliament, Greg Clark, hopes to put down an Early Day Motion about the 75
To appreciate why our Association is important and must continue to grow in numbers and understanding I believe we need to comprehend what Myroslava Barchuk means when he writes, “It is increasingly horrifying to realize that millions of my fellow Ukrainians who were imprisoned physically and spiritually murdered by the Soviet regime, who were killed by the Famine of 1932-1933, were not just the victims of a terrible injustice – they were the carriers of truth, mercilessly destroyed.”
Ukraine will be marking the 75th Anniversary of the Famine this year. There will be exhibitions, conferences and meetings. Much material will be published and S.A.K.A. will focus its fund-raising activities on trying to make the lives of the poor, elderly in Kaniv a little more tolerable. Amazingly there are some survivors of the Famines, who managed also to live through the “Patriotic War” of the 1940’s and the Chernobyl disaster. I hope you will be able to help us in our endeavours.
I have copies of the magazine article to which I have referred as do the Prime-Minister, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Our Member of Parliament, Greg Clark, hopes to put down an Early Day Motion about the 75
th
Anniversary and I am very grateful for his support. Please contact me if you would like to read the article. New Committee Member, Mike Bailey, has read the article and wrote as a result “This makes very sad and disturbing reading, however, it has made me even more determined to help the Kaniv people in any way I can, and am pleased to be a member of this Association. My personal thanks for what you and the Association are doing for our Kaniv friends, I’m happy to be on-board.” That’s good to know Mike and we’re pleased you are on-board.
/ Mike Handcock
/ Mike Handcock
The Pearl of the Night Crimea
The Crimean peninsula is an extraordinary corner of the globe, with its inimitable variety of animals and exotic plants. The Crimea attracts everyone by its fabulous beauty and a great number of sights of historic value.
But not all people who have ever been to this peninsula are able to unveil its greatest mystery, its pearl which has been the reflection of eternal beauty in itself for many centuries. It is the Black Sea.
At the beginning of the 5
th
century B.C. Herodot, having seen it, claimed: “Pont Evksinsky (this is the ancient name of the sea) is the most marvellous of all other seas.”
Furthermore, it is a unique sea as it is the only sea in the world which saltiness equals the one of human blood. What is more, a great number of myths are connected with the Black Sea. For example, a myth of a widely known Gold Runo takes its sources in this sea.
Travelling over the Black Sea, it is impossible to avert your gaze from the magnificent beauty of cliffy coasts. You begin to feel yourself a particle of nature.
When night comes, a real fairy-tale begins. The sea becomes quiet and welcoming. And the Moon, that has recently appeared, shines tender on the surface of the water. All the life of coastal cities of the Crimea is reflected in twinkling lights on the surface of the sea. You become full of feeling that the next moment you will fly!
The stars appear in the sky one by one and brightly twinkle with one another whilst the sea below splashes in its turn.
It is enough to approach the nature of the Black Sea at night to understand the profoundness of Shakespeare’s words: “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
/ Tanya Mitina
Furthermore, it is a unique sea as it is the only sea in the world which saltiness equals the one of human blood. What is more, a great number of myths are connected with the Black Sea. For example, a myth of a widely known Gold Runo takes its sources in this sea.
Travelling over the Black Sea, it is impossible to avert your gaze from the magnificent beauty of cliffy coasts. You begin to feel yourself a particle of nature.
When night comes, a real fairy-tale begins. The sea becomes quiet and welcoming. And the Moon, that has recently appeared, shines tender on the surface of the water. All the life of coastal cities of the Crimea is reflected in twinkling lights on the surface of the sea. You become full of feeling that the next moment you will fly!
The stars appear in the sky one by one and brightly twinkle with one another whilst the sea below splashes in its turn.
It is enough to approach the nature of the Black Sea at night to understand the profoundness of Shakespeare’s words: “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
/ Tanya Mitina
Editor’s Note:-
This article was inspired by a visit Tanya made to the Crimea last Summer.
