The Polish media in Michigan took center stage as the honorees for the 2013 Hamtramck’s Polish Day Parade, held on Labor Day, September 2, in Hamtramck.

“Polish Varieties” radio, TelewizjaDetroit.com and two newspapers, “Polish Weekly” and “Polish Times,” were highlighted as well as their service to the Polish American community in Metro Detroit.  The Polish Day Parade Committee prepared a beautiful float showcasing the four Polish media outlets.

A special guest of the parade was Stanley Krajewski, former editor in chief of the “Polish Daily News”.  At age 98, Krajewski’s distinguished career in newspaper work first spanned work in journalism in Poland.  In the U.S., he continued to work as a reporter and staff writer for the “Polish Daily News,” and later as the paper’s managing editor and then editor in chief.

The history of the Polish parade, in its 37th year in Hamtramck, goes back to the 1930’s.  First the parade was held on Detroit’s Belle Isle (as the celebration of the Polish May 3rd Constitution Day).  Later, the parade moved to downtown Detroit and it was organized as part of the Pulaski Day in the fall.

In 1977, Paul Odrobina as President of the Polish American Congress Michigan Division and as the Hamtramck City Council member saw the need for the Polish Day Parade to continue in Hamtramck.  And since then every year the parade brings together Polish American parishes, organizations, businesses, politicians and dance groups.

This year, the Grand Marshal of the Polish Day Parade was Keith Sadowski, member of the Warren City Council.  “I am honored to be a part of this great tradition,” Sadowski told us.

Congratulations to the Polish Day Parade Committee (headed by Hon. Judge John Chmura) for putting another spectacular and successful event showcasing the Polish presence in Michigan.  Bravo!

(courtesy of “Polish Times”)

The following are the 2013 Polish American Congress of Michigan Scholarship Fund Recipients:

Czechowski Grant

Buniewicz Filip, attending Michigan State University- East Lansing, majoring in Engineering.

Joseph and Regina Marciniec Grant

Adamczyk Felicia, attending University of Michigan-Dearbon, majoring in Marketing

Maska Bartosz, attending University of Michigan School of Dentistry, majoring in Dentistry

Donna Witkowski Grant

Dziuba Katherine, attending Eastern Michigan University-Ypsilanti, majoring in Biology/Pre-Medicine

Frank & Sophia Filipek Grant

Chrusciel Michael Anthony,  attending Wayne State University-Detroit, majoring in Slavic Studies and Nutrition & Food Science

Polish American Congress of Michigan Fund Account

Halon Michal R., attending Wayne State University-Detroit, majoring in Nutrition & Food Science/Pre-Med

Joseph Kelsey, attending Wayne State University-Detroit, majoring in Biological Sciences

Kutyna Evelina, attending CentralMichiganUniversity, majoring in Neuroscience

Wasiolek Mateusz, attending Wayne State University-Detroit, majoring in Radiation Therapy Technology

There were 13 applications received and only 9 students were awarded a total of $5400. This amount is equivalent to the funds received from donations, interest and dividends from past designated donations and fund-raising efforts. The scholarship fund is vexed with low interest earned on our savings certificates and a decrease in fund-raising income in 2012.  We must improve in the latter efforts as not much change will occur in interest and dividends received because of our national economic policies.

By Frank J. Dmuchowski

(June 13, 2013)

The following is a summary of some of the key points which I presented on the KPA segment of the Polish Varieties Program on May 18, 2013 and in an expanded article in the May 29, 2013 issue of Tygodnik Polski. It is important to note that the 2013 Tax Treaty is available in English and Polish on the Polish American Congress National website. Into your browser simply type “pac1944.org” and you will be able to access all of the information.

First— The 2013 Tax Treaty was signed on February 13, 2013 in Warsaw. It is important to note that the treaty does not take effect until it is ratified by the United States Senate and the appropriate body in Poland.  This means that it is the 1974 Tax Treaty that is still in effect.

Second — None of my comments are intended as tax advice. It is wise to contact a competent tax attorney familiar with international tax issues for any of your tax decisions.

Third —why the 2013 Tax Treaty is not likely to be ratified very soon!! (Very Important) An American version of the Liberum Veto

This is not an anti-Polish action.

