From the President: Poland Bound - Summer is here,

and it's time for vacation. Yes it's true

some of our members including myself,

are going to Poland to Rzeszów for the

International Polish Folk Festival. And

yes we will be reporting on that trip later

on this summer in our next newsletter.

But meanwhile you can follow our

activities on Facebook page 'PNACouncil21Baltimore'.

We continue to make changes to our facility, with the

addition of air condition in our Hall. Now that the hall

is cooled we can hold events during the summer

months. The cooled hall is also more inviting to rent as

we have started to do so.

We have also received a freezer as a donation by Cyr

Linonis, which is a needed addition in the kitchen

Department. A Big Thank You Cyr!

Speaking of the kitchen, we now serve hot food,

including pierogi, gołąbki, kiełbasa, burgers, and fries.

Why not have a meal and a cold Polish beer and listen

to some Polish music. And speaking of music, there's

talk of having Polish discotheques at the lounge once a

month starting in July. Yes the young Polonia is joining

our club. As they say "if you build it they will come".

Please spread the word to your families and invite them

to PNA for all the Polish-ness that we offer. I hope to

see you soon!

Dyngus Day! A Splashing Success

Paul Binkowski

Council 21 held the first ever Dyngus Day celebration

in Baltimore on April 17th. And it was, well, a

splashing success.

Festivities began with a traditional Easter Monday mass

at Holy Rosary Church at 4pm. Following the mass,

Dyngus Day participants conducted a lively exchange

of woda (water) on the steps of the church along with

occasional smacks from pussy willow branches.

The crowing of the 'the Kogutek' brought the water

exchange to an end. Revelers followed the stately bird

down Eastern Avenue to the Polish National Alliance.

At PNA, everyone came together for a good, old-

fashioned Polish party. Traditional

food and drink were offered for

everyone’s enjoyment. Children

participated in an Easter egg hunt. Our

hometown Polish folk dancing groups,

Ojczyzna and Krakowiaki put on lively

performances. After the dancers,

Kapela Slovakia and the Malgorzata

Bondyra and Josef Surowiec Duet took

the stage. The evening’s entertainment

was topped off by the Lenny Adams trio.

If you missed the 2017 Dyngus Day festivities, don’t

despair. PNA is planning another Dyngus Day

celebration for April 2, 2018. That’s less than 300 days

away. In the meantime, I wonder how many new

romances began at this year’s Dyngus Day. Bet

Kogutek knows but he ain’t talkin’.

Wiadomości Związkowe

Polish National Alliance Council 21

1627 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21231

410-732-1100

“Alliance News”

Summer 2017

Maks Bondyra

Mikayla Rohrhaugh splashes a fellow Dyngus Day reveler while

Council 21 president Maks Bondyra makes a costume adjustment.

PNA Council 21 Participated in Katyn

Remembrance Events Richard Poremski

Our Polish National Alliance was a very active in

the 17th Annual Katyn Remembrance here in Baltimore

on April 30, 2017 under the leadership of President

Maks Bondyra. The Krakowiaki Dancers looked

splendid in their folklore costumes and sang proudly

and very well during the national anthems of Poland

and the United States at the National Katyn Memorial

ceremonies in Harbor East. Officers June and Bud

Johns catered the reception and dinner at the PNA

Great Hall. Sister PNA Lodges from outside of

Baltimore were present at the days’ events that began

with a special mass at Holy Rosary Church. Richard

Poremski, Council 21’s V.P., also serves as the

Chairman of the National Katyn Memorial Foundation.

Key speakers at the Katyn Memorial Remembrance

were Mayor Catherine Pugh, Ambassador Piotr

Wilczek and Brigadier General Cezary Wisniewski.

Some of their remarks are as follows:

Mayor Pugh: “The Katyn Memorial has become a

great symbol for Baltimore City and a place to share

our memories and to never forget our past.”

Ambassador Wilczek: “The Katyn Memorial is a

symbol of our Polish history and a proud symbol of

Poland and Polish memory in Baltimore.”

BG Wisniewski: “The Katyn Forest Massacre has

served to make Poland’s military even stronger because

the victims of this genocide who were sacrificed on the

altar of freedom.”

