LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
September 2004
June 2004
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Club Members,
Elections, elections and more elections. I am writing this the day before our club election, before the Iraqi election, and of course our country has so recently experienced a general election. So many of the dialogue centers around how many eligible voters will actually vote, and in some ways that is the same with our club. We know that it is difficult for people to get to the general meeting, and we do accept mail-in ballots. For those of you who misplaced the ballot and will be unable to attend the meeting, there is another way to vote and that is by volunteering. The Board will be meeting shortly after the general meeting and will be identifying chairpeople for the annual events. We are always looking for people outside of the Board to act as co-chairs. Please contact any of the Board members if there is a particular activity you would like to co-chair. Although work is involved, it really is a "fun" kind of work.
For those of you who can't do any of the above, please support us with your continued membership. Knowing that we are communicating with you by newsletter is as important for us as it is for you.
Enjoy your year and I look forward to seeing you at our events this year.
Your President,
Mary Ann Reale
ELECTION RESULTS
As you can see from the left side of page 1, we have a somewhat different combination of people serving on the Board this year. First, the Nomination Committee would like to thank everyone who agreed to run this year. Thank you for your willingness to make the time commitment to participate!! Second, we want to thank Kasia Krzyzostaniak for all her efforts while on the Board. Kasia has decided to devote more of her time to personal endeavors, and thus withdrew her name from consideration. But she will continue to keep the PHC Book Club interesting, and remain to be an active PHC member. Jadwiga Wild agreed to serve the position of Vice-President, thus opening up another At-Large position. We were then able to welcome Lori Beth Chalecki, Patrick Camfield, and Joanna Camfield to the Board list, and round out our numbers to 11, in line with our By-Laws. The next Board meeting will be held on Monday, February 7, 2005, 7 pm, at the home of Mary Ann Reale, 2810 Van Hise Ave., Madison. All members are always welcome to attend as well.
WANTED: NEW MEMBERS
At the Annual Meeting, President Mary Ann Reale repeated her goal of increasing PHC membership. Our long-time member Waclaw Szybalski (see Getting to Know You article further on in this issue) excited us all by offering to pay first-year dues for any new members recruited by current members. What a generous opportunity for all of us to talk to our friends about joining! Thank you, Waclaw!
UW SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED
PHC member Halina Filipowicz, a UW professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature, is delighted to announce that the Michael and Emily Lapinski Scholarship will pay partial or full tuition for both undergraduate and graduate students of Polish language, literature, and culture at UW-Madison! For the 2005-06 school year, about $25,000 will be available to distribute, and for the 2006-07 years and beyond, about $60,000 per year will be available. The tuition may also be used for study abroad in Poland through UW-Madison. The annual deadline for application is February 15, so hurry if you or someone you know who qualifies may be interested. More information (instructions, applications, etc.) may be found online at this link.
MATC PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED
PHC Secretary and MATC instructor Don Wesolowski is announcing two MATC classes that will definitely interest all of our members:
Polish Language Class: The good news is, after working on this idea for many months, MATC will offer a class in beginning Polish for non-credit! It will be held at the downtown campus, but will not begin until the summer semester. They are currently developing the curriculum and finding a good textbook. More good news is that the class will most likely be taught by Paula Wild, daughter of PHC member Jadwiga Wild. If you are interested in registering for this class, please contact Don by email (wesolowski@matcmadison.edu). He would be interested in knowing your day and time preferences, so that he can pass that information on to the powers-that-be. If fewer than 8 people register, the class will not be held, so please let Don know if you are serious about it.
Poland Travel Class: Another non-credit class, Discovering Poland * Travel, will be held on Tuesdays from April 26-May 3, 2005, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the downtown campus. Tuition is $15.20. As always, if less than 8 people register, the class would be cancelled, so if you're interested, clear your daytime calendar and contact MATC for more information.
GALLERY RECEPTION
New PHC members Christine and Terry McKillip have invited us to a reception at their Art St. Ann Gallery, 210 N. Henry St. (next to the White Horse Inn), in honor of Terry's new paintings and drawings, and display of other artists' prints, glass, ceramics, handmade paper, and new designs in Baltic amber. In case this Newsletter does not reach you in time for the reception, which is being held on Friday, February 4, 2005, from 5 pm to 8 pm, be sure to stop in any other time to view their amazing works of art and beautiful gallery.
BOOK CLUB
The next meeting of the PHC Book Club will be on Thursday, February 10, 2005, 7 pm, at the home of Bozena Waclawik, 3325 Harvey St., Madison. Deluge, which is the second of Henryk Sienkiewicz's trilogy, will be shown on DVD, followed by a lively discussion. Directions: if you go east on University Ave. from the Hilldale area, turn right on Blackhawk Dr., then first left onto Harvey St. Their house is on the right (look for wooden cedar columns on the front porch).
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Don't forget to come see our display at the International Festival, held in the Overture Center Lobby on Sunday, February 13, 2005, from 11 am to 5 pm. Better yet, let Jane Dunn (831-8827) know that you would be willing to help set up, take down, or just help sell sometime during the event.
LECTURE ABOUT AUSCHWITZ
Wisconsin Public Television has been showing a documentary in two parts about Auschwitz, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its liberation. They have also made the following announcement:
Wisconsin Public Television and the UW Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies bring Holocaust historian David Cesarani to the UW Madison campus to speak about the PBS/BBC production, Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State. Cesarani was a consultant to the BBC/PBS documentary. Mark your calendars to join us at the UW Memorial Union on Tues March 8th at 7 p.m. To learn more about the program visit, http://www.pbs.org/auschwitz/
NOTES FOR THE FEBRUARY 11 CONCERT
Honorary PHC members Tyrone Grieve, violin; Ellen Burmeister, piano; and Janet Grieve, cello, will present a concert of some of their favorite Eastern European music. Several of Poland's most important composers of the past will be represented, including Jozef Elsner, who was Chopin's composition teacher (Sonata in F Major, op. 10, no. 1, circa 1798); Frederic Chopin, Ignacy Paderewski, and Henryk Wieniawski in four characteristically 19th century, yet contrasting, miniatures; and Karol Szymanowski (dance from his Tatra Mountain folk-oriented ballet Harnasie of 1923-31). Hungary will be represented by Zoltan Koday's large-scale, quasi-improvisatory Duo, op. 7 for violin and cello (1914), considered by many to be the most important work for this combination of instruments. The program will also include the violin-piano sonata by Czech composer Leos Janacek, begun in 1914 and which has multiple allusions to Russia. While both of the latter works are definitely of the 20th century, much of their writing is based on 19th century romantic idioms.
The concert will take place in Mills Concert Hall in the Mosse Humanities Building on Friday, February 11, 2005, 8:00 pm. It is part of the UW-Madison School of Music Faculty Concert Series. Tickets are available at the door for $9 general admission, and $7 for students and seniors.
DAYTRIP TO MILWAUKEE ANNOUNCED
The Church Women United group has invited any interested PHC members to participate in a day trip to Milwaukee for lunch at the Polonez Restaurant and a tour of St. Josaphat's Basilica, which was built by Polish immigrants. While we took a similar trip a few years ago, this one also sounds like fun. The low price of $28.50 includes bus fare, lunch, and the Basilica tour. The date is Tuesday, February 22, 2005, and the bus departs from two local churches. You can catch it at 9:30 am at the Covenant Presbyterian Church (corner of Mineral Point and Segoe Rds.), and at 10:00 am at Christ Presbyterian Church (944 E. Gorham St.). Return time is about 5 pm. Make checks payable to Church Women United in Madison (note “Polish bus tour” on check), and mail to Marlene Lippert, Treasurer CWW, 24 Heritage Cir., #3, Madison, WI 53711. The deadline is February 15, 2005.
This tour was also announced in The Catholic Herald, February 3, 2005, with additional information about the World Day of Prayer to be celebrated at St. James Church, 1128 St. James Ct., on Friday, March 4, 2005. Coffee will be served and slides from Poland will be shown after 9 am, followed by a prayer service written by the Christian women of Poland (95% of population is Roman Catholic).
