Foreword

Summary

Shortly after completing this history of the Polish Singers Alliance of America Stanislaus A. Blejwas died. He was thus unable to discuss the several events occurring after 2000 that brought major changes in the Alliance. These developments must be recorded. However, I make no pretense to analyzing their meaning. Blejwas was able to immerse himself in the life and development of the Alliance for many years. He conducted interviews, poured over scattered manuscripts, vicariously relived the hopes and dreams of the Alliance over a century. Blejwas was the historian of the Alliance. Only he could provide us with a sophisticated understanding of the meaning of these events which death prevented him from analyzing.

After the Johnstown, PA, Convention of the Alliance, held in May, 2001, the assembled delegates decided to relocate the Central Administration of the organization. This was a decision of some moment, as the headquarters had been in greater New York City for many decades, the second home of the Alliance after an equally long sojourn in Chicago. The new home was within the Western New York-Southern Ontario region, so-called Buffalo-Hamilton or District IX. Concurrent with this relocation was the election of principal officers. Daniel J. Kij, an attorney, and long-time leader of Buffalo Polonia became President. Kij had long sung with the I. J. Paderewski Singing Society of Buffalo, #275. The other principal officers were: Adeline S. Wujcikowski, General Secretary (also from Paderewski #275); Janina Mazun, Vice Secretary General (Symfonia #291 of Hamilton, Ontario); Piotr Gorecki, General Choral Director; Dayle Vander Sande, Assistant General Choral Director; Zofia Kata (also from #291), First Vice President; Edward Witul, (Kalina #221 of Buffalo), Second Vice President; Theresa Rogowski (#275), Treasurer; Barbara Blyskal (Jutrzenka #226 of Brooklyn) and Frances X. Gates (also from #226), Librarians. The Board of Directors for 2001–2004 thenceforth consisted of Irene Dobinski and Adrienne Kusmierczyk (both from #221), Zdzisław Kata, Barbara Olejarz, and Richard Ziemba (all from Symfonia #291); Joseph Mazurkiewicz, Walter Muhar, and Fran Cirbus (Paderewski #275). The Johnstown Convention further decided to award Bernice Gruszka of Philadelphia and Barbara Blyskal of Staten Island the titles Honorary President and Honorary General Secretary respectively.