At the PNA Great Hall, Ambassador Wilczek and

BG Wisniewski participated in a special candle lighting

ceremony honoring the 96 victims of the 2010

catastrophic Smolensk/Katyn air plane crash which

claimed the lives of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife

Maria, the Chiefs of the Armed Forces, esteemed

clergy, prominent government officials, eminent

members of the parliament, notable institutional leaders

and many honored citizens.

On this reflective spring Sunday all who perished

because of Katyn were commemorated … those in

April 1940 by the devious hand of Josef Stalin’s Soviet

Union … and more recently by the carious Hand of

Fate on April 10, 2010.

“Reflecting on Our Historic Past” From the Desk of VP Richard Poremski

~ Courtesy of Thomas Hollowak – Historyk Press ~

Part 3 – In Continuation: According to Osada, by 1905

Group 238 had 139 members and met at 419 South

Bond Street. The Society owned both Polish and

American banners costing $190.00. Their library

consisted of 150 volumes and there was $175.00 in the

treasury. The Group made the following donations

during the year: Schools - $45.00, Monuments - $10.00,

other National Purposes - $35.00, and Churches -

$90.00. The officers were: Ignacy W. Skrzynski –

President, Anastazy Simon – Vice President, Stanislaw

Wyczalek – Financial Secretary, Aleksander

Dolewcynzki – Recording Secretary, and Josef Kleis –

Treasurer.

1935 Polish National Alliance Convention Parade on Eastern

Avenue. Photo courtesy of Doyle Communications.

By 1905 there were six lodges in Baltimore and this

may have led to the city being selected by a vote of 116

to 105 over Milwaukee to host the National Convention

of the Polish National Alliance in 1907. On September

23, 1907 the Dziennik Chicagoski carried the following

front page headline: “XVII Congress of the Polish

National Alliance in Baltimore, Maryland.” Underneath

it listed the program for the first two days.

The newspaper report on the program and its events will be carried in

forthcoming Part 4.

Ambassador Piotr Wilczek flanked by Polish Scouts and Polish

Legion of American Veterans.

Jim Mislak Awarded High PNA Honor Richard Poremski

The successful surprise tribute remained so until the

very last second for an astonished James ‘Jim’ Mislak –

Past President of Polish National Alliance Council 21-

here on June 10, 2017. He was honored with the PNA’s

prestigious Silver Legion of Honor Award in

appreciation for his “Many Years of Dedicated Service

as a PNA Commissioner and Council 21 President.” It

augmented the Council 21 Recognition Plaque for his

“25 Years of Dedicated and Faithful Service as

President of Council 21, 1991 -2016,” during which Jim

also served as President of Lodge 238. Jim began his

PNA membership in 1987 during which time he was

elected as Lodge 238’s Financial Secretary for 8 years,

in addition to being an on-going Delegate.

PNA National Secretary Charles Komosa traveled

from the PNA national headquarters in Chicago to

personally present the award, co-signed by President

Frank J. Spula. Komosa recounted his years of

friendship and cooperation with Jim on many different

important issues. Council 21’s President Maksymilian

‘Maks’ Bondyra, and V.P. Richard Poremski, both

voiced many accolades in recounting Jim’s “dedicated

and faithful service” to the PNA.

In the main, it was much appreciated how Jim’s steady

hand was able to stabilize, and then gradually increase

over the years, the Council’s then-precarious finances.

Another major coup was Jim’s adroit maneuvering and

almost-miraculous success in preserving and improving

the Council’s massive 4-stories tall masonry building

for the benefit of the present and future PNA fraternity.

Eighty family members, friends and guests attended the

celebration and dinner in the Council’s Great Hall, with

much merriment and comradery, and danced the

afternoon and evening away to the music of the Lenny

Adam’s Polka Band.

The entire affair was a most fitting tribute to Jim – a

noted PNA luminary - who is a man that garners our

utmost gratitude and respect, being of unimpeachable

character and integrity … and to whom we salute with a

heartfelt “Sto Lat James E. Mislak”!

