Polish American Congress
Western New York Division
Polish American Congress Western New York Division
P.O. Box 1242
Buffalo, NY 14240
United States
administ
Past Events
Past events:
St Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish
123 Townsend St Buffalo, NY 14212 (716) 854-5510
ROAST BEEF DINNER
Sunday, March 15, 2009
1:00 to 5:00 pm
Marian Hall
Pre-Sale Tickets: $8.00 adult; $4.00 children under 10
Deadline for Pre-Sale: Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tickets available at the parish office during business hours and at weekend Masses. Door open at 1 pm. Take outs will be available.
Tickets at the Door $9.00 adult; $4.00 children under 10
University at Buffalo North Campus Centre for the Arts Black Box Theatre presents Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (Wisniowy Sad). Adaptation and direction (adaptacja i rezyseria) by Kazimierz Braun.
February 25 (Wednesday), February 26 (Thursday), February 27 (Friday) and February 28 (Saturday) at 8 pm.
February 28 (Saturday) & March 1 (Sunday) at 2 pm.
Box Office: (716) 645-2787. Ticketmaster: www.ubcfa.org
Polska Szkola Sobotnia zaprasza na Pokaz Talentow dnia 8 marca o godzinie 3:00 pm w Sali Parafialnej Sw. J. Gualberta. Wystapia dzieci i ich rodzice oraz nauczyciele. W programie pokazu: wystepy muzyczne, spiew i taniec, recytacje pokazy sportowe. Wystawa malarstwa, grafiki oraz fotografii. Wstep wolny
PolishSaturdaySchool invites you to a Talent Show on March 8th at 3 pm in St Gualbert community room. Performance by kids, their parents and teachers. The program will include musical recitals, singing and dancing, poetry recitations, sports events. The exhibit will also include paintings, graphic designs and photographs. Admission is FREE.
The Permanent Chair of Polish Culture
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of “Polish Chair Day*” Presents The Ars Nova Musicians Chamber Orchestra. Marylouise Nanna, Music Director and Conductor. Featuring Guest Soloists Jacek Muzyk, French horn and Emily Tworek-Helenbrook, soprano in a concert of works by Chopin, Moniuszko, Bacewicz, Nowak, Haydn, and more on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 7:30 pm in the Montante Cultural Center, 2021 Main Street - Buffalo
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of our founding, a program booklet featuring a review of the history of the Polish Chair will be prepared. We invite you to attend the concert and support the works of the Chair through program sponsorship.
Concert tickets are $10 per ticket. Students are free.
Direct inquiries to Mary Lou Wyrobek at 888-5970 or wyrobekm@canisius.edu or visit www.canisius.edu
* March 31, 1959 was designated “Polish Chair Day” when Canisius College Jesuits preached in Polish explaining the goals envisioned by community leaders in the establishment of the Chair
AMBASADOR RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ POLSKIEJ
Washington, October 28, 2008
Dear Mr. Solecki,
I wish to express my gratitude to you for hosting me during the Polish American Congress’ annual fall ball in Buffalo. It was a wonderful event and I will cherish very fond memories of my stay there. I was deeply touched by the warm greeting that I received and I fully appreciate all the preparations that went into putting the event together. I would like to thank you once again for the commemorative plaque which I was presented with. It will be a fine keepsake of my visit to Buffalo.
Thanks to your leadership of the Western New York PAC Division the Polish American community maintains its bond with the Polish culture, traditions, and history.
Using this opportunity, let me express my wishes to all the PAC Western NY Division members much success in future endeavors that will bare yet more satisfaction, positive results and even closer cooperation.
With my best personal regards,
Robert Kupiecki
Ambassador
K A T Y N
The Permanent Chair of Polish Culture at Canisius College showed film " Katyn", on Saturday, November 8 at 7 pm at the Palace Theatre in Hamburg.
A guide to Andrzej Wajda's 2007 film Katyn by Peter Gessner
Although the film ha the title Katyn, it should be noted that in Poland the events referred to in the film go by the name Zbrodnia Katynska, that is, the Katyn Crime. The crime encompasses the murder of 4,421 Polish officers shot and buried by the Soviets in the Katyn forest whose mass grave the Germans discovered in 1943 but also that over 10,000 other officers who disappeared while in Soviet captivity. Their mass graves were found half a century later at tow other sites (Kallnin and Charkow). Also encompassed by the crime is the murder of thousands of other Polish deportees who were shot by the Soviets in April 1940.
In film, Wajda fallows the stories of four officers taken into Soviet custody, but also of their families who anxiously await their return over many years. (...)
Wajda himself last saw his father, a Polish cavalry officer, in 1939 when he was 13. On September 1 of that year, Poland had been invaded by Germany whose two million strong army, in spite of a spirited Polish defense, had advanced rapidly. Seventeen days later the Soviet Union's Red Army attacked Poland from the East. The situation had become hopeless and the Polish high command ordered its troops not to engage the Red Army and to lay down their arms. Notwithstanding this turn of events, the Soviets arrested all the Polish military in the Eastern part of Poland, including Wajda's father, and transported them to the prisoner of war camps in the Soviet Union. In time, some letters from his father reached Wajda's mother. These indicated he was in the prisoner of war camp at Kozielsk. Within a year, however, all news of his father ceased.
When in 1943, the Germans discovered the Katyn mass grave of the executed Polish officers and published their names, that of Wajda's father was not among them. That gave his mother hope, but in vein.
And the years passed, Wajda watched his mother continued her agonizing vigil for his father's return, waiting every day, till her death in 1950, for him to appear, to knock on their home's front door. Her vigil all the more tortured because in communist Poland the Katyn massacre was a taboo subject. Officially the massacre was laid at the hands of the Germans. Even so, those who chose to make any reference to it did so at their peril
Polish American Congress, WNY Division Honor Polish American Women of Distinction
On October 25, 2008 the PAC, WNY Division held its annual banquet – this year honoring Polish-American Women of Distinction. Richard B Solecki, PAC President on behalf of all of Polonia and Western New York welcomed the new Polish Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki, Ph.D.
Over 250 people were in attendance to meet Ambassador Robert Kupiecki and pay honor to the eight Polish-American Women of Distinction. President Solecki delivered his welcoming speech after which a sit-down dinner was served at Pott’s Banquet Hall.
Local, national and international leaders took to the podium – Richard B Solecki local PAC President, Frank Spula National PAC President and Poland’s Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki, Ph.D.
