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PRCUA Officers and Board Inaugurated
(Photos)
Chicago, IL - On Sunday, September 12, 2010, the national officers and
directors of the PRCUA, who were elected at the 60th Quadrennial Convention
of the PRCUA in August, were officially inaugurated.
MASS - The day began with a Concelebrated Inaugural Mass held at St.
Constance Parish in Chicago, IL. Participants were welcomed by Pastor Ted
Dzieszko. The Main Celebrant was PRCUA Chaplain Rev. Walter J. Ptak.
Concelebrating with him were PRCUA Vice Chaplains Rev. Canon Anthony D. Iwuc
and Rev. Msgr. Stanley E. Milewski, P.A., Rev. Timothy Whalen, Chancellor of
Orchard Lake Schools, Rev. Ted Dzieszko and Monsignor Wladyslaw Podeszwik.
It was a beautiful day as past officers and directors, as well as outgoing
and incoming officers and directors participated in the Mass. During Mass,
Fr. Ptak was the homilist and stated that we need Divine Mercy in our own
lives and in the life of our fraternal organization because it helps us to
be forgiving and to put our hands together to work for the good of our
fraternal and society in general. He then officially administered the oath
of office to himself as Chaplain; Vice Chaplain Rev. Canon Anthony D. Iwuc;
Vice Chaplain Monsignor Stanley E. Milewski, P.A.; President Joseph Drobot,
Jr.; Resident Vice President Anna Sokolowski; Vice President Robert Bielenda;
Secretary-Treasurer James Robaczewski; Dir. Marsha Mikuszewski (D1); Dir.
Gregory Olma (D2); Dir. Edward Kaplaniak (D3); Dir. Joanne Zajac (D3); Dir.
Richard Turkiewicz (D4); Dir. Joan Sylak (D5); Dir. Mitchell Bienia (D5);
Dir. Constance Bonin (D6); Dir. Anna Krysinski (D7); Dir. Robert Bugielski
(D7); Dir. Krystyna Lech (D8); Dir. James Rustik (D8); Dir. Elizabeth
Grabowski (D9); Dir. Thomas Lisiecki (D 10); and Dir. Christopher Ozog (D
10). President Joseph A. Drobot, Jr., the PRCUA’s 27th president, then
addressed everyone, thanking them for coming together to celebrate this
joyous occasion and promising to work hard for the success of our fraternal
organization.
INAUGURAL BANQUET - After Mass, an Inauguration Banquet was held at
White Eagle Banquets in Niles, IL, which was attended by 320 people. Leaders
of Polonia in attendance were Pres. Virginia Sikora and her husband, Ray and
VP Sharon Zago of the Polish Women’s Alliance of America; Paul Obrobina,
V.P. of the Polish National Alliance (PNA) with his wife Jan; V.P. Teresa
Abick and Tres. Marian Grabowski, PNA; Stanley Zagata, Pres. of the Polish
Highlanders of America; Jan Jaworski, Liaison to the Polish Clergy; Rev.
Timothy Whalen, Chancellor of Orchard Lake Schools; Jan Strzalka, Advocate
Society; Dir. Jan Lorys and Pres. Maria Ciesla, Polish Museum of America;
Marek Niezgoda, Pres. of American Union of Silesians; Alliance of Polish
Clubs; Polish Club of Lemont; Barbara Chalko, Polish Scouts; St. Rafal
Kalinowski Polish Language School; and many others.
Steven Cieslicki, Vice Chair of the Pre-Convention Arrangements Committee,
introduced the directors and officers as they promenaded into the hall,
escorted by members of the Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Ensemble and the
Polonia Ensemble, dance groups sponsored by the PRCUA.
The Master of Ceremonies was Edward Mylenek, Past Director of District 10.
Singing the Polish and English National Anthems were Aleksandra Rodowski and
Annette Zurawski Nowakowski. Rev. Anthony Iwuc offered the invocation, which
was followed by a hearty toast made by Ted Klamerus, Chair of the
Redistricting Committee and Supervisor of Insurance District 6. This was
followed by a delicious dinner which everyone enjoyed.
After dinner, the Polonia Ensemble and the Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance
Ensemble of the PRCUA each gave superb performances of Polish folk dances.
Then Joseph Annotti, President and CEO of the National Fraternal Congress of
America extended his greetings to the assembled guests and wished the new
administration much success.
This was followed by guest speaker Donald V. Versen, Sr., Chair of the Long
Range Planning Committee who said he worked together on various committees
with Pres. Drobot, just like their fathers - PRCUA President Joseph A.
Drobot, Sr. (1978-1986) and Treasurer Vincent Versen (1966-1974) - had
worked together. He also spoke about the strong Catholic faith of our
founders, who helped to build Polish churches, helped to protect Polish
immigrants, supported students on various levels, and support the people in
Poland. They founded the Polish Museum of America and the Library, as well
as Polish dance and language schools.
Mr. Versen stated this is a historic moment because, for the first time in
the organization’s history, the son of a past PRCUA President was elected to
the same office. He also spoke about today’s fraternalism, which has changed
from the fraternalism that our parents and grandparents experienced. He said
our organization needs to develop new products and new reasons for people to
join the PRCUA. Finally, he told the new administration that they have many
challenges to face and much work to do to bring the PRCUA completely into
the 21st century. The Long Range Planning Committee, which Mr. Versen
chaired, made some recommendations on how this can be accomplished.
President Joseph A. Drobot, Jr. thanked the dance groups and their
choreographers for the excellent performances. Then he introduced his wife
and family members. He acknowledged that the PRCUA is not immune to the
economic downfall that our country is experiencing. He stated the
administration needs to review staffing and our properties and take action
to increase income. He said they will review our insurance programs to make
them more competitive. He also wants to regenerate fraternalism and
fraternal activities. We have to bring our organization down to its
‘grassroots’ level.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS - To do that, President Joseph A. Drobot, Jr. has
asked each of the Directors to arrange for a town hall meeting to be held in
their District with local PRCUA members, which the President will attend, in
order to hear first-hand our members’ concerns and ideas.
Vice Chaplain Monsignor Stanley E. Milewski, PA offered the Benediction.
Then guests enjoyed dancing to the Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra. May the
new administration be blessed in their leadership and filled - as our
Chaplain aptly said - with Divine Mercy.”
(Photos of taken by Managing Editor Lidia Kowalewicz & Mark Dobrzycki, PRCUA
member)
Here are some
photos
from the event.
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