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36TH
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF
POLISH WOMEN'S ALLIANCE OF AMERICA
INSTALLATION OF NEW NATIONAL OFFICERS
The
Installation of National Officers elected at the 36th National Convention
of Polish Women's Alliance of America held in Springfield, Massachusetts
in August 2011, took place on Sunday, October 9, 2011, at the Marriott
O'Hare in Chicago.
The
New National Board of Polish Women's Alliance of America
Seated from left, Honorary President Helen V. Wojcik, Acting Vice
President Sharon Zago, National President Delphine Huneycutt, Secretary-Treasurer
Antoinette L. Trela, and Honorary President Virginia Sikora. Standing
from left, National Directors Felicia S. Perlick, Mary L. Derwinski,
Dawn Muszynski Nelson, and Czeslawa Kolak.
The
Installation Banquet was the opportunity for PWA members and friends
of PWA to meet the new officers, to say goodbye to the outgoing officers,
and to congratulate the New National Board and the new District Presidents.
Outgoing
National Officers include President Virginia Sikora, who is now Honorary
President, and National Directors Marcia Mackiewicz Duffy and Helen
Simmons. Vice President Sharon Zago is serving as Acting Vice President
until a successor is installed.
The
Mistress of Ceremonies at the Banquet was PWA member and Illinois Appellate
Court Judge Aurelia Pucinski. Entertainment was provided by the PRCUA
Polonia Dance Ensemble.
Please
read below Words of Welcome from new National President Delphine Huneycutt
and Words of Farewell from outgoing National President Virginia Sikora.
District
Presidents at the Installation Banquet
Seated from left, District I President Lidia Filus, District V President
Mary Ann Nowak, District XIII President Mary Anne Wilk, Former District
XIII President Alicia Van Laar, and District XIV President Cheryl
A. Hillard. Standing from left, District VI President Diane Reeve,
Former District VII President Irene Honc-Jadlos, District VII President
Grazyna Buczek, Former District VIII President Sylvia Morytko, District
VIII President Alvira C. Balut, District IX President Sophie Marshall,
District XI President Bernadette Vlock, and Former District XIV President
Helen Lopez.
Special
Guests at Installation Banquet
From left, Mary
Anselmo, President PAC IL Division; James Robaczewski, Secretary/Treasurer
PRCUA; Larry Chlum, President PNA Bank; Aurelia
Pucinski, Mistress of Ceremonies; and Teresa Buckner, First Vice President
Alliance of Polish Clubs
Polonia Dance Ensemble
Mistress of Ceremonies Aurelia Pucinski with
National Board
Welcome
I
am honored and humbled to be assuming the office of President of Polish
Women's Alliance -- honored by the trust you have placed in me and
humbled by the legacy of my predecessors, the dedicated women who
came before
me and served as President during the last 113 years of our organization's
proud history. I sincerely hope that I can live up to the standards
they have set and continue the important work they started.
My
heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the outgoing National Officers --
President Virginia Sikora, Vice President Sharon Zago, and National
Directors Helen Simmons and Marcia Mackiewiz Duffy -- for their many
years of service for the good of our organization, our members, and
the Polish American community. Sharon Zago will continue to serve
as Vice President until a successor is installed and I look forward
to working with her and with Secretary Treasurer Antoinette Trela,
as well as with National Directors Felicia Perlick, Mary Derwinski,
Dawn Muszynski Nelson, and Czeslawa Kolak.
But
most of all, I look forward to serving you, dear members, and working
together with you in the next four years. I pray that our Patroness,
Our Lady of Czestochowa, will guide me and keep our organization and
all of you and your families in her care.
Fraternally,
Delphine Huneycutt
National President
Farewell
As
I look back over the last 12 years, my heart is filled with both sadness
and joy -- sadness that such an important and amazing chapter in my
life is closing, and joy and gratitude for the experiences, the friendships,
and the fulfillment that serving as your President brought me. Thank
you for your support and trust, for your many kindnesses, and for
your words of appreciation and farewell in the past few weeks.
An
organization is only as vibrant as its members and a National Board
is only as successful as the people it works with on a daily basis.
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of you, dear
members, for your continued commitment to the goals and mission of
PWA, and my deepest thanks to all the National Officers and District
Presidents who served with me during my three terms. To the Home Office
staff, who impressed me every single day with their dedication, loyalty,
and enthusiasm, and who made it a pleasure to come to work -- thank
you -- you are the best!
I
congratulate President Delphine Huneycutt and wish her and the new
National Board much success. I will cherish forever the experience
of having served as your President and I will continue to serve and
support the PWA in every way that I can.
