|
|
Post by Drohojowski on Apr 7, 2008 11:06:29 GMT -7
www.polishnews.com/news,245,national-polish-center-gets-serious.html National Polish Center Gets Serious About Re-Inventing Itself by Jane Morse; April 6, 2008 Washington – Board members of the National Polish Center ( American Center of Polish Culture) rolled up their sleeves and began the hard work of re-inventing the nearly 20-year-old organization. Their goal is to make it more vibrant, responsive and relevant to American Polonia. Under the leadership of Jack Pinkowski, the newly-elected chairman of the Center, Board members gathered recently at Nova Southeastern University in Davie , Florida for two full days packed with intensive strategic planning sessions. But they had experts to coach them through the process. Under the guidance of Dr. Tom Land, corporate trainer and assistant vice president for Baptist Hospitals of South Florida , the Board carefully crafted a new mission statement for the Center, which now reads: To enhance economic and cultural cooperation between the United States and Poland and to promote, perpetuate and preserve the appreciation of Polish heritage in America. The Center’s Board worked to develop ideas for programming – both monthly programs for the Center’s facility in Washington , D.C. and more ambitious long-term cooperative programs with other Polish organizations around the United States . They resolved to increase funding for the Center, recruit more paid and volunteer staff, enlist corporate sponsors, increase public outreach efforts and improve the Center’s web site and newsletter. Thanks to the lessons learned from marketing executive and professor Dr. Jim Barry, the board will establish a “brand” to make the Center distinctive from other organizations. Barbara Sterry, executive director for Nova Southeastern University’s Office of Grants and Contracts, discussed how to maneuver through the process of requesting grants for the Center and reviewed the Center’s program ideas for their “grant worthiness.” “We are determined to reinvigorate the Center with new ideas, new programming and increased funding,” said Pinkowski. “We want the Center to live up to its ‘national’ status by reaching out to Polish Americans and Poles countrywide and spreading the good news about our Polish roots to all Americans.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Drohojowski on Apr 7, 2008 11:24:55 GMT -7
Here are my thoughts and questions:
- Can the Polish Center successfully brand itself in such a way that it draws visitors and interested persons who would otherwise not visit and not learn about the heritage and contributions of Americans of Polish origin and ancestry?
- It seems to me that many of these culturally specific organizations lack that drawing power because their focus is on "Polishness" rather than the American character and American virtues common to those of Polish background. Consider the American Independence era heroes like Pulaski and Kosciuszko. How has their model inspired future Polish immigrants to America and their descendants?
- Rather than focusing on how Polish-Americans have retained their Polishness, what about how they have gone on to form part of the assimilated fabric of the American way of life? Shouldn't this be the principle focus of a museum and cultural institution dedicated to the history of Polish people and their kin who have been part of creating contemporary America?
- When addressing the nascent culture of the Poles, wouldn't it be more constructive to host festivals and events of national prominence than have halls and display rooms of various antique Polonia? What about a national Polish heritage parade or a festival on the National Mall in Washington putting the focus on our national costumes, our dance, our music, our folk culture then rather than through glass windows in a dimly lit exhibit hall? The Italians do this in New York on Columbus Day, the Irish do it on Saint Patrick's Day, and others do it as well.
- What if we had institutions like this one put funding and lobbying resources into truly branded and culturally interesting projects like films, television series -- the sources from which most Americans today learn about historical topics and cultures. I am struck by the success of HBO's John Adams miniseries this spring. Even though he was a very interesting man, an important and influential American president, and in some circles a folk hero, most Americans today would have never picked up a book on the man -- perhaps least of all a current wave Polish-American who sees himself or herself historically and culturally removed from Adams and early America. And yet the television show is among the ratings leaders right now.
- What if the same were done for Casimir Pulaski?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jaga on Apr 7, 2008 23:18:05 GMT -7
Hello Drohojowski,
welcome to the forum! Do you know any of these people who are the members of the new National Polish Center?
