POLISH
POET AND NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATE
WISLAWA SZYMBORSKA DIES AT 88
Polish
poet and Nobel laureate Wislawa Szymborska,
whose poignant and playful poems spoke to
the heart of everyday life, died on February
1, 2011, in Krakow, Poland, aged 88.
Described
by the Nobel committee in 1996 as the "Mozart
of poetry" with "something of the
fury of Beethoven," Szymborska died in
her sleep after a long bout with cancer. She
was also called the "Greta Garbo of poetry"
because of her reclusiveness and desire to
remain out of the limelight.
Speaking
on the day after her death, Poland's president
Bronislaw Komorowski called her the country's
"guardian spirit." Her poems "were
brilliant advice, through which the world
became more understandable," he said;
they showed the importance of finding value
"in the daily bustle."
Born
in the Polish village of Prowent in 1923,
Szymborska moved to Krakow with her family
when she was 8 and lived there until her death.
She studied Polish philology and sociology
at the Jagiellonian University, and published
her first poem in March 1945, "Szukam
slowa" (Looking for a Word), in the daily
Dziennik Polski. Her first collection,
That's What We Live For (1952), was
written under Poland's communist regime and
was an expression of socialist realism; she
later renounced the Stalin-era verse of her
first two books, going on to mock communism
in later collections. Her writing, always
accessible, which by her death stretched to
around 400 poems, was known and loved across
Poland, often learned by heart, with "A
Cat in an Empty Apartment," one of her
most popular poems, recited across the country.
Despite
the popularity that the Nobel Prize brought
her, Szymborska shied away from the public
eye, preferring to live a quiet and unassuming
life in the city she loved. "Everyone
needs solitude, especially a person who is
used to thinking about what she experiences.
Solitude is very important in my work as a
mode of inspiration, but isolation is not
good in this respect. I am not writing poetry
about isolation," she said, going on
to wonder why anyone would want to interview
her. "For the last few years my favorite
phrase has been 'I don't know.' I've reached
the age of self-knowledge, so I don't know
anything. People who claim that they know
something are responsible for most of the
fuss in the world."
She
was awarded the Nobel in 1996 despite having
published only 200 or so poems: she was praised
by the committee for her poetry "that
with ironic precision allows the historical
and biological context to come to light in
fragments of human reality."
In her Nobel speech, she spoke of the extraordinary
nature of life, of how she would love to tell
Ecclesiastes that "'There's nothing new
under the sun': that's what you wrote, Ecclesiastes.
But you yourself were born new under the sun,"
and of how, "in the language of poetry,
where every word is weighed, nothing is usual
or normal. Not a single stone and not a single
cloud above it. Not a single day and not a
single night after it. And above all, not
a single existence, not anyone's existence
in this world."
Szymborska
was also a literary critic, essayist, and
translator, but poetry was the love of her
life. She continued writing right until her
death and a new book of poetry is to be published
later this year. Szymborska's was the fourth
Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to a Pole;
the other Polish recipients of the Nobell
Prize for Literature were Wladyslaw Reymont,
Henryk Sienkiewicz, and Czeslaw Milosz.
Szymborska's
Poems
"A
Cat in an Empty Apartment"
Polish
Poet Spoke the Inner Thoughts of Many People
POLISH
WOMEN'S ALLIANCE OF AMERICA
GIFT CARD PROGRAM
A
new fundraising opportunity for 2012
We are
happy to announce a new GIFT CARD PROGRAM
which will help raise money for PWA. Purchase
Gift Cards to pay for your everyday expenses
such as food, clothing, household items, and
other essentials -- or purchase Gift Cards
to give for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations,
etc. Every time you pay for a purchase with
a Gift Card, you will earn money for Polish
Women's Alliance!
The
Gift Card Program includes popular retailers
such as Target, Amazon, Walmart, and many
other stores
where we know that our members and supporters
shop every day. Here are just some of the
participating vendors.
By paying for your
purchase at the retailers or restaurants listed
above with a Gift Card, you can raise money
for PWA and its many charitable and educational
programs, each time you make a purchase. You
can order your Gift Cards either by using
the Order Form at the download link below,
printing it out, and mailing it in to PWA
with a check, or you can go to to order your
Gift Cards online at www.shopwithscrip.com
. You will need to create an account and enter
PWA's enrollment code 4ABBLL873219L.
Order Forms sent in
by mail should arrive at the PWA Home Office
by the 15th of each month.
Gift Cards will be mailed once a month, starting
in March 2012, on or around the 22nd of
the month.
You will find more details and a list of participating
vendors on the Order Form.