Fraternally,
Virginia Sikora
Honorary President
NEWS FROM THE 36TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF POLISH WOMEN'S ALLIANCE OF AMERICA
Springfield,
MA -- The 36th National Convention of Polish Women's Alliance of America
was held in at the Marriott Hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts, from
Saturday, August 13 to Tuesday, August 16, 2011. On the Convention
schedule were a Memorial Mass, a Convention Banquet, the Glos Polek
Centennial Exhibition, and Convention Sessions, which included voting
on Amendments to the Constitution, Committee Reports, and Election
of National Officers.
Delegates
from across the nation arrived in Springfield on Saturday morning.
Registration took place in the afternoon, with the first session scheduled
for Saturday evening at 7 p.m. National President Virginia Sikora
called the Convention to order and welcomed the delegates. Former
District III President Evelyn Lisek led the assembly in the singing
of the Polish and American national anthems after the Presentation
of Colors. Monsignor Stanley Milewski of Orchard Lake Orchard Schools,
Chaplain of the Convention, said the invocation.
The
Order of Business included an address by President Sikora, the swearing
in of Convention Officers, a roll call of delegates, and the swearing
in of delegates. The Convention Officers were Bernadette Borinski,
Convention Chair; Christine Wozniak, Vice Chair; Victoria Moulen,
Convention Secretary; and Stasia Wozniak, Assistant Secretary. Convention
Committees were called and the Convention was adjourned until Monday
morning. District VIII Massachusetts and the Pre-Convention Committee,
with Jennie Starzyk-Benton as Chair, hosted a Welcome Reception for
delegates and guests after the session.
On
Sunday morning, a Memorial Mass for Living and Deceased PWA Members
was held in the hotel ballroom. The concelebrants were Bishop Timothy
A. McDonnell, D.D., Archdiocese of Springfield; Msgr. Stanley Milewski,
P.A., Orchard Lake Schools; Msgr. Walter Ziemba, Orchard Lake Schools;
Rev. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge,
MA; and Rev. Stanley Sokol, Pastor of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Springfield,
and Immaculate Conception Church, Indian Orchard, MA. The deacon was
Les Coughlin, St. Michael's Cathedral, Springfield.
The
lectors were National President Virginia Sikora and Vice President
Sharon Zago. The intercessions were read by Secretary-Treasurer Antoinette
Trela Vander Noot. The gift bearers were the National Directors Dawn
Muszynski Nelson, Marcia Mackiewicz Duffy, and Felicia Perlick. The
memorial offerings were placed in front of an icon of Our Lady of
Czestochowa by the District Presidents in memory of deceased members
from each of the Districts.
The
liturgical music was provided by a youth group led by Jean Duperre
of Group 422, Springfield, who accompanied the young musicians on
the piano. The other members of the group, dressed in Polish costumes,
were Jeffrey Rovatti on the concertina, Veronica Rovatti on violin,
and Felicity Rovatti on trumpet.
The
Convention banquet was held in the Hotel Ballroom on Saturday evening.
The cocktail reception started at 4:30 p.m. and the delegates and
guests had a chance to socialize, catch up with friends from other
Districts, and view the Glos Polek Centennial Exhibition, which was
set up in the foyer of the Ballroom.
Pre-Convention
Chair Jennie Starzyk-Benton greeted the guests to the banquet and
presented the National Officers and special guests. After the meal,
the winners of the Convention Membership Contest were announced and
the Remkus Sochacki Scholarships were presented to the two winners.
Mr. Thomas Sochacki, nephew of the benefactors, made the presentations
on behalf of the PWA Charitable & Educational Foundation to Tiffany
Senkow of Group 182, District 2, and to Elizabeth Chiancola, mother
of Benjamin Chiancola from Group 422, District 8. Benjamin was in
Australia and not able to attend the banquet. Please see the full
list of Convention Membership Contest winners below.
The music at the banquet was provided by the same group that had played
during Mass. The Banquet was an elegant affair, offering those present
a chance to spend time together and enjoy each other's company in
a social setting.
Convention
sessions reconvened on Monday morning, with greetings from other fraternal
officers and reports form PWA financial advisors. This was followed
by discussions and voting on Constitutional Amendments. Working on
the amendments took most of the time on Monday, continuing into the
afternoon and evening sessions. Candidate receptions were held after
the last session.
On
Tuesday morning, Convention Committees gave their reports, followed
by elections for National Office. After the election results were
announced, the newly-elected National Officers, President Delphine
Huneycutt and Secretary-Treasurer Antoinette Trela Vander Noot, were
sworn in by Convention Chair Bernadette Borinski, along with the newly-elected
National Directors, Felicia Perlick, Mary Derwinski, Dawn Muszynski-Nelson,
Czeslawa Kolak. Then President-Elect Huneycutt administered the Oath
of Office to the District Presidents, who had been elected at District
Conventions held earlier in the year. Please see names and photos
of the newly installed District Presidents in the article below this
one. The last order of business at the Convention was a presentation
of the Convention Resolution and a Resolution conferring the title
of Honorary President on Virginia Sikora.
