PAC - 25th ANNIVERSARY

... "The year 2005 has been a very remarkable year. Many significant events took place - some sad ones, like the loss of our beloved Pope John Paul II, who was our inspiration and a source of national pride, who guided us and gave us strength and courage to go on, and to strive peacefully for a better tomorrow. This year in August, Poland and Poles all over the world celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Solidarity movement. That remarkable August of 1980 at the Gdansk shipyard, a seed was planted, which had an enormous and amazing impact on Poland and Eastern Europe. The fruit of that seed was the collapse of the communist system and slow but firm changes, bringing freedom and democracy to Poland and a hope for a better future for the younger generation of Poles. On the home front we also have something to be joyful about - a small celebration honoring our Polish heritage. Though this is not an official function of the PAC, you cannot talk about Polish community in Columbus without mentioning the club. Many of us here are longtime members who maintained and carried on our Polish culture, traditions and customs as part of this organization. The Polish American Club was founded in May of 1980 by Walt Metka and John Pupa, and this year it is celebrating its 25th anniversary as well. In my opinion, it was a marriage made in heaven - for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, and though there were many of those latter ones, we also had many wonderful, happy, and memorable moments. And when some older members couldn't be so active any more and some of us burnt out, there were always some new faces which stepped in to help out - like in recent years, GLORIA and TIM KUJAWA, who served as officers, who were in charge of many events and helped any way they could, like JAN LABANOWSKI, who was in charge of our membership list, an editor of our newsletter Co Nowego, and very instrumental in changing our tax status, like our 2 Teresas TERESA MOREY and TERESA PACZULA, who baked and cooked and worked at the festivals and dances, like MALGOSIA and JOHN KMIEC, who served as officers in the club, helped to organized various club function, and John was also an editor of Co Nowego like JANICE MARSHALL who took over Co Nowego and is in charge of it till today. Janice also diligently helps at the festivals and dances, like REGINA GRYWASKI, who organized our Youth Club, Polish language classes taught by BASIA McCARTNEY, and many educational, social and fun activities for our youngest ones, so they can get to know their roots and customs and carry them on to the next generation. There are many more, and I cannot mention everybody because you would have to listen to me for at least a week and I am sure you don't want to do that. But there is a special group of individuals who in my mind went beyond the call of duty and did so much for the Polish community in Columbus and the club. These individuals unselfishly devoted their time, resources, energy and talents to promote Polish culture and traditions as part of the PAC. When I mention your name please come up here so everyone can know exactly who you are. And I will ask you to hold your applause till the end when I am finished. The number one person, of course, is WALT METKA, the founder of The PAC. Walt was indispensable, past President many times over, served as an officer in other capacities, danced in our folk dance group, organized picnics, festivals and dances, searched for and booked the bands, worked in the food booth, got supplies and food items for different functions, and had a small Polish program on a local radio station. This club is in his blood, it's like his baby. He did a lot, and thanks to him we had a Polish organization in Columbus, Ohio which newcomers with Polish roots could join if they chose to, and enjoy their Polish heritage. No club's function involving food could take place without this amazing couple, MARYSIA and JOHN JUNCEWICZ, our head chef and bar director. Marysia made golabki, pierogi, baked, she organized kitchen supplies, pots and pans, made sure that everything was in operating condition, set up the cooking stations, made sure that the food was cooked to the right temperature, and always with a smile on her face, never cross with anyone. She weathered any problems or difficulties we encountered, like a power outage, blown up fuses or shortage of some supplies. And John, helping with set ups, making deliveries, bring food, taking things to storage, traveling to Cleveland to buy sausage or paczki for our Paczki Ball in February, serving drinks at the dances and festivals, always watching for sales on pop, to buy at the lowest possible price so the club could make the most profit. And just 2 steps behind them are their partners in crime, their close kitchen associates, WANDA and WALTER BALIJ. Wanda always quietly standing in front of the frying skillet, flipping the pierogi so they are crispy and golden brown and cooked to perfection, always listening to her boss Marysia - "Yes Marysia, whatever you say Marysia." Wanda helped with raffle tickets and cleanup at dances. She sang in our Polish choir. Walter, like John, helped with supplies and deliveries, he worked at the food booth, at picnics grilling sausage, he helped with Polish masses, and he sang in the choir. And of course his most important role -he is our famous Polish Mikolaj - Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus was always concerned with Santa's attire. She wanted him to look presentable for our Polish children, so twice she bought a new suit for Santa and donated it to the club. Santa was very popular not only with the children but also with the ladies who loved to sit on his lap and whisper their wishes, hoping that their husbands would overhear them and finally this year they will get what they really want for Christmas - and not a fishing pole or another frying pan! I remember one time when we got home after a Wigilia party when my son said to me "Mom I know who the Santa Claus is. It's not that guy from the North Pole. It's Mr. Balij." Finally the cat was out of the bag for him. And what would this club be without our own STAS VINGLE? Stan, past president and trustee also did a lot, as our PR person and media representative. Through channel 10, he helped to advertise our functions on TV, he sent announcements and advertisements to all the local newspapers and parish bulletins, and he chaired various functions. But his biggest contribution is defending the good name of the Polish people. If there was any slander, any anti- Polonism, a Polish joke, or distorted historical facts, Stan fought with his biggest weapon, his pen. A very eloquent writer, Stan wrote articles, editorials, complaints, and clarifications, so the bias was exposed and Poles could get the respect and consideration they deserve. JAN CZEKAJEWSKI is another person who does it. And, as