Mount Saint Marys College - Eagle Yearbook (Orchard Lake, MI)

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59' - firlf.. 2 1 ttt. 11 merous. They include whole life, 20 year payment life, 20 year endowment, paid-up at 65, and endowment at 65, and they range from 35300 to f1i33,000. As of January 1, 1955, the assets of the Polish Womeifs Alliance of America totaled .Sl515,771,070.65g liabilities 3165,372.67, re- serves S512,788,4-23.36, and unassigned funds 352,817,274-.62. In 19541 the amount of in- surance in force was valued at 3B43,847,396g in 1955 it increased to 34-5,097,310. In ad- dition to this, the surplus fund from which benefits were paid increased, whereas the ben- efits paid during the fiscal year decreased. ln 1953 the benefits paid amounted to 315627,- 891.20g benefits paid in 1954- decreased to 3B613,693.36. The mortality ratio averaged was 412.4-4-ff.. Because its financial standing is firmly Every four years the delegates of the local groups of the P.W.A. convene to elect officers and plan for future ac- tion. The National Officers of the P.W.A. rep- resent all sections of the United States. established, the Alliance is able: to spon- sor a Fraternal Youth Activity Program for the purpose of training future Alliance leaders, 121 to grant scholarships to its needy certificate ownersg Q31 to provide for the needs of the aged, K4-J to sponsor a Junior Benefit Fraternity for Polish American youth. The valuation surplus of 352,817,- 274.62 finances the aforementioned projects. The Officers of the Polish Women's Alli- ance of America for 1955 were: Miss Adela Lagodzinski, Presidentg Mrs. Marya A. Porwit, General Secretary, Mrs. Leoka- dia Blikowski, Treasurer, Felicia H. Cienci- ara, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner, and Mrs. Stephanie Cieslewicz, General Counsel. The Home Office is located at 1309-15 North Ash- land Avenue, Chicago 22, l11inois. N. ZIELINSKI Archbishop Cawlina was the key- note speaker at a special banquet held during the Detroit Convention in 1955. N, Defegatesof the: joutltsebtion of-the. Yhiftdv ifhe' f0rcha.rd .Like Sem- iiiiarywin-11955. ' T

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' v npr ' si 1 5' f l Y 'w'i, 'E' m, , F 'Q' JI at F-aero -4' -' -' j. 192 ' A -4112 ,,, PULISH WIIME 'S ALLIA IIE , f CHICAGO, n.uNols , 5 139 ,, fx! KN Miss Adela Lagodzinska President The Polish Women's Alliance of America QZwiazek Polek w Ameryce1 was born in 1898 when a group of women met to found a club which would unite the Polish women of Chicago for the effective pursuance of pa- triotic and cultural ideals and for the pro- vision of mutual aid in times of need. The Alliance's foundress and first president was Stefania Chmielinska, and on August 5, 1898, thirty women formed the first member- ship roster. As membership in the Club grew, it was decided to make national its scope by found- ing chapters in various cities and states, with headquarters remaining in Chicago. Follow- ing the recommendations of its First Conven- tion, the Club was reorganized, and its offi- cial title became the Polish Women's Al- liance of America. The ever-increasing membership of the Pol- ish Women,s Alliance has made this organ- ization the largest in its field. As of last l f L .-- -. 1 'C ,K 13311. g a 5, a- ag, Q f 5 E 3 5 5 is 1 Efehftin fril l , r,t ,t . Headquarters of the Polish Women's Alliance is at 1309 North Ashland Ave- nue, Chicago. year, the Alliance boasted a total membership of 85,532 Of these, 85,41-07 were benefit members and 125 were social members. Al- though members are scattered throughout seventeen states, the largest percentage is found in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York respectively. In 1954, 1,187 lodges were counted, in 1955 they increased to 1,196. The aims and objectives of the alliance as discussed in the Polish text of its Constitution are: Q11 Utrzymanie ducha narodowego wsrod Polakow w Ameryce wraz zu usilna praca nad utrwaleniem polskosfci w m'l'odszej generacji i ksztalceniu jej w jezyku ojczystym, historji i literaturze, przez zakladanie szko- l'ek i bibliotekg Q21 Utrzymanie stalfego kon- taktu z Ojczyzna, by naszym wspoludzialem starac sie uwydatnic sily naukowe i artysty- czneg Q31 Stac na strazy honoru i bronic opi- nji narodowej W swietle faktow historyczynch, jak rdwniez starac sie o utrzymanie dobrego imienia, i 0 ile bedzie mozliwem bronid przy- sladowanych rodaczek, i honorowym sposo- bem podtrzymae ich prawa w uzyskaniu spra- wiedliwoscig Q41 Dazyd do zalozenia stalego emigracyjnego komitetu i opieki nad opus- zczonemi dziedmig Usposabiad kobiety do zycia samodzielnego, zachecacf i dopomagari zdobywanie wyzszego wyksztalcenia, a wobec roQvnouprawienia, do czynnego udzialu W po- lityce krajowejg Q61 Dazyc do zalozenia biura informacyjnego i domu dla samotnych pracu- jacych kobietg Q71 Laczyc sie we wszystkich pracach i manifestacjach narodowych dla po- dtrzymania wspolnej idei solidarnosci. The English gist of the above-mentioned ends is this: to keep the Polish women of America ever-mindful of their cultural and patriotic heritage, to offer opportunities for higher education to Polish youthg to pro- vide financial assistance for the aged and those hospitalized, and lastly, to work for the liberation of foreign-dominated Poland. The special insurance features provided by the ,Polish Women's Alliance are very nu-

