Plea!

When I begun my quest to find out about my family history and received my first letter from Poland in 2001 I could not read it. I took it to the Polish Museum of Anerica in Chicago and found there someone who translated it. It was the beginning of my transformation and eventual move to Poland. Now this old museum is in financial trouble and so I am a happy to post this email on my blog. They are in dire need of help. If you can help them, please do it now.

Dear Friends,

We cannot mask a very serious issue before the Polish Museum of America.

The Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, which founded by the Polish Museum of America (PMA) in 1935 and which still houses the PMA within its building, has suspended its yearly $100,000 subsidy to the PMA. The PRCUA also suspended last year’s subsidy by 25%, leaving the PMA to operate through mid-March.

We are very grateful for the consistent financial and moral support of our PMA members. They are our first and best source of funding. We have nearly 900 members from 37 states, Australia, and Poland; but being the oldest and largest Polish American museum in the nation should produce 5-6 times that many members.

We thank Wspolnota Polska - the Association of the Polish Community Abroad – for their monetary support last year, and we hope, in 2010. Their support has freed up monies for other areas of the Museum. The Ministry of Culture also provides the PMA with visiting archivists and specialists from Poland who come to work with our PMA Staff in an atmosphere of mutual learning.

Our staff members are committed professionals, and your support allows them to attend seminars and classes to hone their skills. They work at lesser salaries than their skills warrant because they love and respect the Museum and Library. There is rarely a time when a caller or visitor’s question cannot be answered by appropriate Museum personnel.

The Museum’s value lies not only in the historical treasures that are preserved here, but also in the many generous and talented people who work hard to make this great institution possible.

Become a member of The Polish Museum of America. As a not-for-profit organization, the PMA depends upon individual donations, and proceeds from the annual Summer Ball. However, these efforts are not sufficient to meet the rising cost of maintaining the Museum, therefore we must rely upon the generosity of supporting members to continue its programs. Without membership, the Museum would not be able to keep up with escalating costs. We invite you to respond to the financial challenges and needs of the Museum by becoming a supporting member. The PMA is indispensible in preserving the Polish past for the future. We hope that you will join us.

Please make checks payable to: Polish Museum of America and mail to: PMA Membership, The Polish Museum of America, 984 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60642-4101. Donations to the PMA are tax deductable. We sincerely thank you for your generosity. You can pay for your membership online – visit http://www.polishmuseumofamerica.org/v4/EnglishVersion/PMAMembership.htmfor the instructions . You can join us at the Facebook, Museum is

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/Polish-Museum-of-America/96920757924 and Library is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/Polish-Museum-Library/80184772567?ref=ts and become fans.

On behalf of the PMA Team, we thank you!

Sincerely,

Maria Ciesla, President Jan M. Lorys, Director


PLEASE HELP KEEP

THE POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA OPEN

See also the blog below this one.