Welcome to Gdansk, home to Solidarnosc and Lech Walesa! It is indeed an honor and a privilege to serve as the President of the American Council for Polish Culture. I offer my thanks to all the Executive Committee, Officers, Directors, Committee Chairs and members for your continued dedication and support of the American Council for Polish Culture.

Success Stories
Two, long-term projects were concluded since our last convention. Following our 57th convention, hosted by the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia, delegates traveled to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA, for the dedication of the Jan Henryk de Rosen Memorial Cenotaph, which project was so ably chaired by Mary Flanagan. And, on Sunday, October 9, the City of Savannah together with ACPC, reinterred Brigadier General Kazimierz Pulaski, in a separate crypt in Monterey Square just in front of the Pulaski Monument. In September, Henry and I traveled to Gdansk to lay the groundwork for our 58th annual convention. Little did we know, it would be Henry’s last trip to Poland.

Thanks to the generosity of Conrad Walas, the Pulaski Scholarship Committee, chaired by Marion Winters, has awarded five, $5,000 scholarships to worthy applicants pursuing advanced degrees. The generosity of the Louis and Nellie Skalny Foundation has permitted the Skalny Scholarship Committee, chaired by Mary Kosinski, to award three, $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing Polish Studies. At the time of writing this report, the Skalny Scholarship deadline has been extended to May 31, 2006. Through our ACPC Scholarship program, we are able send a Polish-American student to experience Poland.

Aided by the Kosciuszko Foundation, PIASA, the American Center of Polish Culture, the American Institute of Polish Culture of Miami, the Council continues to educate social studies teachers concerning our rich cultural heritage, the accomplishments of Poles and Polish-Americans and their contributions to the world, through its participation in the National Conference of Social Studies. The 2006 Conference, held in Washington, DC, afforded ACPC the opportunity to present little-known facts regarding the first Poles in Jamestown.

The fundraising project to publish the book, The Fate of the Lubomirski Durers, capably chaired by Ted Mirecki, continues to reap positive benefits for the Ossolineum and the Polish Government. Several U.S. Museums have confirmed possession of the Durer drawings in question, as well as other looted Polish art.

We agreed to postpone our Youth Leadership Conference to 2007 so as not to conflict with the Poland in the Rockies program taking place this year.

ACPC has been invited to return to the board of the American Center of Polish Culture in Washington, DC, to be represented by one Director of the Center’s choosing. We have expressed a desire to have a presence on the Center Board, but with representation befitting the founders and more in keeping with the original constitution and by-laws. That proposal has been rejected by the Center Board.

We continue to be represented at the Polish American Congress National Council of Directors. Vivian Walkosz was appointed to represent us after my election to PAC Vice-President for Cultural Activities.

Through the efforts of Publicity Chair, Jo Louise Winters, our Webmasters, Peter Obst and Ted Mirecki; Polish Heritage Editors, Mary and Bob Flanagan, and membership Chair, Anna Mae Maglaty, we are making great progress in revealing the “ACPC secret”. ACPC has been the recipient of a substantial bequest from the estate of the late Rose Anderson. We remember Rose fondly and are grateful to her family.

I encourage our affiliates, supporting organizations and individual members to spread the word. Whenever and wherever possible, promote the Council and its mission; advertise that you are members and encourage others to join. Give a membership in your affiliate to your scholarship award recipients as well as to those recipients of ACPC scholarship awards. Membership in an affiliate not only enriches the affiliate, but ensures automatic membership in the American Council for Polish Culture. It’s a win/win situation.

In summary, we have had a good year, thanks to all of you, but we cannot rest on our laurels and past accomplishments. If we are to continue successfully, we must grow and encourage others to join our ranks. For my part, I remain willing, as far as my schedule and budget will stretch to travel to your respective affiliates to meet with you and to learn from you. Once again, I thank you for all you do to make the American Council for Polish Culture the great organization that it is. I thank you all for your messages of support, encouragement and condolence on the passing of my best buddy, Henry. Your prayers and many kindnesses helped me to know that I wasn’t alone during this most difficult time. May Henry rest in peace.