Polish American Congress
Encyclopedia
The Polish American Congress (PAC) is a U.S. umbrella organization
of Polish-Americans and Polish-American organizations.
Its membership is composed of fraternal, educational, veterans, religious, cultural, social, business, and political organizations, as well as individuals.
As of January 2009, it lists 20 national organizations as members.
It is sub-divided into 41 divisions and chapters.
Traditionally, the PAC National President has also been the president of the largest Polish American fraternal organization, the Polish National Alliance
(PNA).
and German
aggression, a large Congress of Polonia
met in Buffalo
, New York, from May 28 to June 1, 1944.
Composed of roughly 2,600 delegates representing Polish and Polish-American organizations, the Congress created the PAC, defining its goal of a free Poland and underscoring its support for the US war effort against the Axis powers
. The PAC incorporated the two former Polish umbrella organizations in the United States, the moderate Polish American Council founded in 1939 and the right-wing National Committee of Americans of Polish Descent founded in 1941. The other umbrella organization, the left-leaning American Slav Congress, remained independent.
He was succeeded in 1968 by Aloysius Mazewski, who served until his death in 1988. Under Mazewski, Leonard F. Walentynowicz
served as executive director of the PAC for a number of years. Edward Moskal
was elected president in 1988, and he, too, served as president for the remainder of his life.
Its present president is Frank J. Spula.
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
of Polish-Americans and Polish-American organizations.
Its membership is composed of fraternal, educational, veterans, religious, cultural, social, business, and political organizations, as well as individuals.
As of January 2009, it lists 20 national organizations as members.
It is sub-divided into 41 divisions and chapters.
Traditionally, the PAC National President has also been the president of the largest Polish American fraternal organization, the Polish National Alliance
Polish National Alliance
The Polish National Alliance is the largest and one of the oldest Polish fraternal organizations in the United States, founded on 15 February 1880 in Philadelphia under the influence of Polish patriot Agaton Giller. Its first president was Juliusz Andrzejkowicz.The PNA founded a number of...
(PNA).
Formation during World War II
In response to the threat to Poland's freedom caused by SovietSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
aggression, a large Congress of Polonia
Polonia
The Polish diaspora refers to people of Polish origin who live outside Poland. The Polish diaspora is also known in modern Polish language as Polonia, which is the name for Poland in Latin and in many other Romance languages....
met in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York, from May 28 to June 1, 1944.
Composed of roughly 2,600 delegates representing Polish and Polish-American organizations, the Congress created the PAC, defining its goal of a free Poland and underscoring its support for the US war effort against the Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. The PAC incorporated the two former Polish umbrella organizations in the United States, the moderate Polish American Council founded in 1939 and the right-wing National Committee of Americans of Polish Descent founded in 1941. The other umbrella organization, the left-leaning American Slav Congress, remained independent.
Leadership
The Congress elected Karol Rozmarek as the first president of the PAC.He was succeeded in 1968 by Aloysius Mazewski, who served until his death in 1988. Under Mazewski, Leonard F. Walentynowicz
Leonard F. Walentynowicz
Leonard Frederick Walentynowicz was United States Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs from 1975 to 1977 and the long-time executive director of the Polish American Congress.-Biography:...
served as executive director of the PAC for a number of years. Edward Moskal
Edward Moskal
Edward Moskal was a longtime and outspoken president of the Polish National Alliance and the Polish American Congress .- Early life, awards, honors, and death :...
was elected president in 1988, and he, too, served as president for the remainder of his life.
Its present president is Frank J. Spula.