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PNA SUMMER
YOUTH COURSE
Orchard Lake, Michigan - During the week of
July 18, 2009, 160 youth from eight states came with chaperones
to learn about their Polish Heritage. They studied Polish
History, learned traditional songs, dances and age old crafts.
This summer program sponsored by the Polish National Alliance
was a great success by every measure. Present and past Orchard
Lake Schools Chancellors, Father Timothy Whalen and Msgr.
Milewski were there to greet us and support us all week at Mass,
in the classrooms and at the gymnasium. It was an action packed
week during which the enthusiasm and politeness of these young
people shined brightly in Dancing, singing, Polish Arts and
History, playing various sports, swimming in the beautiful
Orchard Lake, or relaxing at disco and ice cream socials. What a
great way to prepare our youth for leadership roles in the PNA.
A national program of this magnitude would
not be possible without the strong support of leaders like
Directors Art Trybek, who served again as the on site
coordinator along with Directors Anna Wierzbicki (Program
Nurse), Bernadette Zubel (Counselor), Treasurer Marian
Grabowski, Director Barbara Martin, who served as Chair of the
evening activities, Commissioner of District 10 Gloria Platek
and members of District 10 who helped and volunteered in all the
evening events. A heartfelt thanks to you all.
The entire program, under a watchful eye of
Vice President Teresa Abick, was as always ably coordinated by
Mrs. Mary Srodon, along with Mrs. Wanda Penar, also from the
Educational Department who coordinated the materials the
instructors used to teach. Because the emphasis of this Summer
Youth Program is on education, we are most grateful to dedicated
instructors who labored with great love to pass on to these
young people the values and richness of our Polish Heritage.
Thank you Mrs. Anna Kokoszka and Mr. Mariusz Szajnert for
sharing your love of Polish History and Culture; Mrs. Dorota
Suchocka and Mrs. Bozena Jedlinska for teaching us the beautiful
rhythms of Polish music and songs; Mr. Robert Slizewski (from
Poland) and Tomasz Kielar for teaching us the power and majesty
of Polish Dance; Mrs. Sherry Cauchon and Mrs. Wendy Chrobak for
revealing the mystery of palm weaving; and Mr. Marian Grabowski
for keeping us fit through all his sports activities.
We acknowledge all participants for singing the National
Anthems, Reading in Church, Flag Bearers and Gift Bearers
namely: Kasia Kozikowski, Christine Wallag, Alex Krasuski, James
Most, Derek Hausz, Marley Sadowicz and Audrey Sadowicz.
A Thank You is extended to all the Counselors who helped and
cared for the safety of our participants. With their efforts
this course was a huge success, They are Christine Berryman,
Elzbieta Chalupniczak, Malgorzata Chibowska, Sheila Czapiewski,
Aleksandra Dudek, Emma Dus, Wanda Juda, Agnieszka Kaminski,
Michelle Kisluk, Emily Kreutzer, Laura Sobien, Ewa Sacha,
Romuald Wojtach, Alexandra Wolczynska, Debbie Zanon. Bernadette
Zubel, Emily Bohr, Andrea Dudek, Alan Platek, and Tom Tabin.
We are also grateful for the personal support of special
visitors who came to participate in the Program Performance
Finale on Saturday morning: PNA Director Joseph Kaminski, with
wife Marlene, PNA Director Allan Szuflada, with wife Diane, and
Commissioner Edward Nizienski with wife Francine.
The course came to a end with a beautiful program which included
all the things the participants learned during the week.
"Thank You and Dziekuje to all who helped make this 2009 Youth
Course a huge success. Teresa N. Abick
Vice President, PNA
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