Honorary Members of Polish Women's Alliance
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G£OSG£OS POLEKPOLEK THE POLISH WOMEN’S VOICE - A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE POLISH WOMEN’S ALLIANCE OF AMERICA G£OS POLEK - ORGAN ZWI¥ZKU POLEK W AMERYCE No. 3 April 2007 Kwiecieñ 2007 Rok MMVII Honorary Members of Polish Women’s Alliance PWA’s 35th National Convention was as beloved in America as she Is Headed for was in Europe—one could call her Cleveland, Ohio one of the very first international super stars. She spent her early life in Poland, immigrating later to the United States which became her sec- ond home. She was born on October Every four years, PWA delegates from 12, 1840, in Cracow, Poland, and she across the nation come together to delib- died on April 8, 1909, in Newport erate on the future of the organization, to Beach, California. amend its Constitution, and to elect new Helena started acting as a young officers. This year, the Convention will girl at a school run by the Presenta- be held in Cleveland, Ohio, hosted by tion Sisters in Russian-occupied District VII’s State President Irena Honc-Jadlos and the Pre-Convention Poland. Her acting career began on Committee. Two National Conventions were held in Cleveland in the past, Helena Modrzejewska provincial stages and by age 21 the first one exactly one hundred years ago in 1907, and again in 1967. reviews of her talents were reaching Cleveland, one of the oldest cities on the Great The third Honorary Member of the bigger cities in Poland as well. Lakes, was founded in 1796 by General Moses Polish Women’s Alliance, after writ- She was tall and graceful and she Cleaveland, the head surveyor of the Connecti- ers Maria Konopnicka and Eliza had a beautiful voice. She soon cut Land Company. The city was named after its Orzeszkowa, was world-famous earned a contract in Lwow and after founder and the spelling was shortened to Polish actress Helena Modrzejewska. two years there, went on to perform Cleveland. The city was incorporated in 1836. She was a legend in her time, known and tour in other Polish cities on the Photos from top: City skyline, Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, city in 1855. Continued on and respected on two continents. She Russian border Continued on page 2 page 2 Resolution Bestowing Honorary U.S. Citizenship In this issue: on Casimir Pulaski Passes in Senate Convention News and Deadlines page 3 How to submit Applications for Washington, DC—On March 20, House of Representatives.This honor National Office page 3 2007, a joint resolution “Proclaiming has been given only to six other per- PWA Annuities can earn up to 5 % page 4 Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary sons in the past, Winston Churchill 35th Convention Special! pages 5-6 citizen of the United States posthu- and Mother Teresa. among them. Calendar of Events page 7 mously” was passed in the U.S. Casimir Pulaski, who had come to Youth Section page 9 Senate by unanimous consent, with- fight in the American War of National Cash Raffle is here ! page 10 out amendment. The resolution was Independence as a volunteer in Scholarship Reminders page 10 sponsored by Illinois Senator Richard George Washington’s army, lost his PWA Receives Heritage Grant page 11 Durbin, Democrat, with nine cospon- life in the Battle for Savannah on sors, in alphabetical order: Senators October 11, 1779. The Continental Join the four Polish Fraternals for the Second Annual White Sox Night, Ben Cardin, Thomas Carpe, Robert Congress decreed in 1779 that a Great America Outing, and Junior Bowling. See pages 9 and 10. Casey Jr., Hillary Clinton, John monument be erected in Pulaski’s Kerry, Barbara Mikulski, Lisa honor in Savannah. More than two Murkowski, Barack Obama, and hundred years later, the U.S. 35th Convention Special Mark Pryor. An identical resolution Congress now bestows another honor Get a Special Gift if you apply by April 30th. had been introduced by Rep. Denis on the Polish American hero—the See pages 5 and 6 for details. Kucinich on March 5, 2007, in the honor of U.S. citizenship. PAGE 2 April 2007 Kwiecieñ 2007 G£OS POLEK G£OS POLEK Honorary Members of PWA Continued from page 1 STATE PRESIDENTS Urzêdowy Organ as well as in Russia. Her career real- She then appeared to great ZWI¥ZKU POLEK W AMERYCE *District I - Illinois, Florida, Missouri ly took off when she finally moved acclaim on the stages of New York, Wychodzi osiem razy w roku Delphine Lytell, 7918 W. 100th St., back to Cracow in October 1865. Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Palos Hills, IL 60465 The theater scene in Cracow was a Washington, DC. Her excellent act- THE POLISH WOMEN'S VOICE Email: [email protected] special place, brimming with new ing technique was often commented PUBLISHED BY District II - Western Pennsylvania Anthylene M. Blasic, 227 Blasic St., ideas and energy. The repertories on as was her magnetic personality. THE POLISH WOMEN'S Parkhill, PA 15945 embraced both Polish and foreign Three years later, in 1880, she ALLIANCE OF AMERICA classics, as well as ambitious con- sailed to England for a number of District III - Indiana 6643 N. Northwest Hwy., 2nd Fl. temporary dramas, and with a group guest performances and she would Chicago, IL 60631 Delphine Huneycutt, 4909 Baring Ave., East Chicago, IN 46312 of other talented Polish actors go back many times, both to England www.pwaa.org District IV - New York & Erie, PA. - Modrzejewska soon became part of and to Poland. She especially loved Virginia Sikora - Managing Editor Christine Wozniak, 2538 East 42nd St., the “Cracow School,” known for a to perform for her countrymen, in Erie, PA 16510 modern, psychological approach to her mother tongue. She became a Email: [email protected] EDITORIAL OFFICE - REDAKCJA dramatic interpretation. U.S. citizen in 1883 and continued 6643 N. Northwest Hwy., 2nd Fl. District V - Michigan After four successful years in acting until her retirement from the Chicago, Illinois, 60631 Mary Ann Nowak, 17397 Millar Rd., Cracow, Modrzejewska finally made stage in 1907. Her home and gar- PHONE (847) 384-1200 Clinton Township, MI 48036 her Warsaw debut. The capital city dens, called Arden, in Lake Forest, FAX (847) 384-1494 District VI - Wisconsin fell in love with the young actress California, have been designated a Mary Mirecki Piergies, English Editor Diane M. Reeve, 1223 S. 10th St., Milwaukee, WI 53204 from the provinces, whom they had National Historic Landmark. Gra¿yna Zajaczkowska, Polish Editor heard so much about. For the next After her retirement, she devoted District VII - Ohio ten years, she appeared in countless herself to writing her memoirs, in Polish Women’s Voice (Glos Polek) Irena Honc-Jadlos, 12500 Edgewater Dr., (ISSN 0199-0462) (USPS 220-480) Apt. 207 Lakewood, OH 44107 plays in Warsaw to rave reviews. She English, Memories and Impressions. is published eight times a year by the District VIII - Massachusetts loved playing Shakespearean roles She died in 1909 and was buried in Polish Women’s Alliance of America. Sylvia Morytko, 24 Bear Hole Rd., West and it seemed like they had been Los Angeles. In accordance with her Postmaster: Send address changes to: Springfield, MA 01089 written especially for her! Her acting last will, her remains were later put Glos Polek, 6643 N. Northwest Hwy., District IX - Connecticut skills got even better as she matured to rest next to her mother’s grave at 2nd Fl., Chicago, Illinois, 60631. Stephanie T. Marcaccio, 196 Hickory Hill She became one of the most talked the Rakowicki Cemetery in Cracow Ln., Newington, CT 06111 about women in Europe. in a funeral ceremony which turned PRINTED IN DES PLAINES, IL District X - New Jersey, Eastern New In 1876 Modrzejewska, her sec- into a patriotic demonstration. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID at York and Philadelphia ond husband Karol Chlapowski, and PWAmembers were very proud of Josephine Kuklasinski, 371 Armstrong CHICAGO, IL and additional mailing offices. her son left Poland for the United Modrzejewska and the good will and Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07305 Officers Email: [email protected] States. They bought a farm near good name that she brought to Anaheim, California, along with Poland and to Polish people every- VIRGINIA SIKORA President District XI -Nebraska SHARON ZAGO Vice President Bernadette Vlock, 13586 Cedar St., Henryk Sienkiewicz, the future where. She was clearly the most GRAZYNA MIGALA National Secretary Omaha, NE 68144 Nobel Prize-winning writer, and a famous Polish woman, not only in BARBARA MILLER Treasurer District XII - Maryland and few other artists. They wanted to the U.S., but in the world. They con- HELEN V. WOJCIK Hon. President Washington, DC establish a community where cre- tacted her soon after the organization HELEN ZIELINSKI Hon. President Theresa E. Violanti, 9401 Orbitan Crt., ativity and art would thrive, but they was founded. She was interested in Carney, MD 21234 Directors were not successful at this endeavor, women’s causes, had attended a Helen Simmons District XIII - California so Helena took a crash course in Women’s Conference in Chicago in Jennie Starzyk Benton Alicia Van Laar, 2624 Citronella Crt., English, simplified her last name to 1893, and was very supportive of Antoinette Trela-Vander Noot Simi Valley, CA 93063 Modjeska, and appeared in San PWA and its mission. After her Email: [email protected] Felicia Perlick Francisco in her first English lan- death, her daughter-in-law donated Marcia Mackiewicz-Duffy District XIV - Eastern Pennsylvania guage role in 1877. She was an some of Modrzejewska’s personal , Helen Lopez, 22 Vista Drive, Nanticoke instant hit and her American career mementos to PWA, many of which Medical Examiner PA 18634 Maria Wieczorek, MD Email: [email protected] was launched.