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR PACZKI YET?
Recent TV ads led me past a certain pastry shoppe in Middleton that made the paczki (jelly-filled doughnuts) seem irresistible. The bakery features these items at this time of year, and after getting my fill, I actually began to read the box they came in! The head baker (?) wrote that “for hundreds of years in my beloved Poland, my countrymen have been celebrating the arrival of Lent by making Paczki...because we are going to fast for 40 days and we want to use up the ingredients in our households.” I did not know that. Please send notices of other Polish customs that our members may be unaware of to me, Carin Brania, for sharing (keep in mind a deadline of the last week in each month for inclusion in the next month's Newsletter).
LOST ITEM
A 12-inch glass plate with 5 divisions was found after the PHC picnic last June. Please call Rose Meinholz at 233-3828 if you would like it back.
2005 STUDY TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
It came to our attention that the Heifer Study Tours are offering two opportunities for Polish travel. One is scheduled for late May-early June, and the other is set for October 2005. You may look up this group at www.heifer.org, or contact them at studytours@heifer.org, 501-907-2957 for more information.
MEMBER NEWS
In a recent January 2005 Isthmus issue, the “Table Talk” column featured our PHC members Janina and Izabela Kozik, respectively mother-owner of the Alex Polish-American Deli, 2623 Monroe St., in Knickerbocker Place, and daughter-translator/salesperson. The article detailed background information on their Polish roots, move to Trenton NJ, and then recent move to Madison. They described their delicious goods for sale, including deli meats, Polish desserts, and ready-to-go sandwiches and meals. Space limitations here cannot include all their descriptions, so you'll just have to go see for yourselves!
GETTING TO KNOW YOU -- OUR PHC MEMBERS
WACLAW SZYBALSKI
By Marie Revolinski
Our featured member this month, is an esteemed scientist, an old-world patrician gentleman who still makes women blush on kissing their hand during an introduction.
The PHC is fortunate to be able to claim that Waclaw Szybalski, “The Father of Gene Therapy” has been a member of our club for the last 25 years. Dr. Szybalski holds five doctoral degrees (four honorary), and has been a mentor to many outstanding scientists, including some Nobel Prize winners. He is credited with laying the foundation for genetic engineering and inventing the tools for its progression.
Waclaw was born in Lwow, Poland on September 9, 1921. He and his younger brother, Stanislaw, had highly-educated parents and a ”wonderful childhood in a beautiful country.” Just after he graduated from high school on September l, 1939, World War II (WWII) started. Germany attacked from the west, the USSR from the east. Within a month Lwow was occupied by the Soviets, and by 1941, twenty percent of the population had been deported to Siberia. The Szybalski family was spared this fate because they worked in Rudolf Weigl's Institute producing anti-typhus vaccines. These vaccines were derived from lice. In order to reproduce a sufficient number of lice, small box-like collectors were placed on the legs of lab workers, so lice could suck human blood for their food. The lab was allowed to function because the Soviets and Germans feared an epidemic of typhus. Waclaw, being in the Resistance, was able to smuggle vaccines to the Warsaw Ghetto. He also was able to help make explosives for the anti-Soviet resistance. The Lwow Institute of Technology remained open during WWII and, somehow, Waclaw earned his undergraduate degree in 1944. At present, he is working to commemorate the unique work of Dr. Weigl in Lwow.
After the war, The USSR deported most of the population from the eastern half of Poland (including the city of Lwow) to central Poland or Siberia. Eastern Poland was then annexed to the USSR. In 1945, Waclaw made his way to Gdansk, where he worked at several jobs including that of a food plant inspector. In Gdansk he helped rebuild the devastated Institute of Technology and continued his education - while teaching at the Institute. During this time Waclaw sought out his beloved mentor from Lwow, Adolf Joszt who had re-directed Waclaw's interests from traditional chemistry to molecular genetics and biotechnology, and now helped him get his formal degree, that of a chemical engineer, and guided him on his teaching jobs in Gdansk.
In 1946, Waclaw, along with other Polish students was invited to Copenhagen, Denmark. This exchange of knowledge between Gdansk and Copenhagen continued. In 1949, he returned to Gdansk to get his doctorate and to attend a Polish Microbiological Society conference. While in the area, his parents gave a dinner party in his honor. The party was attended by Professor Weigl, and turned out to be a “farewell party”, for Waclaw already had a Danish emigration visa to the USA. Shortly after he got back to Copenhagen, Waclaw was notified that he had been dismissed from the Gdansk School due to budget problems. This allowed Waclaw to leave Poland without any repercussions to his family.
In January of 1950, Dr. Szybalski arrived in the USA with only $35 in his wallet. At first he worked in the antibiotic industry, then Cold Springs Laboratories on Long Island, and later with Nobelist Selman Waksman (the discoverer of streptomycin). Finally, in 1960, Waclaw came to the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
His work on the genetics of antibiotic resistance led to the use of multidrug therapy in microbial disease and cancers. He worked on the genetics of human cells, and with his wife, Elizabeth, showed for the first time that these cells could be transformed by DNA - which was the beginning of gene therapy.
The work of Waclaw and his students helped in the studies of gene expression in many viruses and organisms, and also to sequence DNA. At Warsaw and Gdansk, three University buildings are dedicated to him. Several members of the PHC, including Zofia Kubinska, Henryk Kubinski, and Jadwiga Wild, spent years in his lab and became scientific leaders. At the Annual Casmir Funk National Science Award Ceremony, on December 8, 2003, the awards committee stated, “Dr. Szybalski is one of the world's outstanding molecular biologists. Almost every field of molecular biology of microorganisms and human cells has been touched by Dr. Szybalski's ingenious work”. He founded the international scientific journal, GENE, and remains the honorary editor. He has authored over 400 articles in textbooks or other publications. Many of Dr. Szybalski's students have attained international stature as professors at Harvard, Yale, and other major universities, as well as the presidency of Universities in Gdansk and Warsaw.
Professor Szybalski is married, and has a son, Stefan, living in Chicago and Florida, and a daughter, Barbara, in Arizona. His brother, Stanislaw, lives in Punta Gorda, Florida. Waclaw enjoys the theater, classical music, swimming, skiing, and sailing. At the PHC twenty-fifth anniversary dinner/dance, he also proved to be a mighty fine dancer!
Some of Waclaw's wishes for the club are lectures featuring Polish people and subjects, concerts, perhaps a Thursday night dinner with interesting topics. He would also like to see the PHC and the Polish students on campus contact the media in regard to PHC news, articles and news of Poland, and to educate the public on Poland, its social concerns and what it has achieved – if only three sentences a week.
To learn more about him go to a Madison public library, use a computer with access to the Internet, type in google, then Szybalski, and you will find many pages about his life.
January 2005
Dear Club Members,
You know the saying, the power is really behind the throne. Well, in this case, I think the real talent of this President is the Board. As I complete this year of presidency, I am very lucky that I have worked with such wonderful people. This is best exemplified by Carin's addition to this newsletter. Carin Brania has done a SUPERB job of editing this newsletter. She has made innumerable contributions to the club, but the comments she has volunteered are particularly appreciated. (Ed. note: Thanks Mary Ann, but others who have helped with the Newsletter include Jane and Gerry Dunn, Marie Revolinski, Rose Meinholz, Margaret Kmiotek, and of course, the previous editor, Karen Kucharz. Hope I didn't leave anyone out. It's really a team effort -- Carin) One of the best attended club activities is the annual Wigilia. As I stated, I was raised in very modest circumstances, but the best meal of the year in our home was the Wigilia. It was a holy night filled with much love, joy, excitement, and hopes for peace in the next year. The club mirrors that in so many ways. I love this annual event and always invite the son of one of our deceased members, as well as a different couple each year to share our culture. It is so heartwarming to share the Oplatek and enjoy the traditional foods. There is great comfort in celebrating this annual ritual. Unfortunately there were a multitude of problems this year. I sincerely apologize for the poor quality of food and other mishaps. We thought we had communicated as to our requests but somehow things did not work out as planned. I will leave the rest to Carin as she has stated this better than I. On the other hand, I think our musicians get better with each event. I so love to sing the Koledy and do not want them to end. I would like to again thank the Board for all the hard work they do throughout the year. They make my job easy. Please come to the annual membership meeting where new officers will be elected and please pay your dues for 2005. This can be done by sending them to our treasurer, Jane Dunn.
