DOZIN WITH DINOS AT THE FIELD MUSEUM -
	2013 JAGIELLONIAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS -
	2012 JAGIELLONIAN WINNER: MY SUMMER IN KRAKOW -
	YOUTH SUMMER CULTURAL PROGRAM IN POLAND
	2013 YOUTH BOWLING TOURNAMENT
	2012 YOUTH BOWLING TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
	POLAND'S NEW TENNIS STARS - THE RADWANSKIE SISTERS
	PWA SCHOLARSHIPS 2013-2014
	2010 YOUTH CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA - PICTURES/VIDEO
	2010 SUMMER PROGRAM IN POLAND
	POP MUSIC IN POLAND
	CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES
	PWAA DANCE GROUPS

 

DOZIN WITH DINOS
AN OVERNIGHT AT THE FIELD MUSEUM

 

 

Chicago, IL-The sixth annual Dozin' with Dinos at the Field Musuem, organized by the four Polish Fraternals, was once again well supported by our members and their families. The participants got to enjoy an evening of workshops, scientific illustrations, bedtime stories by Sue the Dinosaur, as well as some museum exploring on their own. The Dinosauria team was also present, showing real dinosaur bones and presenting a slide show to the participants. Snacks were served in the evening followed by breakfast in the morning. The program was well-planned and everything was covered in this popular fundraiser. A good time was had by all!

 

2013 RECIPIENTS OF JAGIELLONIAN
SUMMER PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS

WINNING ESSAYS

This year, for the first time, PWA was happy to offer two scholarships to the Summer Program at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. The two Scholarship Recipients for 2013 are Helen Lopez of Group 530, District XIV Pennsylvania, and Kasia Ann Schemanski of Group 786, District V, Michigan. Their essays are published below.

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

 

Helen Lopez

 

On July the 4th of 2012 I arrived in Krakow, Poland. I was 60 years of age. This was my first trip to the land that helped form me into the person I am today. I achieved two of my primary goals of this trip: to visit the church where my grandmother was baptized at Swiety Swierad and to meet my cousins in Tropie. Both of these joyous objectives opened up my heart and mind to want to know so much more about Poland.

As an American of Polish heritage I grew up learning to sing and pray in Polish. We have always celebrated Swieconka at Easter and Wigilia at Christmas. Having served as the Polish Women's Alliance of America President of Group 530 and until recently as the District 14 President, I tried to share my heritage through our fraternal activities - but I always felt that something was missing.

By going to study in Poland I am hoping to find out what is missing. Polish heritage is clearly so much more than pierogi and polkas. During my short time in Poland I visited the cities of Krakow, Wieliczka, Tarnow, and Tropie. I interacted with hotel and restaurant staff, tour guides and family. I want to know about Poland's history and how it and her people have made it the country that it is today beyond what you read about in books or magazines. So, the first benefit is simply to satisfy my curiosity: to discern what is "missing" by meeting and interacting with the people of Poland.

As I am sure you know many Catholic Polish parishes have closed/merged. We don't hear the prayers or hymns sung in Polish as much anymore. Wigilia and Swieconka are becoming increasingly secularized. I wonder if the same things are happening in Poland. What can they teach me about my heritage that would help me promote our Polish heritage in our fraternal organization and in my own family? That would be the second benefit that I hope to attain: to be reinvigorated with new and modern ideas to promote our Polish heritage so that future generations carry on the traditions and know why they are important.

I love to learn new things. A few years ago when very few younger coworkers in my workplace chose not to enroll in a management development program offered by our employer, I decided to apply to the program and was chosen to participate. The program was of two years duration and required a lot of extra work. But I enjoyed learning more about myself and how to improve my management skills. I am already fluent in Spanish and have a solid knowledge of Mexican history and culture. It would be quite a challenge to learn the Polish language, history, and culture at this stage in my life. However, it would be such an honor to learn the language, traditions, history, and culture at the oldest Polish university. (I already bought a Jagiellonian University tee shirt!!). So another benefit and probably the most important one is simply the opportunity to learn. It would be such a privilege to represent the Polish Women's Alliance of America while I live and study in Poland.

In summation I anticipate the following benefits:
To meet and interact with people in Poland
To be better prepared to promote our Polish heritage through our fraternal organization and in my family
To learn the Polish language, traditions, history and culture.