with many of the members, when you start to organize something, you seem stuck with it for the rest of your life! That's how Stan is with the United Nations Festival. He started to chair the cultural booth at the festival, and today he is still doing it. Stan you do know the best. You've done it so many times. Getting back to our catering business, no kitchen operation could be complete without our gourmet cook and fantastic baker, JOSEPHINE CEWE, to many of us Ziuta. God knows how many cabbage rolls she made, how many pierogis she pinched, how many cookies she baked, how many cakes she frosted and, all to benefit the club. Surprisingly, her husband hasn't divorced her since she cooked and baked more for the club than for him! She worked at the dances, festivals, next to Marysia and Wanda making sure that everything was running smoothly. Ziuta also has another talent. She is our singing Polish diva. What would our choir do without her lovely voice? And I cannot go on without mentioning DICK JONES, past president, secretary, trustee - you name it, he's done it. Any hole or a gap which needed to be filled, Dick was there to fill. He chaired many events, helped to organize children's games at the picnics, and got supplies. Even today he probably has beer pitchers in his trunk. And like Stan Vingle, he was doing the International Festival! Dick also has a special function planning the blessing of our Easter baskets. He started to arrange it, ands till today, regardless whether the club asks him or not, he makes arrangements so we can uphold this beautiful Easter tradition. And frequently he even gets, "Dick, you didn't reserve the social hall for the reception", "The time wasn't right", "The announcement was too late". Dick knows first hand how hard is to please Polish people, especially Polish women! And, there is one more secret about Dick you may not know - if you want a good recipe for pierogi, or instructions how to make them, ask Dick. He is an expert by now. One time, I organized pierogi making in my church for the club to have extra supplies for upcoming events, with of course, everything under the leadership and expertise of Ziuta Cewe. Dick was the only guy there. I am surprised that he is still alive – all those women bossing him around saying, "Dick, this" and, "Dick, that" - but he survived - and he knows how to make pierogi! And last but not least is my husband, JERRY TERESK, a past president and a dancer in the folk dance group. The guy didn't know what oberek and krakowiak were until he met me - and then he had to do all those crazy gyrations, jumps and kicks in a funny costume in front of audiences! Jerry chaired many functions and organized children's games. He also had a special function – reserving Anheuser Busch Park for our August family style picnic. Regardless whether he was asked, in January he would reserve the park for us. We had a lot of fun at those picnics, playing tennis, volleyball, horseshoes, the kids enjoying the playground, catching up with one another, grilling sausage and hamburgers and drinking beer to our hearts' desire. Jerry also organized many Polish masses - for Immaculate Conception, Polish Thanksgiving masses, Palm Sunday, May 3rd mass, a beautiful, solemn mass commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Polish Constitution of May 3rd (which we had downtown in St. Joseph's Cathedral, celebrated by Monsignor Milewski from Orchard Lake), and several Corpus Christi masses with procession and 4 outdoor alters. Not only did he have to put up with me, and that's a challenge as many may know, as choir director, he had to deal with all those singing ladies. The music was written one way but, "Jerry, in Limanowa we sing it like that�, in Lomza we sing it like this�, in Wroclaw or Krakow we sing it like that". Jerry rewrote the music and explained to the organist, "Mary, I know that the music is written like this, but the ladies are going to sing it like that"�. Somehow he managed to make everybody happy. There are also some people I would like to recognize who are not with us here tonight, and some who are no longer with us. DOLORES DiCENZO, very active in the club, baked tons of desserts for the club, worked at the festivals, organized Polish masses, and sang in the choir, and her deceased husband, RICHARD DiCENZO, who passed away this past Christmas. Richard, though having Italian roots, felt very Polish. He asked everyone not to call him Dicenzo but Dicenzowski! He even had business cards made with this name! Richard loved our pope and, as a musician, he wrote a song in his honor to the melody of the Polish national anthem. We sang it at one of our masses. Jerry encouraged Richard to send it to Rome, which he did, and he received thanks and an acknowledgement from the Vatican. HELEN DUDA, a great cook and baker donated many sweets. Many of us remember her plum cake and frequently we were asked, especially at the Worthington festival, "Do you have that plum cake you had last year? It was so good." Helen and her husband CASEY DUDA both worked at festivals and dances. Casey was also a trustee and a singer in our choir. We will never forget the bus trip they organized to the shrine in Bellvue, Ohio for the Polish Day. We had a blast. We sang on the bus, we played games and we participated in a spiritual program scheduled that day and enjoyed lunch together. PETE and ANN ZELLER - Pete was on our Building Committee and his dream was to obtain a permanent building for the club. Unfortunately, it didn’t materialize. Their daughter, BETTY ZELLER was also very active. They, together with JAYNE YOUNG, Walt Metka's daughter, started the folk dance group. They were directors, dancers themselves and choreographers. They also started the children’s dance group. SYLVIA and JIM MARKS also very active, worked tirelessly on picnics and festivals. Jim, a past treasurer, always thought about new ways to make and save money for the club. LEONARD FRONCZAK, MIKE LABUDA and our recent loss, JOE and ANN PIETRUSZEWSKI, were very active in the club, working at dances and festivals. I will never forget this image of Joe at the Worthington Festival grilling sausage on the portable grill, and dancing to the Polish music playing in the background. And of course TOMEK and DANUTA HERZYK who as newcomers, joined the club right away and became very active helping to organize many functions. Unfortunately Tomek is no longer with us and Danuta lives presently in the Philadelphia area. She sends her best wishes to everyone. We are grateful to all of them for all the contribution and help. Getting back to our honorees, please make sure that you thank them personally, that you express your appreciation and gratitude for their hard work and dedication to the Polish community and the Polish American Club. Serdeczne Bog Zaplac! They deserve a big round of applause". The speech by Maryla Teresk THE POLISH HERITAGE DINNER September 24 ' 2005