Polish Cinema Circle

The Polish Cinema Circle presents films about Poland

and “things Polish” the 3rd Saturday of each month

from 2 - 5PM. Adam Mazurek, Polish film buff

/culture expert, is your host. Coming films in the series:

June 17 - The Pianist

July 15 - A Flame To The Phoenix

August 19 - The Battle of Warsaw 1920

September 23 - Jack Strong

October 21 - Kosciuszko at Raclawice

November 18 - Katyn

December 16 - Taras Bulba

Most films are in English. There is no charge, but

donations to the library are welcome. We provide the

popcorn. Bring your own beverage. After viewing the

film, retire to the PNA Lounge for Polish libations and

lively discussion. Contact Adam at (410-925-9684) or

via email (uhlanmaz@verizon.net) for more details.

Jim Mislak is presented with PNA’s prestigious Silver Legion of

Honor Award by PNA National Secretary Charles Komosa.

Left to right, Council 21 President Maks Bondyra, PNA National

Secretary Charles Komosa, Jim Mislak and Vice President

Richard Poremski.

PNA’s Polish Language Class

Polish language classes will resume in

late September at PNA. Both

beginners and advanced classes will

be available taught by Polish

language expert and folk dancer,

Agnieszka Krajewska. Watch for

more details in the fall edition of the newsletter. And for

continuing Polish language students, practice, practice,

practice!

PNA’s Polish Cooking Classes

For the last spring class, Tom Grobicki led the class in

making a tort orzechowy/walnut torte and a

chlodnik/cold red beet soup (ideal to serve on those

steamy Baltimore summer days).

Agnieszka Krajewska mans the Kitchen Aid with students look on.

An appreciation brunch was held on Sunday, June 4,

2017, by the Polish cooking class committee for our

demonstrators, PNA Council 21 officers and staff. New

and exciting Fall 2017 cooking class schedule will be

available on Polish National Alliance Council 21

website, pnacouncil21.com in early August 2017.

PHA Book Club Fun and Enlightening

Paul Binkowski

I always thought of book clubs as rather docile groups

of people dominated by ladies in red hats. Not much

fun. But if their June 10th meeting is typical, I don’t

want to ever miss a PHA Book Club meeting.

On Saturday June 10th, the PHA Book Club met to

discuss Joseph Conrad’s "Prince Roman". After a

lively and informative discussion, Dr. Strohecker

declared a celebration of St. John's Eve. (For those not

in the know, St. John’s Eve commemorates the birth of

John the Baptist. And, yeah, it is supposed to take place

on June 24th. But what’s few weeks.) Babas were passed

out with candles alight. Club members joined in reading

aloud a poem of St. John’s Eve. Then, they started

dancing around the tables. Some book club meeting!

Participants at the June 10th PHA Book Club Meeting. From the

looks of it, they had quite a party. Photo courtesy of Aleks Rodhe.

All jesting aside, Poland has a fabulous literary

tradition that deserves to be studied and savored. PHA

Book Club meetings can be fun as well as enlightening.

Why not join the fun?

The next PHA Book Club Meeting will be September

16, 2017, the birthdays of Polish composers Joseph

Nowakowski and Czeslaw Marek. (Wonder if there will

be a party?)

The Polish Heritage Association Book Club welcomes

new members, whether or not you are a member of the

PHA. The Club meets in the Henryk Sienkiewicz

Library of the Polish National Alliance, 1627 Eastern

Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21231. For information on

book selections, please contact Jean Pula

at jppula@gmail.com or call 410-370-2644. Ask to be

added to our e-mail list! Also, we post new information

on the PHA Facebook page.

Agnieszka Krajewska

Students at the May 6th cooking class.

Polish Legion of American Veterans

The PLAV – Maryland Division meets on the 3rd

Thursday of the month – at the PNA Building, 7 PM,

and adjourns for the months of July and August. Any

armed services person – active or retired – is welcomed

to join; and you don’t have to be “Polish.” Associate

and Junior Members are also available to join in with

us. For more information please email Commander

Steve Wojciechowski at wojobam@gmail.com.

PNA Council 21 officers June Johns and Richard Poremski

celebrate their June birthdays at the PNA lounge. Sto Lat to both

of you.

PNA Polonia Lounge Now Serving Food

It’s been a long day. You head on down to the PNA

Polonia Lounge to relax. As you sip your Perła, you

think boy a kielbasa sandwich or some gołąbki would

just hit the spot right now. But darn the Lounge doesn’t

serve food.