The
delegates departed for home on Wednesday morning, after four days
of productive deliberations and a chance to catch up with old friends
and make many new ones. Thanks to District VIII Massachusetts for
their hospitality and for preparing a successful and enjoyable Convention.
Thanks also to the Convention Officers and to the Convention Committees
for their hard work, as well as to the departing National Officers
for their years of service, including President Virginia Sikora, Vice
President Sharon Zago, and Directors Marcia Mackiewicz Duffy and Helen
Simmons. Sincere congratulations to the newly elected National Officers.
Watch this web page the text of the
two Resolutions, coming soon.To see a Slide Show with photos from
the Mass, Banquet, and Convention Sessions, click on the link below.
PHOTOGRAPHS
FROM THE NATIONAL CONVENTION
MASS, BANQUET, SESSIONS
CLICK
HERE
ANNOUNCEMENT
Officers
Elected to the General Administration
at the 36th National Convention
Congratulations
to the following officers elected to the General Administration of
Polish Women's Alliance of America at the 36th Quadrennial National
Convention held in Springfield, Massachusetts, from August 13 to 16,
2011:
National
President -- Delphine Huneycutt
Secretary/Treasurer -- Antoinette Trela Vander Noot
National Directors -- Felicia Perlick, Mary Derwinski, Dawn
Muszynski-Nelson, Czeslawa Kolak
The
following District Presidents who were previously elected at their
District Conventions were confirmed:
District
I IL & FL -- Lidia Z. Filus
District
2 PA -- Anthylene M. Blasic (absent)
District
4 NY, Erie, PA -- Christine M. Wozniak
District
5 MI -- Mary A. Nowak
District
6 WI -- Diane M. Reeve
District
7 OH -- Grazyna Buczek
District
8 MA -- Alvira C. Balut
District
9 CT -- Sophie Marshall
District
10 NJ, Eastern NY & Philadelphia -- Josephine A. Kuklasinski
District
11 NE -- Bernadette M. Vlock
District
12 MD, DC -- Theresa E. Violanti
District
13 CA -- Mary Anne Wilk
District
14 PA -- Cheryl A. Hillard
Due to the fact that the elimination of term limits was not approved
by the Illinois Department of Insurance, the Officers who had served
three full terms of office were not eligible to run for a fourth term
in the same position in this election. Candidates for fourth terms
were Virginia Sikora, Sharon Zago, and Marcia Mackiewicz Duffy. Sharon
Zago will continue as National Vice President until a duly elected
successor is installed.
Convention Chairman Bernadette Borinski
administers the Oath of Office to the newly elected National Officers
of PWA, from left, Secretary-Treasurer Antoinette Trela Vander
Noot, National President Elect Delphine Huneycutt, and National
Directors Felicia Perlick, Mary Derwinski, Dawn Muszynski Nelson,
and Czeslawa Kolak.
National President Elect Delphine Huneycutt administers the Oath
of Office to the newly installed District Presidents.
National President Virgina Sikora addresses the Convention Delegates
at the Marriott Hotel, Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Officers of the 36th National Convention, from left, Vice Chairman
Christine Wozniak, Convention Chairman Bernadette Borinski, Convention
Secretary Victoria Moulen, and Assistant Secretary Stasia Wozniak.
More
Convention news and photos coming soon!
WINNERS
OF THE PWA 36TH CONVENTION SPECIAL
Each
PWA Group was eligible to be awarded cash prizes as follows:
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$100
for 10 to 20 new policies issued
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$250
for 22 to 40 new policies issued
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$500
for 42 or more new policies issued
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All Group officer
or member who sold six or more applications as witness were recognized
in the 36th National Convention Program Book and received a special
gift.
Congratulations
To all winners of the PWA 36th Convention Special
Members who sold six or more policies during the Convention Special
are:
(in order of number of polices issued )
Felicia S Perlick, Dist.
