On Sunday, October 13, in Chicago, a ceremony will be held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Polish American Congress.
“For freedom now and always, for all nations and people of the whole world.
Let this remain our goal” – Charles Rozmarek
The Polish American Congress was established in response to the threat to Polish independence caused by German and Soviet aggression in September 1939, to express with one voice; support for the restoration of a free and sovereign Polish, the leaders of a number of Polonia organizations met in Buffalo, New York, in the spring of 1944.
The members of the Executive Committee of the PAC are:
Frank J. Spula (President), Dr. Mark Pienkos (First Vice President), Bożena Kamiński (Vice President of Polish Affairs), Timothy Kuzma (Vice President of American Affairs), Małgorzata Margo Schulz (Vice President of Communications and Media), Deborah Majka (Vice President of Culture), Mary Anselmo (Vice President of Education), Michael Niedzinski (Vice President of Membership), Andrzej Niemyjski (Vice President of Financial Development), Stephen Flor (Secretary), Micheline Jaminski (Treasurer).
This organization was tasked with uniting the Polish American community in an important and tragic moment in history, which were the efforts to rebuild Poland after the devastation of the country, which was the result of the German aggression against Poland on September 1, 1939, and the Soviet aggression on September 17, 1939.
Divisions of the Polish American Congress are located in many states, m.in. Michigan, Washington, Florida, California and Chicago.
The Polish American Congress (Council of National Directors) meets annually at a conference held in U.S. metropolitan cities such as Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Elections of the presidium of the National Executive Committee are held every two years.
The first president of the PAC was Karol (Charles) Rozmarek. His successor was Alojzy Mazewski, elected in 1968, who held this position until his death in 1988. In 1988, Edward Moskal became the president , who held this position until the end of his life. The current president is Frank J. Spula.
The PAC played a significant role in Poland’s admission to NATO and also contributed to the establishment of the Polish Editorial Office of Radio “Wolna Europa”. The U.S. Congressional special committee that investigated the Soviet Union’s murder of more than 14,000 officers of the Polish Army at the beginning of World War II, was strongly supported by the Polish American Congress.
The 80th anniversary celebration of the Polish American Congress will take place on October 13 at the O’Hare Tech Center in Chicago, during the second day of the annual Council of National Directors conference, which will take place today, October 12 in Chicago.
During the meeting, there will be a discussion about the engagement of Polonia to take an active part in the presidential election, on November 5 th. The details of where and how people can still register will be discussed. It is important to remind Americans of Polish descent, that voting is their civic privilege, but also their duty, because it should not be forgotten that during the presidential election, residents of individual states, counties and cities will also elect senators and local representatives, as well as vote on many resolutions and proposed bills.
The Polish American community has questions and demands for presidential candidates Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, including whether they will support Polish’s strong position in NATO, whether Poland will have the opportunity to purchase military equipment at convenient prices, and whether they would appoint representatives from the Polish American community to important positions.
On October 13, the PAC 80th anniversary celebration will take places and many important guests from the State and Poland will be present. The U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, and journalist Monica Crowley. Local leaders are expected to include Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Schiller Park Mayor Nick Caiafa. There will also be guests from Poland: Dariusz Piotr Bonisławski, President of the “Wspolnota Polska,”, Karol Nawrocki, PhD, President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Minister Henryka Mościcka-Dennys from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and Beata Prądzyńska, Deputy Director of the Department of Cooperation with the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Malgorzata Margo Schulz
National Vice President of the Polish American Congress for Media and Promotion.