Well, praise the Lord and Hallelujah!!! The PNA

Polonia Lounge now serves food. As you ponder the

world or watch the Orioles while savoring a shot of

Krupnik, you can enjoy pierogis, gołąbki, kielbasa,

hamburgers, french fries or a luscious Philly

cheesesteak. The Polonia Lounge, your home away

from home, is more like home than ever.

Even better, the Polonia Lounge has expanded their

hours. Our new hours are Wednesday-Saturday 3pm-

till close. All year round. No summer closing.

Bring the whole family, even your crazy cousin Lefty,

and enjoy Polish food, drink and fellowship. See ya

there soon.

Dominika Bondyra, delegate of Lodge 238, is one of 9

Polish Heritage Association of MD scholarship

recipients for 2017-2018 Academic Year. Dominika

Bondyra was awarded the Polish Heritage Association's

"Anthony & Mary Poremski Memorial Scholarship."

Dominika is a recent graduate of Perry Hall High

School in Baltimore County. In the fall, she will

study Computer Science, possibly concentrate on cyber

security at the University of Maryland Baltimore

County.

Congratulations and good luck!!!

Baltimore’s Own General Edward Rowny

Celebrates 100th Birthday Richard Poremski

It was 100 years and 1 day in the life of

General/Ambassador Edward L. Rowny (ret.) here at

the residence of the ambassador on April 4, 2017.

Ambassador Piotr Wilczek organized a birthday

celebration to mark the auspicious occasion. Among the

invitees were Rowny’s extended family, many friends

and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, the Co-Chair of the

Congressional Poland Caucus.

In his welcoming address, Ambassador Wilczek

noted Rowny’s incredible accomplishments and many

contributions to Poland, especially in critical moments

such as Poland’s entry into NATO. The Ambassador

also recalled Rowny’s critical influence on U.S.

national security policy, especially in relations with the

Soviet Union regarding nuclear arms reduction

negotiations and treaties.

General/Ambassador Edward Rowny is applauded by Ambassador

Piotr Wilczek and attendees after being awarded the Grand Cross

of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his incredible

accomplishments and contributions to Poland and American

Polonia.

Edward Rowny was born in Baltimore, Maryland on

April 3, 1917. His family’s Polish beginnings are rooted

in Nagoszewa, near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Poland.

Rowny had a very successful military career in the U.S.

Army after graduating in 1941 from the USMA at West

Point. He retired in 1979 with the rank of Lieutenant

General. His military service included World War II,

the Korean and Vietnam wars, and as a military advisor

to five U.S. presidential administrations: Nixon, Ford,

Carter, Reagan and Bush senior. In 1982 President

Ronald Reagan appointed Rowny chief negotiator, with

the rank of U.S. Ambassador to negotiate the Strategic

Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with the Soviet

Union. Subsequently, he became special advisor for

arms control in the Reagan and Bush administrations

until his retirement in 1990.

Rowny is credited with strengthening relations

between Poland and the U.S.A., establishing the

Paderewski Scholarship Fund to support young Polish

American musicians, and establishing the influential

Polish American Advisory Council. He said that he

attained a crowning achievement in 1992 when he

fulfilled a fifty-years ambition to return the remains of

diplomat, statesman and patriot extraordinaire Premier

Ignacy Jan Paderewski from Arlington National

Cemetery to the now-democratic Republic of Poland –

where Paderewski received the full pomp and

circumstance of a state funeral. Paderewski was

stranded in the U.S. with the eruption of World War II

and died here on June 29, 1941 in New York City. It

was not possible to repatriate Paderewski’s remains to

Poland during the bitter and acrimonious communist

domination of Poland (1945-1989) by the Soviet Union

following WW II.

To top off the evening’s festivities a very special

tribute - sponsored by the Polish Ministry of Foreign

Affairs - was paid to Rowny with the premier screening

of “Ambassador of Peace” by director Wieslaw

Dabrowski. The fascinating documentary chronicled the

life of Rowny from his humble Baltimore beginnings to

his rise to the highest circles in his military and

diplomatic careers, and other subsequent remarkable

achievements contained therein, including authorship of

three relevant books: “It Takes One to Tango,”

“Smokey Joe and the General,” and “West Point ’41 –

The Class that Went to War and Shaped America.”

As he enters the second century of his life, it is only

fitting that the sobriquet “Renaissance Man” also be

applied to General/Ambassador Edward L. Rowny as

he has proven most worthy of it in all respects.

