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About the Polish American
Congress
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The Polish American Congress was founded for the
express purpose of representing the concerns of Americans of Polish heritage
before the government of the United States. The
leaders of the Polish American community, concerned about developments in Poland
as the end of World War II approached, met in a founding convention on March 4,
1944. Polish Americans were concerned that Poland be restored to the
independence it had enjoyed before World War II.
The Polish American Congress is a National Umbrella
Organization, representing at least 10 million Americans of Polish descent and
origin. Its membership is comprised of fraternal, educational, veteran,
religious, cultural, social, business, political organizations with national
scope, and 43 PAC Divisions and Chapters in 23 states. Membership in State
Divisions consists of:
- individual members
- organizational members, which includes church Parishes,
community organizations, and local chapters, lodges or groups of the National
Member Organizations
For more information: National
PAC Web Site
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About the Washington
Metropolitan Area Division
The Washington Metropolitan Area Division was founded in 1974 by a group
of American-born and immigrant Polish-Americans under the leadership of Col.
Casimir I. Lenard, to facilitate the engagement of Polish-Americans in the
unique opportunities for helping Polonia and Poland from the National
Capital Area. The original territory defined as the "Metropolitan Area" was:
...the District of Columbia, the State of Virginia, and those counties or
municipalities of the State of Maryland contiguous to the District of
Columbia...
Subsequently, because there were no other Divisions south to Florida,
membership grew to include individuals from other states.
The mission and objectives of the Division, as stated in the Bylaws, are
these:
- To support the efforts of the Polish American Congress in carrying out
its purpose and objectives. Because the Division centers its activities in
the Nation's Capital, unique opportunities present themselves, especially in
assisting the Washington Office of the National PAC.
- To give complete support to the Government of the United States in its
efforts to win and maintain a just and durable peace and to fight the
infiltration of Communism, Nazism and other subversive ideologies.
- To stimulate and unify action of persons of Polish ancestry in the
Washington Metropolitan Area within the lawful limit of their rights and
duties as citizens, permanent residents and visitors of this country.
- To concern itself with the welfare of Americans of Polish ancestry in
political, religious, ethnic, educational, social and economic matters with
a view of encouraging the growth of fraternal, professional, ideological and
civic associations.
- To support and protect their publications,
schools, parishes, particularly those which teach the Polish language,
history and culture.
- To support the industry and trade in the
Washington Metropolitan Area conducted by persons of Polish ancestry.
- To educate and instruct persons of Polish
ancestry with their rights, privileges and duties of American
citizenship.
- To support the efforts of Americans of Polish
heritage in their efforts to achieve those goals as guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution.
- To protect the good name of Americans of Polish ancestry and the
people of Poland against defamation and discrimination.
- To take a positive stand in matters pertaining to the people of Poland
and to assist them in demanding and in establishing their national
independence, civic, religious and cultural developments, free from any
interference of their neighbors.
- To furnish information to the American public of Poland's historic
role, her aims, needs, right to independence and integrity of her frontiers.
- To be active in the direction of closer and deeper cooperation of
American democracy with the people of Poland in the fields of civic,
ideological, cultural, social and economic life.
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