PWA YOUTH CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA
JULY 14 - 18, 2010


 

For PWA Members Ages 14 - 16
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO
MARCH 15th, 2010
Join us this summer for a memorable experience!
Have fun! Travel! Learn! Make new friends!

See Itinerary Below!

 

You and other PWA members from around the country will get a chance to explore your American and your Polish heritage in Philadelphia and its surroundings. A busy and fun-filled program has been prepared for you.

Register now! You have until March 15, 2010, to sign up for the Conference. The itinerary for the five days of the Conference is printed below.

to download a more detailed itinerary. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change.


July 14 - Arrive in Philadelphia, check into downtown hotel, Ride the Ducks boat tour, dinner at City Tavern, Independence Hall Light Show

July 15 - Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Polish American Cultural Center, Kosciuszko House, Betsy Ross House, Dinner and Murder Mystery

July 16 - Battle of Brandywine battlefield tour, Constitution Center, IMAX movie in Franklin Institute, pizza and movie night

July 17 - Battleship New Jersey tour, Trip to Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Ghost Tour of the historic haunted town of New Hope

July 18 - Check out; fly home.


Letters of invitation and registration forms were mailed to all eligible PWA members in November. If you did not get a letter or if you or your parents have any questions, please call Youth Conference Chair Sharon Zago at 1-888-522-1898 ext 208.

 

 


SUMMER TRIP TO POLAND

 



TRAVEL TO POLAND THIS SUMMER!
Announcing a Cultural Program for PWA Members
Ages from 12 to 15
REGISTRATION DEADLINE APRIL 1, 2010

 

The Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation (PACCF), in cooperation with Wspolnota Polska, is offering a great opportunity for PWA members to explore the country of their heritage this coming summer. You'll join other young Polish Americans on a trip that will offer unforgettable experiences, great memories, and lasting friendships. Have fun as you travel through Poland, visiting her beautiful cities and historic sites and meeting her friendly people.

The Cultural Program encompasses a two-week period and the cost per participant is being equally underwritten by the PACCF and the PWA, with the balance of $500 being the responsibility of the participant's family. In addition, Wspolnota Polska has generously agreed to underwrite the land portion of the Program. Included is round-trip airfare from Chicago, lodging, all meals, travel in Poland, as well as tours and admissions. Participants should bring their own spending money for souvenirs and miscellaneous purchases not included in the above. Adult chaperones will accompany the students while traveling to and from Poland and during their entire stay in Poland. There are two different sets of dates to choose from:

TOUR I July 18 to August 1, 2010
TOUR II August 1 to August 15, 2010

Space is limited and the participants will be chosen by a random drawing, so please fill out and return the registration form as soon as possible, along with a deposit of $100. The registration deadline is postmark April 1, 2010. The deposit will be refunded if your name is not chosen in the drawing that will be held on April 8, 2010, at the PWA Home Office. (The deposit is non-refundable if your name is chosen and you decline to participate.) Selected participants will be notified by mail and their names will be printed in the next issue of Glos Polek (May 2010). You can see photos from the Summer 2009 Trip to Poland here.

Questions? Call 1-888-522-1898, ext 228

to download Registration Form.

 

 

THIRD ANNUAL JUNIOR BOWLING
TOURNAMENT FOR PWA YOUTH

Prizes! Trophies! Fun!

The 2010 Four Fraternals Junior Bowling Tournament is open to all PWA members between the ages of 3 and 18 (as of December 31, 2009). Please download the rules and application form from the links below and send in your score sheets and application postmarked

no later than June 30, 2010.

 

Questions? Call 1-847-384-1208 for more information.

 

 

 


CHECK OUT TWO NEW PWA CONTESTS!

We invite our PWA Youth Members to take part in the two new Easter-themed Contests below. You could be one of our lucky winners! Click on the links for details and deadlines.

 


You can win Cash Prizes! Enter today!!

 

 

SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS FOR 2009 - 2010


Congratulations to the following Special Scholarship Winners.


