POLISH HERITAGE SOCIETY OF GRAND RAPIDS - Wsimg.com
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POLISH HERITAGE SOCIETY
OF GRAND RAPIDS
February 2021
PHS Board Seat Opens, Looking for
Help with Newsletter, Website
A board seat will become a few hours a month – be it
vacant for the May election writing cards to a shut-in,
of officers for the Polish writing a blog for the web-
Heritage Society of Grand site, working behind the
Rapids, and the PHS is look- scenes on the newsletter or
ing for assistance in main- asking a business to join in
taining its website, publica- the discount program.
tion of its newsletter and
The new PHS website is
marketing activities.
fully operational, so it only
Those who are interested needs maintenance of add-
in helping with the website, ing blogs and photos, up-
newsletter or marketing do dating information and
not have to be members of coordinating with PHS Cor-
the Society board. responding Secretary Elena
Chaidez, who edits the PHS
PHS Director Matthew
Facebook page. The PHS
Gryczan has decided not to
website is built on the Go-
run for reelection to anoth-
Marge Wilson with sample pączki at Marge’s Donut Den Daddy Website Builder
er 2-year term, opening up
platform, so it can be
a vacancy on the board. He
learned easily.
Local Bakeries Gear Up for Pączki Frenzy was responsible for cre-
ating the new PHS website “Working on the PHS web-
Next Week on Fat Tuesday in 2019 and for refreshing site would be an ideal op-
the format and content of portunity for someone who
By Matthew Gryczan music of the Silver Tones. the newsletter last year, wants to ease into learning
Come Sunday morning, Other bakeries and grocery but he will not continue in how to create and maintain
bakers at Sandy’s Donut stores throughout metro those activities. websites,” Gryczan said.
House on Leonard Street Grand Rapids will offer box- “GoDaddy makes it easy to
Gryczan and PHS Member-
will begin their non-stop, 3- es of pączki, the Polish ver- change information, create
ship Chairperson Marilyn
day marathon of making sion for what originally new pages and add fea-
Lignell also are requesting
pączki for ravenous cus- meant a prune-filled bis- tures.”
assistance with maintaining
tomers who want to satisfy mark that since has ex- membership rolls, sending The PHS also uses Google
their sweet tooth before panded into more flavored cards of encouragement to Analytics to keep track of
Lent begins. fillings. “Grandmas getting members, identifying local how the content on its
ready for Lent wanted to businesses that agree to website resonates with its
About 11 miles away at
use up their lard and sugar extend discounts to pur- members and the general
Marge’s Donut Den in Wyo-
in preparation for fasting, chases made by members, public. The website drew
ming, staff will start prepar-
so they made Paczki before and maintaining a list of more than 3,100 users last
ing for the Tuesday morn-
Ash Wednesday,” said complementary news- year.
ing onslaught of pączki cus-
Marge Wilson, owner of letters to non-members to
tomers snaking around the The PHS website and sys-
Marge’s Donut Den. “But acquaint them with the
inside of the building and tem of writing blogs is an
they found that kids didn’t organization.
out the door, all the while excellent way for people to
like the prune filling, so
being serenaded by singer The number one require- learn the ropes of digital
they used other flavored
Kevin Cavanaugh and live ment is enthusiasm to help marketing, coupled with
Page 2
Polish Heritage Society
of Grand Rapids to its other offerings.
jellies.” how pączki are made and
PO Box 1844 educated businesses on
Grand Rapids MI While Polish immigrants She said Sandy’s has been
how to market the new making pączki for at least
49501-1844 have made pączki since
pastry. 40 years, so “it’s a real tra-
https:// they arrived in Grand Rap-
polishheritagesociety.com ids well over 100 years ago, “By now, just about every dition.” Sandy’s started
the pastry’s widespread bakery has its own special stocking shelves with
Email us at phsgrandrap-
popularity really took off way of making pączki,” she paczki on Feb. 6 to meet
ids@gmail.com.
here with the help from said. “Along with our spe- customer demands, and
The Polish Heritage Socie- some American-style mar- cial fillings, we like to put the bakery will continue to
ty of Grand Rapids pro- keting by retail bakeries. powdered sugar on ours.” offer them through Feb. 20.