Questions? Call 1-888-522-1898
CLICK
HERE FOR FLYER AND
ORDERING FORM
or go
to
www.shopwithscrip.com
Remember,
with every Gift Card you purchase,
you are helping raise funds for PWA!
SEEKING
NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES?
BECOME A PWA SALES REP
Are you ready to make a difference in your
life and that of others, control your time
and earnings, be your own boss?
Are you currently available to work, a stay-at-home
mom with extra time, or retired, but looking
to supplement your current income?
Are you a licensed insurance agent looking
to close more sales?
NEW AGENTS?
We can help you get started quickly!
EXPERIENCED AGENTS?
We have unique plans to make you successful!
Polish Women's Alliance
of America is looking for self- motivated
sales representatives in the States of
CA, CT, D.C., FL, IL, IN, MD, MA, MI, NE,
NJ, NY, OH, PA, WV, and WI
We are looking for
independent licensed agents or individuals
who are interested in becoming licensed agents
in the states in which they live. Contact
us today to begin selling the right products
at the right time!
Call toll-free at
888-522-1898 and ask for Bo.
Or send to
padowski@pwaa.org
Or download, print, fill in, and return the
coupon below.
CLICK
HERE FOR PWA
SALES REP FLYER AND FORM
PWA
SPECIAL ELECTION
- NEW NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT ELECTED
On
Saturday, January 21, 2012, the District
Presidents, National Directors and two National
Officers elected Sharon Zago as Vice
President of PWA at the PWA Home Office in
Chicago. Votes were counted by Retired Honorable
Judge James Murphy, Cook County Circuit Court.
Congratulations to Sharon. In the photo, President
Delphine Hunneycutt administers the Oath
of Office to Vice President Sharon Zago.
From
left, PNA Vice President Paul Odrobina,
PWA District I President Lidia Filus,
PWA Vice President Sharon Zago, PRCUA
Vice President Anna Sokolowski, and PWA
President Delphine Hunneycutt at the PWA
Home Office after the Special Election
on January 21, 2012.
2012
PWA NATIONAL RAFFLE
This is your chance to WIN BIG
with POLISH WOMEN'S ALLIANCE!
Win $4500 in Prize Money in Cash.
Return your lucky tickets as soon as possible.
The deadline is June 15, 2012.
Entries must be postmarked June 15, 2012,
to be eligible.
GRAND PRIZE $ 2000
Second Prize $1000
Third Prize $500
Fourth Prize $250
Fifth Prize $250
Sixth thru Tenth Prizes $100
Drawing will be held on June 21, 2012,
in Chicago.
Proceeds to benefit Komitet Oswiaty, the PWA
Education Committee, promoting Polish culture
and heritage and supporting our youth.
Please support our 2012 National Raffle.
Watch for your tickets in the mail.
You could be one of the lucky winners!
Call 1-888-522-1898 for info or more
raffle tickets.
$$$
DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS $$$
SPECIAL APPEAL FROM THE PRESIDENT
 
Support our PWA members in college!
Support out PWA Scholarship Programs!
Send in a dollar (or more) to help our young
members
reach their dreams and achieve their goals.
National
President Delphine Hunneycutt is making a
special appeal to all PWA members,
and to past PWA Scholarship Recipients in
particular, to support our college-bound members
in their quest for academic success.
Our
youth is our future. Download the coupon below
to send in
your donations.
CLICK
HERE FOR
DONATION COUPON
BECOME
A MENTOR - JOIN THE PWA
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
If you would be willing
to become a mentor for a PWA member who is
currently in high school or college and who
might be interested in pursuing your profession
or line of work, please join our Directory.
The Directory will be posted online at pwaa.org.
Please send an email
to pwaa@pwaa.org
with the following information:
- Your
name and PWA Group No.
- Your
profession
- Your
areas of interest and professional expertise
- Your
email address and phone number
WINNER
OF 2010 "SAIL AWAY" MEMBERSHIP CONTEST
Bernadette Vlock, President of District XI
Nebraska, was the winner of last year's Sail
Away Membership Contest. The grand prize was
a Caribbean cruise for two. Bernadette and
her husband John flew from Omaha to Orlando,
FL, on May 13, 2011, where they departed from
Port Canaveral on the cruise ship Monarch
of the Seas. Stops on the cruise included
Coco Cay and Nassau in the Bahamas, where
Bernadette and John enjoyed a ride on a glass-bottom
boat and a tour of the island. Their return
was on May 19th, which was Bernadette's birthday.
It was a memorable cruise, Bernadette says,
and a very special birthday, and she thanks
PWA for the wonderful experience. And we thank
Bernadette for her hard work in signing up
new members and congratulate her again on
winning the Sail Away Contest!
