Dear Friends, The annual Polish American Congress of Michigan Radiothon is here! It is scheduled for Saturday, November 5th on WNZK Radio (690 AM) from 8:00 – 10 a.m. Donors who pledge through November 5, or call 313-365-9400 with a pledge on that day, will be publicly recognized during the Radiothon.

The PAC-MI is a non-profit umbrella organization, part of the national PAC organization, which brings together organizations and individuals to work toward the civic, social, cultural, and educational betterment of all Polish-Americans.

For over 70 years our mission has been to promote and preserve Polish heritage and culture, to protect and defend the good name of Americans of Polish descent and of Poland, to empower Polish-Americans to achieve success in life, to facilitate interactions and information- sharing among Polonia organizations and the community.

The Michigan Division sponsors the Annual Polish Day Parade in Hamtramck, our Scholarship Committee awards thousands of dollars in scholarships, the Charitable Foundation supports events that develop future leaders for Polonia; PAC-MI’s Political Action Committee strengthens Michigan Polonia’s influence on the local political scene.

On a regular basis, PAC provides free legal services with specialized designated attorneys and free health screenings, assists with translations and certain immigration services, maintains a Detroit Polonia events calendar, and showcases our culture and heritage at various venues in the larger community.

We own our own building in Hamtramck since 1978 and retain a paid administrative assistant to facilitate the division’s work.

We truly need your financial assistance to continue and to expand our projects. Your generosity, as in the past, is crucial. We are counting on your support of the Radiothon, but we also ask that you remember the Polish American Congress – Michigan Division in your will.

If you are not a member, please join us by calling the office for an application; annual dues are $35.00. Your interest and talents are most welcome.  For more information please visit our website: www.pacmi.org, like us on Facebook, or call (313) 365-9400.

Thank You and God Bless!

Anna Bankowski, President  

Your monetary contributions can be send to: Polish American Congress Michigan Division, 11333 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI 48212.

NEW YORK, NY – Today after meeting with the Polish American Congress in Chicago, Donald J. Trump is pleased to announce his Polish American Advisory Council. The women and men on the council are grassroots leaders who will engage with the Polish community on relevant issues.

“I am proud to have the support of the hard working Polish American community that shares the American values of love of freedom, independence and respect for family. This council will continue to advise me on how best to maintain and increase the strong ties between Poland and the United States,” said Donald J. Trump.

The Polish American Advisory Council for Trump includes Dr. Lucja Swiatkowski Cannon as chair, seven co-chairs and a growing number of council members, five of whom are announced today and others forthcoming. Polish Americans from 10 states are represented by this council. These leaders have already advised Mr. Trump and Governor Pence on a number of related issues.

Dr. Lucja Swiatkowski Cannon, the council chair, is a scholar/consultant most recently affiliated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dr. Cannon stated, “I support Donald Trump’s insistence on a stronger commitment by all NATO members for the common defense. Of 28 NATO members, Poland is one of only five countries fulfilling Mr. Trump’s call for balancing NATO’s budget by meeting the goal of 2% of GDP for defense spending. It is peace through strength.”

Roman Korzan of McLean, Virginia is Co-Founder of the Federation of Polish Americans. Korzan stated, “As a legal immigrant, I see the similarity between Mr. Trump’s common sense refugee vetting policies and those of Poland, where the Chair of Poland’s leading party said in May: ‘After recent events connected with acts of terror, we will not accept refugees because there is no vetting mechanism that would ensure security.”

“As a person of faith, I appreciate Mr. Trump’s policy of creating a safe zone for Christians and other faiths in Syria. Poles understand the dangers of religious persecution” said David Targonski of Gastonia, North Carolina, a Reagan and Bush appointee.

A historian and journalist, John Czop, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, said: “Poland shed blood as our key new NATO ally in Iraq and Afghanistan. Poles were responsible for both the South Central Zone of Provinces (over three million Iraqis) and 9000 square miles of Ghazni Province in Afghanistan. Moreover, Polish Special Forces, known as GROM, won well-merited praise from American army officers for their intrepid raids against enemy positions.”

Former Regional Director for ACTION Eugene Pasymowski of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, says “Every one of our communities is safer right now because Poland is contributing to the NATO antiterrorist efforts by providing fighter planes and Special Forces instructors to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq.”

