The Polish American Council of Texas (PACT) met for their annual Members and Directors meeting and conference in Bremond, Texas at the Texas Slav & German Warehouse on November 23, 2013. Members from Austin, Bryan, Bay City, Bandera, San Antonio, Panna Maria, La Vernia, Gillette and Bremond attended to share news and ideas, learn more about Polish-interest organizations and events across Texas and be inspired to strengthen Polish culture in Texas.
Organizations represented at the meeting included the Austin Polish Society, Bandera County Sister City Partnership Association, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Friends of the John Paul II Center in St. Hedwig, the Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Panna Maria, the Polish American Center in San Antonio, the Panna Maria Heritage Center Foundation, the Polish American Priests Association, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in San Antonio, and the Bremond Historical Society. Bremond was chosen as the venue for the meeting because it was settled in the mid-1800s by hard-working Polish families whose descendants are still thriving in the small, but culturally rich community.
During the conference, members participated in a roundtable discussion, enjoyed a presentation by the Bremond Historical Society, a program and slide show about the Bandera Sister City Partnership Association, the film, “Waltz of Westphalia,” a delicious meal of Polish food prepared by Janet Swick Hadley owner of Janet’s Café in Bremond, and also held an election of Directors. Voting resulted in the election of one new Director, Mary Gawron with the Austin Polish Society, who will join the board which includes Founder and Chairman, Bishop Emeritus John W. Yanta D.D., Joseph Cicherski, Art Gmurowski, Elenora Dugosh Goodley, Sam Kotara, Dr. Marian L. Kruzel, Witold Lukaszewski, Sue McCarthy, Dr. Robert M. Malina, Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, Dr. Waldemar Priebe, Elaine Mazurek Stephens and Beata Zadrozna.
More information about the PACT is available at www.PolishAmericanCouncilofTexas.com and www.Facebook.com/PACTx.
