Polish Times - Czas Polski - tygodnik polski w Detroit, USA

On Friday, January 22, the Friends of Polish Art (FPA) held an election of officers and members of the Board of Directors.  The meeting took place at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy (in the Polish Century Club room).

Since there was only one nomination for the office of the FPA President - Carol Surma, there was no need for the actual voting.  Surma accepted the nomination and was approved by the FPA members.

In a short speech at the end of the meeting, Surma said that she dedicates her presidency to her parents, John and Jane Surma, who were instrumental in Carol’s involvement in FPA and raised her with a strong emphasis on Polish history, culture and traditions.
Other newly elected FPA officers include:  J. William Górski - I Vice President, Evelyn Bowman Bachorski - II Vice President, Elżbieta Mścichowska - Treasurer, Mary Ellen Tyszka - Financial Secretary, Christa Zawadzki - Corresponding Secretary.  The office of Recording Secreraty is still vacant, as there were no nominations for this position.  Members of the Board of Directors include: Halina Ujda, Barbara Hantz, Matthew Meleski, Gregory Biestek, Brian Malski and the past FPA President - Carolyn Meleski.

The Friends of Polish Art was established in 1937 and functions as an educational and social organization, acting as a medium for the promotion of understanding and appreciation of the Arts of Poland, its people and their descendants.

The FPA organizes a variety of events celebrating Polish traditions, including “Święconka” (typical Polish Easter luncheon) and “Wigilia” (Polish Christmas Dinner). 

The FPA also provides a platforms for local artists by organizing art competitoins (Youth Art Competition and Richard Kubinski Art Competition), as well as Szopka competition and short story competition.
The Friends of Polish Art has also a long history of providing financial assistance in the pursuit of academic excellence.

For decades, the FPA has offered the Friends of Polish Art Fine Arts Scholarship which, in 2009, was renamed the Lillian and Chester Mitchell Fine Arts Scholarship.  In the past, these scholarships were given to students pursuing studies in painting, sculpture, music, drama, theatre, dance, and other forms of creative expression as well as history, language, literature, religion, philosophy and Polish studies.  In 2006, the FPA proudly added the Frank Filipek Scholarships for students undertaking studies in law, medicine, architecture, engineering, sciences and the liberal arts (excluding the fine arts).

This year the FPA plans to organize another event celebrating the 200th anniversary of birth of Poland’s greatest composer and pianist - Fryderyk Chopin.
Visit the FPA website (www. friendsofpolishart.info/dotnetnuke) for more information about the upcoming events.