Ambassador Robert Kupiecki received a plaque from PAC President Richard B Solecki. After which Ambassador Kupiecki delivered his speech speaking about the present conditions in Poland today.
Along with PAC President Solecki, Joseph Macielag past PAC President, and Ambassador Kupiecki presented awards to the Polish-American Women of Distinction.
“Sure, God created man before women. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece” – author unknown.
Thank you to all who attended for your continued support of the Polish American Congress.
PAC WOMEN OF DISTINCTION: The WNY Division of the Polish American Congress honored Polish-American Women of Distinction on Oct 15. From left to right are: Eileen Koteras Elibol, WNED-TV host; Christine Nowak, past president of the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo; Ann T Mikoll, former Justice New York Supreme Court Appellate Division; Ambassador Robert Kupiecki; Renee Harzewski, owner of the Am-Pol Eagle; Mira Szramel, principal of Polish Saturday School; Dr Joan Sulewski, physician; Women’s Clinic, Veterans Hospital, Absent from photo are former Erie County Comptroller Alfreda Slominski who could not attend due to an illness and Christine Jozwiak, First Lady of the Polish Union of America.
Polish American Congress – WNY Division members welcomed Ambassador Kupiecki at the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport. From left to right are: Andrew Kucharski, Judge Michael Pietruszka, Edward Reska, Ambassador Kupiecki, Chris Buzynski, Dina Szymanski and Richard Solecki.
Dr. Joan Sulewski, a PAC Women of Distinction award recipient, who treats women at Veteran’s Hospital, paid tribute to Polish American women who had served in World War II. From left to right are: Alfreda Miecyjak, Jozefa Solecki, Ambassador Kupiecki, Krystyna Pienkowska, Antonia Markut, Helen Jacobs ad Dr. Joan Sulewski.
Ambassador Kupiecki
PAC Board & Ambassador. From left to right are: Andy Kucharski, Mira Szramel, Dina Szymanski, Judge Michael Pietruszka, Ambassador Robert Kupiecki, Adeline Wujcikowski, Richard Mazella, President Richard B Solecki, Edward Reska.
Jamestown, Virginia.
400th Anniversary Jamestown Settlement First Polish Immigrants to AmericaPlaque - Donated by Polish Falcons of America in 1958. It sits at the entrance to the Settlement. This is the plaque that was re-dedicated in 2008
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PAC Presidents from the entire State of New York
Left to right - Joseph Macielag - past President of the Western Division, Richard B Solecki - present President of Western New York Division, Theresa Bunk - President of Central New York, Frank Milewski present President of Donw-State New York City. All attended the 400th Anniversary.
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Polish Singers of America under direction of Tom Witakowski and led by Judge Ann Mikoll, Adeline Wujcikowski. The entire choir came from Western New York - sang at the re-dedication ceremony at Jamestown, Virginia October 1, 2008
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Jamestown, Virginia reception - Western New Yorkers - greets new Polish Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki, Ph.D.
Left to right - Richard Solecki, President PAC - National Commander of Polish Army Veterans Mr. V Knapczyk, Frank Spula National President of PAC and PNA, Judge Ann Mikoll, Ambassador Robert Kupiecki, Adeline Wujcikowski Polish Singers, and Tom Witakowski - Choir Director
PAC GENERAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 IN ROCHESTER, NY
Members of the PAC, WNY Division under the leadership of Richard Solecki President and our fellow Polonia Members from Rochester under the leadership of Eugene Golomb. Polish American Congress, WNY Division General Meeting held in Rochester, NY on September 13, 2008 hosted by the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester. In attendance were over 75 members. It was a great afternoon spent with our fellow members from Rochester. Hopefully in the near future the Rochester Group will come to Buffalo, NY.
PRESS RELEASE
The Western New York Division of the PAC will hold a Banquet honoring Polish-American Women of Distinction on October 25, 2008 at Potts Banquet Hall.
Newly installed Polish Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki, Ph.D. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland will be the keynote speaker. This will be the Ambassador’s first visit to Western New York.
Ambassador Kupiecki, was born in Warsaw Poland in 1967, he is married and has 2 children. He received his M.A. from the University of Warsaw. Postgraduate studies at the National School of Public Administration in Warsaw.Also postgraduate studies Geneva Center for Security Policy, Switzerland. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Warsaw in International Relations.
Prior to being Ambassador, his last position was Director, Security Police Department, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also Deputy Chief of Mission to NATO in Brussels.
He has received many decorations – just to name a few – Officer of the Order of Merit, Lithuania, Terra Mariana Order, V class, Estonia, Silver medal of the Slovak Foreign Ministry, Slovakia.
He is an author of many books and publications on International Security. Ambassador Kupiecki is fluent in English, Russian.
National PAC President, Frank Spula from the Chicago National Office will also be attending the Banquet and will be introducing Ambassador Kupiecki to all of Western New York and the Polish-American Community.
Polish-American Women of Distinction to be honored are:
Christine Jozwiak – First Lady of the Polish Union of America
Renee Harzewski – former publisher of the Am-Pol Eagle newspaper
Eileen Koteras – host WNED TV
Judge Ann Mikoll – former Justice New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Christine Nowak - past president of the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo
Alfreda Slominski – former Erie County Comptroller
Dr. Joan Sulewski – physician Women’s Clinic Veterans Hospital
Mira Szramel – principal of Polish Saturday School
Tickets for the Banquet are $27.50 per person (tables of 10 available @ $250.00) can be ordered by calling Adeline Wujcikowski @ 827-1722.
We invite all of Polonia to attend this special affair to extend a warm welcome to the new Polish Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki, Ph.D. to WNY and to thank the Polish-American Women of Distinction for all they have done on behalf of the Polish Community.
August 4, 2008
Dear Members and Friends:Our eleventh annual Christian Holocaust - Polish Remembrance Day observance will take place on Saturday, August 16, at St. Stanislaus Cemetery's Resurrection Mausoleum. The Sacred Eucharistic Liturgy will be celebrated at 12 Noon by our Chaplain, Bishop Edward M. Grosz. As in years past, the Saturday closest to the feast of St. Maximillian Kolbe (Aug. 14) is chosen for this event to make it convenient for the greatest number of people to attend. This annual event reminds us of the terror and horror suffered by those interned and murdered in German Nazi concentration camps as well as those deported to Siberia and held in Stalin's gulags. This commemorative observance being held in conjunction with Saint Maximillian's feast day is in keeping with a resolution passed by the National Polish American Congress.
