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Christmas Book SaleTis the Season for. . . .Research. And what researcher doesn’t love maps? (Especially when they come with a special price) With the changing of the seasons those who had put their research aside to enjoy warm temperatures and sunny days, are ready to return to genealogical challenges. One of those is the all important question of “where did my family come from”? Frequently, today’s researchers are more sophisticated and have narrowed their search to a village, parish or at least a specific area. PGSA stands ready with 2 items that can help pursue the location aspects of your research.
Please Note: Research Season pricing is valid on orders entered on the website or postmarked between December 1, 2011 and January 30, 2012. If you are using the mail-in form, cross out the current price and write in the sale price. * * * * * How About a Unique Gift for a Special Person in your life with Polish Roots? (yourself included).
PS: Check out PGSA in the Polish American Encyclopedia on page 392!
First Meeting of 2012 - Come Join UsFebruary 12th is Abraham Lincoln's birthday AND the first PGSA meeting of the new year. While our topic will be historical in nature, it will not mention "Old Abe" as the events occurred almost 100 years after he was President. The meeting will be held at 2 o'clock in the PRCUA Social Hall.
Our speaker for the meeting will be Brigid Pasulka author of the book, "A Long Long Time Ago and
Essentially True" She will be sharing the wealth of fascinating information she discovered on the Polish resistance movement during WW ll. She will also be happy to answer your questions regarding her own personal experiences living in Poland.
Brigid Pasulka is of Polish ancestry and grew up in a farming township in Northern Illinois. She now lives in Chicago where she teaches in the Chicago Public Schools. Brigid lived in Krakow in the early '90's and her novel is set during that time period as well as World War ll. The book went on to win the 2010 Hemingway Foundation/Pen Award, and was a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection in Fall 2009.
We believe you will enjoy learning about this facet of Polish history that, for some of us, happened in our lifetime. Copies of Ms. Pasulka's book will also be available at the meeting.
PGSA Annual Conference 2012 in conjunction with UPGS - Salt Lake City, UT"Polish Identity" Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Barbara Berska, Deputy General Director of State Archives in Poland. United Polish Genealogical Societies 2012 Biennial Conference 20-23 April Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake Plaza Hotel
INVITATIONYou are cordially invited to attend the 2012 Conference of Polish Genealogical Societies, hosted by the Polonica Americana Research Institute, the Polish Genealogical Society of America and the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan. We will meet in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, which is next door to the Family History Library (FHL). The library is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This world-renowned genealogy library holds international books, maps, microfilm and digital databases. The FHL is open to the public and access is free of any charge. We balance the event to allow research in the library as well as time to attend classes with noted Polish genealogists and knowledgeable leaders in the field. The conference includes the lecture series, conference syllabus, hospitality with refreshments, and an evening banquet with a keynote address. Coming to the Conference is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3! 1. Online reservations: www.upgs.eventbrite.com or complete the registration form and mail to: UPGS c/o PARI at the Polish Mission, 3535 Indian Trail, Orchard Lake, Michigan 48324. 2. Reserve a room at the Sale Lake Plaza Hotel (Phone: 800-366-3684 or 801-521-0130). Mention the United Polish Genealogical Societies Conference, Group Number 9197 for our reduced rates - $82.00 per night for a single/double. This is a guaranteed rate for reservations made by February 12, 2012. You must call in this reservation; the discount does not apply for online reservations. 3. Book your travel. Airlines serving Salt Lake City (SLC) include America West, American, Atlantic Southeast, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Skywest, Southwest, United, and United Express. Check the Internet for discounted fares using your favorite finder, for example, www.lowestfare.com, www.expedia.com, www.priceline.com. Upon arrival, check the Hotel Board to call the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, or call 801-521-0130 for a free courtesy van pickup from airport or train station to hotel. Courtesy van hours are 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. Earlier arrivals can leave luggage at the front desk for storage. Questions? pmission@orchardlakeschools.com, Phone:248-683-0323 or Fax:248-683-0443.
Volunteer NeededAll current members of the Polish Genealogy Society of America with accounting background and who are interested in Volunteering for an important PGSA Board function............ we are looking for you! As of January 2012, the Society needs someone to fill the Treasurer position on the Board. Key duties of the Treasurer are: (a) Pay and deposit funds, keep checking account balanced and record credit card transactions (b) Prepare tax forms (c) Provide financial reports to the Board and conduct the internal audit. You should possess a computer, printer and know QuickBooks Software. If you are interested, please contact David Lewandowski, Volunteer Coordinator at dfrank0673@comcast.net or the Society at PGSAmerica@pgsa.org.