“I’m proud that my birthplace of Poland is a stalwart ally of my new country and contributed to peacekeeping missions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at the side of the United States,” says filmmaker Witek Rosowski of Glendale, New York; President of Solidarni 2010.

Eve Neterowicz of Portage, Wisconsin, a Reagan and Bush appointee, reminds us: “Poland and America were friends from the beginning. Poland adopted a modern Constitution on May 3, 1791, shortly after the adoption of the US Constitution. Generals Kosciuszko and Pulaski fought for freedom and independence of both Poland and the United States.”

Additional members of the council will be added in the future.

Polish American Advisory Council:

Chair:
Dr. Lucja Swiatkowski Cannon, New York

Co-Chairs:
Jerzy Bogdziewicz, Florida
John Czop, Ph. D., New Jersey
Roman Korzan, Virginia
Eva Neterowicz, Wisconsin
Eugene Pasymowski, Pennsylvania
Witek Rosowski, New York
David Targonski, North Carolina

Members of the Advisory Council:
Carolyn L. Bonkoski, Pennsylvania
Ed Baran, Illinois
Denise Kuchta, Maryland
Nancy Ordowski, Arizona
Joe Sliwka, Maryland

Contact Email:  PolishAmericansForTrump@gmail.com

September 6, 2016

 

Office of the President

Saginaw Valley State University

Wickes Hall 349

7400 Bay Road

University Center, MI 48710

 

Dear President Bachand,

It is with great concern that I am writing to you in regards to the subject of Polish studies offered at Saginaw Valley State University. I know personally that classes of Polish language, history, and culture enjoyed much popularity among students over several decades, thanks much to the efforts and dedication of Professor Anna Dadlez. Over the years she communicated regularly with my late father, Kazimierz Olejarczyk, who was president and very active with the Michigan Division of the Polish American Congress, an umbrella organization of organized Polish Americans, which speaks out on issues of concern for the community statewide. I have continued contact with her even after my father’s passing in 2014. Her commitment to create relevant courses in this area has never wavered. We always were happy to hear about her successes and achievements (though not always easily won) at SVSU and appreciated that she was truly filling a need among the student population with the classes she taught. I understand that she has turned to you entreating that Polish culture courses be returned to SVSU.

Unfortunately her age and the need to care for her husband have forced Professor Dadlez to retire in December 2015 from the teaching that she so loves. She expresses great disappointment that Polish classes of any sort are not being continued, now that she is gone from the teaching staff. She has made recommendations of 2 very able teachers and Polish culture experts on the SVSU staff, both of whom are willing to continue the program. Even though I find that the university’s course catalog still lists several Polish classes, Dr. Dadlez insists that they are no longer being offered by the university.

The cancelling of Polish studies would negatively affect the Polish American population whose taxes contribute to the flourishing of SVSU. The fact that such courses would “fill up” so quickly in the past demonstrates that there is both a great interest and a need to learn more in this area of study. I understand that past educational exchange programs with Poland were quite successful. Dr. Dadlez has expressed willingness to be of help and with advice to anyone who could continue such courses. Poland has been on the world stage recently (World Youth Day in Krakow and the NATO summit in Warsaw this past summer) and any classes that bring current modern day Poland to the forefront, as well as its language and heritage to your students, especially of Polish ancestry, would be both valuable and informative to many. Michigan is a state with over 1 million persons of Polish ancestry and the thumb area is particularly rich in Polish immigrant history.

I plan to share these concerns with the Polish American Congress- Michigan membership at our next quarterly meeting in September. I only hope that you will reflect on both the need, interest, and the assets available for continuing such studies at SVSU, and look forward to learning that in the near future Polish studies classes will be re-instated at your prospering institution. I also hope to place your response on the Polish American Congress division website (www.pacmi.org) as interest in this subject seems to be on the rise.A copy of this letter is being sent to some groups who may be interested in our communication on this issue.

 

With best regards,

 

Ann Bankowski, President

Polish American Congress- Michigan

11333 Joseph Campau

Hamtramck, MI 48212

 

Cc:

Tri-City Polish Heritage Society, Bay City

Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Bay City

Polish Legion of America Vets, Bay City

Polish Falcons of America, Saginaw

The Polish Mission, Orchard Lake

The Polish Weekly, Rochester

Friends of Polish Art, Royal Oak

United Polish Society, Saginaw

 

 

Join us (either by walking with us, or cheering us from the sidelines) for the annual Polish Day Parade on Labor Day, September 5, at 1:30 pm, in downtown Hamtramck.  The annual parade is organized by the PAC−MI Parade Committee, and this year will honor the Polish American Federal Credit Union celebrating its 40th anniversary.  The parade Grand Marshal this year is Mr. George Lukowski (pictured), a local businessman and philanthropist.