It would be such a privilege to share all the knowledge and experiences that I might gain by this opportunity to study at the Jagiellonian University especially in promoting my PWA group, council and district.

 

By attending the Jagiellonian University summer program I hope to gain a better understanding of my Polish heritage in terms of the language, culture, arts, history and have the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. The first benefit would be to develop a better comprehension of and ability to speak the Polish language. Several of my friends have attended the Summer Program and have come back with an expanded vocabulary and comprehension of the language and greatly improved reading and writing skills. It has always been one of my desires to develop and broaden my ability to speak, read and write Polish. I have some basic knowledge of the Polish language and would very much like to enhance my verbal and written skills. I am studying Criminal Justice in college and hope to one day work for the government. Being fluent in a second language would greatly enhance my employment opportunities. It would also provide me with the ability to converse with others who have a limited grasp of the English language.

Next, I would like to really have the opportunity to learn more about the history of Poland and to study at the Jagiellonian. To think that I could study at the University founded by King Kasimir the Great is amazing. Krakow was the capitol of the Kingdom of Poland and its rich history and culture make it an educational destination. During my elementary and secondary education there was little if any acknowledgement of the contributions made by Polish people throughout the ages. At the Summer Program I would hope to expand upon the knowledge I currently possess in this area. I would like very much to be able to speak with commitment and clarity about the history of Poland and to clarify the misconceptions that many people possess about Poland and its rich history.

I would also like to expand my knowledge of the culture and art of my Polish heritage. Being able to develop a deeper awareness of and understanding of my Polish heritage is very important to me. I would like to learn about the culture and background of my ancestors and the contributions my culture gave to the world. On a personal note, I was born in Poland, adopted at the age of five weeks and at the age of three months came to the United States. It would be a personal achievement to be able to spend a month in the country of my birth and explore first-hand the culture of my ancestors. To be able to walk the streets of Krakow where my ancestors may have walked and to attend the university where some of them may have studied is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I had the opportunity to present flowers to Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski at the Piast Institute's Third Dekaban Lecture. One of the things I remember most is Dr. Brzezinski telling us to be proud of our Polish heritage and how President Jimmy Carter introduced Dr. Brzezinski to his staff and instructed them to learn how to spell and pronounce Dr. Brzezinski's name by the next day. I always remember his words when people mispronounce or misspell my name. Attending the Jagiellonian University Summer Program would enhance the words of Dr. Brzezinski in my mind, "Always be proud of your Polish heritage." Not only would it enhance my understanding, but it would also provide me with a solid foundation to build upon and use as I pursue my education and involvement in Polonia and the Polish Women's Alliance of America.

Shaina Geml of Group 769, District V Michigan, was the recipient of the 2012 Summer Program at Jagiellonian University Scholarship. She shares her experience with us in the following essay.

 

In July of 2012, I was able to experience one of the most incredible months of my life so far. Thanks to the Polish Women's Alliance, I was able to spend the month traveling and studying abroad in Poland on a full-ride scholarship. In fact, to describe the time I spent there as "incredible" does not do it justice. Studying at the Jagiellonian University's School of Polish Language and Culture broadened my life through language, culture, art, and history in a way that simply defies words.

As a Polish dancer for 18 years and a lifelong member of PWA, I had always dreamed of the chance to go to Poland and explore the country of my ancestors; however, everything I imagined couldn't come close to the world I encountered. To start off, one of the most important occurrences during my time there was the immersive language course I took. Even as a first-level Polish student, with my knowledge of the language limited to "dzi?kuj?" and "kocham ci?, babcia," I was forced to push my boundaries and learn in a class that was taught almost solely in Polish. It was difficult, to say the least, but incredibly gratifying when I found myself able to make small talk with shopkeepers and understand directions about the city.

This brings me to my next love, which was the city and culture of Krakow. Although we lived outside of the heart of the town, I found myself traveling nearly every day to explore a new area of the seemingly endless cityscape. I was able to try delicious home-cooked meals from small restaurants in the back corners of the Stare Miasto and even the Bary mleczne (milk bars that I frequented for lunch), watch the European Cup finals from a soccer center in the middle of a local park, explore the old buildings and town center in Kazimierz, and even spend a day exploring the Krakow Zoo with my new friends from across the world. Every new experience I had brought me further into a culture that had so much to explore. In fact, these few things only touched on the things I did during my time there. I was also able to discover the small museums and shops of Zakopane, where I was able to buy my own handmade pair of kierpce for dance, honor the memories of the lives destroyed by experiencing history in person at Auschwitz and Birkenau, and even take classes on how to make traditional Polish food and drinks so I could bring home some new techniques to my family.

