The 2012 Youth Bowling Tournament for members of PWA, PNA, PRCUA and the Falcons, between the ages of 3 to 18, runs from January 1st to April 30th. Please download the application form and the tournament rules below. Games must be bowled before April30th. Applications and scores must be submitted and returned postmarked no later than May 15, 2012. Questions? Please call1-888-522-1898.


CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
APPLICATION AND RULES

 

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011


One Million Young Catholics Gather in Madrid, Spain

 

 

More than one million young Catholics from countries around the world descended on Madrid, Spain, from August 15 to 21, 2011, to celebrate the Catholic Church's World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI. Initiated by the late Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day is celebrated every three years in different cities around the globe. The previous event in 2008 was held in Sydney, Australia, and was attended by an estimated 400,000 Catholic pilgrims. The next one will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2013, only two years later, due to the fact that Brazil is hosting the World Cup in Soccer in 2014.

The number of young people who participated exceeded expectations. An estimated 1 to 1.5 million people, young and old alike, attended the opening Mass celebrated by the Pope on August 16, 2011. Many pilgrims walked from the center of Madrid to the Aerodrome, where many of the events were held. The Pope arrived amid great cheers, and a large cross was carried in the procession that accompanied him to the altar. Several young people were picked to ask questions of the Pope after Mass, but a sudden thunderstorm and high winds interrupted the question and answer session. The Pope resumed the Adoration of the Eucharist after the rain. The Mass and the Pope's homily were shown on large-screen monitors to accommodate the huge crowds.

During his four days in the Spanish capital, the Pope presided over eight events before reaching the pinnacle of this year's gathering -- Mass for an estimated two million pilgrims at Madrid's Cuatro Vientos on the last day. In his closing remarks, the Pontiff extended a challenge to the million-plus young people who had had spent six prayerful and joyful days in Spain to become missionaries of the Gospel when they return home: “Now I ask you to spread throughout the world the profound and joyful experience of faith which you had here in this noble country,” said the Pope.

The theme of this year's World Youth Day was “Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the Faith.” The theme for 2013 will be "Go and make disciples of all peoples," drawn from Christ's commission to his disciples after the Resurrection, as chronicled in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Pope also unveiled the theme for next year's World Youth Day, which will be held locally in individual dioceses around the world. The theme for 2012 is, “Always be joyful in the Lord!” which is taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians. While the international gathering of young Catholics takes place every 2-3 years, bringing together young people from around the globe, a World Youth Day is observed every year in dioceses in many countries, including the U.S., in the years between the international gatherings. Check the website of your own diocese to learn more about how World Youth Day will be celebrated where you live in 2012.

To see photos from World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, go to
http://www.madrid11.com/en

 

 

2011 IS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CHEMISTRY
AND THE YEAR OF MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE

 

The United Nations has proclaimed 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry under the leadership of the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The International Year of Chemistry commemorates the centenaries of the founding of IUPAC and the awarding of the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Marie Sklodowska-Curie, the first woman to receive the award.

The proclamation by the United Nations of the International Year of Chemistry “Chemistry -- our life, our future,” focuses on the “achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.” It aims to raise awareness of chemistry among the general public and to attract young people into the field, as well as to highlight the role of chemistry in solving global problems.

 

The year 2011 has also been declared the Year of Marie Sklodowska-Curie by Poland and France. As one of the most famous femalescientists to date, Sklodowska-Curie is an icon in the scientific world and has inspired many tributes and recognitions. She was the first woman to win a Nobel prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, and she remains the only woman to have received two. She was honored with the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics (a joint award with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel ) and the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which she received for her own work on radioactivity and the discovery of the elements radium and polonium.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie was born in Poland in 1867 and later lived and worked in France, where she died in 1934 from overexposure to radiation. She was in close contact with the PWA and visited the headquarters in Chicago during her travels to the U.S. PWA members supported her research and named her an Honorary Member of the organization. She remains a strong inspiration for future generations of how science can help mankind.