Six million Poles (half were Christians. half were Jews) were among the 11 million death camp victims throughout Europe. We will NOT allow the fact that 3 million Christian Poles killed in World War II be forgotten or shunned as nonexistent. They were more than "and others." As Christians, our prayers are for ALL of God's people. Several survivors will be with us at this Mass.
We ask you and anyone else you know to share this one-hour (of your life) with us to pray for our blood brothers and sisters who suffered so heinous a crime whose lives were exterminated because they were Polish.
If you know of any living concentration camp survivors in our area, please let me know of them and how they can be reached. Also encourage them to join us if they are able.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Macieląg
Religious Events Coordinator
THE VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM
MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
1521 Sixteenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20036 • Tel: 202-589-1991 • Fax: 443-276-6789
E-mail: info@victimsofcommunism.org
Web site: www.victimsofcommunism.org
A CALL FOR EXHIBITS AND INFORMATION
FOR
THE GLOBAL MUSEUM ON COMMUNISM
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is dedicated to memorializing the more than 100 million victims of communism. We believe that informing people around the world about communism is crucial to preventing its resurgence.
We have therefore begun a global effort to educate the public about the dark era of communism through an online museum. Slated to open in early 2009, the Global Museum on Communism will tell the complete history, philosophy and legacy of communism.
We recognize that many institutions have collected great amounts of information and artifacts regarding communism. Our goal is to electronically link these efforts and spark new collection efforts before the evidence is forever lost.
Our museum will network with regional museums, educational institutions and ethnic associations from around the world in one common educational mission. It will serve as an online "meeting place" for scholars, researchers and activists to interact and build their research and educational capabilities.
We invite you join us. We ask you to help create an online exhibit that tells the unique story of your family, community, people or nation, including those who suffered under communism and those who successfully resisted it.
You can view a preview site of our Museum at http://www.globalmuseumoncommunism.org
Please contact our Director of Public Affairs, Ed Priola by e-mail or telephone for more details: +1 202 589 1991, info@victimsofcommunism.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lee Edwards
Chairman
On August 5, the Bisons will be holding the annual Polish Festival Night, with a pre-game tent party including Polish music, dancers, and food. This year we will be honoring Jackie Schmid for her contributions to the Polish community.
Polish Festival Night
@ DunnTirePark
August 5th
(Programs will be handed out at tent party)
Bisons Polish-American of the Year, Jackie Schmid, will be honored for her years of service within the local Polish community
Food and Drink Specials
Live Polish Music from The Knewz
Contact John Pogorzelski by calling 846-2021, faxing 852-6530
or e-mail BisonsSalesInterns@bisons.com
Polish Veterans of World War II
Dear Friends:
On Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 5 p.m., the WNY Polish American Congress will host a banquet honoring surviving Polish War Veterans and their deceased comrades. This event is part of the weekend’s memorial events which will culminate with a dedication of the Polish Veterans plot at St. Stanislaus cemetery on Sunday afternoon. The banquet will take place at St. Stanislaus Social Center, 389 Peckham St., Buffalo, NY.
Principal speaker at the banquet will be Brig. Gen. Kazimierz Sikorski, Ph.D., Defense Military, Naval and Air Attache, from the Washington DC Polish Embassy’s Defense Attache Office. The General will also participate at the dedication of a new monument erected at the soldiers’ plot on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., June 3, 2007. Buffalo’s Polish Army Veterans Association (SWAP), Post # 1, and Polish Combatants Association (SPK), Post # 33 are proudly co-hosting the weekend events.
These are men and women who have been the “glue” of our Polonia. A souvenir booklet will be published to commemorate and preserve this historic event. We ask your active participation with your presence at the events as well as the submission of your sentiments to be inserted in the booklet. The dedication ceremony will include the burial of a “time capsule” containing among other things, this booklet. We ask you to pay tribute to these men and women who have chosen America as their home and fought under the Polish military’s centuries old motto: For Your Freedom and Ours.
Deadline for ad submission is May 20, 2007. Should you have any questions, please call Rick Mazella or PAC President Richard Solecki.
Drodzy Przyjaciele:
W sobote, 2 czerwca, 2007 o 17:00, Kongres Polonii Amerykanskiej bedzie goscic Polskich Weteranow II Wojny Swiatowej jak rowniez odda czesc tym ktorych juz nie ma wsrod nas. W tym czasie odbedzie sie tez uroczysta dedykacja gruntu Polskim Weteranow na cmentarzy Sw. Stanislawa w niedziele popoludniu. Bankiet odbedzie sie w Social Center przy kosciele Sw. Stanislawa, 389 Peckham St, Buffalo, NY.
Glownym mowca bedzie General Kazimierz Sikorski, Ph.D., Obrony Wojskowej, Morskiej i Powietrznej, pracujacy jako attaché przy Ambasadzie Polskiej w Waszyngtonie, DC. General Sikorski zaszczyci nas swoja obecnoscia w czasie ofiarowania nowego pomnika Polskim Zolnierzom na cmentarzy Sw. Stanislawa w niedziele popoludniu 6/3/2007 o godzinie 15’stej. Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (SWAP) w Buffalo, Post # 1 i Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (SPK), Post # 33 sa zaszczyceni ze moga wspolnie byc gospodarzami tego wydarzenia. Ci mezczyzni i kobiety, sa tymi ktorzy jednocza cala Polonie. Bedzie wydana pamiatkowa broszura upamietajaca to wydarzenie.
Prosumy o wziecie udzialu w tych uroczystosciach. Jezeli ktos chce sie podzielic swoimi przezyciami mozemy je zamiescic w broszurce. W czasie ceremonii odbedzie sie pogrzebanie kapsuly zamierajacej miedzy innymi, ta broszurke. Prosimy uczcic tych mezczyzn i kobiety, ktorzy wybrali Ameryke, na ich nowy dom, ich mottem bylo: Dla Waszej i Naszej Wolnosci.
Prosimy o nadsylanie zgloszen do 20’go Maja, 2007. Pytania prosze kierowac do Rick Mazella.
Solidarity Dinner
September 2, 2005
Dear Friends of Polonia,
The Solidarity Movement in Poland created by Lech Walesa to promote human right, democracy, and the end of Soviet oppression celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2005.
The Polish American Congress, WNY Division, will commemorate this great achievement with a banquet on Saturday, October 22, 2005, at St. Stanislaus R.C. Church – Upper Hall, at 389 Peckham Street, Buffalo, New York. The evening festivities will commence at 6:00 PM and dinner at 7:00 PM, followed by a short program. We will be honoring local individuals who have assisted the cause of Poland and Polonia throughout the years.
