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The Chugach Heritage Foundation (CHF) hosts an annual Russian New Year’s celebration. This time-honored tradition ushers in the Russian New Year with an evening of Native culture and fun. This year’s festivities took place on February 3 at the Mark Begich Middle School. Russian New Year is a blend of Russian and Sugpiaq holidays. Originally, a winter festival celebrated by the Sugpiaq people, the ceremony gradually shifted to coincide with Russian New Year. This has allowed the Sugpiaq people to honor their ancient traditions while respecting their adopted Orthodox faith. The celebration centers on a light-hearted play or skit. The play opens with the dramatic entrance of the New Year, the lead character, who proudly displays a paddle with the numbers of the new year. The New Year is joined by his vigilant bodyguard, the M.P., and the Twelve Months who are played by twelve young women. The Old Year and his three Old Hags make up the final part of the procession. The participants join in a slow moving circle as the audience claps and shouts. The New Year theatrically keeps an eye on the Old Year. The Twelve Months trail behind with the faithful M.P. The Old Hags dance in the middle of the circle and harass the M.P. and the members of the audience. Laughter and rounds of applause encourage the Old Hags and their escalating mischief. Throughout the procession, the Old Year stumbles and feigns tiredness. The Twelve Months each rush forward to help him regain his footing. The New Year eventually chases the Old Year out of the room, beating him with his paddle. The Old Hags heroically try to defend the Old Year, but the New Year still wins the day, or evening, and forces him to leave. The Twelve Months follow behind to console the Old Year in his banishment. Finally, the New Year and the M.P. contend with the Hags. The audience cheers as the Hags remain defiant to the end. Eventually, they are exiled and join the Old Year offstage. The triumphant New Year and his bodyguard are the last to exit. The conclusion of the play ushers in the Russian New Year. The actors return and remove their masks and costumes to more rounds of applause, and the evening culminates with dancing and singing. Sheri Buretta, Chugach Chairman, officiated this year’s event and took a moment to recognize the dedication that Gordon Kvasnikoff has contributed to the annual event. “Gordon has been instrumental in passing this tradition on to our youth,” Buretta said. “He is a true role model for our community.” In appreciation of his years of service, Buretta presented Kvasnikoff with a handcrafted, traditional Aluutiq hunting visor. As the celebration ended, Buretta thanked the Heritage Foundation for all of their hard work. “Our CHF Manager, Stephen Grantier, did an amazing job organizing the celebration, and I would also like to thank all of the individuals and organizations for the contributions made to this year’s reenactment of the traditional Russian New Year’s Celebration.” |
Author: tristan
Chugach celebrates 45 years of history
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Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach) hosted a celebration to recognize the founding of the corporation and the 45 years of history that Chugach has enjoyed since ANCSA established Alaska’s regional corporations. The celebration took place on the evening of January 27 at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Center. Employees representing many Chugach companies attended the semi-formal affair. Family and friends also took part in the festivities and fun. CEO Gabriel Kompkoff officially started the party and shared a few words about the success that has allowed Chugach to be a leader in its portfolio of government contracting, facilities services and energy industries. His remarks centered on the company’s proud heritage and the direction he wants to see the company take in 2017 and in the years to come. Strong leadership was the number one factor that Kompkoff attributed to Chugach’s success. Moreover, Kompkoff stated Chugach’s leaders are only successful based on the support they receive from the employees throughout the organization, and this is where Chugach stands apart from its competitors. Kompkoff also highlighted the recent acquisition of Rex Electric & Technologies and the diversification that has allowed Chugach to broaden the services it provides. This new direction coupled with current ventures will place Chugach on the path to reach $1 billion in revenue by the end of 2017. With the formalities of the evening done, Kompkoff demonstrated bold leadership and led attendees to the center stage and kicked the party into gear with the evening’s first dance. If you weren’t able to attend, click here to see some of your co-workers taking advantage of the evening’s entertainment. The password for the link is: Chugach2017. This is your gallery and you’re free to print or share any pictures after you download them. Thank you for the last 45 years! And here’s to the next 45! |
One Man, One Van, Making a Difference
Another way to say meaningful value is ‘going above and beyond.’ Recently, one of our employees did just that. In fact, he went above and beyond any normal definition of above and beyond. While our customers might not hear about this story, we want all of our employees to learn what one person took it upon himself to do.
