Thanks to everyone at PURDUE University for hosting a fantastic program featuring the cultures of the different regions of the former Jugoslavia. Their "Building Community through the Arts" program successfully demonstrated the importance of sharing our rich customs, dances, music, language, and foods. "Mismo" Tamburasi welcomed everyone as traditional ethnic foods were offered: sarma, cevapcici, burek, pogacha, and palachinke were served up by students and faculty. The Serbian Historical Society provided items unique to our culture for the display cases, and the Lifeline Humanitarian Organization provided information about their relief efforts. Vera Barach Mileusnic shared a personal story of a wooden trunk that represented her heritage and culture, certainly not the physical items, that were brought here by her family almost 60 years ago.

Chancellor Howard Cohen greeted the audience, and Natalie Vujovich reminded us that we live in a richly diverse community built by immigrants from  the region. Biljana Dimovski and Marija Dobratic read poetry in Macedonian and Serbian. Croatian Author Rosemary Gard read passages from her first novel, "Destiny's Dowry", and was moved to tears by the dance performances, reminding her of the Zabavas of yesterday.

Folklore groups treated us to lively Serbian and Macedonian dance performances by Srbadija of St. Sava, Kitka of Sts. Peter & Paul Macedonian Church in Crown Point, Goce Delcev Dancers of Sts. Kiril & Metodij Macedonian Church in Hinsdale, IL, and Bozur Dancers of St. Simeon Serbian Church in South Chicago. The Grand Finale was a huge kolo as "Mismo" Tamburasi got everyone off their feet - you just couldn't help it! The Purdue committee members certainly welcomed us with "Dobro Dosli", and we sincerely thank them and would like to wish them all "ZIVELI" (Cheers, and long life!).