NEWS FROM LODGE 3149
IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

Fort Wayne, Indiana - White Eagle Lodge 3149 has been establishing ties within Fort Wayne and the immediate area over the past course of the year. The lodge has financially assisted ten 4-H students (thru the local Rural Youth Program) to go to Poland to study and take in and share their agricultural experiences. The 4-H Polish Exchange Program, headed by Barb Thuma and Lee Standish, was designed to provide the exchange students with an overview and understanding of our country, its people, agriculture, economy, geography, natural resources, history, and cultural history. The students in the program are to live and work with a host family on their farm for one month.

Barb Crick spearheaded the lodges' involvement with the Rural Youth Development Department at Purdue University's Extension Office. A group of young people came from Poland on an exchange type basis and our lodge provided some entertainment which included picnic, outing, a semi-pro baseball game and a day at the Fort Wayne's well known Children's Zoo. This latter connection resulted in member Joyce Pacer arranging for Zoo curator Mark Weldon to come and speak at one of our lodge meetings about a mutual point of interest on the subject of the White Storks and their habitats in Poland.

The lodge has also established a working relationship with Marietta Wolczacka Fry, a graduate assistant of International Student Services at Indiana University of Purdue Fort Wayne. Marietta, who was born in Poland also teaches English at the University and has been supportive of the lodge on behalf of IPFW.

Thru a combined effort, we held our first Polish Independence Day celebration on November 12, 2006 in IPFW's Walb Union Ballroom. This included appropriate Polish decoration, a program of National Anthems of Poland and America, a presentation by Mrs. Wolczacka-Fry on Polish-Independence which included Poland's history, struggles, quests, and eventual solidarity triumph. Ela Baranowska demonstrated and involved the guests in performing the Polonez Dance which much favorable by the students and community in attendance. Pianist Kenneth X. Jiang played some Chopin selections.

The program included a presentation by the 4-H Rural Youth Program's visit to Poland, Sana Szewczyk recitation of "Rosy Polska" and Ela Szubiak narration of "Inwokacja Pan Tadeusz". Polish dishes and pastries were enjoyed by all in the spirit of fellowship. The program closed with the singing of "Zeby Polska byla Polska" ("Let Poland Be Poland").

On December 10th, 2006, our lodge held a Wigilia Dinner. Marietta Wolczacka Fry assisted our lodge to facilitate and to put in order the event. Joyce Pacer, Jean Podzielinski, and Phyllis Murphy coordinated the meal preparations. The dinner which included our traditional customs, included our White Eagle Lodge Members, PNA National Director Steve Tokarski, IPFW associates and colleagues, Fort Wayne Sister City Representatives, and PNA District 15 Commissioners Irene Wroblewski and Joseph Samreta. After the meal, Director Tokarski addressed those present and presented tokens of appreciation to two of the Lodge 3149 remaining charter members, Francis Samreta and Frances Paliczeroski Brown.

Article and photos submitted by: Jeff Wilenski, President Lodge 3149

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