The Association was founded to cultivate, enhance, and promote the understanding of the Polish language, culture, and arts; to project the accurate and true image of the Polish American; to promote more cordial and cooperative relations among the members and the community at large; to be a non-sectarian, non-partisan, and non-sectional organization embracing south-central Pennsylvania.
Tony Topolski and Charles Pliszka the founders.                                                                               Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1975

  

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December 10 – Wigilia
Linglestown Fire Hall

December 31 – New Year’s Eve/St. Sylvester’s Dance

 

 

 

  

November Newsletter click here

President’s Message

Dear Friends,

Can you believe that we are coming to the end of year 2011? The older I get the quicker time goes by and I seem to be playing catch up all the time. I don’t know about you but I need to slow down and simplify my life.

It was lovely to see some of you at Allen Theater in October as we celebrated Polish-American Heritage Month with the movie, Nine Days That Changed the World, about Bl. John Paul II’s first visit to Poland after he became Pope. It was an emotional evening recalling the impact of his life on Poland and the world. We had a good time, and I am grateful for your support of this event.

Our Polish American Association has one more big event on the calendar for this year – WIGILIA on December 10th. Since this event starts our new membership year we need to make sure to pay our dues on time to enjoy our wonderful feast of traditional foods.
Mark your calendars, bring your traditional dishes to share with others, invite some of your friends and, hopefully, we will see you all there.

One more item of business, please note that this will be my last year as President. It’s time for me to retire and allow another member’s creativity to shine. I am excited to see that the new Board is already making a difference. We need your help to make the Association even stronger. Please volunteer your time and share your ideas as we transition to our new leadership. We are in need of a talented computer-savvy person to take over management and further development of our website. We just said good-bye to Halina and Dr. Wojtek Wyczalkowski, who are now enjoying their retirement in St. Augustine, Florida. Earlier this year we also “lost” Jurek & Lena Wrzos, who also retired to the same town. Both families were very active and loyal members of the association. Lena & Wojtek served for years on the board. Thanks Guys! We miss you already.

Mrs. Danuta Shaffer, who moved to a nursing home in Arizona, sends her love to all of you. We have been talking on the phone regularly for the last few months. She just had successful gall bladder surgery and is recovering nicely. She misses her friends in our area, but loves her precious time with her daughter Anna.

Most American families are now beginning plans for Thanksgiving. In Poland, Poles just celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls Day. These are important holidays in Polish culture, and many Poles travel home to be with family and friends to celebrate the lives of their deceased family members and friends. They visit cemeteries, burn candles, and pray for them. These are somber days filled with bittersweet memories of loved ones. I asked my sister, during our phone conversation, if she noticed any difference in Polish cemeteries due to the crisis in the world economy. She replied, very quickly, “Absolutely not, the graves were as beautifully decorated as ever, covered with gorgeous flower arrangements and hundreds of candles.” Tradition won out over saving money for a rainy day!

I want to be home in Poland so badly during every holiday season, but that was not to be this year….

Please come to Wigilia! Let’s bring some cheer to our troubled world as we await the Christmas Holidays.

Agata Czopek