Blanka Aldona RosenstielACPCC President, 1984 - 1986
It was during the ACPCC convention held in Washington, D. C. in 1984 that I was elected to the presidency of this organization. Evidently my many activities and achievements for the American Institute of Polish Culture (founded m 1972) as well as the Chopin Foundation (founded in 1977) prompted the ACPCC Convention delegates to entrust me with this position.
From the beginning I took this assignment very much to heart. With my many experiences on a national level, I proceeded to apply my knowledge to create an organization that I envisioned as a powerful, prestigious and successful body to be reckoned with in the United States. I have to say I spent quite a few sleepless nights figuring out how to accomplish this dream, this new assignment. I thought that maybe one name for all the organizations, some 40 of them at that time, would give us a feeling of unity.
I thought to change the name of the ACPCC to a more prestigious and more powerful sounding ACPCO (Cultural Organizations rather than Clubs); I thought that we should continue with the annual conventions, but should hold elections for the President and Officers only every two years so as to reserve more time for discussions and planning of events to promote knowledge of Poland's history and culture.
I mailed out to all member organizations a questionnaire asking for detailed information as to their financial stability and ability, their membership and their tax-exempt status...only a few answered my request. Some of them said: "it was not my business"...and to say that I only wanted to be of financial assistance should necessity arise! In brief, I did not spare any time and effort and money trying to unite us in all activities.
I had in mind plans to arrange tours of lectures, exhibitions, concerts, to print books for nation-wide distribution, and to organize "Polonaise" Balls, as a fund raising activity, in every town and city where member organizations were located.
I was very eager to establish the participation of American youth of Polish descent in our activities by establishing a fund for them. With great enthusiasm and trying to make it easy to understand, I prepared and distributed informative booklets to this effect among our member organizations.
One of my first ideas and the most important plan was to establish an American Center for Polish Culture in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Here the new ACPCC established in a permanent office, could gain visibility, obtain grants from the Government for educational programs and arrange for an annual elegant Polonaise Ball with all the U.S. government elite present...yes, Washington was the place to be. We would raise one million dollars before proceeding with a search for a suitable building to give a proper representation to a 12 million strong Polonia. We would establish a place of which we all could be proud.
I could hardly wait for the next convention to share all my efforts on behalf of this organization with the Board of Directors, delegates and friends. The convention was held at the Alliance College in 1985, where, in 1978, I was honored with a Doctorate Honoris Causa (Doctor of Humane Letters).
The Convention started with an enthusiastic acceptance of my plan to establish a permanent office for the ACPCC in Washington. Mr. Alexander Koprowski was appointed by me as the fund raising chairman, himself giving a considerable amount of funds (over $100,000) to this project.
We discussed the other issues presented by me. Unfortunately, the two year term for President and Board Members was rejected...the change of name was rejected...the tours of lecturing professors and exhibitions was not approved. Only two of the member organizations have shown our "Perspektywa Polska" and "Polish Music Today". It seemed that my heartfelt efforts and concerns served no purpose!
It took me two consecutive Conventions to understand that most members of the Board of Directors were coming to the Conventions to show off their own egos, to discuss endlessly the same issues (wycinanki, szopki, etc.), and that, especially, the election of a President for the next year was the main activity.
When at the Convention in Buffalo, held in 1987, one Board member told me that I proceeded too fast, that I have tried to make too many changes...which, he admitted, could be applied in a few years, I decided not to run for reelection. I could not understand such reasoning - could I have been too progressive in trying to promote the Polish causes so little known?
I wished everyone well, and decided to dedicate myself to my own two organizations, which demanded all of my time anyhow.
Now, after ten years have passed, I sometimes think what a vibrant and active organization we could have been...But, maybe it was meant to be this way. The Poles in America are driven by selfabnegation...or, maybe they just do not have the ability to emerge as a powerful force demanding their own rights and in a grand way expand the knowledge about the culture and history of Poland. Maybe they themselves do not know how great a country Poland was.
I hope that my two year administration of the ACPCC will be remembered as enthusiastic and enlightening to all members, whom I have tried to inspire to do more in a "grand style". Especially, I would like it to be remembered for the initiative to establish the American Center for Polish Culture in Washington, D.C., as well as for starting a fund for the American Youth of Polish Descent project. To all I would like to extend my sincere and best wishes for success. May God be with you in your future deliberations, may He spur you to faster action and Bless all your efforts.
From: American Council for Polish Culture, Our Second Quarter Century, 1973-1998. Edited by Anna Chrypinska 1998