I wish each and everyone of you many blessings for the new year.
Your President,
Mary Ann Reale
WIGILIA THOUGHTS...
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our 2004 Wigilia! It would have been even more wonderful if everything had been perfect, or at least as well as in the past. However, most of us would agree that we were very disappointed in the food quality this year, and since much of the tradition of the Wigilia involves food, things did not appear well indeed. Some of us have used the word “appalled” to describe our feelings about it. One anonymous member pointed out other shortcomings as well. Of the millions of tiny details that go into planning such an event, it takes only a few to go wrong to sour the whole thing. The Board is well aware of the disappointing features, and will be trying hard to prevent a repeat next year.
On the flip side of the coin, experiencing disappointments can help us to appreciate the positives even more, and can lead to changes that may improve the overall event. As always, we did enjoy the camaraderie, the music by our wonderful musicians, Santa's visit and the parade of the children, the singing of koledy (carols), the desserts (most of which were brought by members), and the opportunity to review past activities of the PHC by enjoying our scrapbooks.
So many of you helped out in myriad ways to attend to the millions of details. The 2004 Wigilia Committee (Darlene Driscoll, Rose Meinholz, and Jadwiga Wild) compiled the following:
107 people attended this year's Wigilia at the Coliseum Bar. Thank you to all listed (alphabetically) here, and apologies if anyone's name was left off!
Carin & Jerzy Brania -- Szopka, decorating, cookies
Jo Coughlin -- cookies
Janice Czyscon & Crystal Hyslop -- name tags, decorating
Darlene Driscoll -- decorating, cookies
Jane Dunn -- Nativity scene & Boleslawiec place setting
Farah & Sue Fatupaito -- decorating, cookies
Stan Kmiotek -- musician
Bob Kriz -- musician
Kasia Krzyzostaniak -- food
Butch Luick -- Santa committee
Jo Luick -- phone calls
Rose Meinholz -- decorating, cookies
Donna Perzewski -- children's reading
Charley Rathsack -- decorating
Mary Ann & Richard Reale & friends -- decorating, emcee
Marie & Norm Revolinski -- decorating
Andrea Rolich -- cookies
John & Twila Sheskey -- reception table
Stefanie & Gordon Statz -- oplatek sharing
Don Wesolowski -- PHC photos, scrapbooks
Jadwiga Wild -- food, decorating
Tom Wosikowski -- musician, organizing koledy
Zach & Raina Zwadzich -- Wigilia helpers
...AND THE NEXT STEPS
As always, we welcome new volunteers to help out with everything. If everyone who has an idea about how to improve any of our events would please take the next step and volunteer to make it happen, how great would that be? I know, I know, we're all busy or have some other kind of physical or time limitation. We all have lives, and no one is paid for donating their time. Some may say, “The same people are running everything, and there's no room for me.” That last sentence is so untrue! The same people are doing a lot because it is very difficult to keep on calling others to participate, and yet someone has to do it. So if you receive a phone call asking for your help, please agree! Better yet, pick up the phone, call any Board member (listed on Page 1), and offer your services.
(Editor's Note: Before I step off my soapbox, I do have one more request. Please identify yourselves when calling or writing. Anonymity gives one freedom to express oneself, but it does nothing to inform or enlighten oneself since it gives no opportunity to hear a response. It's good to vent, but not nice to just dump on someone else and leave it at that. Thanks, Carin)
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND ELECTION
The next big event coming up is our Annual Business and Election Meeting in January. This presents two great opportunities for you to make your feelings known. First, come to the meeting and hear about what we've done in 2004 and how we've spent our money. Second, we need more people willing to be on the Board. If you want to be “in the loop,” there's no better way. The meeting will take place on Sunday, January 30, 2005, 10:00 a.m. at the home of Jerzy and Carin Brania, 5941 Mayhill Dr., Madison, WI 53711. Directions will be included in a separate mailing, along with the proposed ballot, later in the month.
AND EVEN MORE VOLUNTEERS
In last month's Newsletter, those who volunteered to help with the UW Hospital Craft Sale were inadvertently not mentioned. Please accept our apologies, and know that your services were very much appreciated. Besides helping with sales, our volunteers had to pick up our craft inventory from storage, set up the display, take it back down afterwards, and return the unsold items to storage. The event did well, and we couldn't have done it without you! The list includes Jo Luick, Marie & Norm Revolinski, Jane & Gerry Dunn, Lori Beth Chalecki, Butch & Dory Luick, John & Zach Zwadzich, John & Marlene Wysocki, Marge Morgan, and Jean Wroblewski.
MILWAUKEE CONNECTIONS
We were excited to receive the quarterly issue of The Polish Connection, the newsletter of the Polish Heritage Alliance, Inc., located at The Polish Center of Wisconsin (PCW), 6941 S. 68th St., Franklin, WI 53132. They included their Winter Event Calendar, which has been copied and included in this Newsletter (white sheet). LOTS of very interesting events are planned -- please contact them if you need more information.
SPRING BOSTON STORE COMMUNITY DAY
Jane Dunn received word that the date chosen for the “spring” Boston Store Community Day fund-raiser is Saturday, February 26, 2005. (Do the Boston Store executives have an inside tip from the groundhog about an early spring? That would be nice.)
December 2004
Dear Club Members,
In reflecting on the events of the last year, it is always a plus and a minus. Some of our club members have received awards or recognition for their talents and we are quite happy and proud of them. Unfortunately, other club members have had health problems and continue to face new health issues. For these we lift up in special ways.
We have gained some new members and others have decided not to renew their membership. There is always joy when we get new "friends" and some sadness when others leave. We have had new people volunteer for club activities, while other club members continue to spend many hours working on club activities. We appreciate any service or support which is given to the club.
A joyous occasion was the celebration of the club's 25th anniversary, but now we are challenged with maintaining this high quality of club activities and programs .
I am most thankful and grateful for all the assistance I have received in this past year of my presidency. It truly "takes a village" to keep our club running as smoothly as it has. I also am most thankful that I have another "family" in the club. I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope to see everyone at the Wigilia.
Your President,
Mary Ann Reale
NOVEMBER EVENTS, RECAPPED
The month of November saw PHC members working at two of our fund-raising activities, both of which went very well. At the UW Hospital & Clinics Fall Craft Show, Jane Dunn reported that there was steady activity at our table. People came looking for us, as they remembered the quality Polish crafts that we displayed, and were able to buy some beautiful Christmas gifts for their loved ones and themselves. If you have never been to this event, you are missing how great our display looks, and how interested in the Polish culture are the many visitors.
The Boston Store Community Day offered super savings for shoppers and donations for the PHC due to the sale of coupon packets and volunteers' time. Jane Dunn, Jadwiga Wild, Carin Brania, Kasia Krzyzostaniak, and Iwona Pawlowicz put in a total of 16 hours helping out in the different store departments. If you're looking for a different way to volunteer, this one's for you!
Several PHC members made the trip to Milwaukee on November 16 to enjoy the Slask performance of traditional Polish folk songs and dances. The costumes, voices, and energy of the ensemble cast provided a very entertaining evening.