Election Time!As the U.S .Presidential Campaign shapes up and candidates are trying to convince the voters that they are the best hope for positive change in America, so to it is time for PGSA to be sure it has a full slate of candidates for its upcoming November 2012 election. We are looking for PGSA members in good standing to rise up and declare that they are ready to serve. If you have been a member for at least two years, then you qualify to throw your hat in the ring to become a Board Member. If you have been thinking about new programs we could implement or have ideas you feel could improve the Society or any of its activities, then this is the year for you to turn in a Board application. PGSA can only grow and get better with fresh ideas and suggestions from its members and this could be your chance to put them out there and make them happen. And as you engage in its leadership and learn more about the Society you will be gaining great insights and find satisfaction in making PGSA successful. If you know another member you think could make a positive contribution as well, encourage him or her to submit their application or give you permission to do it for them. Members elected in November will begin their term on January 1, 2013. You can download a Board Candidate Qualification form from our website.
Remember to Add PGSA Notebook URL to Your Address BookBe sure to add the Notebook's email address pgsanotebook@gmail.com to your address book or "safe senders" list as soon as you subscribe to the Notebook so it will be delivered directly to your in box. If you cannot find your monthly issue of the Notebook, be sure to check your "junk mail" or spam box for your email account. If you continue to have difficulty receiving the Notebook, contact your Internet Service Provider about the issue directly
Book Review by Gloria KerrillA Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True This is a magical book of love, devotion, and courage as it traces the history of one Polish family through half a century. A Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True is a Hemmingway Foundation/Pen Award winner (2010) and a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick of fall (2009). As a first novel it is a stunning achievement. Ms. Pasulka begins the novel in a remote mountain village in southern Poland where a young man nicknamed "Pigeon" fall in love with the local beauty names Anielica. Because he has the famed Polish "Golden Hands" he volunteers to re-model her modest home to endear him not only to her, but her parents as well. Unfortunately, their courtship begins at the start of World War II and their actual union does not take place for many years. He becomes a resistance fighter and the description of life during the German occupation is a cruel one. When the war finally ends, the Russian occupation takes over. It is a tribute to the people who lived during this time that they were able to make all the necessary adjustments to their lives in order to survive. Pigeon and Anielica leave their small village to go to the big city of Krakow where they are led to believe a new and better life awaits them as promised by the Communist regime. It doesn't, and due to dire circumstances Anielica is forced to return to their village alone where a much longed for child is born. Fifty years later, Beata, the grandchild of Pigeon and Anielica, makes the same journey her grandparents did. She goes to Krakow to start a new life. She is young and naive and a little overwhelmed by life in a big city. She moves in with her cousin Irena and Irena's more sophisticated daughter, Magda. Krakow in the 1990's is trying to adjust to the end of Communist rule and re-establish itself once again as an independent nation restoring its Polish identity and pride. Beata becomes not only an observer but a participant as well as she experiences all the change going on around her. The word magical has been used in other reviews of this book and it is true, but Ms. Pasulka has also lovingly created a time capsule of Polish history as lived by one family. I would add that the strength, bravery, and resiliency of the characters are to be much admired. This book is written with love and is a tribute to Poland and its people. As an aside: In one scene in the book, Beata and her cousins are eating a dinner of boiled potatoes with sour cream and parsley, which happened to be a favorite of my grandfather who migrated to Chicago from a small village near Krakow in the 1900's. It brought back fond memories of walking with him as a child to Humboldt Park (Chicago, IL) where he would sit on the grass reading his Polish newspaper while I played. Occasionally, he would look up and out into the distance where perhaps he was dreaming of "the old country." Read the book for yourself; you will enjoy it. It is also recommended that you go to Brigid's web site at: http://www.brigidpasulka.com/ and read about her and how she came to write this story. New Membership — Apply and Pay OnlineFor a new PGSA membership, click on the link to complete an online Membership Application and pay online: Online New Member Application. What's New on the Website?Brighton Michigan Polish Database in Michigan Resources Click on Polish Database ... October 2011 List of Polish Genealogical Society of California Village Translations to the Slownik Introduction page Translations ... October 2011 LDS Illinois Chicago Catholic Church Vital Records 1833 - 1925 Church Records In addition find Archdiocese of Chicago Polish Parish Historical Records at Parish History ... November 2011 PGSA Member Stan Schmidt’s website of Krolestwo Polskie or Congress Kingdom powiat Maps and Village index’s is available for your perusal at Krolestwo Polskie. Take time to visit Stan’s entire site by clicking “return to main page” located at the top right of the map page. It is truly worth the time. ... November 2011 As of December 20, 2011, we have over 518,000 names from 510 Jubilee Books and 23 States in our Jubilee Book Index. Jubilee Records The following 9 new books were recently uploaded: Holy Cross Seminary, La Crosse, WI, 1951; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cleveland, OH, 1930; St. Joseph, Peabody, MA, 1977; St. Casimir, Hull, WI, 1971; St. John Cantius, Philadelphia, PA, 1942; St. Joseph Convent Chapel & Infirmary, Stevens Point, WI, 1967; St. Laurentius, Philadelphia, PA, 1932; St. Stanislaus B & M, Cleveland, OH, 1931; and St. Stanislaus B & M, East Chicago, IN, 1924 .... December 2011
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