____________________________________________
FOR SEPT. 2008
Phone: 602-275-9329
We are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization,
all donations are tax deductible
*President s Corner*
Dear Fellow Members and Friends,
The summer is not quite over yet but we are getting ready to resume our fall schedule at the Pulaski Club.
Our latest improvements to our bathrooms are taking longer than anticipated and we had to cancel our scheduled September 7th, 2008 Members Meeting and dance. The Members Meeting will take place on September 13th, 2008, at 2 PM and the dance will follow from 4-7 PM. Thank you for your understanding. When we try to rely mostly on volunteer help things don t always work out as planned.
We have many people to thank for the latest efforts in keeping our club comfortable and modern to better serve YOU our members and guests.
Thanks to Frank Tomaszkowicz, Zbigniew Korsak, David Bonczkiewicz, Frank Kanios, Bob Keith, Genie and Ray Jorgensen, Tom O Loughlin and numerous others. Through the intercession of Andrew Czerski, his colleague, Ziggy Oparowski of Saturn Enterprises donated the beautiful granite countertops, sinks, toilets and all the plumbing hardware for our bathrooms. We are very grateful to Ziggy for his contribution. Mr. Czerski donated electrical fixtures and electrical work. Thanks to Steve Gierszewski of White Eagle Builders who donated building materials and did a lot of the heavy lifting as the Contractor on the project.
As all this was going on a tragedy struck the Czerski Family. Andrew s son Mathew lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident on Sat. Aug. 16th and was buried on Thursday, Aug. 21st, 2008. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Andrew Czerski, Mathew s mother Ewa and sisters Elizabeth and Kathryn.
As a reminder to all our members, this is an election year for a new president of the United States but the Pulaski Club is also going to elect or re-elect most of our officers of the. Please consider SERVING OUR CLUB in whatever capacity you can. All of our officers are now elected for a two-year term other than Board of Directors.
We also have a couple of vacancies created when Wesley and Donna Ochocki resigned their respective positions as Sergeant-At-Arms and Recording Secretary, when they moved back to their home country of Poland.
We need to fill those two positions for the duration of this year and that may just be an opportunity for someone who never served as an officer to try a position for a few months on a trial basis, before committing for a two-year term. Just a thought!
We have a great group of officers and I hope that most of them will agree to remain in their posts or serve in another capacity however, seeing new faces who want to contribute is always gratifying and welcome.
Please remember that we are all volunteers in the service of OUR Pulaski Club which means YOU. Let s be supportive and appreciative to those who serve you and let s have a great time at all our events.
Your President, Casimir Kosinski
________________________________________________________
*OFFICERS 2008*
PRESIDENT: Casimir Kosinski 623-487-9821
1st Vice President: Chez Falkowski 480-892-0737
2nd Vice President: Halina Kosinski 623-487-9821
Sergeant At Arms: VACATED
Recording Secretary: VACATED
Financial Secretary: Diana O'Loughlin
Treasurer: Mary Kiselus 602-526-7321
*BOARD OF DIRECTORS*
CHAIRMAN: David Bonczkiewicz 480-380-8887, ends 12/31/10
Bob Keith 602-510-7435, ends 12/31/10
Frank Tomaszkowicz 480-539-1995, ends 12/31/09
Frank Kanios 480-423-9480, ends 12/31/09
Cindy Lofgren 480-710-4192, ends 12/31/08
*TRUSTEES*
Shane Prosser 480-814-9240, ends 12/31/10
Paul Chojnacki 480-961-4180, ends 12/31/09
Henrietta Nemecek 602-955-5509, ends 12/31/08
*COMMITTEES*
Publicity: Paul Chojnacki 480-961-4180
Sunshine: Shirley Sztuk 480-964-8275
Entertainment: Halina Kosinski 623-487-9821
*NEWSLETTER*
Editor/Publisher: Chez Falkowski 480-892-0737,
E-Mail: chezf@yahoo.com
*WEB SITE*
Original Web-Design: Sylvia Kosinski
Webmaster: Casimir Kosinski 623-487-9821
E-Mail Pulaski Club: pulaskiclubaz@yahoo.com
Pulaski Club Phone: 602-275-9329
________________________________________
1st VICE PRESIDENT - Chez Falkowski:
I would like to mention a book about Lech Walesa which caused a big uproar in Poland. For years there were public allegations that Walesa was an informer on a payroll of the communist political secret police - Sluzba Bezpieczenstwa (Security Service - equivalent of KGB). The book "...." documents that in years 1970-1976 Lech Walesa as a secret informer coded Bolek (Tajny Wspolpracownik Bolek ) was snitching on his co-workers to Security Service (SB) for money and some amenities (e.q. housing which was very, very scarce). If someone is interesting in a free electronic version of this book (PDF file in Polish language), please, contact me.