A long, rich history is associated with the founding of the Polish Day Parade.  In the 1930s, the roots of the present day Polish Day Parade took hold with the May 3 Polish Constitution Day observance held on

Detroit’s Belle Isle.  The Polish Day Parade evolved into the Pulaski Day Parade and was held in the fall of each year in downtown Detroit.

In 1977, Paul C. Odrobina, as president of the Polish American Congress, Michigan Division, and as city council member saw the need for the Polish Day Parade to continue in Hamtramck.  Odrobina said, “I was happy to continue the tradition in the city of Hamtramck by having the parade committee agree to stage the parade on Joseph Campau Avenue during the city’s annual festival.”  He continued, “The Polish Day Parade is an annual tradition that celebrates Polish American life.  The parade brings out all that is good about one’s Polish heritage. We all should be proud of who we are and what we contribute to America.”

For more information, call 313−365−9400.

The Michigan Division of the Polish American Congress is hosting a Polish Novena on Wednesday, July 20, at 7:00 pm, at Ste. Anne Catholic Church in Detroit (located at 1000 St Anne St, Detroit, MI 48216; near Ambassador Bridge).  The Polish Novena is a part of the week long Novena dedicated and sponsored by various Detroit ethnic groups that begins on July 17 and concludes on July 26, the feast day of Ste. Anne and Joachim.  A 9 day novena to Ste Anne has been a tradition at this parish for over 105 years.

Ste. Anne is the oldest Catholic Church in the state of Michigan, and only second oldest in the country.  Established two days after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed at Detroit on July 24, 1701 and began construction of Fort Ponchartrain.

For more information, call: 313-365-9400 or visit www.ste-anne.org.

 

Dear Members and Friends of the PAC,

The Polish American Congress of Michigan Scholarship Fund, Inc. has limited income to use for this year’s Scholarship Recipients.  Since our major fundraiser to be held on August 3, at the Krakus Restaurant (12900 Joseph Campau, Detroit, MI) will not be sufficient to award each recipient at least $1,000.00 in scholarships, we now need additional funds.

This year, the Scholarship Fund will continue the “Invest in the Future” Make a Difference Scholarship Appeal.  We are requesting contributions from you, your organization or from your family estates.  Donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated.  Those who give $100.00 or more will have their name placed on a Donor Board that will be on display at the PAC office in Hamtramck.

Checks are to be made payable to: PAC of Michigan Scholarship Fund, Inc. and send to: PAC of Michigan Scholarship Fund, Inc., 11333 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI 48212.  Deadline for this appeal is July 27.

Today, higher education is very expensive and for those young adults who continue their education to a higher degree, it is difficult for them to attend school and at the same time, hold down a job to pay their expenses.  Your generous investment, whether large of small, is greatly appreciated and will make a difference for our youth who attend college and who are the future leaders of Polonia.

PAC has given scholarship since 1972.  We hope that we can continue through your generosity.

 

With deep gratitude,

 

Wallace Ozog,

PAC Scholarship Fund President

 

Ann Bankowski,

PAC Michigan President

On June 3, 2016 the Michigan Division of Polish American Congress held a fundraiser at the PNA Council 122 Hall in Hamtramck.  It was called “Pierogi Palooza” and its purpose, aside from raising funds for this umbrella organization, was to offer the area public an opportunity to come together to taste some popular Polish food, enjoy Polish American music, be entertained by Polish folk dance groups, view displays about our beautiful culture and legacy, be informed about Polish American Congress and its member organizations, and purchase Polish and Polish American merchandise which expresses pride in our rich heritage.  It was a culinary and social-cultural event.  The response, to everyone’s surprise, was phenomenal. If we counted all the entry tickets, and added the young children, the volunteers, and the performers, the number would approach 900 persons in attendance in one evening.  We thought, but never suspected, that “pierogi” would explode into such a huge attraction.

