The 28th Annual Summer Ball of the Polish Museum of America

The program began with a cordial welcome by Teresa Buckner, Summer Ball Chairperson. A Color Guard of two scouts from the Tatry Girl Scout Unit from the Chicago Council of the Polish Scouting Organization, and their leader Barbara Chalko, posted the colors. The Polish and American National Anthems were sung by Anna Danowska, a former PRCUA employee.

Honorary Summer Ball Chair, Bozena Matynia, wife of Hon. Zygmunt Matynia, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago, welcomed every-one to the Ball and proclaimed the valuable services being performed by the Museum for Polonia.

The Invocation was given by Rev. Canon Anthony D. Iwuc of Rhode Island, Vice Chaplain of the PRCUA. This was followed by a toast given by PMA President Maria Ciesla.

After enjoying a delicious dinner of filet mignon and chicken, Wallace Ozog, Chairman of the PMA Board and President Maria Ciesla announced the names of the Bialy Kruk donors, as each was presented with a rose by Teresa Buckner and given an opportunity to speak. The donors were Legion of Young Polish Women for the Paderewski Room Renovations, represented by Lucilla Gutowski, President; Mr. & Mrs. Donald V. Versen, Sr. and Family; Polish Genealogical Society of America represented by Larry Gryzniec; PMA Life Member Deborah Greenlee from Texas; Tadeusz and Irena Mirecki; Polish Women’s Alliance, represent-ed by President Virginia Sikora; PMA Life Member Betty Uzarowicz; PMA President Maria  Ciesla and her husband, Richard; Camille Kopielski, PMA Treasurer for Paderewski Room Renovations; Kazimiera “Kasia” Bober of Kasia’s Deli; Service Employees International Union Local 1 and Polish Roman Catholic Union of

America, represented by Pres. Wallace Ozog, Vice President Anna Sokolowski, Vice President Robert Bielenda and Secretary-Treasurer Joyce Szarowicz.

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of Polish Spirit Awards to Polish and Polish American Veteran Associations. Crystal awards were presented by Chairman Ozog, President Ciesla and PMA Director Jan M. Lorys to: The Armia Krajowa (Home Army Foundation) accepted by Wieslaw Chodorowski; First Armored Division; 3rd Infantry Division of the 2nd Corps, accepted by Henryk Scigala; 5th Infantry Division of the 2nd Corps; Polish Air Force; Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV); Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatntow (SPK) Polish Veterans of World War II Post No. Post No. 15 accepted by Tadeusz Walasiak and Post No. 31 accepted by Leszek Niedzwiecki and Teodeza Musialowicz and and Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (SWAP) Polish Army Veteran’s Association Post No. 1 accepted by Albert Leca.

Music representing each of the military branches was played by the Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra. As each of these organizations were acknowledged, members of each group stood and received much applause in recognition for the valuable services they rendered to Poland and America for the cause of freedom. The history of each of these veterans’ groups was printed in the Ball program book.

Guests were then treated to a compelling jazz performance by dancers Erin Marie and Greg Rykowski of the Greg Rykowski Dance Studio, who also performed a passionate tango later. Their talent and graceful presentation made everyone want to dance like them.

Music for dancing was provided the magnificent Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra.

Thanks are extended to the Summer Ball Committee members who worked to make the event a success: Honorary Ball Chair Bozena Matynia; Ball Chair Teresa Buckner, Silent Auction Chair Jennifer Crissey, Mary Anselmo, Eva Betka, Katarzyna Budzyn, Maria Ciesla, Joanne Crissey, Michael Crissey, Geraldine Balut Coleman, Virginia Cudecki, Jacek Chaba, Alicia Dutka, Kenneth Gill, Marlene Gill, Frances Kaczmarek, Hanna Kapica, Michaline Kolasa, Camille Kopielski, Malgorzata Kot, Robert Kowalski, Felicia Krupinski, Jan Lorys, Barbara Mirecki, Ryszard Owsiany, Theresa Pestrak, Agnes Ptasznik, Madia Robles, Mary Jane Robles, Henriette Rocks, Kevin Ryba, Joan Smuda, Anna Sokolowski, Betty Uzarowicz and Karolina Zaczek.

The Executive Committee of the PMA consists of Chairman of the Board Wallace Ozog; Vice Chair Anna Sokolowski; President Maria Ciesla; Vice President Virginia Sikora; Vice President Mary Anselmo; Secretary Jenny Crissey, Treasurer Camille Kopielski, Counsel General Joan Smuda, and Secretary Emeritus Sabina P. Logisz. It is thanks to their hard work, and that of the PMA staff, that the Polish Museum of America is the repository of the “treasures of Polonia.” The PMA thanks all who attended for their faithful support of the Polish Museum of America so that it can continue its mission of “preserving the past for the future.”

By: Kathryn G. Rosypal

Executive Editor

Narod Polski Newspaper

More pictures from the 28th Annual Summer Ball of the Polish Museum of America can be seen in our Photo Gallery at: polishnews.com