Local media television reporters being honored are: Don Postles and Rich Newberg from WIVB-TV - Channel 4, and Rich Kellman from WGRZ-TV – Channel 2. These men have covered Solidarity from its inception and made many trips to Poland to brings awareness to the public.
Several area doctors have also contributed their time, travel, and expertise in donating much needed surgeries to the Polish people. The medical doctors being honored at this gala are: Doctors Amar Atwal, Larry Jerge, Taj Jiva, Jack Kotlarz, Jeffrey Meilman, Krysztof Merkel, Arthur W. Mruczek, Thomas O’Connor and Paul Patterson.
The AFL-CIO leadership across America and especially here in Western New York also took a major role and will be honoring the Union and its current leader Mark Jones. A special award will also be given to Jan Kaszuba, Past President of the Polish Canadian Congress, who some 20 years earlier helped with local telethons raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Solidarity.
Sincerely,
Richard B Solecki, President
Helen Scott, Chairperson
Dina Szymanski, Co-chairperson
Swieconka - April 17,2005
“Be not afraid”
SWIECONKA
April 17, 2005, 2:00 pm
St. Stanislaus Parish Center
Towsend St, Buffalo NY
WELCOME – ZAPRASZAMY
Thank you for taking part in our Polish Easter traditional dinner, the “Swiecone”.
The dinner represents Polish religion and cultural observance of Easter. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His triumph over death. It follows a solemn forty days, which is the period of Lent. It recalls Christ’s forty days fasting and praying in the wilderness.
The Blessing of the Food Basket – “Swiecone” is one of the most eduring and beloved Polish traditions. The food is blessed in the church on Easter Saturday. The basket contains a sampling of Easter food. The basket is traditionally line with the white linen and decorated with sprigs of boxwood, the typical Easter evergreen. The Poles take special pride in preparing a decorative and tasteful basket containing all food that will be eaten during the year. Easter bread is round loaf topped with a cross symbolizing Jesus as “the Bread of Life”. Butter is often shaped symbolically into a lamb – “Baranek Wielkanocny”. Early Christians interpreted the sacrifice of the paschal lamb as Christ’s sacrifice on the cross – the Lamb of God. Eggs, the famous “Pisanki”, represent the new life that returns to nature about Easter time. Salt, an element in our physical life that Jesus used, its symbolism “you are the salt of the earth.”. Sausage, ham, “babka” (cake), “Makowiec” (poppy seed cake), symbolize great joy and abundance. I have to mention also the very well known Easter tradition – the “Smingus-Dyngus Day” – which follows on Easter Monday.
We would like to share the food that will be blessed with you. Our forefathers brought these traditions with them from Poland, and we look forward to sharing and celebrating this “Magnificus” tradition. We would like to preserve our Polish Catholic heriateg and the same time enrich American culture. This year especially because of the world’s tragic events, we will be asking God to bring mankind peace and consolation.
Maria Przystal - Swiecone chairperson
DYNGUS DAY
SMIGUS-DYNGUS
Easter Monday is a holiday in Poland. It is known as “Wet Easter Monday”. Dyngus Day was traditionally the day boys drenched girls with buckets of water. This tradition is still widely preserved and maintained in Poland especially in the villages. Presently Dyngus Day is usually celebrated by everyone drenching with water or sprinkling the girls with cologne.
In the book “Dyngus Day”, Rev. Krysa states that Dyngus Day is a commemoration of the birth of Christianity in Poland (966 AD) in which holy Baptism was administered to Prince Mieszko I on Easter Monday uniting all of Poland under the banner of Christianity. The second instant – the Dyngus custom is reminiscent of the mass baptism that took place in Lithuania after the marriage of Polish Queen Jadwiga and Lithuanian Duke Jagiello.
In some parts of Poland the custom of hitting the girls on the legs with pussy willows is maintained. This specific custom is celebrated by the American Polonia’s descendents of the 1890-1930 immigrants.
Presently, the custom of Dyngus Day is celebrated by everyone with either sprinkling of water or cologne.
In our region, the Buffalo Polonia’s Chopin Singing Society celebrates Dyngus Day with the polka dance.
THANK YOU
Thank you –
For all my nose can smell,
The fresh air,
A sweet apple pie,
A rose,
A turkey dinner.
Thank you –
For all my hands can hold,
For my loving family,
My soft little bear,
My cozy soft blanket,
And my cozy bed.
Thank you –
For all my tongue can taste,
The sweet taste of baby back ribs,
Coffee ice cream,
Fresh watermelon,
Fresh fruit.
Christopher Komin
Age: 7
PROGRAM
Welcome
Ms Maria Przystal, Banquet Chairperson
Invocation
His Excellency Bishop Edward Grosz
Polish/American Anthems
Ms. Julita Kotlarz
Remarks
Mr. Richard Solecki, President Polish American Congress, WNY Division
Blessing of the Food
Rev. Tadeusz Bocianowski
Polish Heritage Dancers
Ms. Michelle Kisluk, Program Director
Dinner
Smacznego!
Presentation of the annual Recognition Awards:
St Stanislaus Parish – Maria Przystal
Mr. Karol Tomaszewski – Maria Przystal
Prof. Kazimierz Braun – Mr. Richard Solecki
God Bless America
Ms. Julita Kotlarz
Benediction
His Excellency Bishop Thaddeus Peplowski
Banquet Chairperson:
Ms. Maria Przystal
Banquet Committee:
Judge Ken Graber
Ms. Adeline Wujcikowski
Ms. Dina Szymanski
Ms. Ziuta Solecka
Ms. Krystyna Pinekowska
Ms. Helena Golebiowska
.
Professional & Business Women of Polonia
invite you to their
2009 Scholarship Fundraiser
Actors Anonymous Theatre Company Presents…
The King & Queen’s Royal Feast
Join us for a most entertaining evening!
Tickets are $38 per person.
Checks should be made payable to PBW of Polonia.
Contact Terry Tucholski (716-668-2259) or Chris Kibler (716-491-8835) for seating availability. After verifying seating availability, mail order form and payment to: Terry Tucholski, 24 Losson Garden Dr. #3, Cheektowaga, NY
Place your order soon! Seating is limited! RSVP by: 4/8/09
You are invited to attend the Royal Engagement Party of the fair Princess, as she is forced to enter into an arranged marriage being orchestrated by her father, the King. During the evening, you will feast with the Royal Family “Medieval” style on Soup, Roasted Chicken, Potatoes, Royal Vegetables, Bread, and Dessert. While you dine you will be entertained by a Court Jester, Minstrels, Dukes and Duchesses, and many others.