motes an appreciation of Wilson said she started Lindsy Hoezee, part-owner But the real crunch will
the Polish and Lithuanian baking pączki for customers of Sandy’s, said the bakery come on Sunday through
culture in the metro Grand in the early 1980s when is introducing cherry- Tuesday, with non-stop
Rapids. The Society pub- she served as the national flavored filling for this first baking. “It’s a relief when
lishes this newsletter donut director and Michi- time this year, in addition its over, but it’s fun too,”
monthly. We invite story gan regional director of the
ideas and content contri- Retail Bakers of America, a
butions. For more infor- not-for-profit trade associ-
PHS: Help with Website, Newsletter
mation, please contact ation founded in 1918 to
Matthew Gryczan or Mari- GoDaddy’s Web- plenty of other volunteer
foster success of the retail
lyn Lignell by writing to sites+Marketing program, opportunities.
baking industry. She credits
phsgrandrap- Gryczan said. “The PHS
Carl Richardson, an officer Since Gryczan is not run-
ids@gmail.com. newsletter is another great
of the association from ning for reelection, there
opportunity for people to
Detroit, with promoting will be a vacancy on the
learn how to create and
pączki as a new product PHS Board for a director
President publish newsletters digital-
Adam Porczynski based on the demand in his with a 2-year term.
ly.” Documents are gener-
region. Wilson and Richard-
1st VP
ated in Microsoft Word and Those submitting their
son developed and shared
John Theisen photos are edited using names for consideration
recipes with bakeries as to
Paint, which are both com- must be active members
2nd VP monplace software pro- who are current with annu-
Anthony Zasuwa Time to Apply for grams. The organization al dues or who have life-
Treasurer PHS Scholarships uses Publisher to layout time memberships. There
Mary Ann Bergevin pages and create Adobe are certain requirements
PDF files that are sent to for an individual to be
Corresponding Secretary The PHS is encouraging the printer for publication. placed on the slate of offic-
Elena Chaidez college-bound students of ers up for election in May,
Polish/Lithuanian descent The newsletter is also a
Recording Secretary so those interested should
Dennis Ziomkowski to apply for financial aid perfect outlet for people
contact PHS Recording Sec-
offered by the society. who like to write about
Director
retary Dennis Ziomkowski
local topics related to
Teresa Bonham The deadline for applica- at dziomkow@att.net or
Polish heritage. “We’re
tions is March 15, so stu- write a general letter of
Director always looking for writers
dents should contact their inquiry to phsgrandrap-
Matthew Gryczan with local stories,” he said.
high school or college ids@gmail.com.
“While we are a humble
Director counselors to start the ap- organization that can’t pay “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed
Michael Jasperse plication process. for stories, we give writers my time on the board,”
Director To view the scholarship a byline and voice to a very Gryczan said. “I’ve under-
Richard Panek guidelines and application receptive audience.” taken a large, long-term
form, visit the PHS website writing project, but I hope
Director For those who aren’t inter-
Greg Rosloniec at https:// to circle back in a year or
ested in websites, publish-
polishheritagesociety.com/ two to the PHS to lend a
ing or writing, there are
scholarships. hand again.”Page 3
PHS Member News
By Marilyn Lignell show, which broadcasts on of volunteers that feel the (similar to black cur-
Saturday and Sunday morn- same way….to keep our rant). Can't wait!!
If you haven’t done so al-
ings up until noon on the Polish Heritage very well
ready, please take a mi- Andy Budnick: With a doz-
weekends, and rebroad- known in the West Michi-
nute to fill out the form on en prune paczki from
casts every Saturday and gan area. Our Board Mem-
the back of this newsletter Schnitz Bakery!