Academic College Scholarships

Kaitlin Kowynia
Schaumburg, IL
District 1 Council 27 Group 202

Rachel Walker Black
Crown Point, IN
District 1 Council 27 Group 211

Bernadette Miszczszyn
Propsect Heights, IL
District 1 Council 27 Group 440

Lauren De Metro
Summit, NJ
District 10 Council 15 Group 598

Joseph Stanek
Ashley, PA
District 14 Council 40 Group 267

High School Academic Awards

Matthew Kosovec
Gibsonia, PA
District 2 Council 2 Group 182

Tiffany Senkow
Pittsburgh, PA
District 2 Council 2 Group 182

High School Athletic Awards

Matthew Kosovec
Gibsonia, PA
District 2 Council 2 Group 182

Michael S. Brand
Hackettstown, NJ
District 10 Council 38 Group 677



 

 

CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE 2010 JAGIELLONIAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER


Bernadette Miszczyszyn
Prospect Heights, Illinois
Group 440, Council 27
District I

WINNING ESSAY
 Bernadette Miszczyszyn

"What Polish Heritage Benefits Do I Anticipate to Gain by Attending the Summer Program at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland?"

By attending the Summer Program at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland I hope to improve my overall Polish language and understanding of Polish culture in my future endeavor as a Physician Assistant. As a growing profession, Physician Assistants need to be able to communicate efficiently. Not only do they interact with the patients, similarly to a doctor, but they need to be able to communicate efficiently with the attending physician as well. As a native Chicago born, I want to work in the area and help the large Polish population that exists here. By attending the Summer Program I will be able to practice my Polish by speaking with Polish peers and teachers, which I have experienced, is the best way to improve language skills. My future patients in Chicago will feel more comfortable coming to me for a visit when I have utilized the resources that will make my Polish language flow more smoothly and make me an overall more knowledgeable person about the Polish culture. By attending the Summer Program I will be able to form connections with Polish doctors in the Chicago land area, because my language will improve. Meeting other students and people in Poland will help me develop my career as a Physician Assistant. As a Physician Assistant I must be able to work efficiently under a physician that will trust me. I will need to consult my superior physician when I have questions diagnosing a patient. I would love to work for a Polish doctor and working on my Polish language will give me a better chance to work side by side with a Polish Physician in the United States. Another reason I want to attend the Summer Program at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland is to increase my knowledge of Polish Culture. As a delegate for the Polish Women's Alliance of America I hope to proceed to be an active member that not only speaks Polish fluently, but has experienced the culture for myself. Having able to experience Krakow and the surrounding cities of Poland, I will have stories to tell that will encourage students to engage in the study abroad program as well. Lastly, Poland is a country that has changed its government from Communism to Democracy. By attending the Summer Program at the Jagiellonian University I will be able to speak to locals and talk with my teachers and peers about the government in Poland and how people are benefiting or suffering. Considering my interest in health care, I would like to gain knowledge about the health care system in Poland and learn about people who do not obtain proper medical care. Recently I have traveled to Honduras on a volunteer Medical Brigade where we treated fifteen-hundred patients in one week time. I hope one day I can start the beginning to a non-profit organization that will help poor Polish children and families. With my excellent organizational skills I feel I have the leadership ability to start the beginnings to better health care and education, but have not gotten the chance to experience Poland to its full potential.


 

A THANK YOU FROM THE 2009 JAGIELLONIAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

 

February, 2010

Dear Vice President Zago,

Hi, it's Daria Megotz again. I just wanted to thank you and the committee who choose me for last year's Jagiellonian Scholarship again. I recently was looking at pictures from my trip and actually made a life-changing decision. I was thinking about applying to law school when I decided that my passion was in the field that I am currently studying at Bucknell, which is international relations. I decided to apply to Masters programs in international relations. Although I just applied I have already been accepted to Seton Hall University, right outside of New York City!!! It is a great program and I know that they granted me admission because of my unique experiences abroad, which also made me realize how much I love the atmosphere of working and studying in international circumstances. Here is part of my personal statement that they were truly impressed with:

After studying in Germany, I continued my journey to Krakow, Poland, where I spent a summer studying at the prestigious Jagiellonian University after receiving a national scholarship from the Polish Women's Alliance of America. During my time in Poland, I was able to study the Polish language and culture, which was especially rewarding to me because I am of Polish heritage. One of my Polish professors, Dr. Beata Kwiatkowska-Kopka, an excavator in Wawel Castle and professor of Polish art history, really opened my eyes to the vibrant traditions and history of Poland but moreover, inspired me through her enthusiasm for her work. She was a great example of how people who are passionate about their professional careers are the most successful in making positive contributions to society. Her enthusiasm and success reminded me of my own enthusiasm for international relations and the desire I have to continue toward a career in this field in order to be the most productive person I can become.

