KOSCIUSZKO FOUNDATION BALL

DEDICATED TO POLISH SCIENCE

New York (PMN)—The Kosciuszko Foundation is preparing its 77th annual fundraising ball to be held on April 28, 2012, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. This year’s Ball will be dedicated to “Polish Contributions to Science,” and the honoree will be Nobel Prize-winning physicist, MIT professor Frank Wilczek (right).

Poles have had an astronomic impact on science. Copernicus showed the world that the earth revolved around the sun, and Maria Sklodowska-Curie is the only person to have won Nobel Prize in two separate branches of science — physics and chemistry. The list of eminent Polish scientists is quite long, and the Kosciuszko Foundation wants to make that list even longer by educating the next generation of Polish and Polish-American scientists.

In 1927, the Foundation’s founder, Stephen Mizwa, wrote to Sklodowska-Curie asking permission to establish a scholarship in her name. She wrote back and enthusiastically agreed. But, those plans were put on hold during WWII and the Cold War. Now, the Kosciuszko Foundation wants to renew Mizwa’s idea to begin a Maria Sklodowska-Curie Science Scholarship.

The Kosciuszko Foundation will also establish the Collegium of Eminent Scientists to honor renowned scientists of Polish descent in the United States, to highlight and publicize their achievements, and provide a nexus of interaction with scientists in Poland. The Collegium will publicize accomplishments of its members through the news media and the Internet, and identify, record and catalogue information about these eminent Polish-American scholars.

The Kosciuszko Foundation and The American Center of Polish Culture is based at 15 East 65th Street, New York, N.Y.

CREATING NEW CHICAGO

CRECHE TRADITION

Chicago (PMN)—The traditional Krakovian Crèche [Szopka Krakowska] is a cherished Old-World tradition, with a long and storied history. These crèches are nativity scenes that have one interesting distinction: they incorporate and highlight the landmark buildings of this Medieval European city that found itself on the first list of the United Nation's World Heritage sites.

This vaunted tradition is being adapted to create a new Chicago custom to highlight the wealth of Chicago's Architecture.

The same practices and rules would apply as for a Szopka Krakowska - the only difference being that it would be Chicago buildings that would be used instead.

The competition’s jury will be led by Stefan Niedorezo, an accomplished Polish-American sculptor. Crèches will be judge according to their beauty, originality, incorporating and emphasizing of interesting architectural features of Chicago’s environment (with an emphasis on sacred architecture,) as well as fidelity to the original tradition of Krakovian Crèches

Aside from the foregoing, there are only four rules:

1). The crèche shall be no larger than the crib 36 inches in height.

2). There are no constraints on materials to be used in constructing crèches.

3). Crèches can be built with mobile elements, as well as lighting, so long as they are powered by batteries.

4). Crèches have to be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on December 20th, 2012

See http://www.facebook.com/events/219785488109056 for more information.

ED DERWINSKI, FORMER

CABINET MEMBER, DIES

Chicago (PMN)—Former Congressman Ed Derwinski died January 15, 2012, in hospice after a long battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 85 years old.

Derwinski served as the first Cabinet-level United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, serving under President George H. W. Bush from March 15, 1989, to September 26, 1992. He previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1959 to 1983, representing south and southwest suburbs of Chicago.

He served in the United States Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II and in the postwar U.S. occupation of Japan. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1951. In 1957 he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, where he served one term before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1958. He served 12 terms as a Republican representative from the 4th District of Illinois, a suburban region south and west of Chicago, eventually becoming ranking member of the House Foreign Relations Committee. He also served as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly 1971-1972 and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the Interparliamentary Union from 1970–1972 and 1978-1980.

After losing his congressional seat to another Republican, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Counselor to the State Department. In 1987, Reagan appointed him Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology, where he served until the end of Reagan's term, shortly after which he was selected to head the Veteran’s Administration.

He resided in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with his wife, the former Bonita Hickey. He had two adult children, Maureen and Michael, from his first marriage to Patricia Derwinski.

ILLINOIS IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION

SUMMIT SETS ELECTION YEAR AGENDA

Chicago (PMN)—The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) hosted its 2nd annual “One Nation, One Dream” Immigration Integration Summit on February 4, 2012. Over 1,200 people registered for the Summit, along with 30 of Illinois’s most powerful elected officials, including Governor Pat Quinn, Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky, Senator Dick Durbin, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. The summit announced the “One Nation One Dream” issue platform that ICIRR will work on in the coming year, as well as offer workshops on issues that will empower immigrants, as well as, provide vital information.

The “One Nation One Dream” election year issue platform includes a continued commitment to immigration reform; a powerful commitment to work for healthcare and education for new Americans; and a jobs and worker support agenda. ICIRR also launched its “Uniting America” Initiative, to encourage volunteerism and community dialogue between Illinois immigrants and their native born neighbors.

Uniting America is a partnership with the AmeriCorps program and the State of Illinois. ICIRR announced its naturalization and voter mobilization goals for 2012, which include assisting 10,000 legal immigrants to become citizens in Illinois, and mobilizing 159,885 Latino, Asian, Polish, and Middle Eastern voters to the polls.

Some of the workshops offered this year included get-out-the-vote, citizenship, information about the Illinois DREAM act, health care, stopping deportations and early childhood education through parent engagement, among others.

“The Immigration Integration Summit provided an excellent opportunity for people to learn about the services that are available to them, as well as learn how they can become engaged civically in this important election year,” said Lawrence Benito, incoming CEO at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

For more information visit http://www.icirr.org.