Enjoy fun and merriment as you play an important role in the decision of who wins the hand of the Princess during this interactive dinner theatre event. “Royal” and “peasant” attire is welcomed!
DATE: Saturday, April 18, 2009 TIME: 6:00p.m.
COST: $38 per person (dinner included) - Cash bar
WHERE: Magruders Banquet Facility, 4995 Broadway, Depew, NY 14043
THE VISIT OF FATHER LUCIAN KROLIKOWSKI IN BUFFALO
Father Lucian Krolikowski OFMConv is coming to Buffalo. Hundreds and thousands of people in our region and beyond remember him as a member of editorial staff of the Franciscans’ radio, the Rosary Hour, as well as homilist, confessor, and a dear friend of many people who love and respect him. Many have also read his bestselling book “A Stolen Childhood”, a story of the Polish orphans during and after World War II.
Father Lucian comes to meet with Western New York Polonia and participate in a promotion of his newest book, “Memoirs of the Siberia Prisoner and a Displaced Person”. In the book, he narrates his life story, including his 34 years in Buffalo.
The meeting and the promotion of the book will take place in the Polish Saturday School on Saturday, April 18th 2009, at 12:30 PM in St. John Gualbert Parish School, 83 Gualbert Avenue, Cheektowaga NY 14211.
Copies of “Memoirs of the Siberia Prisoner and a Displaced Person” will be available for purchase. The author will sign his book.
The main sponsor of the meeting and the promoter is the Polish Saturday School. All Polish organizations and parishes are invited to co-sponsor the event. Please invite all members of our communities to this important event. Admission is FREE.
For further information please contact: Mira Szramel, Principal of the Polish Saturday School at 903-3239.
WIZYTA OJCA LUCJANA KROLIKOWSKIEGO W BUFFALO
Ojciec Lucjan Krolikowski OFMConv odwiedzi wkrotce Buffalo. Setki i tysiace ludzi z naszej okolicy, a takze poza nia, pamietaja go jako czlonka zespolu franciszkanskiego radia Godziny Rozancowej, a takze jako kaznodzieje, spowiednika i drogiego przyjaciela dazonego przez wielu ludzi miloscia i szacunkiem. Ojcien Lucjan jest takze znany przez wielu jako autor znakomitej ksiazki “Skradzione dziecinstwo”, opowiesci o losach polskich sierot w czasie II wojny swiatowej oraz po jej zakonczeniu.
Ojciec Lucjan przybedzie do Buffalo, aby spotkac sie z Polonia i uczestniczyc w promocji swojej najnowszej ksiazki “Pamietnik Sybiraka i tulacza”, w ktorej opowiada o swoim zyciu, a w tym o 34 latach pobytu i pracy w Buffalo.
Spotkanie i promocja odbeda sie w Polskiej Szkole Sobotniej im Msgr. J Adamskiego w sobote 18 kwietnia o godzinie 12:30 w sali szkoly parafii Sw. Jana Gwalberta, 83 Gualbert Avenue, Cheektowaga, NY 14211.
Egzemplarze ksiazki “Pamietnik Sybiraka i tulacza” beda do zakupienia z dedykacja i autografem autora.
Glownym sponsorem i pomotorem spotkania jest Polska Szkola Sobotnia. Zapraszamy wszytkie polskie organizacje i parafie do uczestnictwa, zapraszamy takze czlonkow naszych wspolnot oraz w ogole wszystkich zainteresowanych do uczestnictwa w tym waznym wydarzeniu.
O dalszy kontakt: Mira Szramel, Dyrektor Polskiej Szkoly Sobotniej, numer telefonu: 903-3239.
PRESS RELEASE:
The Polish American Congress, WNY Division will hold its annual Swieconka celebration on April 25, 2009. The event will take place at St. Stan's Social Center 389 Peckham St, Buffalo, NY, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Three Polonian Activists will be honored for their many years of service to our Polish-American Community.
Mr. Henry Maziarczyk - former President Club Polanie
Mr. Janusz Nieduzak - Commander SPK Veterans Post #3
Mrs. Wanda Slawinska - Polish Cultural Center Foundation
We invite the Polish-American Community to attend our Swieconka on April 25, 2009. We look forward to sharing the Oplatek with you. More information to follow.
CBS Television has just announced that the production entitled “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler” will premiere on Sunday, April 19 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler” is based up the true story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker in the early 1940s who is credited with saving the lives of 2,500 Jewish children during World War II. During the war Irena Sendler was able to move women in and out of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto disguised as nurses working for the Warsaw’s Health Department. With the ruse of containing the spread of Typhus and Spotted Fever, Ms. Sendler and her fellow “nurses” were actually sneaking children out (with the consent of the Jewish parents) of the Ghetto by sedating them and hiding them inside boxes, suitcases and coffins as a way of saving them from deportation to death camps. Once the children were snuck out they were given new identities and placed with Polish families or in convents to protect them. Ms. Sendler kept a record of all the children’s birth names and where they were placed hidden so once the war was over the children could be reunited with their families. Unfortunately in 1943 Ms. Sendler’s deception was discovered and she was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo resulting with her feet being broken. She was scheduled to be executed but on the day of her execution she was rescued by “Zegota”, the same underground network that she worked with to save the Jewish children. By the end of the war all of the 2,500 children that she smuggled out were never betrayed or discovered by the Nazis.
Lira Ensemble: A Polish Christmas
Mainstage Theatre
Sunday, November 30 at 2:30pm
Adults: $50, $45, $40, $30, $25
Children 16 & under: ½ price
The Lira Ensemble of Chicago - known for its performances of Polish music, song and dance - brings its NEW holiday concert to the UB Center for the Arts Mainstage, opening the holiday season with beautiful Polish carols, music of Frederic Chopin and other Polish master composers, and Polish folk songs and dances performed in colorful, authentic folk costumes:
A Polish Christmas is an extremely popular and highly praised Polish-American holiday event which presents different Polish music and dance each year. This year, it offers musical masterworks by Polish composers Frederic Chopin, Stanislaw Moniuszko, Henryk Wieniawski, and Witold Lutoslawski. The second act of “A Polish Christmas” features gorgeous Polish carols and Polish folk songs and dances from central Poland, from the Polish mountains, the Krakow (Cracow) region and from the Kaszubian region of Northern Poland - all performed in a variety of authentic folk garb from these regions.