In the end, though, it was the chance to take a class on the art of Poland that truly made this time magical for me. When I first read about the course offered, it sounded too incredible to be true. It gave the students the chance to escape the confines of a classroom and slides of photos of art and instead explore them in person. Once again, my hopes for the class were far surpassed by the adventures themselves. Our instructor, we learned, was a curator for the national art archives at the Wawel Castle, which meant that we had access to architecture, building, sculptures, and paintings that few Krakowians would ever have the chance to see, let alone a "typical tourist." As her students, we dove into archives of art from the early centuries of mankind, through the cathedrals of the Gothic and Baroque periods, to the sculptures and paintings of the Renaissance and Romanticsm, and even into the eclectic arts of surrealism - all in person through museums and tours across the city, and more.

Furthermore, the most memorable moments from this trip occurred in her class just about a week into the course. Located on Wawel Hill, there is an exhibit that shows the outside of The Rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a tiny one-room building from the 10th/11th century that the curators are desperately trying to figure out how to preserve as it is slowly crumbling in front of them. As we passed the rope to the pathway in front of us, she turned to us with a gleam in her eye and said, "Now, you must go in, take one deep breath and breathe in the history, for this is the history of Poland." It was incredible. To the naked eye, it was a room of stone that was falling apart, but being in there, I felt magic. I felt history. I felt like a true Pole.

I can only hope that this small window into my life during that month does it justice. I think I could write pages about that time and still not explain everything, and for this I thank Polish Women's Alliance. This opportunity, once again, was more than I had hoped for. That July ignited a fire in me to continue to grow and learn so much more about my culture and family ancestry - and I have promised myself I will be back once again to experience it all.

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 a balance of $550 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.

Space is limited and the participants will be chosen by a random drawing. Please download the registration form below, fill it out, and return it as soon as possible, along with a deposit of $100. The registration deadline is postmark May 1, 2013. The deposit will be refunded if your name is not chosen in the drawing that will be held on May 7, 2013, 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 Summer Issue of Glos Polek.

DEPOSIT

Please include a $100 deposit with your registration.
The deposit will be refunded if the child’s name is not selected in the drawing to be held on
May 7, 2013.

Please make the check payable to Polish Women’s Alliance and mail
it postmarked no later than May 1, 2013 to:

Polish Women’s Alliance of America
6643 N. Northwest Hwy, 2nd Fl., Chicago, IL 60631.
Questions? 1-888-522-1898, ext 206.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
THE REGISTRATION FORM

FOUR FRATERNALS SPONSOR
2013 YOUTH BOWLING TOURNAMENT

The Four Fratenrals are happy to sponsor another Bolwing Tournament for their youth members. The 2013 Youth Bowling Tournament runs from January 1st to June 30th. There are five age groups eligible:

 

Please download the Rules and Application at the link below and please be sure to return the Score Sheets and Application to PWA postmarked no later than June 30, 2013.

The U.S. has the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena – Poland has the Radwanskie sisters, Agnieszka and Urszula, from Kraków. Agnieszka, 23, is currently ranked No. 2 in the world after playing in the Wimbledon Women’s Singles championship game on July 7, 2012. She lost to Serena Williams, but made history by becoming the first Polish tennis player to qualify for a Grand Slam final since 1939. Her younger sister Urszula, 18, is an up-and-coming star, currently ranked No. 54. Both sisters will be representing Poland at the Olympics. Expect to see more of Agnieszka and Urszula in the world’s most prestigious tennis competitions in the coming years. In the photo above, Agnieszka is on the left, Ursuzla on the right.

 

Agnieszka Radwanska played in the Women's Singles Championship Game on July 7, 2012, in Wimbledon, UK. She lost to Serena Willaims of the USA two sets to one, but she made history by becoming the first Polish tennis player to qualify for a Grand Slam final since 1939. Agnieszka is currently ranked the No. 2 women's tennis player in the world. Congratulations, Agnieszka!

Benjamin Franklin once said "Lost time is never found again."

