More than 80 National Directors were in attendance at the meeting; 84 votes were cast during the election.
The Polish American Congress held its election of officers at its annual meeting of its Council of National Directors on Sept. 15-17 in Chicago, IL.
The Council of National Directors constitutes the organization’s high-level decision-making body and is comprised of presidents of PAC divisions and chapters, presidents of member organizations, as well other elected and appointed delegates.
Frank J. Spula was reelected to another two-year term as President of the PAC. Other officers elected are: First Vice President: Rick Pierchalski; Vice President for American Agenda: Anthony J. Bajdek; Vice President for Polish Affairs: Bozena Kaminski; Vice President for Membership Development: Rick Mazella; Vice President for Cultural Affairs: Debbie Majka; Vice President for Public Relations: Mark Pienkos; Vice President for Financial Development: Hubert Cioromski; Secretary: Timothy Kuzma, and Treasurer: Micheline Jaminski.
“The PAC delegates sent a strong message that they wish for the Polish American Congress to continue its primary, and statutory, focus on the Polish American Community in the U.S., and that the organization that should remain politically independent, free of any partisan influences.” -- said Mr. Spula about the results of the election.
The three-day meeting offered an ample time for discussions that traditionally revolved around three matters of organizational growth and development: activities, fundraising, and membership.
The National Directors also approved an amendment to its Bylaws that will add a new Vice President of Learning and Education. The position will be filled at the next meeting of the Council of National Directors in 2017.
Guest speakers who included Congressman Robert Dold (R-IL) and Piotr Janicki, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago addressed the delegates. Damon Wilson (Executive Vice President of Atlantic Council) spoke on behalf of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign while Thomas Cioppa and Martha Medina of the USIS office in Chicago outlined to the group the steps needed to be taken for a green card holder to obtain U.S. citizenship who urged community-based organizations and national organizations, such as the Polish American Congress, to encourage green card holders to move towards full citizenship which entitles one the important responsibility to be able to vote.
The last speaker to address the Council was Stanislaw Karczewski, MD, Marshall of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, who spoke on the current state of Polish affairs both within Poland and the world. He also outlined both successes and concerns facing Poland and Polish communities worldwide. He also thanked the Polish American Congress for many years of its dedicated service to American Polonia and Poland and encouraged continued concern and work for the benefit of both.
Founded in 1944 in Buffalo, the Polish American Congress is today the largest and one of the oldest Polish American organizations with presence nationwide. The primary goal of the organization is dedicated to providing national leadership for expanding and sustaining organized Polish American political and cultural life in the United States.
For more information contact: Mark Pienkos, V.P. for Public Relations at markpienkos2012@gmail.com or Barbara Andersen, Ph.D. Executive Director at pacwash@pac1944.org
http://www.pac1944.org/
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