FRIENDSHIP FORCE TRIP TO POLAND
About 20 members of the Friendship Force organization spent some time in October visiting Poland, and they recently had a reunion to share their photos and anecdotes about the trip. After spending several days staying with host families in Olsztyn, they toured various cities around the country, including Gdansk, Krakow, Warsaw, and parts in between. Carin Brania dropped by to hear what they had to say, and ran into PHC member Irene Swiggum while there. The FF tourists had very positive impressions of Poland, with the only negative being the theft of someone's camera. While they found the language barriers difficult, they managed to “creatively communicate” well and had some interesting stories to share about relating to the people they met there. Other lasting impressions they shared included how clean everything looked; how packed the churches were each Sunday, especially with young people; how beautiful were the elaborate details in architecture, home, castle ,and church “decor;” how rich and interesting the history stories they heard (remember the Hejnal in Krakow?), how surprised they were to receive unexpected gifts from their hosts; and in general, how intense were the friendships they developed there. Several took our PHC brochure, and will be looking for our display at the International Festival at the Overture Center on February 13, 2005. There was also a discussion of the possibility of Madison adopting Olsztyn as a Sister City in the future, citing it as similar to Madison because of it being a college town surrounded by several lakes. Interesting!
HAVE YOU BEEN TO POLAND LATELY?
Many of our members travel to Poland regularly to visit relatives and friends. Some have not been there for many years, or not at all. Some of our children have been there as part of a study-abroad program. Considering how interesting were the fresh impressions of the Friendship Force group, it would be great if those of you who have stories to share of your recent travels would like to share them in a paragraph or two, so that the Newsletter readers can enjoy them too. What were your impressions of the country and its people? What surprised you the most? What are the hot political or cultural topics going on there? If planning to go again, how would you prepare differently for the trip? Favorite sights? Favorite foods? Send your thoughts to Carin Brania, 5941 Mayhill Dr., Madison 53711, and she will try to include them in future issues. Thanks!
WIGILIA 2004
Have you sent in your reservation yet for our Wigilia dinner on Sunday, December 12, 2004? If not, hurry! We need to have it by the time you are reading this. Let Rose Meinholz know ASAP, 233-3828. As a reminder, it will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Coliseum Bar, 232 E. Olin Ave.
2005 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
In order for the 2005 Membership Directory to be ready in time to distribute at the Spring Festival on March 20, 2005, the Board decided to list only those members who have paid up their 2004 dues in the calendar year of 2004. So if you haven't already done so, please send your dues to Jane Dunn, Treasurer, at 7617 Sawmill Rd., Madison 53717, or include them in with your Wigilia reservation. We will continue this policy each year. Thanks for your cooperation
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND ELECTION
After the Wigilia, holiday celebrations, football bowl games, and possible snow-shoveling, what better way to relax than by coming to the PHC Annual Business Meeting, featuring the election for new Board members! OK, so maybe you have a better way, but it always makes for a casual morning to socialize, to hear a review of our year's activities and of our treasury (how was that money spent?), to have a continental breakfast, and to share ideas about the direction the club should take in the future. We are always eager to have some “fresh blood” on the Board, so please consider running for an office. Someone may be calling you soon, but if not, you are very welcome to nominate yourself or someone else by calling Mary Ann Reale, 238-7397. Offices open for election this year are Vice-President/President-Elect, Treasurer, and three At-Large positions. We hope to have the ballots ready to include in the January Newsletter.
The meeting will take place on Sunday, January 30, 2005, 10:00 a.m. at the home of Jerzy and Carin Brania, 5941 Mayhill Dr., Madison 53711. Directions will be given in the January Newsletter.
CHRISTMAS PACKAGES FOR POLISH COALITION TROOPS
As we did last year, the PHC put together 10 gift packages to send to Polish troops in the Coalition Forces in Iraq. This was part of a national effort organized by Polish-American organizations. Jane and Gerry Dunn once again shopped and packed the boxes, which included items such as oplatek, Polish Christmas cards, and various toiletries.
MEMBER NEWS
We were extremely proud to learn of the recent honors bestowed upon our long-time PHC member, Professor Waclaw Szybalski, that he received in Gdansk during October 2004. We would like to express to him our hearty congratulations! These honors included the following:
GETTING TO KNOW YOU - OUR PHC MEMBERS
Bob Kriz
By Marie Revolinski
Is he Bob Kriz or Robert Krzywicki? Is he an award -winning accordionist or a genealogist? Is he a devoted parent or a dedicated allergist? The accordionist with our PHC Musicians just happens to be all of the above.
In his early adulthood, Bob Kriz's father, John Krzywicki, shortened his name to Kriz. John, and Bob's mother, Stella Barczak Kriz, were Polish; but, as was the custom of the time, they raised Bob and his brother Arthur in American ways. However, both of his widowed grandmothers carried on the Polish traditions, customs, food, and only Polish was spoken in their homes. His father, who spoke Ukraine and Russian besides Polish, had a Polish butcher shop where Bob was able to help. The customers came from great distances to buy the homemade kielbasa, sausages, and other meats. Bob said he has many good memories of family vacations at Polish summer resorts enjoying the music, the food and the language; many of the wait staff were from Poland.
Bob started accordion lessons at age eight and practiced an hour each day, being encouraged by his father. Later, Bob entered competitions in his hometown of New York City. He won three citywide contests and had awards presented to him by Don Ameche, and by Gordon and Sheila McRae. During his entire teenage years Bob played with the “Polish Polka Band”, earning and saving enough money for his first car.
His professional career began at Queens College where he graduated with a major in chemistry. This lead to a degree in medicine from New York University, then onto the University of Wisconsin, and training in Internal Medicine specializing in allergy and immunology. The years 1971 –1973 were spent in the U. S. Air Force, one year in Thailand during the Vietnam War, and the next year in Massachusetts. Since 1976 he has been in private practice as an allergist and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine in the section of allergy at the U.W.
In 1978 he married Linda Byrne, a nursing instructor. They have 4 children, Joe, John, Karyn and Laura, each of whom has played with the PHC Musicians and are now all busy with college. Bob's mother, Stella, came to live in Madison after the death of her husband. She was active in the PHC Club and noted for her babkas (a special Easter yeast cake). Around 1987, she introduced Bob to the club. We have enjoyed his music and family since that time.
Bob's non-professional interests/hobbies are computers, genealogy, local history including Dane County, and historic preservation. One of his hopes is that a group in the PHC would research ancestral last names and Polish genealogy. Bob wears many hats with his varied interests. But his Polish roots remain strong.
November 2004
Dear Club Members,
Woody Allen has been credited with saying that 90% of living is showing up. Maybe 90% of being Polish is speaking up. I recently had a wonderful visit to Hawaii. A must see is a trip to the Arizona Memorial. It is awesome to look at the wall with more than 1000 names of the people killed on December 7, 1941. One of the names is that of a young Polish boy from a neighboring town where I grew up. The local VFW is now named after him. It is also unbelievable to realize that oil is still leaking from the ship after more than 60 years. There always are flowers floating in the water to commemorate the dead. Before you take the boat out to the Memorial, you view a short audio tape which discusses the events leading up to the invasion. When discussing the events in Europe, the invasion of France and the Netherlands is mentioned, but not a word about the Polish invasion! Was not Poland invaded BEFORE these countries and remained occupied for years after the war ended? I did approach one of the National Park Rangers and discussed this with him. He was quite young and probably thought I was a little extreme in my concern to place these events in the proper perspective. I then proceeded to write a detailed letter and placed it in the evaluation box. I am not sure what would ever become of my comments, but I was quite frustrated that Poland was not mentioned, which often seems the case. I also felt a sense of relief that I had tried to do something to change this situation. I would encourage everyone to speak up for Poland if the situation arises. This is what I believe is being Polish! On a recent trip to Philadelphia the local news channel highlighted a local Dozynki festival. This might be something we would like to celebrate next year.
Enjoy Thanksgiving!
Your President
Mary Ann Reale
OCTOBER EVENTS, RECAPPED
We had two major events planned for October, which as luck would have it, turned out about as opposite as they could possibly have been. For starters, our program Music Traditions of the Polish-Americans, had to be canceled due to our speaker's family emergency. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone! We may try to reschedule this if our membership shows an interest, so please respond to any Board member if you would want to attend this event in the spring.
Our other event, the PHC 25th Anniversary dinner dance, was a smashing success! It seemed that everyone there had a great time. The room looked beautiful, the food was good, the music entertaining, and Wow! how our members can dance! Maybe we'll have some photos to include in next month's Newsletter, and you can see if you were there, or see what you missed.
