It is hard to believe that August has arrived. With only the last minute preparations for the 63rd Quadrennial Convention left to complete, August 12-14 is almost here and the realization that time really flies! I personally cannot believe that I have already served as the Vice President of PRCUA for eight years and yet there are 84 articles and 32 Board of Director reports to say otherwise. This year’s Convention will revamp our Constitution, take stock of our current business practices, vote on a new budget, and elect a few new Directors. The current Chaplain, Officers and most of the Directors are running opposed thus will continue for another term. A few familiar faces will be returning as their positions are unopposed as well. We will be welcoming back Kevin Kucik from District 7 and Gregory Olma from District 3 – both after a four-year break. We will be extending our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to Mitch Bienia from District 5, Anna Krysinski from District 7, and Lou Perfetto from District 3 – the former two both completed three terms and the latter chose not to run a second. A contested race for National Director is in District 10 with two-term incumbent Colleen Bonkowski, incumbent Valerie Brumm, and Kristi Mihalic – three amazing women with fraternal hearts and business minds. If you are a delegate, the hosts of this year’s Convention – District 8 with National Directors Liz Dynowski and Mirek Cislo at the helm – await your arrival and hope to make your and your guests’ stay memorable and enjoyable. The site of Convention 2022 is the Oak Brook Hilton in beautiful downtown Oak Brook on the outskirts of Chicago. The Convention proceedings will be live-streamed and you will be able “to read all about it” on our social and printed media. I wish the delegates successful deliberations, the candidates much luck, and to all, a really great get-together. It’s been too long since we have seen many of you. In the spirit of the Diamonds and Denim theme of Saturday night’s banquet, here’s a great photo of President Robaczewski!
Other than the preparations for the Convention and business as usual, July seemed a little more subdued although the 69th PRCUA National Golf Tournament more than made up for it. On July 22 and 23, the host group from St. Rita’s Society #1368: Keith Kujawski (President), Patty Johansen and Paula Vultaggio as well as super volunteers – Deann Kujawski and Jerry Lubiarz, rolled out the red carpet for the golfers and the sports fans who come to cheer and just get-together, starting with the hospitality welcome reception on Friday night. They came from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and, of course, Michigan. The Maple Lane Golf Course in Sterling Heights, Michigan was most accommodating and also provided the venue for the Awards Banquet on Saturday which ended with a surprise 50th birthday party for Keith Kujawski (his actual birth date), sharing the day with Pat Coughlin, and celebrating with his friends, Erik Johansen and Mike Rocheleau who also turned 50 during the week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEITH AND FRIENDS! Sto Lat! PRCUA Dignitaries who golfed: President Jim and Elaine Robaczewski, Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk, Michigan Director Valerie Brumm, past President Joe and Judy Drobot and former Director Connie Bonin. Cheering them on the sidelines were: President Emeritus Wally and Joann Ozog; past Director Tommy Lisiecki; Daniel, Natalia and Karol Bastrzyk; and yours truly. As usual, the Fraternal Department Coordinator – Conrad Wiecek – made sure that waivers were signed, fees were paid, gifts distributed, and all was in order. There will be an article and more photos in the upcoming issue of the Naród Polski, but in the meantime, permit me to showcase the winners: Men: Marcus Dobek, Michael Dobek, Joshua Stortz, Joseph Stortz; Mixed: Amy Baucom (2021 Golf Chairperson from Laporte IN), Thomas Baucom, Jeffrey Cunningham, Curtis Walker; Senior Mixed: Mary Jane Favot, Eugene Souva, John Zelasko; Senior Men: Dennis Churchvara, Frank Nasiatka, Jerry Nasiatka, Edward Zabczynski; Women: Susan Kazmierczak, Jennifer Nowacki, Sherry Okorowski, Sandra Tyburski; Skins: Brandon Hamilton, Mark Hamilton, Robert Hojnacki, Thomas Hojnacki; Skins: Scott Binkley, Patrick Coughlin, Keith Kujawski, Todd Malavolti; Contest winners: Closest to pin (men): Billy Cherfoli; Closest to pin (women): Jennifer Nowacki; and Longest drive (women): VikkiJean Mixon. Congratulations to the champions and all golfers! Bravo to the host group – St. Rita’s Society #1368! Thank you, Conrad, for attending to the details and preparation!