I can honestly say that this experience has provided me with the opportunity to really pursue a career that I enjoy and am passionate about. I also wanted to let you know that if I do attend Seton Hall I am going to try to get an internship with the Polish Consulate or the Permanent Mission of Poland to the UN. These are two internships that the school has close connections with. Again I can't thank you enough. I am going to attempt to further my Polish language skills and potentially also pursue a career in German and Polish relations which my current German professor says is an up and coming field. I will keep you posted on what other institutions I get accepted to.

Thanks again,

Daria Megotz

 


 

FOUR FRATERNALS YOUTH BOWLING TOURNMENT WINNERS

 

PWA Youth Bowlers took second place this year in the Four Fraternals Youth Bowling Tournament, behind Polish Falcons (first place), and ahead of Polish National Alliance (third), and PRCUA (fourth). Photo above shows, from left: Paul Odrobina, Vice President of Polish National Alliance; Anna Sokolowski, Vice President of Polish Roman Catholic Union; and Sharon Zago, Vice President of Polish Women's Alliance of America; in back: Robert Gorny, 2nd Vice President Polish Falcons. All four Vice Presidents proudly display the tournament team plaques.


PFA was First
PWA was Second
PNA was Third
PRCUA was Fourth


The PWA members listed below placed in the top three highest scores among the four Polish fraternals and won trophies in addition to their medals and certificates. The number of points bowled appears following the names.

3-5 Year Olds
   First Place Jimmy Carter - 204
3-5 Year Olds
   Third Place Sam Blackburn - 188
9-11 Year Olds
   First Place Thomas Augenstein - 345
9-11 Year Olds
   Second Place Tanner South - 322
12-14 Year Olds
   Third Place Landon South 373
15-18 Year Olds
   First Place April Baylor - 653
15-18 Year Olds
   Second Place Ashley Johnson 531

 
Plaques and trophies for winning PWA members surround the Second Place Award won by PWA members in the Youth Bowling Tournament.

 


You can see the names of all the winners and participants in the PWA Bowling Tournament 2009, by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

 

 

 


 

 

2006 PWA YOUTH CONFERENCE PHILADELPHIA

Youth Committee: Sharon Zago, National Vice President and Chair
Barbara Miller, National Treasurer, Grazyna Migala, National Secretary
National Directors: Helen Simmons, Jennie Starzyk Benton, Antoinette Trela-Vander Noot,
Marcia Mackiewicz Duffy, Felicia Perlick
Virginia Sikora, National President and Ex-Officio

Co-Chairs of the 2006 PWA Youth Conference :
Vice President Sharon Zago and
National Director Marcia Mackiewicz Duffy and Robert Duffy
Chaperones: President Virginia Sikora and Ray Sikora, National Directors: Helen Simmons, Felicia Perlick

Special Thanks to Volunteer Dr. Michelle Commercio, Assistant Professor of Political Science at U of VT, who assisted in chaperoning the All Day Walking Tour


Video Produced By: Chaperone Robert Duffy

Polish Eagle

“The Polish White Eagle” – The Emblem of Poland

The crowned White Eagle has been the Coat of Arms of the Polish State for over 700 years. It is one of the oldest State Coat of Arms in the world. There are very few other countries, which have kept their coats of arms for such a long period of time, There are many legends about the origins of the White Eagle, but one of the favorite ones is connected with Poland’s first capital, Gniezno, where Lech, the legendary ancestor of the Piast kings was to find an eagle’s nest (in Polish “gniazdo”), and thus took the eagle as his coat of arms.

As the king of all birds it was one of the earliest symbols of power, victory, force and kingship. Because of these reasons, many kings in other countries also wanted the eagle in their coats of arms.

The Polish Constitution is second only to the United States Constitution in stressing human rights, freedom and tolerance, and it was Europe’s first written Constitution – May 3, 1771.

Read More! Read about the 1771 constitution.

Read More! Read the entire May 3, 1771 constitution.

Read More! Read the Constitution of The Republic of Poland as adopted by the National Assembly on 2nd April 1997.

American and Polish Flags
 

'Emblem of Good Will' A Polish Declaration of Admiration and Friendship for the United States of America

Perhaps there has never been a more extraordinary gift given by one nation to another than the 111 volumes presented to the United States by Poland on the 150th anniversary of American independence. These volumes consist of a declaration of admiration signed by an estimated 5,500,000 Polish citizens, representing more than one-sixth of the total population of Poland in 1926.

 
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