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Ulllllllll UF PULISH WUMEN IN AMERICA PI-IILADELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA ef 'V' P A 5 - .aj - 5 The second largest Polish S women's fraternal or- ' ganization in the United States is the Union of Polish Women in America fUnia Polek W Amerycel. It was established in Philadelphia on October 17, 1920, by Frances Szwedowa, Agnes Karlewska, and Helene Janoski. The Polish White Cross Circles, which existed after World War I and which were founded by Madame Helen Paderewska, formed the nucleus for the establishment of the Union of Polish Women in America. The Founders felt that the laudable work perform- ed by the White Cross should continue, though in a somewhat modified form due to postwar conditions. The Constitution of the Union stipulates that the scope of this organization is: Q11 to preserve among the Polish women in Amer- ica their moral and religious consciousness in accordance with the teachings of the Ro- man Catholic Church, f2j to imbue them with a spirit of American patriotism and loy- alty, Q31 to inculcate in them, particularly the younger members, worthy Polish ideals as reflected in the literature and history of Poland, Q4-J to encourage a more active par- ticipation in community and civic projects, Q51 and to provide them with benefits per- mitted under the Act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved .lu'ly 17, 1935, P.L. 1092. As of January 1, 1955, the Union's num- ber of lodges totaled 74, the majority being in Philadelphia. These lodges hold monthly meetings and their agenda not only call for the payment of monthly assessments, but also for the discussion of the Union's welfare as well as social and community affairs. One of the subjects to receive major consideration is that of juvenile delinquency: its causes and cures. As a concrete preventive measure, several lodges have established Juvenile Cir- cles for girls under sixteen years of age. Adult members provide these circles with ap- propriate entertainment and instruction that Polish folk dances are perpetuated through formal Classes of instructions arranged by many of the organizations for their members. will inspire girls to strive for the ideals worthy of womanhood. Social activities, which have as their aim the development of social graces, are also sponsored by the Cir- cles. All this is done voluntarily and with- out hope of reward, the mainspring being the Christian desire to serve Cod and country. The Union of Polish Women of America issues insurance certificates from 35200 to 351,000 for whole life, 20 year payment life, 20 year endowment, endowment at 65, and paid up at 65. The Unionls assets as of January 1, 1955, amounted to 3734,646.06g the valuation sur- plus was 3516234-9.67. The amount of in- surance in force as of the same date was 32,- 248,750 Cadultl and 35687200 fjuniorj. Officers for 1955 were: Mrs. Helene ,lan- oski, President, Mrs. Helen J. Bagdzinski, Secretary, Mrs. Czeslawa Lewandowski, Treasurer, Gabriel J. Kraus, M.D., Medical Examiner, and Mr. V. E. Balukiewicz, Gen- eral Counsel. The Union's Home Office is 2662 E. Alleghany Avenue, Philadelphia 34, Pennsylvania. R. T. GRoNTKowsKI