POLISH OPERA SINGER IN MILWAUKEE
Ewa Podles, "the world's leading contralto," will perform in Verdi's opera Il Trovatore (The Troubadour) at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee, on Nov. 6, 12, and 14, 2004. The Polanki club has sent us an invitation to attend the performance on Friday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m., which will also include a reception with Ewa Podles afterwards. Ticket prices range from $37 to $75. Reply to Florentine Opera by November 10, 2004 by contacting them at (414) 291-5700 or online at www.florentineopera.org.
MEMBER NEWS
FUND-RAISING EVENTS COMING UP
The PHC displays and sells Polish imported crafts, pottery, jewelry, etc., at various times during the year, in order to keep our treasury solvent to support our cultural, social, and humanitarian efforts, as well as to raise awareness of Polish culture in the community. The next time we do this will be on Friday, November 12, 2004, at the UW Hospital Fall Craft Show. We'll be at the Hospital, 600 Highland Ave., G5/1 module. Please offer to help out (call Jane Dunn, 831-8827) or come and enjoy the various displays.
We also participate in the Boston Store Community Day fund raiser twice a year. The fall day is scheduled for Saturday, November 20, 2004. Those attending our dinner dance received a coupon packet. If you didn't get one already, call Jane Dunn to buy one for $5, which the PHC can keep, but which you would also get returned to you if you make a purchase at the Boston Store and redeem the $5 coupon in the packet. Sound confusing? Not really. It's just a smart way to shop!
WIGILIA
How the year goes fast! It's time to make plans for our traditional Wigilia dinner again. In this Newsletter is a reservation form, on which we would appreciate your response by Friday, December 3, 2004. As was last year, if there is a red star by your name, that means that you have not yet paid your 2004 dues, and you are a year behind. Please include the dues in with your reservation, and if at all possible, why not also include the dues for 2005 while you're at it, so you won't forget. Thanks!!
RICK STEVES' EUROPE ON PBS
Direct your eyes, or your VCR's, to the PBS airing of Rick Steves' Europe on Saturday, November 13, 2004, 3:30 - 4:00 p.m. You will see "Poland Rediscovered: Krakow, Auschwitz, and Warsaw."
NEW DELI IN TOWN
We were pleased to see a new Polish deli in town, after the closing of the Euro Deli in Middleton. The Alex Polish American Deli is located at 2623 Monroe St., in the Knickerbocker Place shopping center. Owned by the Kozik family, the deli is supplied from Polish sources in Chicago, so check out what they have. The Kozik's moved from New Jersey, and were pleased to hear that Madison has an active Polish community.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU – OUR PHC MEMBERS
STAN KMIOTEK
By Marie Revolinski
Stan Dombrowski Kmiotek started playing guitar for the PHC in 1985, at Tenney Park, during an annual picnic, to accompany a singing group. A bit later that day, Tom Wosikowski joined him with his banjo. Thus was the beginning of the PHC musicians.
Stan was born May 24, 1918, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Michael and Amelia Dombroska Kmiotek. He had two sisters and one brother. During the Depression, when Stan was twelve years old, the family moved to a farm in Junction City, near Stevens Point. Their main crop was potatoes, which sold for 30 cents per hundredweight. The farm work was all hand labor done by his family. Stan smiles at remembering his mother letting him take time from work to go fishing.
Later, Stan graduated from the Racine County School of Agriculture. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and was a pilot until he lost some hearing due to an ear infection. He was transferred to Field Artillery, serving as a radio operator. He was in France enroute to Japan, when WW II ended. After the war, he went to Iowa State College at Ames, earning a degree in zoology and taking some graduate work in aquatic biology. During his third year at Ames, he married Margaret Skinner. They have three children – Stephanie, Michael, Linda – and a grandson.
Stanley worked in the Department of Natural Resources for 32 years. The first 16 years, as a supervisor in fish biology, the last 16 years he was at the DNR office in Madison. However, throughout their marriage, weekends have been for hobbies: fly-fishing, fly tying, gardening, photography, and downhill skiing (until a few years ago).
Stan is a member of the Madison Rose Society; his backyard garden reflects this love with beautiful rose bushes, several bird feeders among them and a complementary butterfly garden. He is also a member of the American Fisheries Society, a certified Fisheries Scientist, as well as an avid trout fisherman, being a member of Trout Unlimited.
Twenty years ago, Stan and Margaret joined fifteen other musicians to start the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. The musicians continue to practice at the Kmiotek home every Tuesday evening. The group performed throughout the state, and still play at nursing homes. Margaret was the editor/publisher/photographer of the award-winning SWBGMAI's Fireball Mail newsletter for 18 years.
Our other musicians, Tom Wosikowski, and Bob Criz, will be featured in upcoming Newsletters.
October 2004
Dear Club Members,
I am writing this on a Glorious first day of Autumn. The mornings and evenings are cool, the days are getting shorter, the leaves are turning color, and of course this is the apple season. A few years ago the club took a field trip to the Apple Festival in Winona, Minnesota. What good fun we had, visiting the Polish museum, touring the magnificent Polish church, meeting with another Polish cultural club and of course eating wonderful Polish food with apples at the heart of the festival. My mother baked the most delicious apple pies. She also had a special recipe for an apple cake. These were handed down from her mother who was born in "the old country". One Christmas we gave our 3 children recipe boxes with family favoite recipes. What a wonderful experience it is to eat something that was made from such a special recipe. I would enourage everyone to share one of your favorite family recipes and pass another tradition on.
October is Polish Heritage month so celebrate with a special Polish dinner. On a more sober note September was the month that Poland was invaded by Germany at the beginning of WW2. Although that heralded many years of suffering, the indominable Polish spirit was not crushed.
Your President,
Mary Ann Reale
OCTOBER EVENTS
October is Polish-American Heritage month. How are we observing it? We have two events planned that we hope our membership will enjoy. They are:
An entertaining and enlightening program is planned, with Rick March of the Wisconsin Arts Board tracing how popular music trends in Europe arrived in the United States and were influenced by the various ethnic groups that settled here. This will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2004, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, at the MG&E Innovation Center, 505 S. Rosa Rd. There is no cost to attend, and we are welcoming the general public to this as well. Bring your friends!
Directions: From Mineral Point Rd., turn south into the University Research Park area at the stoplight on Rosa Rd. Follow the road past Charmany Dr., and the building is at the second driveway on the left. The building's sign is at the entrance to the driveway.
You will soon receive an invitation to the dinner dance that will honor the 25th anniversary of the PHC. It will be an evening of good company, great food, fun music, and highlights about the Club's beginnings and evolution. Please plan on joining us!
Saturday, October 30, 2004, at the Elks Club (directions will be included in the invitation). Social hour begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing till your feet fall off (or midnight when they kick us out). Your reply is needed by October 9, 2004.
OUR CLASSICAL MUSICIANS PERFORM
PHC member Tyrone Greive, concertmaster of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, has shared with us an upcoming schedule of concerts and notes that will interest most of you:
MILWAUKEE EVENTS
Several events that highlight Polish heritage will be happening in Milwaukee during the upcoming months. These include:
CHRISTMAS IN POLAND
There will be a special holiday presentation of Polish music, dance, and song, with a Catholic mass beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Crystal Grand Music Theater in Lake Delton. This unique event will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2004. More information in next month's Newsletter.
WIGILIA
Speaking of Christmas, and it isn't too early to do so if you go by the department store decorations already, our Wigilia celebration is scheduled for Sunday, December 12, 2004, at the Coliseum Bar. Time to be announced. The reservation form will be included in next month's Newsletter.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU -- OUR PHC MEMBERS
After introducing this feature last month, it is already on vacation! Marie Revolinski, who is doing these interviews, is taking a long-awaited vacation with her husband Norm, touring Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for a few weeks. Safe travels to you both!
PERSONAL MUSINGS...