To learn more about Marie Skolodowska-Curie, click here.
To learn more about careers in chemistry, click here.

 

 

 

 

2011 EASTER COLORING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

 

 

 


Click here to see full list of Contest Winners

 

 

 

2011 JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY
SUMMER PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

 

Jacquelyn M. Boratyn
Marquette University
District I Council 9 Group 723

My Polish Heritage
By Jacquelyn M. Boratyn

 

Just a few weeks ago I began my freshman year at Marquette University and with this new beginning came an opportunity to reflect on who I am, where I want to be, and how I plan on getting there. As I reflected on my early childhood years I realized that in many ways I am defined by my family and my experiences. My home has always been filled with Polish customs and traditions; and I am proud of my Polish heritage but as I grew I wanted to learn more about my heritage on which my values, morals and foundation is built.

In my pursuit to learn more about my heritage I visited Poland a couple of times. My first trip was when I was eight years old of which I remember very little; I returned a few years later to visit my many relatives. The trip gave me an experience like no other. I remember walking miles to get into town; the smell of the salt mines, so fresh as though they had just been dug that morning; and I was given the opportunity to work on my Polish language skills. I spent a lot of time with my cousins and even attended a family wedding. My trip was a great experience but I hope to return to Poland to study and explore my Polish heritage more fully.

To have the opportunity to study at the Jagiellonian University, Poland's oldest and most prestigious institution of higher learning would be an honor and privilege. Attending classes at the Jagiellonian University will give me an insight to a world that is only slightly familiar to me. The time spent there will give me the chance to experience Polish language, and Polish history as well as the ability to immerse myself in the culture of Poland and its people. It will give me a firsthand opportunity to walk through time as I visit Krakow's many world-renowned museums, historical sites, and famous attractions that have become the symbols of Polish culture and history while I reflect on the many stories of my grandparents who grew up in Poland.

There is also an additional advantage to studying in Poland. It will provide me with a unique perspective as I experience teaching in a different environment. My future goal is to be a secondary education teacher. There is nothing like being able to experience different types of teaching and learning methods first hand. Poland has an education system different from that of the United States. I would use this opportunity to learn and use the differences in the two systems to become a better teacher.

In summary, I believe that a summer at the Jagiellonian University will provide me with an experience of a lifetime as I learn and explore in depth my heritage and the history of Poland while strengthening my speaking skills, education, and knowledge of the Polish culture. It will expand my educational horizons and open my eyes to a world different from the one I grew up in. I also believe this experience will make me a better teacher as I pursue my career goals in education. I would use this experience to share my heritage and culture with others in the classroom and my community. As the world seems to get smaller, it is important that we understand each other which I believe can be accomplished through education, therefore, I would use my experience at the Jagiellonian University to become an ambassador of my Polish heritage.

 

 

2010 PWA YOUTH CONFERENCE
PHILADELPHIA
JULY 14-18, 2010

 

 

 

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


Click here to see photos
Photos by Robert Duffy

 

2010 PWA Youth Conference Participants

Elizabeth Parta , Illinois
Clarissa Knorr, Arizona
Matthew Siemianowski, Illinois
Dirk Vander Noot, Illinois
Devin Vanderberg, Indiana
Audrey Stadler, Pennsylvania
Kara Pietrowski, Michigan
Vincent Scarfone, Michigan
Stanislaw Biestek, Michigan
Brian Scarfone, Michigan
James Garvey, Jr., Massachusetts
Patrick Dietz, Connecticut
Christopher Chorzepa, Connecticut
Eric Dietz, Connecticut
Daniel Kurtz-Enko, Kansas
Annalise Steffl, Georgia
Courtney Jurek, Nebraska
Leo Steffl, Georgia
Alyson Hartman, Maryland
Brian Woodard, Maryland
Sara Charley Allen, Arizona
Forrest Smith, Maryland
Brianna Zawacki, Pennsylvania
Connor Robertson, New Jersey
Victoria Zawacki, Pennsylvania
Amanda Marchese, Pennsylvania



PWA Officers and Chaperones

Sharon Zago, Vice President - Youth Conference Chair,
Marcia Duffy, National Director-Youth Conference Co-chair,
Antoinette Trela Vander Noot, Secretary-Treasurer - Chaperone
Felicia Perlick, National Director - Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine
in Doylestown, PA Coordinator and Chaperone
Robert Duffy - Photographer and Chaperone

 


 

 


PWA MEMBERS TAKE PART IN SUMMER 2010
Culture Program in Poland


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.