The concert is performed by the Lira Singers, Lira Dancers and Lira Symphony of the Lira Ensemble - the nation’s only professional performing arts company specializing in Polish music, song and dance. Lira is headquartered at Loyola University Chicago as artist-in-residence.
The entire concert is narrated in English by Lira’s artistic director and general manager, Lucyna Migala, who adds a bit of information about Polish and Polish-American history and traditions and demonstrates some Polish customs.
The performance is conducted by Paul Dijkstra, music director of the Lira Symphony and is choreographed by Iwona Puc, director of the Lira Dancers.
"A Polish Christmas" is co-sponsored by the POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL, the Michigan Division of the Polish American Congress, the Polish Union of America, and the Am Pol Eagle. National sponsors are the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Chicago and the Polish National Alliance of North America. Financial support is provided by the Alphawood Foundation, the Pauls Foundation, and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, all of Chicago.
OFFICAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT THE KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM
The Spirit of Compassion
Herbert Hoover and America's Help to Poland in its Hour of Need
L-R in photo - Judge Michael Pietruszka - Board Member PAC, Mary Lou, Michel Zachowicz, VP PAC, Dr. Peter Gessner
Exhibit on display through September 30, 2008 - Tuesday thru Saturday 11 am to 4 pm at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum at 453 Porter Avenue, Buffalo NY 14201 Admission is free! In front of the Hoover displays
L-R photo - Judge Michael Pietruszka, Bernadine (Dina) Szymanski, Mira Szramel - Board Members PAC - Michael Zachowicz VP PAC
NEWS FROM MIRA SZRAMEL & POLISH SATURDAY SCHOOL ON ONCOMING EVENTS:
- Jaselka in Polish Saturday School will take place on December 14 at 2 pm. Admission $3.00 (door prize). Dinner plate available for $5 This Christmas play will be performed by students from the Polish Saturday School. There will be also a visit from St. Nicolas. For more information please call 681-6739
- New Years Eve Party $65 per person with live music by "True Color" from Rochester. Dinner & breakfast. Reservation and further information at 681-6739
NEWS FROM ST STANISLAUS BISHOP & MARTYR CHURCH "The Mother Church of Polonia":
Epiphany of Our Lord Concert.
In observance of the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season, all are invited to a concert in historic St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Church, 123 Townsend Street, Buffalo on the Feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, January 4 at 4:30pm, featuring Soprano Soloist, Brittany Mruczek. During the concert, Bishop Edward M. Grosz will bless and distribute to all attendees containers of blessed water. Free-will offering. The Feast of the Epiphany highlights the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, the Baptism of Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River, and the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana.
SPK – Post 33 will hold the Polish traditional Christmas “Oplatek” which will be held on Sunday, January 11 at St. Stanislaus Social Center 389 Peckham Street, Buffalo NY.
The event will start at 1:30 pm with an artistic program under direction of Dr. Thomas Witakowski. Christmas dinner will follow.
Reservations by January 2nd with check $20 per person payable to the SPK Post 33.
Please call Mrs. Zofia Miernik at 895-0372 or Krystina Nieduzak at 824-3888.
Passerby, tell the world that we were faithful from the beginning to the very end in the struggle for freedom, peace and justice for all mankind.
Keeping its commitment to the local Veterans Organizations the Polish American Congress, WNY Division has cleaned up, planted flowers and set Polish & American flags at the Polish Veterans Plot at St. Stan's Cemetery. This project was done in the time the annual Memorial Day celebration. Close to 200 Polish Army / Air Force / Navy Veterans who served and fought on all fronts during World War II rest at the Cemetery.
Richard B Solecki, PAC President, SWAP Post 1 Commander Stanley Przystal, SPK 33 Commander Janusz Nieduzak
“The Spirit of Compassion,” a just opened major exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 453 Porter Ave., Buffalo, illustrates Herbert Hoover’s special relationship with the people of Poland.
Its primary focus is on the extraordinary humanitarian effort Hoover mounted to bring relief to the people of Poland in the wake of World War I. After more than a century of occupation by its three autocratic neighbors and four years of having been a principal WWI battleground, the devastated country had just regained its independence.
The exhibit, originally curated by Dr. Zbigniew Stanczyk of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, is open from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. daily except on Mondays. It features many historic photographs, documents in facsimile, posters and a number of maps. It is scheduled to remain open through Sept. 30, 2008.
It reveals aspects of Hoover’s character and achievements, eclipsed in the popular narrative by the later linking of his presidency with the Great Depression. It documents the massive scale of the relief effort mounted in Poland by the American Relief Administration Hoover headed, an effort that, in the period between 1919 and 1922, provided a daily meal to over 1.3 million children, and furbished each of them with a winter coat and a pair of shoes. And, in 1919, it also involved organizing medical help to stem a typhus epidemic that began to ravage the country.
While still a student, Hoover had met the great concert pianist, composer, and fervent Polish patriot Ignacy Paderewski. An enduring friendship developed between the two men. It gained an additional dimension when, in 1919, Paderewski became, with Hoover’s backing, the renascent Poland’s first prime minister.
There were many expressions of gratefulness for the help Poland received, among them a Monument of Gratitude to the United States erected in the center of Warsaw on Hoover Square. It featured a fountain in the middle of which, as shown on one of the exhibit’s historic photographs, stood two women back to back, representing the U.S. and Poland, respectively, each holding infants on her shoulders. The exhibit’s historic photographs also show Warsaw’s huge annual celebrations of America’s Independence Day, July 4th which, in his honor, was referred to as “Hoover Day.”
Come World War II, Hoover resumed his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the starving children of Poland, both during the early years of World War II, while American neutrality made this feasible, and in the war’s wake.
First shown at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the exhibit toured four other major Polish cities: Poznan, Lodz, Krakow and Katowice. It was also shown in New York City and Philadelphia before coming to Buffalo, where it was brought by the action of the Western New York Division of the Polish American Congress with the support of several other Polonian organizations.
The Buffalo showing of the exhibit is being curated by Peter K. Gessner with the help of Michael Zachowicz, vice president of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress.