I usually don't put personal experiences in the Newsletter, but I recently came across two items that may be of mild interest to some of you. First of all, at his wonderful concert at the new Overture Center, the jazz pianist Dave Brubeck shared his experience in Poland when touring there during the Eisenhower years. He raved about the young Polish musicians who followed him around the country, and about Chopin, whose music he heard everywhere (although he felt that he was unable to play any of it, although I highly doubted that). In gratitude, he had composed a piece he titled Dziekuje, which he then played for us, initially sounding like a beautiful classical work while ending with jazzy rhythms. It was an amazing blend of both styles, and a very creative salute to Polish musicians.
The second item was less inspiring but a surprise to me nevertheless. I had the occasion to visit the Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb, where I saw a whole shelf dedicated to the mustards of Poland. Who knew?
If anyone has other interesting little tidbits like this, please let me know. Thanks, Carin (274-6801).
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Club Members,
What a "Polish" summer it has been!. The club started off on the right foot with the annual picnic. This was one of the best picnics we have had (maybe we say that every year). Anyway, one of the best parts was the Narodno International Dancers. Members not only enjoyed watching them dance, but were then treated to a dance lesson. What an experience! This is the tradition we need to continue.
July found my daughter Erin in Poland. All of my grandparents were born in Europe, and Erin is the first of their descendents to return to the Motherland. She visited many places in Europe and said that Poland had the best food. Well, maybe she was just a little prejudiced. Speaking of traditions, my mother always had a saying, "Od Sw.Hanki-Chlodne wieczory i ranki." After July 26th, the feast of St. Ann, the mornings and evenings become cool . And of course a mother is always right!
During this month of August, we have seen the Polish athletes at the Olympics, and I cheered for them just as I cheered for the Americans. One of the most interesting items on the Olympics disappointingly occurred at the end of the broadcast. There was a story about 6000 Polish prisoners interned in a German prison camp in Woldenberg. In 1944 this camp for 22 days held Olympic games. What a testament to the Polish spirit that these people could compete under such conditions.
August also brought the death of a famous Pole, Czeslaw Milosz . Born in Lithuania and educated in Wilno, he won a Nobel Prize in literature. Perhaps our book club should read some of his works. One of the goals of the PHC is to share our Polish culture. I would encourage everyone to embrace those beloved traditions which have been handed down to us and share them as well.
Your president,
Mary Ann Reale
WELCOME BACK
A new season for the PHC Newsletter after a two-month rest -- we're hoping it will be newsier than ever. It is hard to keep up with all that's going on, what with informing you of our own planned events, of events in the area that may be related to Polish culture, of member news and accomplishments, and of other various and sundry items that may interest you. Keep in mind that we're all volunteers, donating our time and energy in order to share the news. In that spirit, here is an open invitation to all to contact me (Carin Brania, 274-6801, email at ccb915@msn.com) with the kinds of items you would like to share with our members. If space allows, we'll put it in!
One new feature we're adding is a "Getting to Know You" story of our members. Marie Revolinski has graciously agreed to interview someone different each month, to share with each other what an interesting and diverse group we are, even though we all share the common bond of an interest in Polish heritage. Look for this feature on another page...
PICNIC REPORT
For those of you who missed our Annual Picnic on June 13, 2004, you missed a great one! The weather held out and actually turned sunny, after another wet week that had included severe storms. And the food was delicious and plentiful. But the best part was our program -- the Narodno International Dancers! Led by Michael Kuharski, son of long-time PHC members Mabel and the late Chester Kuharski, they enlightened and entertained us with several Polish folk dances, followed by an audience-participation lesson in the Polonaise. That certainly got most of us up and moving, which also prepared us for a lesson in the Polish-American version of the polka, the official dance of Wisconsin. Our own wonderful musicians, Stan Kmiotek, Bob Criz, and Tom Wosikowski, added to the festivities and kept us dancing. Many thanks are also extended to Rose Meinholz and Darlene Driscoll for all their efforts in organizing, again to Darlene for manning the grills, and to all the other volunteers for helping set up and clean up. The children who attended had fun with the play equipment, bubbles, and balloons. We hope to see you all again next year!
SAVE THE DATE!!
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Polish Heritage Club, we are having a dinner dance on Saturday, October 30, 2004. Plan to come, meet and mingle, reminisce, eat, drink, be merry, and of course, dance! The fun will happen at the centrally-located Elks Club (Lake Monona at Jenifer and Blount Streets). Expect to receive an invitation in a separate mailing that will provide details about time, directions, dinner entree choices, and cost. We will need your reply by October 9, 2004.
MUSIC TRADITIONS OF THE POLISH-AMERICANS
Save another date -- Saturday, October 9, 2004. We were lucky to have found a resource treasure in Richard March, who is the Folk and Community Arts Specialist of the Wisconsin Arts Board. Rick is an expert on the music of Wisconsin's many ethnic communities, and is a very entertaining speaker with great stories and a good supply of CD's and tapes for his boom box. He will present a program for us on Music Traditions of the Polish-Americans. This will take place at the MG&E Innovation Center, 505 S. Rosa Rd, on October 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. (no cost).
POLISH FEST IN WISCONSIN DELLS
The Polish Fest at Riverview Park in Wisconsin Dells is scheduled for September 10-12, 2004. The PHC will again have a booth there for all three days to display and sell our crafts. Darlene Driscoll and Marie Revolinski are co-chairs of our display there, and are busy lining up volunteers to help out with this effort. We have had people from all over the state come to this event and specifically look for us. We have had a great time talking with them, and of course with each other. Other features of the Polish Fest include music, dancing, and Polish foods. Check out their website for more information: www.wisconsindellspolishfest.com.
BOOK CLUB
At the last Book Club meeting in August, the discussion included future book choices. Members wanted to tackle some of Henryk Sienkiewicz's works, but felt that, due to our busy lives, we would need more time to do the actual reading. So we came up with an alternative, if not very scholarly, solution: we would really, really, try to do the reading, but at the Club meeting (pass the popcorn), we would watch the video. So on Wed., November 3, 2004, we will be viewing With Fire and Sword, which is Part I of Sienkiewicz's trilogy, on Gerry and Jane Dunn's terrific new TV.
POLANKI NEWS
The newsletter of Polanki, Inc., the Polish Women's Cultural Club in Milwaukee, always has some interesting articles and information. Of special interest to our PHC members are the dates of their Soup and Pierogi Festivals. The Soup Festival is on October 10, 2004, and the Pierogi Festival is scheduled for April 17, 2005. Please check their website for information about reservations: www.polanki.org.
SLASK PERFORMANCE IN MILWAUKEE
Enclosed in this Newsletter is a flyer with the information about Slask (pronounced Shlownsk), a fabulous Polish troupe of folk singers and dancers. They last performed in Madison about 20 years ago, although they have toured the US several times since then. They will be at the Marcus Center, Uihlein Hall, in Milwaukee on Tuesday, November 16, 2004. Ticket prices are in the $35-$46 ball park range, with extra fees for postage and handling. In addition, Ticketmaster adds a "convenience fee" as well. Call the box office or Ticketmaster for more information.
UPDATE ON WEBSITES
While you're looking up Polish-related websites, you will want to add two more to your bookmarks. Thanks to Tyrone Grieve for sharing them with us. He added the following descriptions of them as well:
FRIENDSHIP FORCE
A friendly group of Madisonians, as part of Friendship Force International, will be travelling to Poland in October, staying with host families in Olsztyn and touring around the country. They had asked the PHC to provide them with information about how they could be effective ambassadors of good will there, and they had LOTS of questions. PHC member Richard Zolnik, who was born in Poland, lives now in Madison, and had also served in the US Peace Corps in Poland, thus having experienced both countries from all different angles, did his best to answer their questions. He gave them a valuable cram-course in Polish phrases, pronounciation, polite customs, and many other topics. When the Friendship Force returns to Madison, they've invited us to come to their "show-and-tell" meeting. Safe travels, and powodzenia!
