[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1382-E1383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




POLISH WOMEN'S CLUB OF THREE RIVERS, MASSACHUSETTS CELEBRATES ITS 75TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 1999

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 27th, 1999, 
the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers, Massachusetts will celebrate 
its 75th anniversary.
  Having the distinct pleasure of representing this community in the 
Congress, I take this opportunity to publicly congratulate the club's 
members on their 75 years of dedication and good work to their 
community. This anniversary is indeed a milestone; an achievement in 
which they should be proud.
  I also take this opportunity to enter into the Congressional Record 
today the complete history of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers. 
May the many years of service and good work of the club forever be 
remembered as a part of our nation's history.

Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers, Three Rivers, Massachusetts, 1924-
                             1999--History

       On February 24, 1924, the Polish American Women's Citizens 
     Political Club of Three Rivers and Thorndike was formed. 
     There were 59 charter members. On March 30, 1924, Miss Anna 
     Rusek became the first president.
       The purpose was:
       1. To encourage women to become citizens and assist them in 
     procuring citizenship papers by teaching them English and 
     related subjects.
       2. Take active part in politics and get proper recognition 
     and positions on local, state, and federal level.
       3. Support businesses owned by people of Polish extraction.
       In 1933 we joined the Massachusetts Federation of Polish 
     Women's Clubs, Inc. This affiliation enables us to further 
     foster our Polish culture and we have gained much through the 
     years in this association. We have hosted their conventions 
     in 1952, 1969, 1979, 1984, and 1989. Our activities within 
     the framework of the Federation includes District V which 
     comprises the Western Massachusetts area. We are very 
     actively and continuously involved in holding various offices 
     and directing the activities of this unit.
       On October 20, 1958, our name changed to the Polish Women's 
     Club of Three Rivers. Our constitution was revised to foster 
     our ethnic culture, encourage higher education, and exchange 
     cultural ideals. This remains our purpose to this day.
       On May 8, 1949, we observed our twenty-fifth anniversary; 
     on April 27, 1974, our fiftieth; on October 27, 1979, our 
     fifty-fifth; on October 27, 1984, our sixtieth; on October 
     28, 1989, our sixty-fifth; on October 22, 1994, our 70th, and 
     on June 27, 1999, our 75th.
       We also have held or still hold memberships in the United 
     Polish American Organizations Council--Township of Palmer, 
     Polish American Congress, and The Kosciuszko Foundation.
       Monetary contributions have been made to numerous 
     organizations, such as The Blind Children of Poland; Child's 
     Wish Come True, Inc.; Kosciuszko Foundation Renovation Fund, 
     Palmer Ambulance Service Inc.; Palmer Library; Polish 
     American Congress for the Polish Room, Museum of Immigration 
     at Ellis Island; Pope John Paul II's Guest House in Rome and 
     Endowment Fund; Pope John Paul II Cultural Center--
     Washington, D.C., Saints Peter and Paul Church; Support of 
     Solidarity in Poland; United Polish American Organizations 
     Council--Township of Palmer; and Literacy Volunteers of 
     America of Quaboag Valley.
       Observance of our 50th, 60th, 65th, and 70th anniversaries 
     and the history of our club have been entered into the 
     Congressional Record of the United States of America.
       We contribute our time, talents, and money to various 
     worthwhile projects and causes in a very positive manner. 
     Again, these are too numerous to mention.
       We have been able to develop and promote our Polish 
     culture, receive scholarship grants for our daughters and 
     members; have or children of Western Massachusetts take part 
     in the statewide essay contests sponsored by the Federation; 
     serve as executive officers and committee members in the 
     various organizations we are affiliated with.
       We have been and are actively participating in religious, 
     civic, political and community affairs.
       A scroll signed by members of our club was included on 
     November 13, 1976, in the time capsule buried at that time as 
     part of the commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the 
     Town of Palmer. The capsule will be reopened in the year 
     2076.
       Our membership today is 127-73 are 65 or over and 54 are 
     under 65. Dues are $2.50 a year. Members 65 years and over 
     are exempt from payment. We follow the calendar year for our 
     meetings, January through December, with no meetings June, 
     July, and August. Meetings are held on the fourth

[[Page E1383]]

     Wednesday of the month, at 7:00 p.m., at the St. Stanislaus 
     Polish Home, Three Rivers.
       In order to keep our treasury healthy we hold one big 
     raffle a year during the winter. Our members are to be 
     commended for their enthusiastic response for contributions 
     of prizes and selling of our raffle tickets.
       Past presidents: * Anna Rusek, * Mary Jajuga, * Sophie 
     Zerdecki, * Nellie Motyka, * Anna Kulig, * Julie Midura, * 
     Stephanie Kolbusz, Genevieve Janosz, and Edna Pytka. (* 
     deceased)
       Officers--Year 1999: Helen Grzywna, President; Debra A. 
     Geoffrion, Vice President; Betty Brozek, Treasurer; Sophie J. 
     Valtelhas, Recording Secretary and Publicity; Phyllis 
     Misiaszek, Financial Secretary; and Alice Pilch and Sophie 
     Walulak, Auditors.
       Helen Grzywna has been president for twenty-eight years and 
     the club has progressed under her leadership in many projects 
     and causes too numerous to mention.
       The spirit that brought together in 1924 those fifty-nine 
     courageous women is still carried on today. Teamwork is an 
     important part of our organization and each member's 
     contribution is highly valued. We are proud of our beginnings 
     and of what we have accomplished since 1924 and as we 
     commemorate this 75th anniversary we will continue our 
     tradition of exemplary dedication and service to our 
     religious, civic, political, and community establishments.


                        75th anniversary program

       Our 75th anniversary will be celebrated on Sunday, June 27, 
     1999, staring with a Thanksgiving Mass at 11:00 a.m. in the 
     Saints Peter and Paul Church in Three Rivers. Our pastor, 
     Reverend Stefan J. Niemczyk, will be celebrant, assisted by 
     Reverend Mr. Edward Tenczar, concelebrant. Immediately after 
     Mass, we will gather at the church's Parish Center for a 1:00 
     p.m. dinner catered by Tony and Penny. President Helen 
     Grzywna will welcome everyone and then turn the program over 
     to Toastmistress Mary E. Rusiecki, past president of the 
     Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs, Inc., who 
     will have the honor of introducing the head table, officers, 
     past presidents, and guests. The invocation will be given by 
     Reverend Stefan J. Niemczyk. Greetings and best wishes will 
     be given by Patricia C. Donovan, Board of Selectmen, Town of 
     Palmer; Richard E. Neal, Second Congressional District 
     Representative in U.S. Congress; Stephen M. Brewer, our State 
     Senator, Worcester, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire 
     District; Reed V. Hillman, Representative in General Court, 
     First Hampden District; Pauline Dziembowski, President of the 
     Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs, Inc., and 
     Christine Wurszt, Vice-president of District V, MFPWC. 
     Principal Address will be by our member Suzanne Strempek-
     Shea, Author--Topic Our Counterpart 75 Years Ago. The St. 
     Cecelia Choir under the direction of Michael Rheault, 
     Organist and director of Music, at Saints Peter and Paul 
     Church, will entertain us with their music. One of the songs 
     they will sing is Polish Pride--Pope John Paul II (composed 
     by Fred Brozek/music by Stephen Lebida). Barbara 
     Marcinkiewicz will sing the American National Anthem and the 
     Polish National Anthem to start our program and at the close 
     of the program she will lead the audience in singing God 
     Bless America and Boze Cos Polske. Reverend Mr. Edward 
     Tenczar will give the benediction.

     

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