Polish American Congress
WNY Division Presents
The Spirit of Compassion
Herbert Hoover and America’s Help to Poland in its Hour of Need
An exhibition of photos, documents, posters and banners from Poland’s National Archives and those of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
DATE:
June 14, 2008 through September 30, 2008
TIME:
Tuesday thru Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE:
Karpeles Manuscript Museum
435 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14201
(100 yards west of Kleinhans Music Hall)
GRAND OPENING DATE: July 12th 2008
SPONSORS:
- Polish American Congress, WNY Division
- Roman Catholic Union of America
- Permanent Chair of Polish Cultures at Canisius College
- Karpeles Manuscript Museum
- Chopin Singing Society
- Kosciuszko Foundation’s WNY Chapter
- Polish Cultural Foundation
- Polish Union of America
In 1919, Herbert Hoover, having visited
Poland in the wake of WWI, reported to the Polish Convention meeting in Buffalo, that: “Between three and four million of Poles had died of starvation and disease. … The Russians had ruthlessly destroyed thousands of square miles in an effort to create a desert that might retard the advance of the German armies. … The Germans also systematically abstracted at the point of the bayonet every resource of Poland. This together with the destruction of her farms and the looting of every bit of agricultural machinery, left millions of Poles at the Armistice threatened with starvation.”
The exhibit’s hundreds of historical photographs, documents and maps detail the truly massive relief effort
Hoover mounted and managed an effort that earned him and America the lifelong gratitude of the Poles.
The City of Krakow issued a proclamation calling him “a man to whom hundreds of thousands of our country’s people owe their survival.” And Warsaw erected a statue in his honor. Prior to coming to Buffalo, the exhibit was shown in Warsaw’s Royal Castle, in Krakow, Katowice, Poznan, Lodz, Stanford, New York City and Philadelphia.
“The Spirit of Compassion,” a just opened major exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 453 Porter Ave., Buffalo, illustrates Herbert Hoover’s special relationship with the people of Poland.
Its primary focus is on the extraordinary humanitarian effort Hoover mounted to bring relief to the people of Poland in the wake of World War I. After more than a century of occupation by its three autocratic neighbors and four years of having been a principal WWI battleground, the devastated country had just regained its independence.
The exhibit, originally curated by Dr. Zbigniew Stanczyk of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, is open from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. daily except on Mondays. It features many historic photographs, documents in facsimile, posters and a number of maps. It is scheduled to remain open through Sept. 30, 2008.
It reveals aspects of Hoover’s character and achievements, eclipsed in the popular narrative by the later linking of his presidency with the Great Depression. It documents the massive scale of the relief effort mounted in Poland by the American Relief Administration Hoover headed, an effort that, in the period between 1919 and 1922, provided a daily meal to over 1.3 million children, and furbished each of them with a winter coat and a pair of shoes. And, in 1919, it also involved organizing medical help to stem a typhus epidemic that began to ravage the country.
While still a student, Hoover had met the great concert pianist, composer, and fervent Polish patriot Ignacy Paderewski. An enduring friendship developed between the two men. It gained an additional dimension when, in 1919, Paderewski became, with Hoover’s backing, the renascent Poland’s first prime minister.
There were many expressions of gratefulness for the help Poland received, among them a Monument of Gratitude to the United States erected in the center of Warsaw on Hoover Square. It featured a fountain in the middle of which, as shown on one of the exhibit’s historic photographs, stood two women back to back, representing the U.S. and Poland, respectively, each holding infants on her shoulders. The exhibit’s historic photographs also show Warsaw’s huge annual celebrations of America’s Independence Day, July 4th which, in his honor, was referred to as “Hoover Day.”
Come World War II, Hoover resumed his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the starving children of Poland, both during the early years of World War II, while American neutrality made this feasible, and in the war’s wake.
First shown at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the exhibit toured four other major Polish cities: Poznan, Lodz, Krakow and Katowice. It was also shown in New York City and Philadelphia before coming to Buffalo, where it was brought by the action of the Western New York Division of the Polish American Congress with the support of several other Polonian organizations.
The Buffalo showing of the exhibit is being curated by Peter K. Gessner with the help of Michael Zachowicz, vice president of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress.
Polish American Congress
WNY Division Presents
The Spirit of Compassion
Herbert Hoover and America’s Help to Poland in its Hour of Need
An exhibition of photos, documents, posters and banners from Poland’s National Archives and those of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
DATE:
June 14, 2008 through September 30, 2008
TIME:
Tuesday thru Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE:
Karpeles Manuscript Museum
435 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14201
(100 yards west of Kleinhans Music Hall)
GRAND OPENING DATE: July 12th 2008
SPONSORS:
- Polish American Congress, WNY Division
- Roman Catholic Union of America
- Permanent Chair of Polish Cultures at Canisius College
- Karpeles Manuscript Museum
- Chopin Singing Society
- Kosciuszko Foundation’s WNY Chapter
- Polish Cultural Foundation
- Polish Union of America
In 1919, Herbert Hoover, having visited
Poland in the wake of WWI, reported to the Polish Convention meeting in Buffalo, that: “Between three and four million of Poles had died of starvation and disease. … The Russians had ruthlessly destroyed thousands of square miles in an effort to create a desert that might retard the advance of the German armies. … The Germans also systematically abstracted at the point of the bayonet every resource of Poland. This together with the destruction of her farms and the looting of every bit of agricultural machinery, left millions of Poles at the Armistice threatened with starvation.”
The exhibit’s hundreds of historical photographs, documents and maps detail the truly massive relief effort
Hoover mounted and managed an effort that earned him and America the lifelong gratitude of the Poles.
The City of Krakow issued a proclamation calling him “a man to whom hundreds of thousands of our country’s people owe their survival.” And Warsaw erected a statue in his honor. Prior to coming to Buffalo, the exhibit was shown in Warsaw’s Royal Castle, in Krakow, Katowice, Poznan, Lodz, Stanford, New York City and Philadelphia.
COUNTYEXECUTIVE CHRIS COLLINS PRESENTS PROCLAMMATION TO POLISH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP……..
On May 28, 2008 Erie County Executive Chris Collins presented Richard B. Solecki President of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress, a proclamation in recognition of the May 3rd Polish Constitution and Polish Heritage Month. Members of the Polish American Congress Board and Local Polish Veterans participated in the ceremony.
Fox Television and depiction of truth
A FOX television Nov. 14, 2008 episode of "Back to You" slandered Poles and those with Polish Roots. A Polish character with a butchered Polish name was being pressured to join a bowling team because he was told it is in his "Polish blood like kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis".
This was not a slip of the tongue slur. It was slander written by highly paid scriptwriters, passed by highly paid editors and approved by highly paid directors and programmers.
This was slander written to get a laugh at the expense of all with Polish blood and to get favorable viewing ratings and in the end a profit from more and more expensive commercials. It is a fact, commercials become more costly if there is a bigger viewing audience.
