“Together – We Can and We Will” ZGODA THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OF THE U.S. OF N.A. The officialPOLISH Publication NATIONAL of ALLIANCE the Polish APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2016National www.pna-znp.org Alliance of North America1881-2016 Vol. 147; No. 2 PNAPNA –– FINANCIALFINANCIAL PROTECTIONPROTECTION POLISHPOLISH HERITAGEHERITAGE 3 Presidents’ Corner (USPS 699-120) Published Quartely 5 – 39 Fraternal News & Activities The Official Publication • Election of the new Business Director of the Polish National Alliance • From the Sales Manager • Insurance - Gift of Life 6100 N. Cicero Avenue • Council’s & Lodge’s Announcements Chicago, IL 60646-4385 • Song & Dance Concert 2016 Phone: (773) 286-0500 • Official Announcements Fax: (773) 286-0842 • “Land of Lincoln” Trip www.pna-znp.org • Family Night at the United Center • 70th National Bowling Tournament Polish National Alliance • New Members of US of NA • Graduate Scholarship Information Wesley E. Musial • It’s Cool To Be in Polish School Censor • We are Proud Of Irene S. Grabowy • 2016 Photo Contest Vice Censor • PNA in Texas Executive Committee • Krakowiaki & Lodge 339 in Chicago Frank J. Spula • 25th Anniversary of “Lajkonik” President 40 – 49 Life of Polonia David G. Milcinovic • Polish Constitution Day Parade Vice President, Union of Poles Division • Veterans Remembered Charles A. Komosa • Pulaski Birthday Celebration in Savannah National Secretary • Polish Deputy Foreign Minister in U.S. Marian Grabowski • Concert in South Hadley, MA Treasurer • Katyn Remembrance Send all articles, correspondence 50 – 55 Poland Today and materials to: • Polish Flag Day ZGODA Magazine • UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Wooden Alicja Kuklinska Churches of Lesser Poland Editor 56 – 57 Bon Appétit – Pierogi e-mail: [email protected] 58 – 60 Living Well – Brown Fat & White Fat 6100 N. Cicero Avenue Contents Chicago, IL 60646 61 – 62 Bulletin Board Ewa Wisniewska Graphic Designer Periodicals–Postage Paid at Chicago, Illinois and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Zgoda, c/o PNA 6100 N. Cicero Avenue The publisher is not responsible for the contents of submitted articles and Chicago, IL 60646-4385 reserves the right to editing and picture selection. Images submitted should be at least 300DPI resolution. Poor quality photographs will not be considered Change of address for publication. All submitted materials and photographs become property or interruption in subscription of the Zgoda and might be used to promote the Polish National Alliance. The matters contact: Publisher is not responsible for the return of submitted materials or pictures PNA Address Dept. (ext. 366) unless request was made and self-addressed and pre-paid envelope provided. or e-mail: [email protected] Cover: Anette Belzek & her daughter Olivia at the Polish Constitution Day Parade in Chicago. They are members of 100% PNA Family & Lodge 3241. Photo by: Mary Srodon ZGODA 2016, Issue No 2 this program. Approximately a thousand people are in attendance to view the performances. It was a pleasure for me to address our dancers, their choreographers, and parents. 2016 marks the 1050 anniversary of the Christian- ization of Poland. To celebrate this event, I was of eighteen individuals throughout the world to receive and invitation by the Polish Speaker of the House to participate in the activities in Poznan and Gniezno, on April 14th. Attending this special Holy Mass were many dignitaries including President Duda and his wife. Before the liturgical celebration, I attended a concert followed by a lunch reception with President Duda and his wife. May 3rd, is the official date of Poland’s Constitution. This year marked the 225 anniversary. I was honored President’s Corner to be invited to participate in the Constitution Day May, 2016 celebration in Vilnius, Lithuania. It consisted of a five-kilometer parade leading up to a chapel built hun- Dear Members, dreds of years ago were a mass was celebrated, outside 2016 has begun on a positive note. Life insurance in the street were thousands of worshippers. The next sales are continuing to increase, and premiums are day, I went to Warsaw, Poland to participate in activ- up as well by 2% in comparison to the same period ities Polish Government had planned in conjunction last year. Investments for the first quarter totaled $425 with the 3rd of May. Million and increase of $320,000 or .1% increase over At our recent Business Board of Directors Meeting, the past three months. The surplus and unassigned an election was held to fill the void created by the res- funds increased as well. The net income, after fraternal ignation of a former member. Congratulations to Mr. expenses, was higher as well. Val Pavlos of Pittsburgh, who brings