Members of our Council: Maks and Malgorzata

Bondyra, Melissa Kalinowski and Agnieszka Krajewski

who are long time dancers of Ojczyzna Polish Dancers,

Inc. are going to perform with their group at the World

Festival of Polonia Folk Groups this July in Rzeszow,

Poland. 19 members along with over 80 costumes soon

will travel to spend a week with other groups from all

over the world.

To defray the cost of travel and costume transportation,

Ojczyzna runs a fundraiser. The group is a non- profit

501(c) (3) organization, and your donations are tax

deductible. If you wish to donate, please send your

check to: Ojczyzna Polish Dancers, Inc. C/O

Malgorzata Bondyra Managing Director 8735A Gerst

Ave Perry Hall, MD 21128 Thank you very much for

your consideration.

Fraternal Membership

Dear Members,

If one were planning to leave a loved one or an

organization some funds, there is no safer way than life

insurance to accomplish this purpose. Here, at the

Polish National Alliance, we offer many plans to fit

your budget. One of them is a Single Premium Plan

where with just one low payment you are provided with

lifetime benefits and fraternal programs. To learn more

about other offers or to sign up a new member, please

contact me at 410-458-1938 or send me an email at

skrzypek1975@yahoo.com

Fraternally yours,

Malgorzata Bondyra

Maryland Sales Representative

Drodzy Członkowie,

Związek Narodowy Polski oferuje plany

ubezpieczeniowe na życie, na każdą kieszeń. Jednym z

nich jest jednorazowa opłata (SPWL), która zapewni

państwu pełne ubezpieczenie na całe życie oraz da

możliwość udziału w dodatkowych programach

oferowanych przez nasz związek, takich jak konkurs

fotograficzny, konkurs kolorowania dla dzieci czy też

stypendia dla studentow uczelni wyższych, bez

ponoszenia dodatkowych kosztów. Po więcej

informacji na temat planów i działalności naszego

związku proszę o bezpośredni kontakt ze mną pod

numerem tel. 410-458-1938 lub poprzez wysłanie

emaila na skrzypek1975@yahoo.com

Małgorzata Bondyra

Dział Sprzedaży w MD

Wiadomości Związkowe via Email

To receive future editions of PNA Council 21’s

Wiadomości Związkowe newsletter via smart phone or

computer, send an email to l.janowski@verizon.net.

Polish National Alliance

2017 Annual Photo Contest

“My Everyday Hero”

2017 is the Year of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. His

extraordinary life and a quest for freedom and

democracy made him a true national hero in Poland,

and in the United States.

Not all heroes have to be soldiers. Some heroes are

ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others.

Some are working diligently for the community, same

sacrifice for the family. Look around, perhaps you can

find and everyday hero near you? Take a photo, make

him or her known. For more details visit pna-znp.org

Your Humble Staff

Your staff for this edition has been Paul Binkowski,

Lawrence Janowski, & Richard Poremski. Thank you

for letting us serve you, the Reader. BY ALL MEANS,

SHARE THIS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Polish Events Calendar

June 24th– Wianki Festival in front of Lincoln Memorial in DC- 6 pm.

July 8th - Polish Dyskoteka at PNA Polonia Lounge - 8pm

July 15th- PNA’s Polish Cinema Circle shows the film "A Flame To The Phoenix ".

Film is in English. 2pm at PNA’s Henryk Sienkiewicz Polonia Library. Free

admission. Call Adam Mazurek for details- 410-925-9684.

August 18, 19, 20 - Krakowiaki/PNA camping trip at Secret passage ranch. Fort

Valley VA

August 19th - PNA’s Polish Cinema Circle shows the film "The Battle of Warsaw

1920". Film is in English. 2pm at PNA’s Henryk Sienkiewicz Polonia Library. Free

admission. Call Adam Mazurek for details- 410-925-9684.

Sep 2,3,4 & Sep 9,10 - Polish-American Family Festival & Country Fair, National

Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA.

Sep 16, 17 - Polish Festival at Holy Rosary Church in Baltimore.

Sep 23rd - PNA’s Polish Cinema Circle shows the film "Jack Strong". Film is in

English. 2pm at PNA’s Henryk Sienkiewicz Polonia Library. Free admission. Call

Adam Mazurek for details- 410-925-9684.