Not only has this venture been successful in raising funds for our division, money that will greatly help in covering our ongoing operational office expenses, but also in enabling us to pursue updates to our website and in reaching our goal to improve better electronic communication with the community and beyond, something that needs to be addressed as we keep up with today’s rapidly changing technology.  Another positive outcome of our successful event was the contact we had with such a large part of Polonia, those Polish Americans who may not have a current close experience with their heritage, but who do identify and are proud of it.  We’ve been hoping to do so for some years now.  This event was a start. We hope to build on it to enable our division to reach beyond our largely insular organized community.  We think it has significance for the future of the organization- to keep a larger part of the population informed and, in time, to bring them in to be involved as well. We believe this improved contact will work for the benefit and future of Polonia.

Pierogi Palooza 2016 Sponsors and Donors

These are the individuals, organizations, and businesses that contributed monetarily to the Pierogi Palooza event, ensuring that we have a nice venue and such good entertainment all evening.

Raymond Okonski /Farmington Hills, MI

Polish American Federal Credit Union/Troy, MI

George Lukowski/Troy, MI

American Polish Cultural Center/Troy, MI

Polish National Alliance Council 122

Friends of Polish Art

Polish Century Club/Troy, MI

St Faustina Parish/Warren, MI

Michael and Christine Wilk/Hamtramck, MI

Zdzislaw and Genowfa Jurek/Riverview, MI

Polish American Congress Polish Day Parade

Filarets Club

Polonaise Chorale

Michael Lacey/Mount Clemens, MI

Whisky in a Jar (Tom Jankowski)/Hamtramck, MI

Dr. Ted Radzilowski/Hamtramck, MI

Irena Bankowska/Hamtramck, MI

Polish American Congress Seniors Club / Hamtramck, MI

 

The following are donors of their time and talents, delicious food and desserts, attractive merchandise featured at the event, as well as for planning and advertising, set up, items for the gift baskets of “Polish Cheer”, food prep and service, entertainment, raffles, and all efforts in making it an all-around successful fundraiser for Polish American Congress of Michigan:

Pierogi Palooza Committee: Barbara Lemecha, Barbara Gronet, Stella Szczesny, Donna Bielecki, Christine Kuczara, Jacqueline Kolowski, Teresa Wiacek, Helena Zmurkiewicz, Jolanta Bujny, Sebastian Szczepanski, Amelia Pietraszak, and Ann Bankowski

 

Carolyn Wietrzykowski- owner of Polish Village Café Hamtramck, MI

Rodney Srodek and Srodek Family of Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage

PNA Council 122- Members and Club Manager Tadeusz Palac

Bar service: Kasia Schemanski and Anna Chrin

Kielbasa Kings Polka Band

DJ Accent

Stanislaw Smigielski- accordion entertainment

Zamek Dancers of the Polish Women’s Alliance

Wawel Folk Dance Ensemble

Czarny Dunajec Folk Dance Ensemble

Anna Brozda- face painting

Sweet Dreams Bakery- Warren, MI

Srodek’s Deli and Bakery- Shelby Twp., MI

Natalie’s Bakery- Madison Hts., MI

New Palace Bakery- Hamtramck, MI

Polish Art Center- Hamtramck, MI

Doreen and Craig Geml of Warren, MI

Katherine and Robert Joseph of Canton, MI

Stanislawa Rogal- main cook of pierogi

Hamtramck Police Reserves

Bronco Printing, Copy Copy, and PBS Printing

PNA Lodge 1758

PNA District X

PAC-MI board, directors, members, and other volunteers: Tom Schemanski, John and Joan Baritche, Marcia Lewandowski, Ed and Francine Nizienski, Rick Lapham, Walt Bankowski, Tom Wolski, Anna Huk-Glaeser, Krzysztof and Grazyna Adamczyk, Irena Bankowska, Stanislawa Jakobek, Tony and Christine Kryszko, Nancy Szczotka, Carol Bennett, Miroslaw and Michal Halon, Pat Bargowski, Norm Golembiewski, Marianna Konrad, Jim Kaczor

 

We appreciate all media that helped to advertise and cover the event, including Channel 7, WWJ- 950-AM radio, Detroit Free Press, Telewizja Detroit, Polish Varieties Radio, Polish Weekly, Hamtramck Review, Queen of Apostles (parish bulletin) and the many Facebook participants who enthusiastically spread the word.

 

Of course we thank everyone who came to support and enjoy the food and our fundraiser event. We invite you and others to come back next year. We hope to make it an even more improved Pierogi Palooza for everyone’s enjoyment.

 

Ann Bankowski, President

Polish American Congress-Michigan