Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Proclaiming October 2013 as Polish-American Heritage Month in the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, the Polish Heritage Club of Wisconsin, Inc. - Madison Group has been in existence since 1979 with a goal of encouraging Polish cultural, social, educational, and artistic values; and,
WHEREAS, the club has promoted and sponsored the UW Madison Film Festival, the Children Museum's educational programs for young children, the Overture Center's International Fest, Klezma4 and Fontini Akord concerts, living history presentations such as Mania, the Living History of Marie Curie and Poles in the Civil War (with emphasis on General Wlodziemier Krrzanowski), Taste of Wisconsin with Susan Gibson Mykos and participates in Madison area schools reaching hundreds of children by demonstrating Polish crafts and culture; and,
WHEREAS, the club works with the UW-Madison Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA) and local, state and national organizations to promote Polish interests and many and early contributions of Polish people to the prosperity of our country; and,
WHEREAS, early Polish contributions include Jamestown Polish settlers (artisan glassmakers and metal smiths), Count General Casimir Pulaski, regarded as the father of American cavalry, General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, recognized as the father of American military engineering, artillery, and is credited with the founding of West Point, General Wlodziemier Krzyżanowski who led a counterattack on July 2 on Cemetery Hill during the three day battle in Gettysburg that helped stabilize the faltering Union line, Frederic Chopin who created some of the most beautiful music for the world to enjoy, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, virtuoso pianist, composer, politician, the first Prime Minister of independent Poland after World War, Nobel prize winners in science, literature and poetry: Marie Curie, Walther H. Nernst, Andrew Schally, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Wladyslaw Reymont, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Czeslaw Milosz, Wislawa Szymborska and moral and labor leaders like Pope John Paul the Second and Lech Walesa; and,
WHEREAS, today, there are over ten million people of Polish heritage in United States who continue to enrich the lives of all people and the Polish Heritage Club strives to continue this effort in promoting educational and cultural events for the community; and,
WHEREAS, the Polish Heritage Club of Wisconsin is celebrating its 34th anniversary,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison, Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim October 2013 as POLISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH in the City of Madison and encourage all residents to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of Poles and Polish-Americans to the city, state, nation, and world.