DONATE YOUR
OLD CELL PHONE TODAY
HELP OUR TROOPS CALL HOME!
Donate your old cell
phone today to help our troops overseas stay
in touch with their families. Bring them to
the PWA Home Office at 6643 N. Northwest Hwy,
2nd Floor, Chicago, during regular business
hours (8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday)
or to any of the other locations in Chicago,
Oak Park, Niles, and Pittsburgh listed on
the flyer that you can download below. This
drive is sponsored by the Four Fraternals:
PWA, PNA, PRCUA, and the Falcons.
For more information, please call 888-522-1898,
ext 208, or download the flyer at the link
below.
DOWNLOAD
FLYER HERE
2011
ANNUAL CASH RAFFLE WINNERS
Komitet
Oswiaty is happy to present to you the following
winners
of the PWA National Raffle
Congratulations!!
$2,000 Grand Prize --- John Lipinski District
10, Council 38, Group 611
$1,000 Second Prize --- Louise Kopstain, Non-member
$500 Third Prize --- Cel Dolata, District 2,
Council 2, Group 224
$250 Fourth Prize ---- K. Dziedzic, Non-member
$250 Fifth Prize --- John* & Renee Bednarski,
*Dist 2, Cl 2, Gr 721
$100 Sixth Prize --- Tricia Fleckenstein, Non-member
$100 Seventh Prize --- Mary Wesolowski, District
I, Council 13, Gr 149
$100 Eight Prize --- Theresa Price, District
14, Council 40, Gr 362
$100 Ninth Prize --- Irene P. Lis, District
I, Council 9, Group 61
$100 Tenth Prize --- Bernie Regis, District
14, Council 40, Gr 450
We
would like to thank everyone who supported
our Raffle and hope you will continue to
do so in the future. Proceeds from the Raffle
are used to fund activities and programs
of the PWA Education Committee (Komitet
Oswiaty). We would especially like to thank
Ms. Cel Dolata for donating $50 of her winnings
back to Oswiaty. Bog Zaplac!
KOMITET OSWIATY: SHARON ZAGO, VICE PRESIDENT
AND CHAIRMAN
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ANTOINETTE TRELA-VANDER
NOOT, SECRETARY-TREASURER
DIRECTORS: DAWN MUSZYNSKI NELSON, HELEN
SIMMONS,
MARCIA MACKIEWICZ DUFFY, FELICIA PERLICK
EX-OFFICIO VIRGINIA SIKORA, PRESIDENT
WINNERS
OF THE PWA 36TH CONVENTION SPECIAL
Each
PWA Group was eligible to be awarded cash prizes
as follows:
|
$100
for 10 to 20 new policies issued
|
|
$250
for 22 to 40 new policies issued
|
|
$500
for 42 or more new policies issued
|
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
POLISH
AMERICAN NIGHT
AT WHITE SOX PARK
JULY 26, 2011
PWA Vice President Sharon Zago had the honor
of throwing out the first pitch at the start
of the baseball game between the Chicago White
Sox and the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, July
26, 2011, during Polish American Night at
U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The Detroit
Tigers went on to win the game 5 to 4.
Vice President Sharon Zago on the mound at
US Cellular Field, practicing for the first
pitch. Polish American Night at White Sox
Field is an annual event sponsored by the
Four Fraternals.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR
MAY QUEENS AND SWITA
FOR 2010
FIRST
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Felicia S. Perlick
Gr. 105 - Plymouth, PA
Council 40 - District XIV
23 life insurance policies ($32,900)
SECOND
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Mary Ann Michalak
Gr. 132 - Munster, IN
Council 21 - District III
13 life insurance policies ($21,000)
THIRD
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Theresa Fic
Gr. 126 - Niles, IL
Council 9 - District I
11 policies ($12,000) + 2 annuities
FOURTH
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Lucille B. Kopczynski
Gr. 305 - South Bend, IN
Council 11 - District III
12 life insurance policies ($14,000)
FIFTH
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Bernadette M. Vlock
Gr. 409 - Omaha, NE
Council 25 - District XI
11 life insurance policies ($33,000)
SIXTH
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Teresa Makowski
Gr. 114 - Chicago, IL
Council 27 - District I
11 life insurance policies ($19,000)
SEVENTH
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Bertha A. Kuckla
Gr. 267 - Dupont, PA
Council 44 - District XIV
11 life insurance policies ($11,000)