The 2010 PWA Youth Conference delegates (ages 14-16) did not lose any time while exploring their Polish and American heritage in Philadelphia, PA this summer. Even though the weather was hot and not very comfortable, we managed to stick to the tight schedule as much as possible in order not to miss any of the important points of interest that were planned for the group.

A welcoming pizza party for those arriving at the hotel satisfied the hungry travelers, and after a short introduction of all the chaperones and some last-minute instructions, we were off to an overview of the city by trolley. Dinner was served at the City Tavern where we were greeted by staff in colonial costumes. Besides serving dinner, they also acted out several short skits apropos to the times. We were then led by a colonial host to the State House (Independence Hall) where we met the vigilant night watchman who let us enter. We witnessed an enactment of several Founding Fathers deep in discussion over the creation of the Declaration of Independence. We ended the evening listening to several folk and ghost stories in the Philadelphia historical area.

The next day after breakfast, we met Ellen, our tour guide, who took us to the Liberty Bell Pavilion, Independence Hall, and Congress Hall. A visit to Old St. Joseph's Church for a brief talk from the archivist regarding religious freedom in Pennsylvania followed. Next, we visited the Polish American Cultural Center and were met by Theresa who greeted our group, spoke about the Center, passed out words to "Sto Lat" in English and Polish and led us in song. PWA delegate Brian Scarfone read the presentation to Theresa for the Polish American Cultural Center and presented a donation on behalf of the group. Each participant received a Copernicus pin from Theresa as a special thank you. Famous Philadelphia Cheese Steak sandwiches at Jim's Steak House were next. A brief history of how they started and became famous was told to the group. Our hungry walkers were looking forward to this stop. After we refreshed ourselves, our next stop was the Thaddeus Kosciuszko House.

We returned to the hotel for a short rest and then walked to Bistro Romano - Murder Mystery Dinner Theater...the actors were also the servers and several members of our group were given a small part in the play. Chaperone Marcia Duffy portrayed Sandra Day O'Connor. We all did our best to guess "whodunit" and although several in our group had the correct answer, Matthew Siemianowski's name was the one pulled from those who had guessed correctly and he was given a prize.

Day 3 started off with a coach tour to Valley Forge where we met General Washington who spoke to our group and took questions. Box lunches were served on the coach as we made our way to the National Constitution Center and then the Franklin Institute. Here we visited the audio exhibit "Cleopatra, The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt." Dinner was at the Hard Rock Café in Philadelphia and then we proceeded to Franklin Square where everyone was put on teams to play miniature golf. Some of the group took complimentary rides on the carousel.

On Saturday, after breakfast we met the coach and went to tour the Battleship New Jersey. The battleship tour was given by a retired captain who had served on the ship, which was retired to the harbor in the early 1990s but now serves as a tourist attraction. Lunch vouchers were issued to each delegate and they were able to experience the Reading Terminal Market which is an international indoor marketplace of foods, items, gifts, and more.

After lunch, we departed for Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine in Doylestown where we met up with Chaperone Felicia Perlick, who put this part of the conference together. The delegates were divided into two groups to participate in traditional Polish crafts. Pisanki and Polish Paper Cutting (wycinanki) were offered and each delegate had the opportunity to try their hand at both. Then a tour of the Shrine was offered to the group. A mass in the lower hall was held in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine, which is modeled after the original altar in Poland. Several of our delegates participated. Amanda Marchese and Christopher Chorzepa were altar servers. Alex Vander Noot presented the flowers and Devin Vanderberg presented the PWA Youth Conference certificate and donation (which he later read to Father). Bringing up the gifts were Sara Allen and Audrey Stadler.

Individual pizzas, a side, and dessert were served at Chicago Uno Grille. A meeting in New Hope with Adele who took us on a Ghost Tour ended the evening in mystery. As we returned back to the hotel, we were well aware that we were all leaving the next day to return home. Many delegates were anxious to do this again and to have another opportunity to see all of their new PWA friends soon.

In closing, I would like to add another quote from Benjamin Franklin "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself!" I believe our group did just that!

Article by Sharon Zago

Members from various Districts of PWA participated in a Summer Cultural Program in Poland, organized and sponsored by the PAC Charitable Foundation and Wspolnota Polska. The participants had the opportunity to visit a number of cities and many historic sites in Poland and to become acquainted with the history, culture, and people of Poland. For most of the participants this was their first visit to the country of their parents and grandparents.