Innocent Poland on Sept 1, 1939 was attacked by the full might of German military machine. Nobody came actively to Poland's defense. On Sept 17, the Soviets attacked Poland with a stab in the back.
Unable to fight any longer, Poles gave up... sort of. Instead facing total annihilation, Poles formed the biggest underground army the world has ever known. This army sabotaged German installations and harassed German forces to the degree that thousands of German troops were forced to stay behind the lines to protect rear installations.
Then followed the elimination of Polish intelligentsia. The German used death camps such as the one at Dachau while the Soviets committed the most heinous of crimes by murdering some 22,000 in the Katyn Forests while forcibly moving more than a million Poles into Siberia. At this time, Zegota was formed to save Jews whose fate was sealed at the Wannsee conference. And, all this was going on despite the fact that only in Poland of all German occupied lands was it a crime punishable by immediate death if Jews were given any help. Not only did the individual face death but his family and neighbors as well. Irene Sendler of Zegota is now being hailed as a special heroine said to have help save some 2,500 Jewish children.
By confronting Germany and Soviet Russia in battle, the French and British were given time to muster their forces. Polish pilots saved Britain and the Battle of the English Skies. Polish mathematicians gave the Allies the most potent weapon of the war, solving the German code machine Enigma. And, it was the Poles who captured Monte Cassino and opened the way for Allies troops to move onto Rome.
At every step of the way, Polish troops distinguished themselves on the battlefield with courage as did those who suffered at home under the murderous rule of the Germans and Soviets. And, Polish American were no less courageous in combat. It is a Polish American Lt. Col. Matt Urbanowicz Urban who is the most decorated combat veteran in American history. Fighter pilot Col. Francis Gabreski is the WWII top ace.
In view of the courage displayed by those with Polish blood, I with the following resolution ask the Western New York Chapter of the Polish American Congress to petition the Mother Polish American Congress in Chicago to start a lawsuit against FOX Television for the slander committed in the Nov. 14 episode of "Back to You."
Be it resolved:
WHEREAS FOX Television deliberately wrote into its Nov. 14 episode slander relative to Polish and Polish American courage, and
WHEREAS this deliberate slander injured Poles and Polish Americans mentally and socially and,
WHEREAS Poles have had endure the harm written at their expense so as FOX Television could improve its ratings which could then be translated into higher monetary returns from advertisers,
THEREFORE we petition the Polish American Congress to enter into a class action lawsuit seeking slander damages of at least $5000,000,000. In addition, leave room for a suit demanding punitive damages to be determined by jury if necessary.
Also, we petition that FOX TV in prime television time issue an on air spoken apology and promote a showing of "Without Pity or Mercy" directed by Wiktor Meller (Hubbard Broadcasting 1990.)
Also, this resolution be sent to all Polish Americans in the United States Congress asking their written support of this resolution.
Sincerely,
Edward S. Wiater
DICK SOLECKI RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT
Officers and Directors of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress took their oath of office from Judge Carl Bucki on Saturday, April 5, 2008 in the Marion Hall at St. Stanislaus Parish in Buffalo.
The event started at 5:30 p.m. with Joseph Macielag, former PAC President as Master of Ceremonies, and blessing of the "Swieconka" was done by Father Bocianowski, followed by the dinner and then chairperson Adeline Wujcikowski gave the welcoming address.
Sworn into office were the following: President Richard B. Solecki, Vice President Michael Zachowicz, Treasurer Andrew Kucharski, and Secretary Adeline Wujcikowski. Board of Directors: Bernadine (Dina) Szymanski, Mira Szramel, Judge Michael Pietruszka, Edward Reska, Rick Mazella, and National Director Joseph Macielag.
Richard B. Solecki, President of the Polish American Congress, WNY Division addressed the audience. For the last four years Richard Solecki has served as President and he is to be commended for all that he has done and continues to do on behalf of the Polish American Community.
The WNY Division of the Polish American Congress celebrated the Easter season and held its annual Swieconka on April 5.
Mira Szramel, Principal of the Polish Saturday School and active member of the PAC and Pulaski Association, was presented the Bronislaus Durewicz Service Award
Awards were also presented to Christine Jozwiak and Konstancy Witczak. Christine Jozwiak organized fundraising efforts for an orphanage in Poland, and is very active as First Lady in the Polish Union of America, Polish Heritage Festival and Lions Club.
K.C. Witczak is President of the Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral Seniors and is active in numerous community organizations.
Short synopsis of the three honored members:
March 14, 2008
POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS, WNY DIVISION ELECT NEW BOARD MEMBERS/NATIONAL DIRECTORS
On March 6, 2008 the Polish American Congress held its general meeting/election at St. Stanislaus Marian Hall. It was during the meeting that the ballots were counted.
Richard B. Solecki, President of the Polish American Congress announces results of the election.
Newly formed PAC Board of Directors/National Directors –
Board Members
Richard B. Solecki - President
Michael Zachowicz - Vice President
Andrew Kucharski - Treasurer
Adeline Wujcikowski - Secretary
Most Rev. Edward M. Grosz, D.D. - Chaplain
Mira Szramel - Board Member
Bernadine (Dina) Szymanski - Board Member
Judge Michael F. Pietruszka - Board Member
Edward Reska - Board Member
Rick Mazella - Board Member
Joseph Macielag - National Directors
Richard B. Solecki - National Directors
Congratulations to all!
March 9, 2008
Dear Members and Friends:
We extend a cordial invitation to you, your family and friends to attend the Polish American Congress, WNY Division Swieconka, Installation and Awards Dinner, Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 5:30 PM. This traditional celebration will take place at St Stanislaus Marian Hall.
We ask you, your family and friends to join us in celebrating this Polish Christian tradition brought forth by our forefathers from Poland. As we share Blessed Food may we also pray and ask God to bring love, peace and unity to the world.
In the past we have honored several individuals for their contributions, devotion to the organization and the upkeep of our culture and traditions. These deserving individuals will be honored at the April 5th dinner.
Tickets for the dinner at $25.00 per person. Table reservations for eight (8). A full course dinner will be served at 6:00 pm SHARP. Kindly make your reservation by or before May 26, 2008, by emailing us at "Contract Us" botton on the top of this page or you may call Adeline Wujcikowski, 827-1722 or Renee Harzewski 835-94
Respectfully,4. We hope you will join us for the "Swieconka, Installation and Awards Dinner.
Richard Solecki Adeline Wujcikowski
President Secretary
Polish American Congress Western New York Division
P.O. Box 1242
Buffalo, NY 14240
United States
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