"LIVING IN POLONIA"

FOCUS ON POLONIA

I have sometimes been critical of the Polish American Congress (PAC), even though I have myself served for more than a combined ten years as a National Director. The officers and directors have had the best intentions, but the proposals often never came to fruition. Other times there were attempts by immigrants in this country to impose their own political philosophies upon Poland.

Some months ago, the PAC’s president, Frank J. Spula, reminded directors that it was a Polish American organization, rather than a simply Polish institution, meaning that its purpose was to serve Polonia, rather than interfere with the direction of the now democratic Poland. The much greater number of directors agreed with that premise.

Now, some months later, a By-Laws committee has solidified that concept by suggesting a new "Purpose and Objectives," supporting Poland, but clearly more focused on Polish American issues. The Council of National Directors ratified and adopted the amendments to the PAC’s By-Laws when it convened on October 27-28, 2011. If respected, the change can make a major difference.

In a wise move to honor and enshrine the mission pronounced at the PAC’s founding 1944, the committee proposed the retention of those wartime objectives, no longer totally relevant, as an addendum to the By-Laws. While remembering older goal, the freedom and independence of Poland, the primary emphasis has now been directed at Polonia.

Of course, changing words in the By-Laws does not necessarily alter the minds of everyone. There will still be those, though hopefully in the minority, who are convinced that a major duty of the PAC should be to influence the political landscape of Poland. It seems that they cannot "Let Poland Be Poland," thereby indicating their lack of trust in the Polish citizenry.

The fact is, as is clear from the new PAC By-laws, that there are enough issues facing Polonia itself, correctly leaving Poland to govern itself. We still have a great deal to teach the American people about Polish culture and our heritage. The decline of Polish political power and influence in the United States requires a major campaign here at home. Encouraging the American government to support the aims of the PAC and Polish Americans is a worthy project.

There are other matters, of course, that the new By-Laws cannot address, most important among which is the raising of funds, which would enable the impoverished PAC to attain its newly promulgated objectives. Even the best of intentions cannot be met without the financing to support them. In the current economy, that is a more difficult task than ever, but it must be addressed.

Defining relevant objectives is certainly a positive forward movement. However, other changes must be made to convince Polonians that the PAC is a democratic body, truly representing Polish Americans and committed to the goals to which it now publicly aspires. That can be a monumental task, but it is absolutely necessary for success.