Lech Walesa was the president of the Polish Republic in years 1990-1994. His actions were sometimes quite strange . He allowed enfranchising by communist bonzes and thieves, He appointed two communist political police officers (SB) as his personal bodyguards. Interesting to note that under communism they were personally questioning him and were in control of his dossier. He appointed his driver Wachowski (reportedly a communist snitch) to rank of the head (minister) of a key department in the central government. Walesa than demanded to see and got his complete communist dossier. It was than returned incomplete. When prime-minister Olszewski wanted to publish a list of all communist snitches and bar communist apparatchiks from public posts, Walesa personally orchestrated a no-confidence vote for the government at nighttime. One of participants was Donald Tusk the current prime-minister and a vocal defender of Lech. The whole event is documented in the live filmed documentary movie Night shift (Nocna zmiana). The list is rather long.
It is interesting that the loudest protests rise from post-communists and people who themselves face similar public allegation. Their main argument is that Lech Walesa is a symbol of Polish struggle against communism and such book is harmful to Poland s interest and image abroad etc. Basically it may be summarized to "let's not search for thieves, crooks and traitors from the past but let s work for better future".
I beg your forgiveness for my strong private opinion here. During the Kosciuszko Insurrection in 1794, people of Warsaw carried out a shoemaker s, Jan Kilinski s order to hang traitors on street lamps (including some top ranking government and church officials). Lech is rather lucky that there is only a book by professional historians not an insurrection or a revolution. We do not need false images but the truth with all the bad and the good facts. People make mistakes in their life but it takes courage to admit them. If Lech had admitted his mistakes it would have not out-weight his good deeds and stature of the Solidarity icon. Unfortunately he had panicked and had chosen to wade into petty lies and non-coherent denials until these days.
2nd VICE PRESIDENT - Halina Kosinski:
Despite the heat, I m still enjoying my vacation from the club s kitchen knowing that all good things must come to an end.
At the next meeting I will be asking for volunteers to take turns in the kitchen for our fall events. We need to expand our crew in order to make this chore more enjoyable and appealing for all involved. We will be planning interesting manus and I welcome everyone s ideas and suggestions.
We must be doing something right as reflected by your compliments and growing interest.
Few people seem to have favored our April in Paris themed menu and asked for a recipe. Look for it elsewhere in this newsletter.
Let s enjoy each other s company, the food, the music and the atmosphere and PLEASE be supportive to others and to the club. We are all in this together.
TREASURER - Mary Kiselus:
Hello! Members and friends and welcome back to our club functions after the hot summer months. Last financials reported in our June newsletter were for month of March. In month of April our Income totaled $9698.15 and was generated from our club functions, hall rentals, bar income and dues. Club expenditures were quite high as we had to cover the 2nd half of our property taxes to the tune of $2436.80. Total expenses for April were $7820.86. This gave us profit of $1877.29. Keep up the good Work and please continue to support the club. We all know the remodeling of the restrooms took place this summer. Best Wishes to all. See you all at the club at our September functions.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY - Diana O Loughlin:
Thank you for all the renewals. Dues are $24.00 a year. Check your membership card, and send a check to the Pulaski Club. If you know of anyone with address changes, have them fill out the form in this newsletter or they can contact me with the changes.
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE - Shirley Sztuk:
No news is good news!! Stay healthy, and have a happy and healthy summer. Keep smiling.
______________________________________________________________________
Nickelcity Dave's
News and Notes
HURRY UP AND WAIT - VOLUNTEER: a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking, a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.
Remodeling is still ongoing and projected to be completed for the weekend of September 13th, So tell all your dancing partners and friends that the club dance scheduled for September 7th has been canceled and I hope to present to you a new facility that you will be proud to park your derriere and enjoy the new amenities and modern fixtures. I would like to thank the Board of Directors Frank Tomaszkowicz who spearheaded the project, Frank Kanios and Bob Keith for the help and Genie and Ray Jorgensen for the vittles and moral support. Thanks to club members able to squeeze in some time here and there and offer their services, and volunteers that put in some time sweating and digging the trenches. And to Andrew Czerski without whose generous donations and wheeling and dealing this project would not be complete. When you see Andrew and his friend Ziggy Oparowski at the club please buy them a beer or two and have a few na zdrowie . Thanks to everybody who helped during this hot summer project I hope you all enjoy the continuing improvements to our Polish Home.
Mark your calendar for October 17th, 18th and 19th the board of directors are once again going to have another weekend polka party with the Full Circle Polka Band featuring Polka Hall of Famers, Lenny Gomulka, Jimmy Weber, Al Piatkowski, and polka legends Mike Stapinski, Roger Malinowski and Mike Matousek. Look for more information on the Pulaski web page and flyer advertisements at the upcoming dances.