EIGHTH
PLACE MAY QUEEN
Katheryn Mackovyak
Gr. 721 - Portage, PA
Council 37 - District II
7 policies ($39,000) + 3 annuities
FIRST
PLACE SWITA
Czeslawa Kolak
Gr. 821 - Park Ridge, IL
Council 27 - District I
7 policies ($11,000) + 3 annuities
SECOND
PLACE SWITA
Anthylene Blasic
Gr. 501 - Conemaugh, PA
Council 37 - District II
10 life insurance policies ($10,000)
SECOND
PLACE SWITA
Dorothy T. Talipski
Gr. 658 - Moosic, PA
Council 44 - District XIV
10 life insurance policies ($10,000)
HONOR
ROLL OF GROUPS
FOR 2010 MEMBERSHIP
Through
the joint effort of our Groups and the Home
Office, we are pleased to announce the following
PWA Groups that signed up at least five
New Certificates in 2010:
|
Group
|
District
|
Council
|
No.of
New Certificates
|
|
Group
|
District
|
Council
|
No.of
New Certificates
|
|
105
|
14
|
40
|
30
|
|
277
|
5
|
3
|
6
|
|
431
|
1
|
27
|
20
|
|
306
|
2
|
32
|
6
|
|
132
|
3
|
21
|
16
|
|
317
|
8
|
28
|
6
|
|
128
|
3
|
21
|
15
|
|
409
|
11
|
25
|
6
|
|
616
|
5
|
20
|
14
|
|
422
|
8
|
28
|
6
|
|
821
|
1
|
27
|
14
|
|
423
|
1
|
9
|
6
|
|
305
|
3
|
11
|
12
|
|
468
|
4
|
16
|
6
|
|
743
|
1
|
13
|
12
|
|
737
|
10
|
15
|
6
|
|
114
|
1
|
27
|
11
|
|
814
|
13
|
35
|
6
|
|
211
|
1
|
27
|
11
|
|
819
|
1
|
9
|
6
|
|
267
|
14
|
44
|
11
|
|
70
|
1
|
19
|
5
|
|
488
|
5
|
20
|
11
|
|
214
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
|
721
|
2
|
37
|
11
|
|
280
|
9
|
8
|
5
|
|
579
|
11
|
25
|
10
|
|
348
|
14
|
40
|
5
|
|
658
|
14
|
44
|
9
|
|
585
|
5
|
20
|
5
|
|
806
|
5
|
3
|
9
|
|
589
|
10
|
15
|
5
|
|
254
|
4
|
5
|
8
|
|
598
|
10
|
15
|
5
|
|
275
|
11
|
25
|
8
|
|
642
|
14
|
44
|
5
|
|
221
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
|
702
|
12
|
34
|
5
|
|
427
|
14
|
44
|
7
|
|
752
|
13
|
35
|
5
|
|
680
|
4
|
23
|
7
|
|
754
|
7
|
7
|
5
|
|
786
|
5
|
20
|
7
|
|
763
|
12
|
34
|
5
|
|
45
|
1
|
26
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
A
special acknowledgment is in order to all
of our hard-working Members, Groups, Councils,
and Districts for encouraging new membership
in the PWA. Last year, for 2009, we had eight
May Queens and sixteen Groups listed on our
Honor Roll. This year, for 2010, we have eleven
May Queens and Swita and forty-five Groups
listed on the Honor Roll for signing between
5 to 30 new members. What a difference a year
makes!
We
ask for your continued support in membership
development, especially in this year of our
36th Quadrennial National Convention. As announced
previously, any Group officer or member who
sells six or more applications as a witness,
through June 30, 2011, will be recognized
in the Convention Program Book and will receive
a special gift. Please be sure to take advantage
of our 36th National Convention Special --
the Glos Polek 100th Anniversary Insurance
Offer -- that ends June 30th. Please click
here for details.
Fraternally,
Antoinette
Trela-Vander Noot
Secretary/Treasurer
|
|
|
|
It
is a program where the members can go
to purchase ink and toner at a 10-40%
savings and 10% of what the members purchase
goes back to PWAA.
|
Recently
the New Jersey Department of Insurance approved
a new regulation, which may apply to you.
If you are New Jersey resident senior citizen
(age 62 or older) insured by a life certificate
or annuity contract with us, Polish Women's
Alliance of America, you have a right to designate
a third party to receive a copy of any notice
of cancellation, nonrenewal, conditional renewal
and lapse. The
Notification form number PWA/N/TP/02 has to
be filled out, if you decide to designate
the third party to your life insurance certificate
or an annuity contract.
The third party must consent to appointment
by signing the designation notice. The third
party may terminate the designation by written
notice to you and us. You may terminate or
change the third party by written notice to
us. The
Department's requires that the third party
election must be returned by certified mail
with return receipt requested. To
get form PWA/N/TP/02 click
here
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Free: (888) 522-1898 • Phone (847)
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