ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, In the late 1800, many immigrants from Poland arrived to the Chicagoland area. They tried to establish their new life in a foreign country even though they didn't know the language or the culture of this country. Their emotional bond to the catholic religion, Polish culture, and traditions led them to uniting into clubs from the regions or villages they came from to support themselves as well as to support their "Little Homelands," and,
WHEREAS, The oldest of those clubs, "Szczurowa," is now 118 years old. In 1928, those little clubs called an inaugural meeting to establish "Zwiazek Klubow Malopolskich - Alliance of Clubs of Lesser Poland," and,
WHEREAS, In 1936, the first convention was called and at that time, the Constitution and Bylaws were written. They describe the charitable and educational purpose of the newly established organization: to initiate and coordinate the activities of individual clubs and organizations affiliated within the infrastructure by encouraging their interest in assisting the people of Poland and surrounding Polish-American community in the Chicagoland area; and,
WHEREAS, Meanwhile, more clubs from other Polish regions joined the organization. In 1978, at the 16th Convention, the organization changed its name to the current name: Alliance of Polish Clubs in the USA - Zwiazek Klubow Polskich w USA. The name was changed due to the fact that participating clubs represented the many different areas of Poland. In 1982, APC purchased a new building at 5835 W. Diversey Ave. in Chicago. After a complete remodeling moved into their new location; and,
WHEREAS, In 1991, APC voluntarily took over the organization of the largest Polish parade outside of Poland, the May 3rd Constitution Parade. The parade celebrates the anniversary ofthe ratification of the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791. This Chicago parade is in tribute of this historic document, the first democratic constitution in Europe and second in the world only to...
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