Brooklyn, N.Y. … New York City Comptroller John Liu ( 3rd from right) was grateful and pleased when Chet Szarejko publicly nominated him to be an “Honorary Polish American” at the Annual Awards Banquet the Downstate N.Y. Division of the Polish American Congress (PAC) held at Greenpoint’s Polonaise Terrace.
Szarejko (center), a vice president and chairman of the Political Activities Committee of the Downstate Congress, is a longtime friend of Comptroller Liu dating back to the time Mr. Liu was just beginning his political career. The Comptroller’s first political steps were taken as a member of the Eastern Queens Democratic Club when Szarejko was the District Leader there.
Photo by Polish American Congress
Watching and helping John Liu advance in his career as a public servant gives Szarejko a deepsense of pride in his good friend’s political success.
“John Liu has the ability and the drive to move even higher. He’s a proven achiever with a remarkable intensity in all he does,” said Szarejko.
To give Liu an official title associating him with New York’s Polish American community, the Downstate N.Y. Division of the Congress is accepting him into the organization as an honorary member, according to Frank Milewski, president of the Downstate unit. “Our by-laws allow it and we’re delighted to have John with us,” he said.
In the above photo, the 2011 honorees and the officers of the Downstate N.Y. Division pose for the cameras after the presentation of the awards. Shown (from left to right) are: Vincent Brunhard, Jr.,VP of the Congress and banquet committee chairman; Rev. Marek Sobczak, honoree and pastor of
St.Stanislaus Kostka Church; Greg Wisniewski, honoree and president of the Pulaski Association of Business & Professional Men; Elzbieta Majewski, honoree and president of the Polish National Home of Glen Cove; Bernadette O’Keefe, honoree and president of the Polish American Teachers
Association; Chet Szarejko; Dee Richard, honoree and columnist for the Bayside Times newspaper; Judge Gregory Lasak, honoree and Justice of the New York State Supreme Court (Queens); Comptroller John Liu; Frank Milewski, president of the Downstate N.Y. Congress and Danuta
Bronchard, honoree and president of the Polish Slavic Center
THE POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS
DOWNSTATE NEW YORK DIVISION
177 Kent St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11222 – (718) 349-9689