The participants also had the chance to meet other young people of Polish descent from around the world who took part in the program. Wspolnota Polska is committed to bringing young Poles from many countries together, hoping they will develop friendships with one another and a bond with the country of their heritage. The participants were housed in an historic castle in Pultusk, located north of Warsaw in central Poland. They also traveled to Krakow, Czestochowa, and Torun, and spent some time in Warsaw. We ask them to send us their impressions and photos from their stay in Poland so we can post them on our website and Facebook page.

Group 1 (July 18 - August 1, 2010 ) departs from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. PWA members in Group I included David Dzik, Kendric Knorr, Nathan Kurtz-Enko, Robert O'Hanlon, Elise Schroeder, Zachary Schroeder, Angelina Kaniewski, Michael Guirey, Casey O'Higgins, Vincent J Scarfone, and Michael Korta.

 

Group 2 (August 1 - August 15, 2010) arrives at Chicago O'Hare International Airport from Warsaw. PWA members in Group 2 included Julia Schroeder, Christopher Chorzepa, Stanislaw Biestek, Matthew Stadnicki, Brianna Zawacki, Victoria Zawacki, Jacob Dzik, Carolina Dzik, Alyson Hartman, Trent Hartman, Tyler Jurek, and Steven Jurek.

Young people in Poland have always been very open to new music genres and even before the fall of the communism, music styles like rock, metal, jazz, electronic, and New Wave were well known and popular, even if it was not easy to buy the music in Poland. Young people listened to pop radio stations in Western Europe, which were openly condemned by the government as corrupt and capitlastic, and their signals were regularly jammed or disrupted. This served to make the forbidden music even more attractive to young people and listening to it became an act of rebellion and political opposition.

American and British bands of the 60s, 70s, and 80s were especially popular with the generations that came of age under communism. The music and lyrics expressed a liberated lifestyle that young Poles found attractive, and they showcased the limitless freedom of artistic expression that was open to musicians in the West. Since the fall of communism in 1989, the Polish scene has exploded with new talents and diverse styles. In the last 20 years of democratic rule and a return to a market economy, a new environment of artistic freedom can be found in all areas of the arts, and Polish popular musicians were quick to embrace that freedom and produce their own cutting-edge music.

Every year, a huge gathering of young Poles meets to celebrate rock and alternative music in Jarocin, Zary, and Kostrzyn on the Oder, and at the Open'er Festival in Gdynia and the Off Festival in Katowice. These events often attract more than 250,000 people and are comparable to the gatherings in Woodstock in the U.S. and Roskilde in Denmark.

Two big festivals of mainstream contemporary pop and folk music are the Opole Festival and the Sopot Festival, held every summer. Other important music festivals in Poland include the Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw, the Rawa Blues Festival, and Jazz Days in Cracow.

Some contemporary female pop musicians are Gosia Andrzejewicz and Natalia Kukulska (see video links below). Popular rock bands include Czerwone Gitary, Dzem, and Silver Rocket, the name of a new project from Poland led by Mariusz Szypura. Silver Rocket is quickly gaining international recognition for its unique techno sound. Many of their songs are in English.

There are even Polish rap artists like GrubSon and O.S.T.R. and Polish reggae singers like Ras Luta, and Poland also has a very active underground extreme metal music scene. Another unique group is the Kapela ze wsi Warszawa (Warsaw Village Band) which offers a new take on a traditional Polish village band and traditional folk songs. In jazz music, Polish musicians created a specific style, which was most popular in the 60s and 70s. The most famous Polish jazz artists are: Krzysztof Komeda, Adam Makowicz, Tomasz Stanko, Michal Urbaniak.
Gosia Andrzejewicz

Feel free to search through You Tube videos for more Polish artists. You will see that it Poland has a rich and vibrant music scene. A full list of Polish musicians by category is available from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Polish_musicians_and_musical_groups

LINKS:

	Gosia Andrzejewicz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WkRaGudWPA&feature=related
	Natalia Kukulska http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxl0GhjMREY
	Czerwone Gitary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XENEcjWAD9Y
	Silver Rocket 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RJ0jYjX198
	Silver Rocket 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElY5jeLFYzs

 

 

 

KUDOS TO OUR MEMBERS!!

 

We congratulate these PWA members on their recent degrees, awards, and successes! You make us all proud!