This treaty is not likely to go before the United States Senate very soon for ratification because of a procedural blocking measure that has been used by Senator Rand Paul, Republican from Kentucky. This is not an anti-Polish issue. Since 2011 Senator Paul has been blocking a number of previous treaties because of his concern that the American government will end up sharing information with foreign countries about American citizens which it should not. The treaties blocked from ratification include Switzerland, Hungary and Luxembourg. Added to the list of block treaties will most likely be countries such as Japan, Great Britain, Chile, and Spain. Norway and of course Poland.

The Tax Treaty if passed in its current format could allow the possible sharing of this information in the name of “preventing evasion of taxes on income.”

Senator Paul concerns were further heightening with the recent release of information that the Internal Revenue Service has been targeting certain ‘conservative groups” for special attention. One of these groups is the Tea Party which is a major support basis for Senator Rand.

To make matters even more difficult we have the recent release in June that NSA (National Security Agency has been gathering information on the overseas phone calls and internet correspondence of Americans without probable cause. All of this is being done in the name of national security. Senator Paul wrote an op-ed piece for the June 11, Wall Street Journal in which he states “monitoring hundreds of millions of phone records is an extraordinary invasion of privacy”

Senator Paul has taken his position in the face of strong opposition from business groups that want the treaty passed.

Before this new information by the NSA became public I was estimating that Senator Paul l would not release any of the tax treaties for a before 2015 at the earliest. The delay becomes even more certain!!

Fourth—the treaty does have language in it to eliminate double taxation. However the key is how this language is implemented by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and the Polish Tax Authorities. It is important to note that because double taxation is eliminated it does not mean that taxes will be zero. Taxes will have to be paid. The question is to whom and how much.

The actual wording can be found in Article 18 of the treaty which is titled “Pensions, Social Security, Annuities, Alimony and Child Support”

Fifth — New Polish American Congress Committee to look into the 2013 Tax Treaty

There has been some concern regarding the language in the treaty. This was primarily expressed by members of the Long Island Division. After discussion the National Directors at the May 2013 meeting decide to create a committee reporting to the National Executive Committee–which is chaired by Mr. Frank Spula– to look into the issues that have emerged because of the treaty language. The creation of this committee was approved overwhelmingly with only one abstention. The committee will be headed up by Zygmunt Staszewski who is the Secretary for the Long Island Division.

Sixth— This tax treaty is becoming a political hot potato in Poland. It is increasingly viewed “that Poland has given up to much to the United States”. If the 2013 Tax Treaty is not ratified before the next elections in Poland it could become a central part of their political debate. This will be particularly significant if the United States is seen as taking Poland and Poles for granted. Here we can see a potential tie-in with the Visa Waiver Program.

Seventh– Let me close by repeating that the 2013 Tax Treaty does not go into effect until it is ratified by the United States Senate and appropriate group in Poland. Because of recent concerns on “information privacy” in the United States the treaty is not likely to be available for a ratification vote very soon. This is not anti-Polish as a number of similar treaties are being held up for the same reason.

While the treaty eliminates “double taxation” it does not eliminate some form of taxes being paid. It is always good to talk to a knowledgeable tax consultant on this issue.

Councilman for the City of Warren Keith Sadowski was on the receiving end of witticism and barbs at the 14th Annual Polish Day Parade Roast on Thursday, May 23 at American Polish Century Club in Sterling Heitghts.
Keith Sadowski has been a Councilman in the City of Warren since November 2003. Warren has been his home for most of his life, with the exception of a year stint in upstate NY, where he met his wife Gina. They have been married for over 15 years.
Sadowski has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Marketing from MSU, and an MBA in Business Administration from Wayne State.
The Polish Day Parade Committee chose Keith Sadowski as their 2013 Polish Day Parade Grand Marshal. Since 1999, a “Roast” is being held ahead of the parade, during which the Grand Marshal has to withstand sometimes a bit naughty (but healthy and entertaining) jokes and humorous tells about the “guest of honor”.
This year, Keith Sadowski’s scheduled line-up of roasters included his brothers, Dr. Michael Sadowski and Dr. Rich Sadowski, former Warren City Council Member Mindy Moore, WDIV Local 4 Reporter Mara MacDonald and Keith’s long-time friend and campaign manager Mark Allen, as well as “Mystery Roaster” which happened to be Keith’s mother.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was popular Radio Personality for Today 105. 1 Lisa Jesswein.
The event was attended by hundreds of Keith Sadowski’s friends, colleagues and family members.
Proceeds from the roast will benefit the annual Polish Day Parade held on Labor Day in Hamtramck. The parade is sponsored by the Polish American Congress Michigan Division.
In a special address published in the occasional program book for “The Roast”, the Chairman of the Polish Day Parade Committee, Hon. Judge John Chmura writes: “The Polish Day Parade, with dancers wearing brightly colored costumes, polka bands, singers, and veterans groups, brings back all those wonderful Hamtramck memories. The Polish Day Parade is Hamtramck”.
The Polish Day Parade Committee includes: Henry Anonick, Wally Banka, Terry A. Bogusz, John M. Chmura, Ann Felczak, Michelle Jiompkowski, Victor Jiompkowski, Erica Keine, Ron Keine, Kathy Kristy, Barbara Lemecha, Karen Majewski, Edward Mandell, Jerrold Marsh, Barbara Martin, Paul Odrobina, Dennis Orlowski, Christopher Ozog, Thomas Schemanski, Jim Surowiec, Mariusz Szajnert, Stella Szczesny, Barbara Toboy and Mary Ellen Tyszka.