FOLK ART FAIRS
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has again asked the PHC to participate in the Folk Art Fairs that take place in various Dane County elementary schools. Participating volunteers display and demonstrate their hobbies and skills on tables set up around the gym, while groups of children and teachers check them all out. The PHC shares Polish culture and crafts with a display of Polish dolls, coins, books, etc., and a hands-on demonstration of wycinanki, the art of paper-cutting. The students are allowed to take home paper drawings to practice their cutting skills and explain to their parents how to do it. The feedback from RSVP has been very positive, as the children have enjoyed our presentation. Last year, Marie Revolinski, Darlene Driscoll, Carin Brania, and Rose Meinholz took turns at different schools. If you are interested in being there, please call Marie at 222-2857. We could always use the extra help. (P.S. They provide lunch!)
FREE LEGAL ADVICE SOUGHT
Are any of our members lawyers? If so, the Board had a few questions regarding the PHC's status as a tax-exempt organization. If you think you can help us out on this issue, please call Mary Ann Reale at 238-7397. Thank you!
COMMUNITY DAY FUND RAISER
Saturday, November 20, 2004 -- Starts at 6 am at Boston Store, Bergner's, Carson's, Herberger's, and Younkers Stores. Here's how it works!
Purchase one or more coupon packets for $5 each. Use the coupon(s) throughout the participating stores, and they may be used on top of one day sale prices. Think of it as getting paid back for your $5 donation. PHC will retain 100% of the packet's purchase price. Donations will be used to support a charity designated by the PHC Board.
The coupon packets include a $5 single item coupon, 6-20% off any single item coupon, two bonus item coupons for jewelry and luggage, one community day coupon for $150 discount on Funjet vacations and Sunset Travel, and a chance to win a trip to Cancun!
Obtain coupons by sending a check to PHC Treasurer Jane Dunn, 7617 Sawmill Rd., Madison WI 53717. Make purchase by November 12 to allow time to mail coupons to you. They will also be available at the 25th Anniversary Party on October 30. Thanks for making a difference to others by your participation and donation...and happy shopping!
SPEAKING OF CHARITY...
Last spring and at the picnic, we asked members to choose an appropriate charity that they would like us to support. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of Catholic Charities in Warsaw, which operates an orphanage there. The Board is currently discussing the best way to do this.
Another donation of $200 was recently made to the American Family Children's Hospital Building Fund. We received a letter from Nancy Francisco-Welke, Director of Development of this effort, to express their thanks and appreciation to the PHC for our generosity and commitment. Ground breaking for the new facility is scheduled for October 18, 2004.
The UW Hospital & Clinics has provided a fund raising site for PHC for the past three years. Polish crafts are featured during the Spring and Fall Craft Show held there. It is a pleasure to support an organization that has helped another organization promote their cultural heritage. The UWHC Fall Craft Show is scheduled for November 12, 2004 at 600 Highland Ave. in the G5/1 module from 8 am to 4 pm.
THE PASSION AND POETRY OF CHOPIN
The UW-Madison School of Music is co-sponsoring a series of concerts titled Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel, in which Pianist Siegel performs and also discusses the works and its composer, followed by a question-and-answer session. One of the concerts in this series is titled The Passion and Poetry of Chopin. This is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 7:30 pm, at Mills Hall, located in the School of Music building. Call the Wisconsin Union Theater box office, (608) 262-2201 for ticket availability and prices.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU -- OUR PHC MEMBERS
RITA WLODARCZYK
By Marie Revolinski
Rita Dorsey Wlodarczyk and her daughter Tekla are long time members of the PHC. Rita was born in Philadelphia, PA. She has fond memories of growing up, including the political discussions around the family table, and especially the time she viewed Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the University of Pennsylvania stadium.
During WWII, while she worked at the Philadelphia Naval Base, the battleship USS Wisconsin was launched. That day she met a handsome soldier from West Allis, WI, named Wencil Wlodarczyk, whom she later married.
After the war, they moved to Milwaukee where Wencil became a GI student at the UW Extension in Milwaukee. The school had only a two-year program; thereafter, he transferred to the UW Madison to earn his degree in Education and French. His parents were first generation Poles, who spoke only Polish at home. Wencil was the first member of his family to go to college. In his work, he originated the computer system for the State of Wisconsin government, and designed the first system to put government payrolls on computers.
Rita kept busy with other activities while raising their children, Tekla and Mark. She supported Democratic candidates, served 8 years as an Alderperson in Monona, was one of the founders of the Women's Political Caucus, and lobbied for the Wisconsin Equal Rights Amendment. Rita ran for the office of Secretary of State, was also a delegate to a National Democratic Convention in New York, and has been head of the State of Wisconsin AARP for several years. Outside of her political life, Rita owned an antique store "Old Plough Inn" on Monroe Street for over 20 years. She and three other women started "Booked for Murder," a murder mystery bookstore, and she helped operate a Thrift Store on Park Street which raised money for charitable causes.
Although Rita is past retirement age, she remains an antique appraiser, and is co-host of the "Senior Beat" program on cable Channel 12, shown four times a week. The show covers a variety of topics of interest to seniors; it's informative and entertaining.
One April Fools' Day, now-Mayor Cieslewicz stated that, since people have such problems with pronouncing his name, he'd adopt an easier Polish name for the day...he chose Wlodarczyk! Grapevine has it that this was because Wlodarczyk is a greatly admired name in Madison.
Rita enjoys the friendly, kind attitude of members of the PHC. She especially enjoys the Christmas celebration (Wigilia), the summer picnic, and the Spring Festival, along with the informative newsletter.
How wonderful for the PHC to have Rita Wlodarczyk as the first individual in our new column of "Getting to Know You." Thank you Rita!
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Club Members,
What did we know and when did we know it? That is such a common, and some ways trite, statement these days but one can only wonder what would have happened if that question was asked during WW II. Although I attended Kosciuszko grade school and Pulaski middle school and studied world history in college, I really did not have a true understanding or appreciation of the trials and tribulations the Polish people had to endure during and after the war. A Question of Honor, the book club's recent discussion book, changed that. This book covers those events in a personal but factual manner. It probably is one of the saddest books I have ever read. I would advise it as a must read for anyone. This book also should serve as a reference book. It becomes clearer to me why the Polish people have survived, and in a much smaller way why our club continues to grow and thrive. In celebrating Memorial Day, we also have a debt of gratitude to the Polish people for the sacrifices they endured to maintain our freedom.
Your President,
Mary Ann Reale
IN THIS ISSUE
This is the last issue before our summer break, until you'll hear from us again in September! But it's no less informative...keep reading for info about the Picnic, kudos to some of our members, and things to keep you busy this summer. If you come across anything of interest to PHC members while we are gone, please send a notice to me, Carin Brania, at 5941 Mayhill Dr, Madison 53711. If you have any concerns or ideas for the Board, please contact Mary Ann Reale at 2810 Van Hise Ave., Madison 53705.
PICNIC
To get things rolling for summer fun, please come to our annual Picnic! Information about this event, when, where, what to expect, what to bring, etc., are on a separate page (link), so keep it in a handy place. The committee has planned an exciting and enjoyable program, with the Narodno International Dancers performing and teaching. Let's all pray for good weather! A map is available at this link for those who don't know where rennebohm is.
BOOK CLUB
The next meeting of the Book Club will be on Thursday, August 12, 2004, 7 p.m., at the home of Marie and Norm Revolinski, 4283 Dicky Lane, Madison. The chosen book is Time Between Trains by Anthony Bukoski. It is a baker's dozen of short stories, all set in the Polish East End community within Superior, WI. Sounds interesting!
DOCUMENTARY ON CNN
On the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landing, the CNN channel will air a documentary about the Polish resistance against the Nazis during that time. Warsaw Rising: The Forgotten Soldiers of World War II will be shown on Sunday, June 6, 2004 at 7 pm and 10 pm CT, and will re-air on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at the same times.
MEMBER NEWS
We have very good news to report this month about the following PHC members! As a reminder, please contact any Board member if you have news to report or come across news about any of our members, so we don't inadvertently miss the chance to share it.
POPE AUTHORS A NEW BOOK
The Catholic Herald announced in its May 20, 2004 edition that Pope John Paul II has written a book titled Get Up, Let Us Go, that is being distributed in Italian and other languages. The English edition is expected to be published in the near future. The book reviews the Pope's 20 years as a bishop in Poland, as well as his reflections on activities after he became Pope.
