General Convention Information:
It is with great anticipation and commitment that the American Polish Cultural Society of Troy, Michigan is preparing for the 75th Anniversary Convention of the American Council for Polish Culture, under the motto:
Celebrating Our Rich Past – Looking to a Bright Future
This prodigious event will take place, Thursday, July 27th to July 29th with the arrival of delegates on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
What a wonderful coincidence that in 1948 on July 27th the Friends of Polish Art of metro Detroit, hosted a conference on Polish American Activities at the Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, where the American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs was created.
The official name, American Council for Polish Culture, was adopted in 1988 at the 40th ACPCC Convention in Hartford, CT, with a consensus of the delegates that this change would better serve its constituency.
The American Polish Cultural Society is delighted to welcome the delegates from around the United States to celebrate this anniversary with us here in Troy, Michigan, as we are happy to share our pride in our organization.
We were founded 38 years ago in 1985 and have since grown in many ways. We maintain a Polish Library, host theatrical performances, concerts honoring the genius of Chopin, dance festivals, book signings and many other events. We house a collection of over 30 original portraits of Poland’s great composers, writers, Nobel Prize winners and other Polish nobility in our “Polish Royal Castle Restaurant.” These portraits were commissioned by the Polish Veterans First Armored Division and sponsored by the members of the Society. The Cultural Society also sponsors a Scholarship Fund that every year rewards young Polish Americans for their academic excellence.
A point of interest: all the proceeds from this convention are designated to the Scholarship Fund at the Cultural Society with the prime objective and a great resolve to establish an endowment which will help support young people of Polish descent in pursuing higher education.
In addition, all the delegates and friends will have the opportunity to visit the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame Museum (NPASHF) which is part of our building. The mission of NPASHF is to recognize and preserve outstanding achievement by individuals of Polish heritage in the field of sports.
The Convention will be held at the Somerset Inn in Troy, where all the business will be conducted, but in addition we have a few enjoyable experiences planned.
We will have the pleasure to visit the beautiful grounds of Orchard Lake Schools on Friday, where in the evening all the guests will be captivated by the performance of the 2023 Sembrich Vocal Competition winner.
On our way to the Orchard Lake, we shall make a brief stop to visit the newly dedicated gravestones and a Monument erected to honor the Polish soldiers of General Jozef Haller’s Army who fought for a free Poland.
Traditionally, we end the convention with the Awards Banquet, honoring and recognizing people of merit for their accomplishments and their contributions in promoting Polish heritage. This year, however, to make this event especially memorable, after dinner and the awards presentation we will continue our celebration with dancing to the music of the orchestra Na Zdrowie.
This banquet will take place at our beautiful American Polish Cultural Center, where we will also have a chance to visit the only National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame, Museum. Truly a sight to see.
We would encourage you to plan extra days as there is so much more to see: the beautiful Detroit Riverfront (https://detroitriverfront.org) with a view of the Ambassador Bridge, (Ralph Modjeski contributing architect) Henry Ford Village, the Detroit Institute of Arts and Edsel and Elenor Ford House (https://www.fordhouse.org) just to mention a few.
We graciously invite you to join us and to be a witness to this monumental anniversary. Come and see what we have accomplished, share in our triumphs, and help us build for the future.
As our Holy Father St. John Paul II said:
Let us remember the past with gratitude,
live the present with enthusiasm,
and look forward to the future with confidence.
