8/28/2003 - Park Ridge, IL (Aug. 19, 2003) - Polish Women's Alliance of America (PWAA), the largest fraternal benefit organization in the United States for women of Polish descent and their families, met at the Marriott Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL, for its 34th National Convention from Saturday, August 2 through Wednesday, August 6, 2003. Over 200 delegates from throughout the U.S. representing 50,000 insured members convened at the quadrennial convention to elect its executive officers and board of directors for the next four years. The newly elected executive officers are: National President Virginia Sikora, who was re-elected for another four years; National Vice President Sharon Zago, who was also re-elected for another four-year term; Secretary General Grazyna Migala who was re-elected to another four-year term, and National Treasurer Barbara Miller elected for the first time to serve as treasurer of PWAA. Ms. Miller is a graduate of DePaul law school and holds numerous insurance and securities licenses and will join the organization after September 20, 2003.
In connection with the 34th National Convention, Polish Women's Alliance also celebrated its105th Anniversary with a Mass celebrated on Saturday, August 2, by Bishop Thad Jakubowski, and the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop for the archdiocese of Chicago, Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, who delivered the homily. Also participating in the celebration of the Mass were Msgr. Stanley Milewski, chancellor-emeritus of Orchard Lake Schools, MI, and the Rev. Walter J. Ziemba, also of Orchard Lake School, who assisted.
On Sunday, August 3, PWAA hosted a gala banquet commemorating its 105th Anniversary with guest speaker Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka - the first woman in Illinois history to hold this post. Ms. Topinka commended PWAA on its commitment to the advancement of women and cited the organization’s spirit of volunteerism to America and Polonia and its commitment to teach, educate and promote the values of Polish culture and heritage and to forge a new path for future generations to experience the American dream. Also in attendance at the banquet were the Consul General of the Republic of Poland Franciszek Adamczyk and his wife, Irena; President of the Polish Roman Catholic Union Wallace Ozog and his wife, Joann; Polish National Alliance Secretary Frank Spula, Vice President Stanley M. Jendzejec, and Treasurer Casimir Musielak, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Polish Falcons Timothy Kuzma.
PWAA’s National President Virginia Sikora, who was elected to her second four-year term pledged her dedication to Polish Women's Alliance and reaffirmed that “in unity there is strength” – the core of the organization. She expressed her gratitude to the membership for their continued support to build upon the fraternal foundation of the organization to create more programs to benefit the membership and the Polish community.
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Polish Women's Alliance 34th National Convention


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The PWAA was founded on May 22, 1898, in Chicago, IL, by Polish immigrant women in order to fill the need for life insurance coverage for women arriving in the U.S. from Poland. PWAA attracted workingwomen at the turn of the century, many of them who arrived in a new country without families and in need of a support system. However, it became quickly apparent that the organization also had a social, cultural and political role to play. The organization also set as its goals the assistance to members and their communities to foster the promotion of Polish language, culture and traditions, as well as assistance to Poland.
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The Polish Women's Alliance of America (PWAA) is a fraternal benefit society founded in 1898 to serve as a bridge between Polonia and America and to help its members establish financial and economic security. Today PWAA also serves to maintain and reinforce Polish identity, heritage and culture.

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