10 June - Last Journal Entry - Aboard LOT Flight 1

We went to Poland with a lot of recent Orchard Lake baggage including naysayers and some concern and apprehension of how we might be received. Would anyone be interested? Who would want to partner with The Polish Mission? Arriving at the beginning of strawberry season and stopping a several roadside stands to purchase the fresh berries, put in a better frame of mind. We left Poland as the cherries were coming into season which seemed to be a harbinger of success for The Polish Mission visit.

Now we know we presented Orchard Lake,The Polish Mission,Michigan Polonia,and ourselves to top government officials and explained the situation so well that we can say that each host greeted us as a fresh and enthusiastic new voice of Polonia. They said they have been waiting for a team with creativity,honesty,and a strong program. We pray that Fr. Dąbrowski is be proud of our efforts to bring his beliefs of Polish heritage, American citizenship, and faith into the 21st century.

As we met with a broad spectrum of leaders: Poland’s First Lady, university professors, ministers of culture and foreign affairs, church leaders, national museums directors, villagers, families and friends, we were treated with professionalism and respect. Each official indicated a place where they can fit into our program. As we prepare for 100th year of the campus and 125 years of the seminary we take Fr. Dąbrowski’s vision and these connections to advance his focus of Polish, American and Catholic culture. The ministers thanked Chancellor Whalen for sending a well prepared and professional team.

The meetings would not have happened without private advocates in the church, communities, and government. Ceil Wendt Jensen and Marcin Chumiecki’s months of preparation and grant writing resulted in this favorable reception and support for The Polish Mission’s programs. These partnerships will allow them to bring a new level of content and professionalism to The Polish Mission.

The team would like to thank the Executive Committee of Msgr. Charles Kosanke,Rev. James K. Mazurek, James Glowacki, and Chancellor Rev. Timothy F. Whalen for their support. It was encouraging to meet with Karen Majewski’s academic circle in Poland as they expressed their admiration for her scholastic work in the past and look forward to working with her in her new capacity as The Polish Mission's Archivist. Fr. Stanislaw Flis,the Liturgical Center director, is already taking an advanced program in Poland to expand his work. The Polish Mission is a team, composed of Karen Majewski, Cecile Wendt Jensen and Fr. Flis, under the management of Marcin Chumiecki who is guiding The Polish Mission in the 21st century. Marcin was proud to use his Polish advocates to promote such a professional team of dedicated people.

9 June - Artur Kozlowski, Senate leader and Director

We were honored to meet with Artur Kozlowski, Senate leader and Director of the Polonia Office in the Senate Chancellery who manages the largest budget of Polonia. The poster on his wall was a good omen of the cordial meeting. He asked for an overview of the Fr.Nir situation sensing we would give him the full and true story.
We discussed the strikes currently erupted in Polish schools in Poland. He spoke about possible Polish government support and asked questions about updating and revamping the Fr. Dąbrowski School curriculum which would award a certificate via the Polish Ministry of Education.
He gave us a copy of the Polish Senate’s resolutions in regard to Polonia for 2009-2011. He encouraged us to submit a plan that demonstrates our capacity to help them deliver their goals. He suggested that we were already on the path to programs with them.

9 June - Government Complex

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The final day of visits began with a security check and a stop to obtain documents to enter the government buildings and offices. We presented the Minister of Foreign Affairs with a letter of introduction from Chancellor Whalen. They asked personal questions regarding our backgrounds using the materials his staff had researched. We were verified and passed the high level government security as legitimate representatives of Polonia.
We first met with his assistant and explained the status of The Polish Mission. The Minister asked in particular for a written statement of our programs and ideas on how his office could participate in our 1 September 1939 event after Ceil presented the Michigan Humanities Council Grant. He was interested since it would be one government working with another. The Michigan Humanities Council is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
He asked for a full description and expresses his willingness of participation. He represents the Polish Foreign Office and usually works via his offices in the Embassy in the US and consulate. When he receives a written invitation via the Washington office, he will send a representative to the Orchard Lake campus to explore future programs and collaboration.
Marcin presented the campus location as a destination for Polish and North American government meetings citing our proximity to an international airport, the Canadian border, and Midwestern Polish communities.

8 June - Muzeum Wojska Polskiego

Military Museum
Walked via Nowy Świat to the Military Museum to meet with Prof. dr hab. Janusz Cisek. As we waited for him we noted that a Communist era security aid was still being used - each door was secured with sealing wax and string (we noted that the Senate used plastic tethers coded with digital chips).
We found we have a common project with Dr.Cisek- oral histories of the Children in Exile. We explained our oral history project funded by the Michigan Humanities Grant which guidance from Dr. William Smith of the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University.
Dr.Cisek offered to send several military exhibits that have been well received in Poland.
He presented us with a signed copy of his book and copies of "Golden Eagle, Silver Eagle" the story of U.S. and Polish collaboration during World War II.
Afterward, Marcin met for a late dinner with the representative of the Ministry of Culture to report the success of the day’s visits.

8 June - Muzeum Historii Polski

Monday was the highly anticipated visit with the assistant director of the Muzeum Historii Polski / Museum of Polish History Dariusz Barański and Małgorzata Żaryn, education director. Theirs is a relatively new museum,established by the Ministry for Culture and National Heritage on May 2, 2006. They are currently holding a competition for the design of the building itself.
It could not have been a better time to meet. At first they were speechless, but not due to lack of interest, but because we exceeded their ideal partner profile.They had been brainstorming about their North American programs. We received copies of their pamphlets, booklets and discussed the possibilities of programs, camps,and educational outreach.
We look forward to working with them on projects such as their current “Families Separated by War”.

7 June - European Union Parliament election

Sunday was also the election of Polish representatives to the European Union parliament. There was a campaign on TV leading up to the election featuring animated wycinanki and a competition to be known as the Navel of the European Union .
The results of the election were interesting. Those living in Poland voted for the coalition government of PO and PSL while the stateside Polonia voted heavily in favor of PIS.


http://www.7czerwca.org.pl/pliki/materialy/37_EUROPARLAMENT_30_EMIS_podmiana_FINAL.mpg

7 June - First Communion

Marcin began to take photos and Klaudia’s father brought his prized horse with colt out of the barn for the photo session. He also invited Marcin back at 6pm to milk the cows to see if he’d lost his touch. The barn was filled with cats, calves, and pigs all trying to get some of the cow’s milk. After the milking everyone was invited back into the farmhouse of bigos and vodka.

The evening entertainment was dancing outside to music from the car radios. Many of the wives were the designated drivers since Poland had a strict law regarding DUI. Their husbands enjoyed the red and white wine on the tables as well as the moonshine and homemade wine that flowed freely.