For most of us, Hurricane Harvey was a steady stream of video, images and news that relayed the destruction that hit the coast of Texas and extended into Louisiana. For Andy Aguirre, Harvey and the storm’s aftermath were much more than media coverage. For Andy, Hurricane Harvey had touched home.
With some of Andy’s family living in the greater Houston area, our fellow Chugach employee knew he had to take some action and help. Andy works in San Diego, which is almost 1,500 miles away from Houston, but he wasn’t to be deterred by distance. Andy organized a charity event with some local musicians, and their efforts raised almost $10,000 for the displaced residents of Houston. In addition, Andy gathered donated supplies, packed them into a van and personally delivered the items to the Lone Star state.
On September 18, Andy began the journey and drove halfway across the United States to lend a hand. He had one simple mission: distribute the donated goods, purchase additional supplies to give away and try to make a difference.
Andy Aguirre manages five different contracts for Chugach on Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach. Steven Brochu, Andy’s supervisor, noted the true altruism that inspired this action. “Andy is not doing any of this for personal recognition,” Brochu stated. “He just knew he needed to go and help however he could.”
Chugach is proud to work with people like Andy, and his dedication to family reflects the same spirit that inspired our Core Behaviors.
Running for a Cause
Chugach’s Huntsville Regional Office recently accepted the challenge to participate in the 2017 Liz Hurley Ribbon Run and to raise funds to support the Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund. The proceeds from this year’s race will go toward the purchase of a 3D tomosynthesis mammography machine, making breast cancer easier to detect.
Chugach Government Solutions was a Gold Level Sponsor for the event. Rachael Harvey was the Captain for Team Chugach. Chugach participants included Sonia Kropf; Scott and Nurten Davis; Dan, Melissa and Nate Fenza; Michael and Kathleen Gallagher; Joe and Tammie Fullington; Bill and Katrena Olson; and Heather Carrero.
“I would like to personally thank everyone in the Chugach Family for their support, donations and kind words,” Rachael Harvey said. “I am so grateful. As a Breast Cancer Survivor, this is a cause close to my heart.”
The Liz Hurley Ribbon Run features a 5K run and a Survivors’ Walk. The 5K course takes runners through beautiful downtown Huntsville. Huntsville Hospital Foundation was established in 1978 as a non-profit organization with a mission to develop relationships and financial resources to support health care programs and services. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and organizations, the foundation’s physicians and staff are able to provide outstanding medical care, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. The foundation relies on philanthropic support to provide the cutting-edge equipment and invaluable programs that benefit patients.
The foundation’s website states there is no finer or more appropriate gift than one which offers health and hope to others. A gift to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation is a gift to our community.
Click through the slideshow below, and click in the slide’s upward left-hand corner to read the captions. Thank you to the Chugach Huntsville Team for doing their part to be a positive influence and build community.
Shareholder Internship with Sand and Sun on the Side
Randy Adams is the descendant of Chugach shareholders, and he is currently being funded by the Chugach Heritage Foundation (CHF) as he works toward a Master in Project Management. He is also the recipient of the CHF Barney Uhart Scholarship, which provide additional funding and an internship with Chugach. This short video provides an overview of his internship with Heide and Cook, Chugach’s Hawaiian subsidiary.
Internship with sand & sun on the side
Randy Adams is the descendant of Chugach shareholders, and he is currently being funded by the Chugach Heritage Foundation (CHF) as he works toward a Master in Project Management. He is also the recipient of the CHF Barney Uhart Scholarship, which provide additional funding and an internship with Chugach. This short video provides an overview of his internship with Heide and Cook, Chugach’s Hawaiian subsidiary.