Share your photos and impressions from the Summer 2010 Cultural Program.
Send them to editor@pwaa.org

 

 

MY SUMMER IN POLAND

2010 Jagiellonian Scholarship Winner
Describes Her Experience

 

This past summer, I was honored with the Polish Women's Alliance's scholarship to study abroad in Poland. I attended the Uniwersytet Jagiellonski Szkola JezykaiI Kultury Polskiej, or the Jagiellonian University's School of Polish Language and Culture. This summer's program, which had participants from forty-one countries, was designed for foreigners to learn about Poland's history and contemporary culture through university classes and immersion in the city of Kraków, Poland.

Since I was attending class every day, I was a studentka in Poland - not simply a tourist. Although the dormitory was outside the city limits, I would take the tram to the city after dinner and on the weekends to explore with some of the many friends that I met there. After only a few days, I began to learn my way around the Rynek, becoming familiar with landmarks like Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) and Kosciol Mariacki (St. Mary's Cathedral) as well as the best stores for books, chocolate, and presents like wooden jewelry boxes or amber. Within a week of arriving in Kraków, I was able to give directions to lost English-speaking tourists.

Each Sunday, I went to a different church in town with a few girls, preferring the many smaller, lesser-known churches throughout the city. Attending mass in a cathedral built in the seventeenth century beside a nun in full habit and behind a family with a young child was an experience that truly made me feel like a Krakówianin.

I was initially impressed with how the Stare Miasto (Old Town), the cobblestoned, original Kraków, was not treated as a living museum, but was rather the center of the residents' daily lives. Yet even this became natural to me, traveling through the park where the old city walls once stood to enter the bustling streets filled with people of all sorts at any time of day.

When I was on the tram home from class one day, toward the end of my program, an older man noticed I was American and began speaking to me in broken English. I answered him as much as I could in Polish while he practiced his English, conversing about my studies in Poland and America and about his daughter in California. While the students with me at the time did not completely understand, I felt that it was interactions like these with the residents that made the difference of my experience in Poland.

I admit that I enjoyed touristy sightseeing and took advantage of the weekend tours all around southern Poland. However, those tours could not compare to the more common events "close to home" in Kraków, such as a fair celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald or a quintet concerto featuring Chopin's music in a cathedral.

This program not only taught me the basics of Polish language and culture, but also immersed me in a foreign environment where I developed a much greater appreciation for my own Polish heritage. I'd like to thank Polish Women's Alliance for this amazing opportunity to study in Poland over the summer. I learned more about my heritage by living in the country of my ancestry than I ever could have through books or family stories.

Tiffany Senkow

 

Photos below show Tiffany seated at a painted piano celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth; under a banner celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald in the Rynek in Krakow; and at the Niedzica Castle.

 

 

 

 


 

POPULAR MUSIC IN POLAND

 

 

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

 


 

UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

Meredith Marie Stoops - District I CL 27 Group 211

Andrea Rose Kolano - District 2 CL 2 Group 182

Alyssa Beck - District 2 CL 32 Group 475

Christina Bertrand - District 8 CL 28 Group 422

Joseph Houde - District 14 CL 40 Group 431


HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS

Academics Awards


Thaddeus Krawczyk - District 1 CL 27 Group 211
Stephanie DuPerre - District 8 CL 28 Group 422


Sports Awards


Adrianna Chorzepa - District 9 CL 8 Group 637
Monica Hill - District 9 CL 8 Group 500

 

 


 

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.

 

 

 

 


 

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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