COLLEGE PRESIDENT SORRY FOR

HIS “ILL-CHOSEN REMARKS”

Brooklyn, N.Y. (PMN)—The president of Ohio State University (OSU) told the Polish American Congress (PAC) he apologizes for “ill-chosen remarks” he made during a question-and-answer period that followed one of his recent speeches. 

OSU President E. Gordon Gee (left) said he immediately recognized he made a gaffe after he used the Polish Army as an example of disorganization.

Polish Army veterans who belong to the PAC did not consider President Gee as being a bigot, but simply “uneducated.”  They felt he should leave his desk in OSU’s presidential suite and spend the coming Spring semester in one of his college’s classrooms and try to learn a bit more about world and military history. 

The Anti-Bigotry Committee carried their message to him. After hearing from the committee, as well as the PAC’s  Public Relations Vice President Susan Lotarski, in Washington, D.C., President Gee promptly issued his statement. 

The Anti-Bigotry Committee’s letter to him was also intended to be an educational lesson about the Polish military. It stated, in part, “We have a significant number of Polish Army veterans who emigrated to the United States after World War II and became members of our organization. Some of them fought as part of the Allied Forces in places like Tobruk, Normandy and Monte Cassino and contributed to the eventual victory over Adolf Hitler. Others fought immediately when the superpowers of Nazi Germany and the Communist Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939. They fought valiantly and effectively against insurmountable odds.”

In a reference to the Battle of Britain, the Committee stated, “The Poles never needed to be fired up by anything like a pre-game pep talk before they went out to take on the German Luftwaffe. Their personal motivation was sufficient to drive them to become the most effective and productive pilots in the British Air Force.”

PAA MARKS 90TH ANNIVERSARY

WITH FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Chicago (PMN)—This year the Chicago-based Polish American Association is celebrating its 90th anniversary as a human service agency, making it one of the oldest social welfare associations in the United States. Since 1922, when prominent Polish leaders joined together to aid those less fortunate than themselves, the PAA has helped Polish immigrants and others by providing resources for changing lives, be it immigration services, counseling, English language instruction, or vocational training.

The PAA has assisted countless individuals and many generations in coping with the problems of adjusting to a new country, dealing with the pressures and struggles of daily life, and empowering people to reach their full potential. The organization offers linguistic and culturally sensitive assistance to those in need and it is inviting the public to share their stories with it.

As part of its 90th anniversary celebration the PAA is asking friends and supporters to contribute $90 or more. Donors will receive recognition on the PAA website, which attracts over 3,000 monthly visitors, and will be mentioned in its annual report. In addition, donors will receive a letter of recognition, suitable for framing, which demonstrates solidarity with the Polish community.

Thanks to the generosity and support of the public, the PAA has assisted immigrants and others for 90 years - making it one of the oldest social welfare associations in the United States.

To make an online donation visit http://www.polish.org/en/en/donate/donate-online. Checks payable to the Polish American Association may be sent to 3834 N. Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641.

DETROIT PHILANTHROPIST FRANK

PADZIESKI DIES AT 103

Detroit, Michigan (PMN)—Frank Padzieski (right) will be remembered as a noted philanthropist whose generosity helped programs across Metro Detroit. “He never turned anyone down,” said Dearborn City Councilman Nancy Hubbard, who knew him for decades. He died Tuesday, January 3, 2012. He was 103.

Born October 4, 1908, to Polish immigrants in Erie, Pennsylvania, he grew up on Detroit’s west side, where his father owned a grocery store. As a child, he lost his leg in an accident.

After graduating from St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake, Padzieski studied business at the University of Detroit. He spent a stint working with the state tax division before joining the insurance industry.

He also became President of Macon Enterprises in Dearborn; chaired the Michigan Employment Security Commission; and was active with many groups and boards, including the Dearborn Rotary Club. Padzieski served on the Wayne County Canvassing Board and in the 1950s ran for state treasurer.

After selling Dearborn Underwriters, he focused on philanthropy. In the 1990s, his donations helped establish an interfaith chapel at the Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn, named after his wife, Mary. He recently was the honorary chairman of a campaign to renovate and expand the sanctuary.

Padzieski also donated $1 million to Orchard Lake Schools for renovations and gave $1 million to the University of Michigan-Dearborn to start a Polish studies program, according to Detroit News archives.

The Padzieski Art Gallery at Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is named in honor of his donation. He and his wife also contributed to the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra.

SMALL ILLINOIS TOWN HOLDS

CASIMIR PULASKI POLISH FEST

DuBois, Illinois (PMN)—DuBois, Illinois, has a population of about only 250 people, but many of those are of Polish decent. Seventeen years ago a few people decided to celebrate the town’s Polish heritage and honor the soldier Casimir Pulaski. Thus was born the small town’s Casimir Pulaski Polish Festival. A local tavern, The Mule Barn, 22 N. Railroad St., served Polish food to about 100 people that first year.

A town parade starts at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, 2012, the day immediately before Casimir Pulaski Day, an Illinois holiday on the first Monday in March. The parade has grown to more than 100 entries with 2,000 to 3,000 spectators in attendance.

There are two parade marshals: the oldest person in the parish and the youngest baptized child. There is polka dancing after the parade.

The official hours of the festival are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Polish food is now made and served at the parish center, St. Charles Catholic Church, 223 S. 3rd Street, DuBois, Illinois. The Friday before the big celebration, the town’s Polish ladies are busy making homemade noodles and polish duck soup [czarnina], pierogi, golabki and, of course, Polish sausage, plus other traditional Polish food.

People come from all over to celebrate the Polish Festival, including from Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky and northern Illinois.