Just a reminder, we will move our membership drive from September 7th to September 13th,this is the time to check your membership card make sure you re up to date on your dues and bring new potential members to join our polish club. Bring a friend to our Polish-American club cause we polish people like our dances packed!
BARTENDER: SOCIAL SECURITY SEX - Two men were talking. 'So, how's your sex life?'
'Oh, nothing special. I'm having Social Security sex.' 'Social Security sex?'
'Yeah, you know; I get a little each month, but not enough to live on!'
DID YOU KNOW:
Only in America ...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
And finally: Why to we get ON the plane instead of IN the plane? We don t get on the car to go somewhere, do we?
BARTENDERS WANTED: A schedule is posted inside the bar area. If interested ask the bartenders to sign ya up we still have some openings. Or call me I ll e-mail ya a schedule. David @ (602) 741-8214 (nickelcity_dave@yahoo.com).
GOLF LESSONS: any one interested in golf lessons, contact Bob Schreiber who is a professional PGA golf instructor and one of our members. Discount to club members, contact Bob @ (602) 315-3266.
RENT THE HALL: The Pulaski Club is available for all your social events. Basic club price is $1,200; this includes a 6 hr. rental and a refundable damage deposit of $200. In addition, we offer full bar service, a house DJ service (Nickelcity Dave), security, kitchen, and a list of available catering services for your event. Call to reserve the club for your special event. (602) 275-9329 NOTE:
Pulaski Club is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.
______________________________
A note from the editor:
I would like to thank Carol and Norm Fritchie for their outstanding work as Club s newsletter editors and their gracious help and directions when I was volunteered to be the new editor by our President. If you would like to contribute an article to the newsletter, please, do not hesitate to contact me. I do editing in MS Word. Please, encourage your friends to come to the club s events and apply for club s membership. Thank you.
Chez Falkowski
Chicken Crepes with Mushroom Saurce:
Making the crepes: Mix the following in a blender. 2 cups milk, 1 1/2 cups flour, 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine. The batter should be runny, like syrup for your pancakes. If too thick, add more milk.
Preheat your frying pan and melt a sliver of margarine or oil (your choice).
Pour a thin layer of the liquid batter, and rotate the pan at the same time to spread the batter over the entire pan bottom.
When it turns golden brown, flip over with your spatula to brown the other side. Repeat this until you have a stack of 12 15 crapes.
To make the filling: have some cooked chicken meat (white and dark combination works best) We used Costco s rotisserie chicken, removed skin and bones and cut into bite size pieces.
Prepare basic chicken gravy (from scratch or by using store bought packet).
Place diced chicken in a pot and add enough gravy to make it moist but not soggy. Add chopped parsley, green onions, or chopped leeks, add spices to your liking and cook for approximately 5-10 minutes, stirring the mix a few times.
Making the mushroom gravy for your topping: Saut fresh sliced mushrooms in margarine. Dissolve mushroom bullion cube in a small pot over low heat, add mushrooms and salt to taste. Thicken the mixture with flour and water combination.
Serving: All of the above can be done a day before your event. On the day of your event you must stuff your crepes with the chicken filling by spreading a small amount on the crepe and rolling it, cigar style. Heat up your mushroom gravy and keep it warm. Chop up fresh parsley or dill weed and keep it on the side for garnish.
The last step is quick frying of the rolled up crepes on both sides in one tablespoon of butter or margarine. Than pour a generous amount of warm mushroom gravy across the top, garnish with your chopped greens and serve.
Crepes are best when served right from the pan. Never cover them if holding them warm is necessary for it will make them soft and soggy. Bon Appetite!
Contributed by Halina Kosinski
______________________________________________________________________
SUMMER BREAK
2008-2009 ACTIVITIES
Date, time, & bands are subject to change
September 7:
meeting & dance cancelled due to remodeling delays.
September 13 :
meeting & dance cancelled due to remodeling delays.
September 27 : SATURDAY - rental
Polish Highlanders - Dinner Dance
Zbigniew Galazka Trio will entertain.
From 8PM 2 AM
October 5:
Members Meeting 12:30,
Dance to Varitones, 2-6pm
October 17-18-19:
Full Circle Polka Band weekend party with Polka Hall of Famers
(see News & Notes)
November 1:
Saturday, Halloween Dance,
John Smoltz, 6-10pm
November 9:
Sunday, Membership Meeting 12:30pm,
Dance, John Smoltz. 2-6pm
November 30:
Sunday, Dance,
John Filipczak & AZ Classics, 2-6pm
December 14:
Sunday, Christmas & Dance,
Dinner 1-3pm, Dance to Varitones, 3-7pm
December 31:
New Year s Eve -
Polish Highlanders all invited
January 1, 2009
New Year s Day
Fundraiser/Potluck/Polka Jam/Dance Party!!!!
Invite your friends and join us for a fun day ..
Date, time, & bands are subject to change
_______________________________________________________________________________