Group 226 - Autumn Misiolek

Autumn Misiolek, granddaughter of the late Joanne Misiolek, graduated Summa Cum Laude with highest honors from the University of Detroit Mercy this month with a Bachelor's Degree (Honors Program) in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law. Autumn was the only Liberal Arts graduate to receive a degree from the Honors Program. Autumn received the Dean's Award all four years at UDM. She also received the Presidential Scholar Award and the Dean's Gold Key Award during her senior year. Autumn was a member of the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu, and the Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha. Autumn will be attending the Western New England College School of Law this fall on a scholarship. Autumn is a member of PWA Council 3, Group 226 and of Council 20, Group 786. Autumn danced for 18 years for both Groups and was the first Lowicz Dancers Queen in 2006. Autumna was a recipient of the PWA Undergraduate Scholarship multiple times. She is the daughter of Paul and Tammy Misiolek and the granddaughter of Edward Misiolek.

Group 267 - Justin Lassiter

Jasper, IN -- John Lassiter, member of Group 267 and a student at Jasper High School, received three awards in 2010 from his school choir. The awards he received were for Most Outstanding Choir Student, Best Debut Performance, and Best Harmony Maker. He is also a member of the Marching Band, both Concert Bands, and Jazz Band. In the new school year, John will be the lead singer and actor in the high school musical, "Cinderella." He will play the role of Prince Charming. Outside of school John plays violon in the Jasper Strings, Inc. He also plays the guitar and hopes to major in music after graduating from high school. Congratulations, John!

 

Katrina Odrobina - Group 451

Katrina Elizabeth Odrobina is the duaghter of Janice and Paul Odrobina, Vice President of the Polish National Alliance. Katrina graduated from Lane Tech College Prep High School this past June with a GPA of 3.6. She is now attending Elmhurst College and majoring in Elementary Education. Katrina received scholarships from Elmhurst College called the Dean's List Scholarship, from the Jon Quil Organization, and the PAC Charitable Foundation. During the summer she was an Education Intern at the Museum of Science and Industry, having regularly volunteered at the Museum on Saturdays for the past two years. During the internship, Katrina went offsite to preschools and elementary schools and brought science directly to the students, teaching them about light, magnets, and motion. Congratulations, Katrina, and good luck with your studies!

Group 469 - Lori Ann Wozniak

Erie, PA -- On Thursday, May 13, 2010, Lori Ann Wozniak of Group 469, graduated from the College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa. Commencement exercises took place at the Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. Lori received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, graduating with High Distinction. Helping her celebrate this milestone in her life were her parents, Jim and Chris Wozniak (in photo), along with her brother Brian who flew in from California. Chris is PWA District IV President and Jim is Council 23 President. Brian is also a member of Group 469. Lori now resides in Conway, NH where she is working for CVS Pharmacy. Lori, Congratulations on attaining your doctorate and on the work you've accomplished to achieve your ultimate goal.

Group 693 - Maya Piergies

Chicago, IL -- Maya Piergies, lifetime member and Recording Secretary of Group 693, earned her Master's Degree from Columbia College Chicago on May 15, 2010, with a GPA of 3.9. Maya's degree is in Visual Arts Management. Maya graduated cum laude from De Paul University in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Art History. She has been employed as an assistant to an art dealer in Chicago for a number of years, and she continued working while getting her Master's. She has also been very involved in the Glos Polek Centennial Exhibition for over a year, serving as the curator of the exhibition and the coordinator of the production of the exhibition objects. Maya was a PWA Debutante in District I in 2002. Congratulations, Maya!

Council 28 Scholarship Recipients

Alexandra Gallant

Benjamin H. Rogers

Chicopee, MA -- Council 28 of District VIII Massachusetts awarded two Council Scholarships for the 2009/2010 school year to the following recipients: Alexandra Gallant, member of Chicopee Group 317, attending Merrimack College, North Andover, MA and Benjamin H. Rogers, member of Hadley Group 499, attending Champlain College, Burlington, VT.

The scholarship awards were announced at the March 14, 2010, Council meeting hosted by Chicopee Group 317, Mrs. Sylvia Morytko, President. Congratulations and best wishes go out to these recipients and we wish them continued success with their studies. We are very proud that they are participating members of Polish Women's Alliance of America.

 

http://zamekdancers.tripod.com http://pwaa.org/lowiczdancers/

 

 

“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 about the 1771 constitution. Read the entire May 3, 1771 constitution. 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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