Category: Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Being involved with the organization has been great fun. I have travelled to Poland at least five times now and can walk into city hall and everyone knows my name! Well, almost! I have been to the Gdynia Film Festival twice. We have participated in the Sister City Galas and of course, met some great friends!

Polish Film Festival Anniversary Screening
Current · Polish Film Festival · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association · Seattle Polish Film Festival

Polish Film Festival Anniversary Screening

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The Seattle Polish Film Festival is the second longest running film festival in the US; and this year celebrates 25 years!  Attendees walked the red carpet and had their photos taken with directors and actors from Poland.  Zbigniew Banas, from Chicago, emceed the celebration at Pacific Place Theaters giving a short history and introducing our guests from Poland.  View photos by clicking here.

Below: Actor Lukas Simlat with Zbyszek Pietrzyk and wife; Zbigniew Banas with host; and Actor/Director Janusz Chabior chatting it up with film-goers.

Current · Polish Film Festival · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association · Seattle Polish Film Festival

By Stanley For Stanley

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The Seattle Polish Film Festival presented this compelling documentary that follows the developing friendship of a young boy and an artist both of whom are disabled in the same way. The artist is older, wiser, and lived a life already filled with obstacles for which he has found solutions or simply devised a state of mind to deal with the lack of arms. Only going to prove that if someone is determined, goals can be reached despite disabilities.

Director, Monika Melen was present and spent close to 30 minutes answering questions before a crowd of 40 guests. Click here for photos.

Film festival guests Monika Melen and Maciej Sobieszczanski were both on hand and will continue to be throughout the Seattle Polish Film Festival  which runs thru October 29, 2017.

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Current · Polish Film Festival · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Yiddish Celebration a Success!

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About 100 people attended the Seattle Polish Film Festival’s Yiddish celebration complete with Klezmer Music. Sasha Senderovich, assistant professor at University of Washington gave an enlightening presentation on the history of Yiddish films, followed by “Yiddle with a Fiddle” starring Mary Picon. Afterwards Peter Lippman talked about Klezmer music and we were treated to a musical performance by Klezmer Local #206.

You can view all the imaged by clicking here.

Festival continues thru October 29, 2017.

 

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Photo Above: Dr. Jerry Strassman, Carol Strassman, Mrs. Sarah Gortler, Teresa Davis, Joshua Gortler, Holocast Survivor/President Emeritus of Kline Galland

https://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/data/50508873

Photo Below: Zbyszek Pietrzyk, Steven Baral (Past President Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle/ CEO Doncaster Investments), Teresa Davis

https://mag.jewishinseattle.org/articles/2017/4/5/due-to-the-kindness-of-strangers-a-family-exists-today

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Polish Festival Seattle is July 9
Current · Polish Home Association · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Polish Festival Seattle is July 9

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My polish heritage is coming alive at the 5th Annual “Polish Festival Seattle” this Saturday, July 9th at Seattle Center from 11am-7pm. There’s gonna be plenty of delicious food and piwo (beer), entertainment, displays and arts & crafts. As part of the Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association I lead the team that put together the Discover Poland Booth, so be sure to stop by and get this year’s souvenir bag!

And please stop by my craft booth! You’ll find the famous Pierogi Soap and enchanting little matchbooks plus my new vintage dictionary art pages in both english and polish!

It’s that time of year…. for the Polish Bazaar!
Current · Polish Home Association · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

It’s that time of year…. for the Polish Bazaar!

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Yep, it’s that time for holiday shopping at local bazaars. I”ll be at the Polish Bazaar this Saturday and Sunday the &th and 8th of November with some fun gift items. New this year are charming cork ornaments, candy filled gift tags, and stunning wooden photo blocks. We also have the usual Pierogi soap, colorful matchbook magnets, and humorous holiday coasters plus Gail Ann’s images of Poland.

Annual Polish Bazaar, November 7 & 8, Noon – 6PM
1714 18th Ave. (Madison & 18th)
Wonderful crafts, Polish food and more!
Come on by!

Business to Business · Polish Home Association · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Camas and Seattle welcome delegation from Poland

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The Mayors of cities: Zabierzow, Krapkowice and Morawica were hosted in the Seattle area by the Camas Sister Cities. The Polish American Chamber of Commerce held an evening reception where representatives of local Polish associations were able to meet and greet this delegation from Poland. Their schedules were busy with visits to Microsoft, Boeing, Coast Guart and Polish Festival in Portland.

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Current · Polish Home Association · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Seattle welcomes Pomerania Region and City of Gdansk

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Members of the Gdansk Trade Mission headed to the ‘states’ and visited with businessmen and women in Silicon Valley, Chicago and Seattle. The Associaiton of Washington Business, Polish American Chamber of Commerce, and the Trade Development Aliance of Greater Seattle welcomed them at a presentation and networking reception at the held at the World Trade Center Seattle on October 23rd. Click here to view all images and download.

Teresa Indelak-Davis chats with President of Polish American Chamber of Commerce with Governor of Pomerania Region and Mayor of Gdansk.

Current · Polish Home Association · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Networking at Polish Home with Mayor of Gdansk

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A small reception was held to welcome representatives from high tech and investment organizations in Gdansk, Poland. The govenor of Pomerania Region, Mieczyslaw Struk and the Mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz were honored guests. Pictured  below are: From left: Danuta Moc (PACCPNW, Director),   Teresa Idelak-Davis (PSCCPNW, President), Mieczyslaw Struk (Marszalek of Pomeranian Voivodeship), Krystyna Untersteiner (UWPSEC , Chair) and Katarzyna Dziwirek (UW Slavic Department, Professor and Chair). Click here to see all the images and download.

Polish Film Festival · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Slovenian Director, American writer = Polish Film

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What a combination. But for us it yielded a finely tuned collage of what happens on Christmas Eve in Warsaw. We met characters looking for love, building up trust again, and coming alive when strangers enter the picture. Mitja Okorn, director, was born in Slovenia. He met up with Sam Akina, an American writer, producer, director to collaborate on “Letters to Santa” which garnered a third best film opening in Polish cinema history (post 1989) We thank them for presenting their film to Seattle audiences at the 20th Annual Seattle Polish Film Festival. View reception photos here.

Current · Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Seattle Gdynia Sister City celebrates 20th Anniversary

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It was a gathering of Seattle Gdynia Sister City members to celebrate 20 years of accomplishments by civilian ambassadors to Gdynia, Poland.  Our special guest was Joanna Leman, Foreign Relations Department Manager, City of Gdynia, Poland. She presented some very special gifts to the association including a lovely glass sculpture congratulating us on our 20 years of service.  Past SGSCA Presidents were recognized and each expressed unique stories pertaining to their involvement.  You can view all the images by clicking here.

SGSCA past presidents gather at Ivar's

Joanna Leman presents gift to Alan Jawarski, SGSCA PresidentGlass sailing ship from Gdynia presented to SGSCA