XIV, Gr.105 - 47
Alvira C Balut , Dis.VIII, Gr. 499 - 31
Lucille B Kopczynski, Dist. III, Gr. 305 - 22
Barbara Misiolek-Gamble, Dist. V, Gr. 226 - 18
Mary Ann Michalak, Dist. III, Gr. 132 - 14
Bertha Kuckla, Dist. XIV, Gr. 267 - 13
Mary H Palka, Dist. IX, Gr. 280 - 13
Theresa C Fic, Dist.I, Gr.126 - 12
Evelyn W Lisek, Dist.III, Gr. 562 - 12
Anthylene M Blasic, Dist. II, Gr. 501 - 11
Shaina R Geml, Dist. V, Gr. 769 - 11
Jane V Kane, Dist. VIII, Gr.141 - 10
Teresa Makowski, Dist. I, Gr. 114 - 10
Cynthia A Piepszak, Dist. V, Gr. 786 - 10
Dorothy T Talipski, Dist. XIV, Gr. 658 - 10
Dorothy Wisneski, Dist. XIV, Gr. 509 - 9
Sylvia A Kania, Dist. I, Gr. 819 - 8
Marion Listwan, Dist. X, Gr. 598 - 8
Elaine M Etheridge, Dist.V, Gr. 806 -
7
Rita Marek, Dist. V, Gr. 488 - 7
Jean C Scupski, Dist. XIV, Gr. 348 - 7
Grace Dubowski, Dist.I, Gr. 43 - 6
Mary A Fritz, Dist.XIV, Gr. 427 - 6
Nellie C Manarchuck, Dist. 14, Gr.642 - 6
Dale R Olsen, Dist. I, Gr. 480 - 6
Charlotte B Prez, Dist. IV, Gr. 680 -
6
Kathleen M Robinson, Dist. XII, Gr.568 - 6
Stella B Skowronski, Dist. IV, Gr. 468 - 6
Margurite A Thiltges, Dist. XI, Gr. 356 - 6
Helen V Wojcik, Dist. I, Gr. 743 - 6
PWA Groups awarded during the PWA 36th Convention Special are:
$100 award -
114, 128, 132, 141, 211, 280, 488, 562, 598, 616, 658, 743,769
$ 250 award - 267, 305, 499, 642, 786
$ 500 award - 105
CONVENTION
COMMITTEES
CONVENTION COMMITTEES
While most Convention Committees perform their
duties during the Convention, there are three Committees that are
called to work before the Convention convenes and we would like to
acknowledge them here. They are the Pre-Convention Committee, the
Committee on Constitutional Amendments, and the Nominations Committee.
Also listed below are the Committees that were
called to work at the Convention. Sincere thanks to all Committee
chairpersons and to all Committee members for their efforts and dedication
in ensuring the success of the 36th National Convention in Springfield.
PRE-CONVENTION COMMITTEE
Chairperson - Jennie Starzyk Benton,
Former National Director, Gr. 422
Co-Chair - Alice Manijak, Council 28 President, Gr.141, 287
Secretary - Jeanne Moriarty, Gr. 422
Treasurer - Alvira Balut, Gr. 499
Ad Book - Alice Manijak, Gr.141, 287, Jennie Starzyk Benton,
Gr.422
Banquet - Jane Bielski, Gr. 317, Barbara Moriarty, Gr. 422
Decoration - Stasia Wozniak, Gr. 559, Diane Miller, Gr. 559
Election - Monica Moriarty, Gr. 422, Irene Lestage, Gr. 776,
Patricia Connors, Gr. 463
Invitations - Jeanne Moriarty, Gr. 422, Monica Moriarty, Gr.
422, Andrew Moriarty, Gr. 422,
Liturgy - Victoria Moulen, Gr. 776, Irene Lestage, Gr. 776
Publicity - Lydia Bielski Magill, Gr. 317,
Raffle - Alvira Balut, Gr. 499, Helen Kapinos, Gr. 499, Claire
Madej, Gr. 499, Patricia Connors, Gr. 463
Transportation - Sophie Marshall,
District IX President
Welcoming - Jane Bielski, Former District VIII President, Gr.
317, Mary Lee Bertrand, Gr. 422
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS COMMITTEE
Chairperson - Mary Heslin, Group 289
Members - Nancy Yiznitsky, Group 9, Barbara Zielinski, Group
185, Stephanie Marcaccio, Group 673, Ed Waleryszak, Group 500
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Chairperson - Andrea Torok, Gr. 128
Members - Camille Kopielski, Gr. 211, Carolyn Lisek, Gr. 562
BUDGET
Mary Ann Myszkowski, Chairperson
Stephanie Kunas
Helena Martinez
COMPLAINTS & GRIEVANCES
Marion Listwan, Chairperson
Halina Kondraciuk
Diane Scarpa
CREDENTIALS
Jadwiga Kopij, Chairperson
Jane Kurtz
Kate Thomas
ELECTION
Monica Moriarty, Chairperson
Pat Connors
Irene Lestage
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Barbara Miller, Chairperson
Iwona Serafin
Grace Dubowski
Bo Padowski, Sales Director. – Ex-Officio
RESOLUTIONS
Mary Piergies, Chairperson
Halina Bielowicz
Maria Serafin
RULES OF ORDER
Bernadette Vlock, Chairperson
Mary Jachym
Anna May
Anna Steffl
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
James Wozniak, Chairperson
Madeline Hartleb
Steven Dembski
YOUTH & EDUCATION
Cheryl Hillard, Chairperson
Helen Lopez
Bernardine Regis
Sharon Zago, Vice President – Ex-Officio
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