2024 Convention

2024 Convention, August 7 – 10, Chicago, IL

The Achievements of Post-Solidarity Emigrants

by Peter Obst, President, Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia
Performance by the young violinists of the Wieniawski Strings

The 2024 American Council for Polish Culture annual convention took place under the theme Achievements of Post-Solidarity Emigrants. It was hosted by the Chicago Chopin Society with President Jarosław Gołembiowski chairing the convention committee, assisted by members Barbara Rybinska, Andrzej Urbaniak, Barbara Lemecha, Ewa Labowicz, Jessica Jagielnik, and Waldemar Niklinski. Delegates and guests met at the Academy of Music of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra (PaSO), a very performance-friendly space. Jarosław delivered welcoming remarks, followed by Frank Spula, President of the Polish National Alliance and Polish American Congress who delivered the keynote address. Donald Pasek, President of the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce extended greetings from Chicago’s Polonia. Father Sebastian Zebrowski of St. John Brebeuf Church in Niles, Illinois, led the opening prayer. Presentation of colors was conducted by the Polish National Shooting Sports Federation, followed by singing of the Polish and US national anthems.

Banquet photo – l. to r.) John Cebrowski, Jackie Kolowski, Olek Skrypczuk, Rose Kobylinski, Stasia Skrypczuk, Jan Lorys, Cecilia Larkin, ACPC president, Richard Larkin, Margaret Butler, Greg Butler, Eve Szczepanski, Ryszard Poremski, Tom Payne

ACPC President Cecilia Larkin thanked PaSO Director Barbara Bilszta and Conductor Wojciech Niewrzoł for their hospitality and use of their facility. Calling attention to the Achievements theme, she pointed out that both the Chicago Chopin Society and PaSO fit the theme marvelously, as did the presence of the Chicago Arts Club and the Polish Museum of America.

John Cebrowski conducted an on-screen tour of the newly revamped ACPC website. The website was developed by Edyta Dudek, Celia Larkin, and John. The website address remains the same: https://polishcultureacpc.org/. In a separate report on membership, John announced that eight organizations joined the ACPC during the past year, bringing organization membership to 40 nationwide, a new high.

Mark Szpak, President of the Polish Cultural Foundation of Boston, will lead the operation of ACPC’s exhibition booth, “Polish Perspectives” at the annual National Conference for the Social Studies (NCSS) in Boston, November 22 – 24. This long-term ACPC project commitment distributes teaching materials about Poland and American Polonia to social studies teachers.

ACPC Convention Participants in front of the PaSO Hall

Richard Pine, President of the Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA) made a presentation on the PGSA and the utilization of its website. Jarosław Gołembiowski gave a talk titled: Achievements of Post Solidarity Emigrants – 20th Anniversary of the Chicago Chopin Society, illustrated by photographs depicting its establishment and growth. Mark Pienkos, 1st Vice President of the Polish American Congress spoke about available PAC resources to further America’s knowledge of achievements by Poles and Polish-Americans, and he provided info on the Polish American Association of Sarasota, Florida, a new member of the ACPC.

Several musical performances were highlights. These included a concert by the PaSO’s young “Wieniawski Strings” violinists, accompanied by PaSO student pianist Youssef El Yakine. They were followed by a trio of pianists, Maksymilian Szymanski, Juliusz Bobek, and Michał Drewnowski.

On Friday evening, convention participants and members of the Chicago-area Polish community attended the annual ACPC Awards Banquet which honored individuals who made significant contributions to ACPC and to Polish culture. Those honored included::

Lifetime Achievement Award

Tadeusz Mirecki

Distinguished Service Award
Jessica Jagielnik
Geraldine Balut Coleman

Cultural Achievement Award
Barbara Bilszta
Wojciech Niewrzoł

On Saturday, Marcella Kochańska Sembrich Vocal Competition winner, soprano Grace Tauhill rendered a fitting convention climax…an exceptional, riveting performance, accompanied by Dana Brown on piano.

Sembrich Vocalist.jpg (l. to r.) Jarosław Golembiowski, Grace Tauhill, Sembrich Competition Winner, Cecillia and Richard Larkin

Robert Fronckowiak, President of the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo extended an invitation to everyone to join his club in celebrating its 80th anniversary at the ACPC’s 77th Convention in Buffalo on July 30 – August 2, 2025.