(courtesy of “Polish Times”)

Komitet Stypendialny KPA wylosował zwycięzców loterii

Komitet Stypendialny michigańskiego wydziału Kongresu Polonii Amerykańskiej (KPA) przeprowadził w sobotę, 11 maja, w restauracji „Krakus” w Hamtramck, losowanie zwycięzców loterii, z której dochód zasilił fundusz stypendialny KPA.

Loteria ta była jednym ze sposobów zdobycia pieniędzy przeznaczonych na stypendia KPA.  Jako że fundusze, które złożone są na koncie komitetu stypendialnego nie generują już takich odsetek jak kiedyœ, a i dotacje Polonii na fundusz nie są już takie w latach ubiegłych (nie licząc ubiegłorocznej niezwykle hojnej donacji pana Raya Okonskiego), komitet stypendialny zdecydował się na nowe akcje, które zasiliłyby fundusz.

Jedną z pierwszych takich akcji była loteria pieniężna.  Członkowie komitetu pracowali niezwykle ciężko, aby rozprowadzić losy na loterię; tak, aby zdobyć w sumie minimum 4 tysiące dolarów.  Połowa tej sumy zasiliła konto, a druga połowa przeznaczona była na nagrody (I nagroda – $1000, II nagroda – $500, III nagroda – $250, IV i V nagroda – po $125).

Sumę 4 tysięcy dolarów zdobyć się udało (nawet troszeczkę więcej), a więc losowanie mogło się odbyæ zgodnie z planem.

Członkowie komitetu zebrali się w sobotni wieczór w restauracji „Krakus”, aby przeprowadziæ losowanie.  Do kogo uœmiechnęło się szczęście?  Oto wyniki losowania: I nagroda – $1000 – Joanna Strzałkowski z West Bloomfield, II nagroda – $500 – H. Domankiewicz z Hamtramck, III nagroda – $250 – F. Dmuchowski, IV nagroda – $125 – Beth Sadus z Chicago Heights (w stanie Illinois), V nagroda – $125 – Ted Mirecki z McLean (w stanie Virginia).  Nazwiska zwycięzców podajemy zgodnie z tymi wypisanymi na zgłoszonych losach.

Jak to czasami bywa, zupełnym zbiegiem okolicznoœci w sobotni wieczór na obiad do restauracji „Krakus” wybrała się pani Helena Domankiewicz.  Mogła więc osobiœcie otrzymaæ swoją wygraną (czek na $500).  Nie kryła wielkiej radości, zaznaczając, że od wielu lat popiera i wspomaga działalnoœæ michigańskiego wydziału KPA.

Komitet Stypendialny KPA już myœli o kolejnej akcji (byæ mo¿e jakiejœ rozrywkowo-edukacyjnej imprezie), która by przyniosła kolejne fundusze zasilające konto stypendialne.  Na razie jednak członkowie komitetu pracowaæ będą nad ewaluacją zgłoszonych podañ o stypendia.  Wkrótce zostaną ogłoszeni laureaci oraz informacje kiedy i gdzie odbędzie się wręczenie stypendiów.

(“Czas Polski / Polish Times”)

Winners of the PAC Scholarship Raffle

I Prize – $1000 – Joanna Strzalkowski /West Bloomfield

II Prize – $500 – H. Domankiewicz / Hamtramck

III Prize- $250 – F. Dmuchowski

IV Prize – $125 – Beth Sadus / Chicago Heights (Illinois)

V Prize – $125 – Ted Mirecki / McLean (Virginia).

CONGRATULATIONS