January 1 brought in a new year and, of course, both a continuation of old problems and the birth of new ones. That’s true for both Poland and Polonia. The better side of the coin is that it also means a new start to correct many of the mistakes of the past.

For Polonia it should mean a fresh look at the Polish American Congress (PAC). Paradoxically, although the PAC is basically a paper tiger, it retains a certain weight because of claimed victories and public perception. The name of the organization even helps, especially in Poland. Nevertheless, it cannot go on forever by relying on what was done decades ago or power that is illusory.

The fact of the matter is that the PAC is drastically underfunded. Without the support of the Polish National Alliance (PNA) and some help from other fraternal organizations, it would disappear into the sunset.

Moreover, many of its National Directors are, in actuality, elected by themselves, personally paying annual dues to retain their positions. The vast majority of them have held their places for years and long ago lost any real claim to being representative of anyone. They mean well, but that does not help the situation.

Only an across-the-board reform will empower the PAC. That will be difficult to attain, but not impossible. Having acknowledged that the Directors have good intentions, a corollary should be that one or more from among them will seek real change and improvement. That is, perhaps, a drastic hope and not totally realistic … but it could happen. Sadly, because of the constitution of the PAC, there is no other way. Change will have to come from within. Thinking optimistically, we must believe that there are those within the organization who see reality and have the strength to struggle for a better future.

It certainly will not be easy. Power and position, even when more perceived than real, are naturally coveted by those who have them. It is simply human nature, and that is the most difficult of forces to overcome. But humanity also has its altruistic side. Several among those officers and directors must possess the selfless devotion to Polonia that will enable them to take up the fight. They will face the arguments, even the animosity, of their fellows. They could be set aside from the group and there could be attempts to neutralize them completely, whispers suggesting that they are not loyal. They could also be simply ignored, which amounts to a slow and ignoble departure.

On the other hand, they could also be real heroes, writing a prominent place for themselves in Polonian history. Finding like-minded members, earnestly discussing the present condition of the PAC, serious planning and the suggestion of reasonable reforms could truly lead to a new and better day for the PAC. Making the PAC into a democratic body, developing and respecting input from the Polish American community could even lead to ending the financial problem. When Polonia knows it has a stake in the organization, it will rise to alleviate the need for funding.

There are only two alternatives to reforming the PAC into a democratically composed entity: let it slowly wither away or replace it with something else. We think reform is a better answer. A new year brings new opportunities. The chance to do something may disappear when another year passes.