CHICAGO, IL — The first joint Polish American Chamber of Commerce (PACC) and Polish American Leadership – PAC (PAL- PAC) Holiday Party was held Friday, December 6, and was a resounding success due to the good cheer and celebratory spirit brought by about 400 guests to the European Crystal, one of the most beautiful Chicago area banquet halls, located in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The event’s success was also made possible by the generosity of sponsors, including the PNC Bank; MBB Enterprises of Chicago; European Crystal; Property Consultants & Tony Zaskowski; MBM Services; Saturn Title; Dorothy & Jerry Malachowski; UK Family Practice; Chicago Metal Supply; Fuksa Khorshid, LLC; Clinical Cardiology Consultants; Fragomen; Chicago Vein Center & Ramon Castro; Barbara Marchwicki; Oak Mill Bakery; Salmon Collagen; Ewa & Czarek Jakubowski; Darpet, Inc.; Deli4You; the Next Door Bistro; Star-Tech Glass, Inc.; Barbara & Ted Martin; Lidia Greszta; Soho Makeup School; David & Larisa; Jolanta & Stefan Szefer; and R.A. Zweig, Inc.
Kirk Dillard (Sen., IL 24th)
Interesting and valuable silent auction items were provided by Terlato Wine International/Dorota Kenar; Arie and Bozena Zweig; Jan Mlynarski; Anna Uzarewicz; Lucas Fuksa; Jan Krynski/Dom itp; Barbara Martin; Gina Buda; Michelle & Henry Kurzydlowski; Anna Morzy/Fragomen; Mary and Mario Machnicki; Bogdan and Barbara Bosak; and Bogna Solak. The auction added to the excitement of the evening, while benefitting the two co-hosting organizations
Dr. Robert and Agata Karolina Zagar with Dan Rutherford, IL State Treasurer.
In addition, guests of the event had an opportunity to meet Richard S. Post, author of the newly published “West of Goose Island: A Chicago Story” and Joseph W. Zurawski, author of “Polish Chicago: Our History – Our Recipes.” Both signed their books, which were available for purchase.
During a short official program MCed by PAL-PAC executive director Ela Golebiewska and PACC executive director Bogdan Pukszta, guests were greeted by PAL-PAC’s chairman Arie Zweig. He concluded his remarks by reading a letter he had received from Polish Ambassador to the US, Ryszard Schnepf. Then PACC vice president Anna Morzy, in board president Lucas Fuksa’s absence, spoke on behalf of the Chamber and read a letter written on the occasion by Senator Mark Kirk. Michael Krynski spoke on behalf of PAL-PAC’s junior board. Those gathered were also addressed by Polish Consul General Paulina Kapuscinska, by Illinois gubernatorial candidates Bruce Rauner, Kirk Dillard (Sen., IL 24th), and Dan Rutherford, who presently serves as IL State Treasurer, and by Village of Wilmette President, Bob Bielinski.
During the remainder of the evening, guests were entertained by seasonal live music performed by the Polish Highlander band Mountain Eagles, who were followed by dance music performed by the Dori Koz Band.
Andrew Krzeptowski and his band “Mountain Eagles”.
“The location of our event provides a great setting to celebrate the holiday season with its stylish and friendly atmosphere. And because many members have joined PAL-PAC during the course of this year, the first year of our organizational life, it’s an occasion for all to bond and celebrate together before the year ends. And our bonding is especially joyous because we’re doing this together with members of the PACC,” said PAL-PAC executive director Ela Golebiewska.
Senator Kirk W. Dillard with Machnicki family and their friends.
“We are very pleased and honored that so many special guests and prominent candidates seeking the most important political office in Illinois joined us this evening to help cheer the holidays. It confirms that when we unite organizationally with others, we become more magnetic and more capable with regard to our efforts to influence decisions and actions which improve the economic vitality of our members, and of the Polish American business community,” adds PACC executive director Bogdan Pukszta.
Young volunteers of PAL-PAC — with Michelle Kloda, Adrianna Borczyk, Natalie Lewandowski and Karolina Rabczak.
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The PACC is at the forefront of encouraging and promoting domestic and foreign trade to benefit its members and future business associates. The Chamber is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois as a business association. As the voice of Polish American business men and women, the Chamber is dedicated to serving their best interests through education on current trends and facilitating commercial contacts. The Chamber is also at the forefront of encouraging and promoting domestic and foreign trade to benefit its members, the community, and the State of Illinois. Its goals include promoting member businesses and enhancing trade relations between the US and Poland.
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The Polish American Leadership Political Action Committee (www.pal-pac.org) is a political organization formed for the purpose of addressing social, civic and business interests of the Polish- American community in the United States. The general initiatives are utilized to accomplish this goal: education, issue advocacy and representation.