Sunday evenings up until bers and Volunteers help
and send in your 2021
midnight on iHeartRa- so much to keep these tra- Scott Ambutavicz: I’ll cele-
dues or pay online conven-
dio. The Polka Melodies is ditions alive and well. I brate however in Poland
iently on our website using
a very well-known staple of thank them every chance I they celebrate Fat Thurs-
PayPal. Your membership
Polish heritage every week- get.” day (Tłusty Czwartek.) It's
dues are what keeps this
end for the past 25 years. the Thursday before Ash
newsletter coming. Thank
Wednesday.
you for your support! If you ever had the oppor- We asked PHS members
tunity to visit The Mus- Stephanie Kovitz: I’ll be
The Polish Heritage Society what they are planning for
kegon Polish Festival on eating a prune filled paczki
welcomes Tom Sanocki as a Fat Tuesday and here are a
Labor Day weekend in Mus- from Sandy’s.
life member! few responses:
kegon, you will find Tom Laura Szczepanek: I think
“I feel that our Polish herit- volunteering his time. He Jarek Kozal: I always smile
I’m going to a make a batch
age needs to be preserved has been president and when I see this. In Poland
of Paczki and reminisce
held other posts at the fes- we celebrate Tłusty
about our flash of fame
tival since its origina- Czwartek or Fat (Greasy)
with Taylor Hicks.
tion. “We have a fantastic Thursday. I will be making
group of individuals, both homemade pączki filled Jacky Schmidt: I’ll be cook-
Board Members and a slew with rose jam, plum, apri- ing and serving food at
cot jam, and czarny bez Eastern Hall.
MINUTES FOR November 16, 2020 el.
A meeting of the Polish Heritage Society was Old Business: Logo/Branding tabled till Janu-
held on November 16, 2020 via Zoom due to ary. Szopka webinar is 20 to 30 minutes in
new covid restrictions. President Adam Por- length. Polish traditions. Theresa showed her
czynski called the meeting to order at 6:01pm. personal Szopka. In person Szopka building,
hopefully donations to build one large com-
Roll Call: Quorum Present? YES
and kept very much alive in munity Szopka. Follow up in January’s
our lives,” Tom said. “I Attendance: Mary Ann Bergevin, Adam Por- meeting.
come from Polish and czynski, Dennis Ziomkowski, Anthony Zasuwa,
New Business: Laura’s food orders, motion by
Czechoslovakian heritage, Richard Panek, Michael Jasperse,Matt
Matt, seconded by Richard to table her re-
where my parents spoke Gryczan, Theresa Bonham Absent: John
quest until January’s meeting. Could be a tim-
the languages and tried Theisen, Greg Rosloniec, Elena Chaidez
ing issue with holidays. Motion passed. Busia
their best to keep customs
Minutes from the last meeting were approved Queen, motion by Matt, second by Michael to
and traditions well within
as printed. Minutes were sent via e-mail to continue her reign till next festival. Someone
our family.”
the board. Motion was made by Richard and needs to ask her if she wants to. Motion car-
Tom has played in polka seconded by Matt to accept. Motion passed. ried. Discussion on purchasing cards be
bands since he was 13 mailed to members for death’s, birthdays,
Treasurer Report: The financial report was
years old. “I also have 25 anniversaries, etc. Motion by Anthony, second
given. Approx. balance in the checkbook is
years under my belt pro- by Richard. Motion passed. Matt to check with
46,900.00 Motion was made by Theresa se-
ducing and broadcasting John on the status of a new PHS logo that may
conded by Matt to accept the report. Motion
The Polka Melodies Radio be printed on cards.
passed.
Show on WKBZ AM 1090 in
Muskegon since 1996.” Correspondence: The checks from renewals
Close meeting: Motion by Matt, second by
were given to Mary Ann for deposit. Member
The “Doctor of Polkaolo- Michael. Meeting ended at 6:52pm. Motion
information is going to Marilyn. Not much
gy" is what many refer to carried Next meeting is January 18, 2021
going on. Renewed with West Michigan Trav-
Tom as on the weekly radio 6pm location TBAJoin the Polish Heritage Society to receive our monthly newsletter and other benefits!
Annual Student Membership for full-time students through college $5
Annual Adult Membership $20
Annual Family or Business Membership $35
Lifetime Membership $150
ONLINE
You can join the Polish Heritage Society online by going to our website at https://polishheritagesociety.com/, fill-
ing out the Membership form and paying by using the PayPal Button.
MAIL
Fill out this form and send a personal check made out to the Polish Heritage Society to this address:
Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids
P.O. Box 1844
Grand Rapids MI 49501-1844
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