Archives for September 2012

Officers of the Polish American Congress Michigan Division, President Mariusz Szajnert and Vice Presidents Anna Bańkowski and Sebastian Szczepański, met with newly appointed Consul General of the Republic of Poland, Paulina Kapuścińska during a “Meet & Greet” event organized by Piast Institute in Hamtramk, Monday, September 10.  Paulina Kapuścińska was appointed Consul General of Poland on September 1.  Previously, she served as the Consul General inLos Angeles.

Pictured (l. to r.): Mariusz Szajnert, Paulina Kapuścińska, Anna Bańkowski and Anna Bieciuk from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s office.

The following letter/invitation was sent by Polish American Congress Michigan Division to all the Michigan State Representatives and Michigan Senators.

Dear [Senator or Member of the United States Congress];
The Polish American community in Michigan represented by Polish American Congress, Michigan Division requests the honor of your participation in a very special commemorative ceremony marking the Opening of the Katyń Collection by the United States National Archives. The Opening of the Katyń Collection will be announced to the public by the United States Archivist on September 10, 2012, at 3pm in the Congressional Meeting Room North at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Your participation in this historic event will be greatly appreciated by Polish Americans and all people of good will.
The 1940 extermination of Polish officers held in Soviet prisoner-of-war camps and civilian prisoners arrested in the aftermath of the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland, symbolically known as the Katyn Crime, remain shrouded in secrecy to this day. As a result of the long lasting collaboration of the Katyń family community in the United States with the US Congress and the US National Archives and Records Administration, the Katyń Collection, compiled from recently declassified Katyń-related documents in the possession of the United States Government, will become available to the public. The significance of the Opening of the Katyń Collection cannot be overstated. This historic event will open access to a new body of knowledge which will expand our understanding of the causes and consequences of World War II, and shall help in preventing future man-made human catastrophes.
The Polish American community, in particular the Katyń families, are very much looking forward to your participation in the Opening of the Katyń Collection as a gesture of respect for the victims of this heinous crime hidden from our collective conscience for so long, as a sign of your support for the entire Polish American community including the Katyn families living in the United States, and as recognition of the significance of the disclosure of the Katyń documentation towards very much needed reconciliation over this unprecedented crime of historic proportions.

On Thursday, August 9, PAC-Michigan Scholarship Fund held its annual Scholarship Award Dinner during which this year’s recipients of the PAC Scholarships were presented. The event was held at the “Krakus” Restaurant in Detroit.
The presentation was conducted by Wallace Ozog, the chairman of the PAC Scholarship Fund and Mariusz Szajnert, the President of the PAC-Michigan Division.
Initially, all the recipients were to receive $500 each, but thanks to generosity of Ray and Susanne Okonski, the amount was doubled. Ray Okonski is a well-known philanthropist and a supporter of many Polonian organizations’ scholarship programs. PAC was lucky enough to receive matching $500 for each recipients.
The following are the 2012 Polish American Congress of Michigan Scholarship Fund Recipients: Evan Tylenda, Felicia Adamczyk, Angela Tarnogórska, Matthew Piecyk, Victoria Bujny, Ewa Jabłecki, Evelina Kutyma, Ewa Bieciuk, Piotr Buniewicz, Michael Chruściel, Katherine Dziuba, Michał Hałoń, Marcin Jabłecki.
Representatives of many Polonian organizations were also present to show their support of the scholarship program. Traditionally, representatives of PAC Federal Credit Union came to present their monetary contribution to the fund.
Since its inception, PAC Scholarship Fund has awarded 243 students (so far) for a total of $195,900.