I think, the main problem of Polish Americans now is a big gap between a new and old Polonia. The majority of Poles who live in America and who voted in Polish elections were in disagreement with Poles in Poland in the most important questions like the Polish membership in EU. I sometimes feel that some of the people of Polish origin still are not used to the fact that Poland is finally free from communism.
The US lacks new blood. I mean, young Poles do not come here in big numbers. This is mainly due to the requirement to get visa and inability to have a legal job. Poles go now to GB or even to Iceland rather than to the US.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdywenur on Apr 8, 2008 4:39:26 GMT -7
Just the other day I was talking with a friend of mine from my previous work place on planning lunch. I also sent her a foto of me in my new Polish American T-shirt and told her she now she has to get one too. (was just joking with her but trying to promote the T-shirt) She wrote back , "I am not Polish American I am Polish Australian" Although I did not respond, my thoughts were "so what the heck are you doing in USA and if you aren't now Polish American by now living here then what the heck would you call it". I was more taken back by her answer I think than anything and can understand in away as she also said I am not so sure I wish to be American. We are not so great in many eyes of other countries as we use to be but that is not us as Americans it is the government and I don't think we as citizens like it either. Still this is my country and with all its faults I would not give it up for all the money in the world. As far as I'm concerned we are still the best nation in the whole wide world when it comes to why we exist in the first place. "Freedom"
|
|
|
|
Post by freetobe on Apr 8, 2008 19:34:45 GMT -7
Chris,
My sentiments as well. In the 1970's,I spent some time in Europe. I encountered anti- Americanism and it was probably because of the Viet Nam war. That was a long time ago. On a one to one basis, most people I dealt with were okay. A lot of my time was spent on business, with my european collegues. Even so, there were times that I knew that my American citizenship was not well thought of. I have always been proud to be an American and of my Polish heritage.My Polish immigrant family wanted a better way of life and found it here through opportunity and hard work. They became Americans because they believed that the USA was the greatest nation in the world. They left me with that legacy and a deep appreciation for my Polish heritage. Citizenship and ethnic culture do not always go hand and hand. The USA is my country and despite all it's flaws,it is still the freedom we enjoy that makes us the best nation ever.
|
|
|
|
Post by Drohojowski on Dec 10, 2008 2:51:35 GMT -7
Hello Drohojowski, welcome to the forum! Do you know any of these people who are the members of the new National Polish Center? I think, the main problem of Polish Americans now is a big gap between a new and old Polonia. The majority of Poles who live in America and who voted in Polish elections were in disagreement with Poles in Poland in the most important questions like the Polish membership in EU. I sometimes feel that some of the people of Polish origin still are not used to the fact that Poland is finally free from communism. The US lacks new blood. I mean, young Poles do not come here in big numbers. This is mainly due to the requirement to get visa and inability to have a legal job. Poles go now to GB or even to Iceland rather than to the US. Hello Jaga, I'm sorry I failed to reply to your message months ago when it was posted. No need to welcome me, though, since I've posted to the form since it was on Bella and then on Delphi and since then, I just do so with great enough infrequency that I lose track of what my previous account was called. I figured that this time it would be hard to lose track of my own last name :) I do somewhat know some of the people who are involved in this museum project, although I'm not very active in Polish-American circles. It just seemed to me that this whole idea is a rehashing of what has been done before. It's old news by now though. I'll try to be better at returning and reading the replies! |
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Dec 12, 2008 14:37:45 GMT -7
Freetobe,
Europeans were more supportive of the US Army in Vietnam than the Americans were. We didn't riot against your troops and we didn't treat them like dirt when they came home. Sorry but that is true. There were cranks, idiots and nutcases in all nationalities; most of them grew up and became social workers. Which is why we have so many problems today. But the majority of Europeans supported what the Americans were trying to do. Believe me, I was one of them.
Neville
|
|