to the board years I am also pleased to share with you that our invest- of experience. We wish him all the success that comes ment firm is doing an outstanding job in increasing our with the position. yield on our investments and is monitoring our invest- As we approach Memorial Day, it brings our com- ments on a daily basis to make sure that our funds earn munities together to celebrate the lives of our military. the highest possible return. It allows us to pause and remember those who died Recently, we have hired a new a Sale Manager for during or after service. Numerous celebrations will be the Membership Department, Mrs. Jolanta Walaszek, taking place in our communities, so let’s make certain who has been part of the PNA family, working for we participate and show our patriotism. PNA Bank as a Branch Vice-President. We welcome Shortly after Memorial Day, we will see the gradu- her and are confident she will be successful and bring ation of many of our young people. Each will mark positive results for the Polish National Alliance. their rites of passage, entering the next phases of their The weekend of April 24th, the Polish National lives. Let me take the time to extend my very best Alliance hosted its 70th National Bowling Tournament wishes to the graduates and their families. Whether in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament was a success it is entering high school or college, or trying to enter with over 27 teams participating and 135 bowlers. John the very competitive workforce, may you achieve your Petkus, Honorary Consul of Las Vegas, had the honor goals, and may your dreams be fulfilled. And one of throwing out the first ball. The weekend was filled important thing is to remember to thank the individu- with camaraderie and much fraternal spirit. als who assisted in you finishing your education, your For decades, the Polish National Alliance has been teachers, parents and whoever else was instrumental. supporting a multitude of fraternal programs, from In closing, thank you to the members who support dance groups to scholarships. As an organization, we this organization through your membership, and I sponsor 56 dance and choral groups throughout the appeal to those who are not to be part and parcel of districts. During the year, we allocate approximately the Polish National Alliance by enrolling through a life $75,000 to support these programs. insurance certificate or annuity. Each year during the month of March, there is an Wishing you an enjoyable and safe summer! annual dance and song concert featuring over four hundred participants ranging from the very young to Fraternally yours, the young adults. Twelve local groups participated in Frank J. Spula, FLMI President ZGODA 2016, Issue No 2 3 Father’s Day From the Editor June 19, 2016 May, 2016 There are two stories of when the first Father’s Day Dear Members, was originated. According to some accounts, the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Washington State on You will get this issue of the Zgoda with a little delay because my computer crashed. Fortunately, June 19, 1910. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart our technical support was able to recover everything; Dodd came up with the idea of honoring and celebrating photos, articles, archives, etc. I think it is safe to say her father while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at a that a problem with a computer is a scary scenario for church in 1909. She felt as though mothers were getting most of us. all the acclaim while fathers were equally deserving of a Thank you to all that submitted articles, photos and day of praise ideas. I will continue to listen, as I believe this is OUR Sonora’s dad, William Smart, a veteran of the Civil War, MAGAZINE. With Mother’s Day already behind us, please was left a widower and went on to raise the six children remember about your fathers on June 19th. It is very by himself on their small farm in Washington. To show important to show them our love and appreciation her appreciation for all the hard work and love William when we still have a chance. My dad was a big gave to her and her siblings, Sonora thought there should influence on me, and I only wish I could be half as be a day to pay homage to him and other dads like him. good and kind of a person he was. He thought me to The other story of the first Father’s Day in America respect people, work hard and be humble. With the summer approaching quickly, take a look happened all the way on the other side of the country in at the PNA’s summer camps for your kids. Camps, Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908. Grace Golden Stanica in Massachusetts and Yorkville in Illinois are Clayton suggested to the minister of the local Methodist ready for your children and grandchildren.