American Council for Polish Culture Annual Convention

September 21-24, 2021

[President's Picture]

(l. to r.) Cecilia Glembocki, Adam Krzywosadzki Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the Republic of Poland
in the United States, and Ray Glembocki, President ACPC

ACPC Convention marks Polish-American accomplishments past and present

by Mark Dillon, 1st VP of the American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC)

Washington, DC - Reuniting in person for the first time in two years, delegates to the American Council for Polish Culture's convention last week affirmed the national organization's commitment to bring together Polonia through shared cultural experiences. In his first live public speech as Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the United States, Adam Krzywosadzki opened the three-day Sept. 22-24 convention by expressing gratitude to ACPC and urging Poles of all generations to promote a greater understanding of Polish heritage and history with passion and zeal.

"Your continuing work and commitment demonstrates the kind of responsibility that all Poles should embrace with their hearts and minds," Krzywosadzki said. "Thank you for promoting Polish history, from telling the story of the first Polish settlers in the U.S., to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw last year."

The 2021 convention was hosted by the Washington, DC-based Polish American Arts Association and held at the Arts Club of Washington, which was also a home of former U.S. President James Monroe. Delegates gathered from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Texas, Maryland and New Jersey.

Activities included a live evening concert by Polish soprano Magdalena Kuzma, winner of the 2021 Marcella Kochanska Sembrich Vocal Competition, an annual contest that this year also marks its 50th anniversary. A second concert at the Arts Club featured former contest winners.

[Kuzma Picture]

 [Kuzma Picture]

Prepared by Mark Dillon

[Kuzma Picture]

 [Kuzma Picture]

Magdalena Kuzma

[Kuzma Picture]

 [Kuzma Picture]

Laura Kafka Price

Convention presentations included a virtual tour of a new $14 million, 16,000 sq. ft Polish Heritage Center museum and research complex that opens next month in Panna Maria, Texas; a discussion of Polish culture within Washington led by Piotr Gajewski, Music Director of the National Philharmonic and a lecture on singing in Polish delivered by Polish-American soprano and educator Laura Kafka-Price, recipient of one of two ACPC Cultural Achievement Awards.

ACPC also held officer elections and re-elected Raymond Glembocki of Virginia to a second term as President, and elected Mark Dillon of Minnesota as 1st Vice President, Lilia Kieltyka of Connecticut as 2nd Vice President. Thomas Payne of Virginia and Marcia Lewandowski of Michigan were reelected as Treasurer and Recording Secretary, respectively.

Further details about and photos of award winners, convention resolutions passed by delegates and Committee elections results and committee appointments can be found at the links given below:

Photographs from the convention (Celia Larkin) [Arrow Picture >]

Resolutions from the convention [Arrow Picture >]


[Tiffany Picture]

(l. to r.) Cecilia and Ray Gembocki, Tiffany Loomis, and ________

[Kuzma Picture]

Swearing-in Ceremony at the University Club of Washington in the Pres. William Howard Taft Room