Soon after arriving at the hotel for the Golf Tournament (7/22), my “Uber” driver – PRCUA member and long-time friend – Marcia Pilkiewicz joined me for a quick hello at the hospitality reception and then it was on to the performance of the Rogalin Dancers for Polish Night at Market Center in Southgate, Michigan. We surprised School Director Lisa Brandt and dance instructors, Janet Vilag and Basia Toboy. The dancers made their presence known with a few lively dances and the audience responded in kind with much applause (#1 Rogalin fan – Stan Pasko – President of Society #162 – was front and center). After the show, a lady from the audience asked Ania Toboy, one of the Rogalin dancers, to dance a polka with her 87-year young mother. We advised Ania to take it easy with the lady, but WOW – could that lady polka – spinning, turning and kicking up her heels! I always said that Polish dancing is the fountain of youth. Here’s proof! Folks, it’s time to get that heart pumping! In the good old days, this form of exercise was called aerobics. It is now referred to as endurance activities, cardio or cardio-respiratory exercise. It does not matter what we call it – as long as we do it! Bravo dancers! Bravo instructors! Thanks Marcia, Basia, Ania and Zosia (Toboy) for the Friday night date!
Best wishes to former Director Sharon and Steve Haberski on their 59th wedding anniversary (7/6) and to President James and Elaine Robaczewski on their 21st on the 21st ! Wedding bells rang for Richard and Mary Grace Turkiewicz on July 1. STO LAT!
Congratulations to St. Albertus Parish in Detroit, Michigan – the birthplace of the PRCUA – on its 150th anniversary. The celebration began with Holy Mass on July 6.
On July 29, Krystyna Bienia will be recognized as one of the 2022 Heritage Award Honorees as a Polonia Supporter Extraordinaire by the Polonia Foundation of Ohio at its 57th Annual Pulaski Scholarship and Heritage Awards Banquet in Cleveland, Ohio. We congratulate Mrs. Bienia on her well-deserved accolade. Director District 5, Mitchell, is her #1 fan. The two have been a dynamic force since they exchanged wedding vows 45 years ago (September 16, 1977).
Since hosting a PRCUA Convention is not enough of a responsibility, National Director District 8, Liz Dynowski, took her 25 HHPD Dancers (Hickory Hills Park District) to Disney World and Universal Studios at the beginning of July to perform at each. In addition to the dancers, there were 85 family members and friends.
Polonia Ensemble (Jaclyn Krysiński, Artistic Director and Choreographer; Anna Krysiński, Executive Director; and Mieczysław Dziś, Musical Director) performed at the Whiting Indiana Pierogi Fest on both July 29 and July 31. The festival which began in the 1990’s celebrates the blends of many cultural backgrounds from around the world and pierogis were chosen to honor Eastern European heritage. We will have more on the performance of the Polonia Ensemble in the next issue of the Naród Polski.
The Zakopane Dance Ensemble, who performed for the first time since the pandemic at the end of June at the American Polish Festival in Sterling Heights, Michigan, have also been busy preparing for upcoming performances at summer events. Welcome back Zakopane Dancers! Colleen Bonkowski is the Manager and Tommy Lisiecki, Artistic Director and Choreographer.
Wesoly Lud Dance Company performed at two weddings in July, most recently on the 30th for alumna Deanna Crouchelli (her mom Veronica and aunt Barbara are also former Wesoły Lud dancers, and her Babcia – Mary Brzeźniak – and CiociaBabcia – Diane Cortesi – charter members and former dancers of the Adult Culture Group). Congratulations and best wishes to the new Mr. and Mrs. Christian (Kit) Bradley! Both Wesoły Lud and Wesoły Ludek (SWCPSD) will be performing at the Convention – so stay tuned!
Wedding anniversary wishes to all celebrating in August, especially to past PRCUA Presidents and their lovely wives – the Dyklas, Ozogs and Drobots; Secretary-Treasurer Agnieszka Bastrzyk and her husband, Daniel – as well as to my Prince Charming, Richard (34 years and going strong), family and friends including Krystyna and Tadeusz Lech, Teresa and Wacek Pazdziora, Barbara and Jim Rustik, Robert and Danielle Kroplewski, Victoria and Mateusz Bomba (1st), and so many others for whom the month is special. Birthday wishes galore during this last month of summer – especially to our PRCUA President – you aren’t getting older; you are getting better (my grandson Cole Pearson shares the date). Happy birthday Jim (and Cole) and to so many other special people! All the best to all of you! Sto lat!
As I close this month’s article, I would like to thank all the PRCUA members for their vote of confidence.
Michael Jordan had his 3-peat and thanks to you, this MJ will have hers also!
THE LAST EIGHT HAVE BEEN TRULY GREAT! WE’LL STRIVE FOR MORE IN THE NEXT FOUR!