ANOTHER SURVEY
The Board is asking PHC members one more important question stemming from our previous survey. Many of you indicated that we should be giving some financial support for a scholarship or a Polish-related charity. Several suggestions were offered, all of which seemed very worthy, so it is difficult to decide. Please consider the following and register your preference by contacting Carin Brania by mail (5941 Mayhill Dr., Madison 53711), phone (274-6801 - may leave message:
TALL SHIPS
Anyone interested in learning to sail a tall ship? The Polish barkentine Pogoria will be making its way up the Eastern coast during June and July this summer as part of various international tall ship events (races and port festivals), including major stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Greenport NY. The Pogoria was designed to serve as a sailing classroom. It is operated by the Sail Training Association of Poland, and usually sails with a crew aged 25 and younger. Due to recent stricter immigration regulations and higher costs, they have several unoccupied berths and are looking for interested working passengers. You can find out about their voyages, prices, and ports of call at the web site: www.pogoria.tallshipharbor.com. Our PHC website also has some information about this opportunity, at this link.
HOST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR POLISH HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Learn how you can become involved in hosting a high school exchange student from Poland. CCI (the Center for Cultural Interchange) is looking for individuals and families in the Madison area. Students have a good level of English, full medical insurance, spending money, attend the local high school, and want to learn about your daily life while sharing their culture with you.
Please take a moment to visit our web site at http://www.ccimidwest.org/. Open your heart and your home to a very rewarding experience. Contact Penny at (608) 243-8129 or the Regional Office at 1-888-488-4056, or email Ccimidwest@aol.com.
The Center for Cultural Interchange is a non-profit organization working with partners in forty countries. We appreciate your support of our efforts to provide quality experiences for American families and for the world's youth. Please do not hesitate to call for additional information. (CCI is a fully accredited organization.)
SUMMER SURFING
For those of you who prefer to surf while sitting rather than swimming, here are some online Polish-related web sites for you to explore this summer. This list is by no means complete, but can get you started and link you up with lots of others. And while you're at it, if you find any that are worthy of sharing, please let us know!
Links are available on the homepage at this link.
Dear Club Members,
Probably the largest and the most labor intensive Club event is the Spring Festival. This is an opportunity to showcase our culture as well as our club and this was done in GRAND style. Many, many thanks to all those who helped in whatever way, from the people transporting the goods to all those club members who attended and everything in between. It was a fun event, and the people in the community really enjoy this. We are developing a following by people who come every year. So, we continue to achieve one of our club goals, ie, sharing our culture. Of course celebrations in May would not be complete without celebrating Polish Constitution Day. How progressive those early Poles were in planning an inclusive government for the betterment of all the people. Sadly there were many barriers to achieve that goal.
Enjoy the Spring and think about the upcoming picnic when we can all enjoy good food and fellowship!!!!
Your President,
Mary Ann Reale
MAY 3 CONSITUTION DAY
This is the month that Poles the world over observe Constitution Day. Why? All through history, Poland has been the crossroads for invading tribes, armies, all kinds of groups trying to exert their power over such a strategically-located territory. Sometimes these groups plotted together successfully to divide up the area to impose their cultures there. But the Poles maintained a strong bond to their heritage, and always struggled to regain their independence.
The May 3 date is significant for two reasons. On this date in 1791, the Seym (Parliament for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) adopted what is known as the second oldest democratic constitution in the world. The first one was the American Constitution of 1787, next was the Polish Constitution (which then became the first one in Europe), and then followed the French Constitution of September 1791. The Polish Constitution was greatly influenced by the American and French revolutions, and included sweeping social and political changes. Before then, Poland had been partially partitioned by Prussia, Russia, and Austria. The liberty and freedom proclaimed by the Constitution alarmed these monarchies, resulting in the third and final partition that wiped out Poland from the Europe map.
The second significance of May 3 occurred when (128 years later) in late 1918 and early 1919, independence struggles and the Versailles Treaty put Poland back on the map. The Poles decided to declare May 3, 1919, as the national Holiday to honor their first Constitution and all the liberties and national identity it represented.
More information about Constitution Day may be found online here.
POLAND JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION
On May 1, 2004, Poland and nine other countries become official members of the European Union. Eight of these countries were part of the Eastern European ex-communist bloc, namely Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Cyprus and Malta round out the rest. How does this affect Poland's currency? An article of April 18, 2004, found on the Reuters' MSNBC wire service, explained that EU newcomers enter what is known as the euro zone's "waiting room" or the Exchange Rate Mechanism - 2 (ERM-2). Once they enter the ERM-2's limits, the countries become vulnerable to foreign investors' speculative attacks due to currency instability and differences in interest rates. The new applicants for the euro zone are thus eager to make the conversion as quickly as possible, but EU rules require that they remain in ERM-2 for at least two years, although an exception was made for Finland. A related article of April 21, 2004, reported that in order to meet the euro zone entry criteria, Poland will have to drastically cut its deficit spending. With this in mind, a realistic date for the conversion to euro currency was estimated to be around 2009 or 2010.
BOOK CLUB
Just a reminder that the Book Club will meet on Thursday, May 13, 2004, 7 p.m., at the home of Jadwiga Wild, 7320 Cedar Creek, Madison. The book chosen for discussion is A Question of Honor: the Kosciuszko Squadron: the Forgotten Heroes of World War II, by Lynn Olson and Stanley Cloud.
POLISH LANGUAGE CLASS
According to Don Wesolowski, PHC Secretary who teaches at MATC and is looking into the possibility of a Polish language class being offered there, things are looking good for hiring an instructor and for having the minimum number of students necessary for such a class in the fall of 2004.. If you are interested and have not already contacted Don, now is the time to do so! Phone or email him at 238-7423 or wesolowski@matcmadison.edu.
PHC ANNUAL PICNIC
Be sure to mark your calendar for a fun social event! Our annual Picnic will be held on Sunday, June 13, 2004, at Rennebohm Park on Madison's west side (click here for a map). The festivities start at 11:00 a.m., and feature food and drink (of course!), prizes, music, etc., and the opportunity to get to know each other better. In the June Newsletter, there will be more information about potluck dishes and directions to the park. It seems so nice to have some summer fun just around the corner!
POLISH PAINTING DISPLAYED IN MADISON
An article in the April 22, 2004 issue of The Catholic Herald reported that an oil painting of Christ, The King of Mercy, was displayed in the St. Raphael Cathedral on Mercy Sunday (first Sunday after Easter). This painting was brought here by Roxie and Bob Weiner of Watertown, who found it in the city of Plock in Poland at the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The article explained that "this is the convent where St. Maria Faustina Kowalska was reported to have a vision of Jesus Christ in 1931" and where St. Faustina is buried.
BOOK SALE
The Sequoya Branch Library, 513 S. Midvale Blvd., Madison, has a regular monthly sale of donated books. Their recent newsletter included the following, which may interest some of you:
"Plakat Polski (The Polish Poster), Wydawnictwo Artystyczno-Graficzne, Warsaw; 1972.
Very good, in very good dust jacket. Large-format book with color and black & white prints of Polish poster art.
Side-by-side text in Polish and English. -- $56.50".
If you are interested in buying this book, contact the Sequoya Library by phone, in person, or by email at info@wfsi.org. "All items are subject to prior sale".
WHA AUCTION
Once again, a group of PHC members will volunteer to help with the phone bank and other behind-the-scenes jobs at the WHA Auction to help raise funds for Wisconsin Public Television. This year, our shift is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tune in to see us having fun, and find great bargains at the same time!
MILWAUKEE'S POLISH FEST
For those of you who enjoy the Polish Fest in Milwaukee, it is scheduled this year for June 18-20, 2004.
MEMBER NEWS
We wish to express condolences to John and Marlene Wysocki due to the recent passing of Marlene's mother. John and Marlene are active volunteers in the PHC, always willing to help and give generously of their time.
