Polish Association in Stirling

We are The Polish Association in Stirling, which took upon a difficult task of consolidation and integration of Polish community. Through our joint effort we would like to improve the image of the Polish community inhabiting this beautiful region of Scotland.
We reckon that encouraging Polish people to actively participate in a cultural and social life of this multinational and multicultural society will be of a great benefit to everybody.
Our site is a common space created to welcome new ideas and projects as well as intending to help each other should this be needed. Welcome!

polish@stirling.org.pl

On Sunday 14th March in Albert Hall, Stirling celebrated the International Women's Day for the fifth time. The event united eight communities, that is Scottish, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Polish (Polish Association in Stirling) and Russian who host and entertained the guests with their performances, workshops and the buffet. After the speeches, the Chinese community took us through the transformation of the Chinese woman through centuries accompanied by a display of colourful garments. We listened to a lovely piece of piano music at the Russian presentation and watched a drama performed by the African community, to enter the world of Bollywood dance and then admire a ballet group from the Monument Dance School in Stirling. After living the atmosphere of Eid festival, we finally made it to the Polish performance, during which ladies from the University of the West of Scotland introduced the public to the southern region of Poland called Malopolska and to its great folk art. The presentation was illustrated with an interesting slide show. After stage performances time came for the workshops. The Polish stall impressed with its diversity and colourfulness, the fact which didn't pass unnoticed to the visitors, who surrounded it immediately. They could contemplate there products of folk art (acquired from a museum in Poland for the purpose of the event), from wee wooden rocking horses, through embroideries to paper flowers. Apart from watching, there was a chance to learn how to make paper flowers and other crafts of which occasion children made the best. Other stalls offered sari wrapping, henna painting, Chinese writing etc. To finish the eventful day, the buffet consisting of traditional meals from all 8 countries was served and virtually attacked by well hungry by then guests. Polish table tempted with bigos, colourful sandwiches, smoked sausage or herring snacks and a salad, each of the meals enjoying success. There were also pakoras, noodles, caviar, scones and plenty of other dishes the names of which I'm unfortunately not able to repeat. We can easily say that the celebration of the Women's Day really made it and Polish community presented itself in a good light. In one thing, however, we didn't do very well, that is the attendance. It would be nice to think that the sole reason for that was a very late notice and in that case we would like now to invite you to the next year's celebration of the International Women's Day in Stirling!

We would also like to thank all those who helped us in organisation, that is the PhD students Urszula Roman, Anna Sznajder i Renata Osowska from the University of the West of Scotland for the presentation and the workshop as well as Krystyna, Paulina and Ilona for the tasty meals. We would also like to thank the owner of the Polish shop, Mrs Mariola for her contribution and make it an occasion to invite you to her shop which offers a wide range of Polish products.

On 2nd February 2010 the Happy to Translate event took place. It was organised with joined efforts of Central Scotland Racial Equality Council, Forth Housing Association and Ochil View Housing Association. The purpose of the meeting was to invite people from minority communities to use the services of the above housing associations, as well as to introduce the Happy to Translate initiative launched by the Central Scotland Racial Equality Council, with which the associations cooperate to facilitate communication with their customers.
After the speeches given by the representatives of the three mentioned organisations, presentations of Chinese and Indian dances took place, followed by lunch in a form of a buffet inspired by food from different countries. The event ended with individual conversations between members of the present groups and bodies.
Forth and Ochil View are non-profit housing associations with charitable status which offer attractive and relatively inexpensive to maintain homes with affordable rent. Currently, Forth possesses 532 homes for rent in Stirling and surrounding area and is planning for another 250 in the near future. Ochil View provides over 1300 homes in Clackmannanshire and West Five and another 50 included in the future development programme. To obtain forms and get on the housing waiting lists, call the below numbers or go to the websites:

Forth Housing Association 01786 446 066
http://www.forthha.org.uk/

Ochil View Housing Association 01259 722 899
http://www.ochilviewha.co.uk/

Happy to Translate is an initiative launched by Central Scotland Racial Equality Council with an aim to help improve the quality of life of people speaking little or no English, who live in Scotland, through facilitating their communication with institutions like NHS, police or housing associations. Organisations which cooperate with Happy to Translate and use their logo provide help of a translator. The customer can point their language on a language chart or use a telephone language service and once their language and need are established, an appointment will be made with an interpreter; alternatively, the necessary documents will be translated into appropriate language. Translations are carried out by professional interpreters with respect of code of ethics and quality standards.
More information about Happy to Translate can be found on the website:
www.happytotranslate.com

Dear Friends

Commemorating Holocaust brings back to us the horrific stories of atrocities and warning for the future. We want to remember to make sure it will never happen again.

One of the Polish poets - Wies³awa Szymborska - writing about Holocaust said: " We know ourselves only through what we endured."

We cannot say what we would have done if we were not there but we should remember what happened, we should remember the people who stood up to the challenge and their amazing stories of humanity. Their lives should be celebrated and never forgotten.

One of those people is Oscar Schindler - he saved 1200 Jews.

Today we would like to present to you another story of a Polish woman Irena Sendler who saved 2500 Jewish children. We want you to remember her life story and pass it on to never be forgotten.

Please have a look at a short film Merseyside Polonia prepared about Irena Sendler:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opc0yAhbVNk&feature=channel

During presentation at the Kensington Remembers and Memorial Service at Liverpool Town Hall we collected written reflections from people regarding this amazing story. If you would like to add yours, please send it to us: info@merseysidepolonia.com and we will add them to a jar of messages.

Gosia McKane
Merseyside Polonia
info@merseysidepolonia.com
www.merseysidepolonia.com
Mobile: 07531723006

POLISH ASSOCIATION IN STIRLING

IS INVITING TO

A FILM EVENING

A classic Polish comedy: “OUR FOLKS” with English subtitles.

What happens when two quarrelling families live on neighbouring farms.

Tea and coffee served after the film

11th November 2009 at 6.30pm

The Old Cinema (next to Carlton Bingo)
28 Allan Park, FK8 2LT, Stirling

FREE EVENT

Donations will be appreciated to cover costs.

077 076 976 36/ 079 675 453 85. polish@stirling.org.pl

Independence Day in Poland

In 1918, after 123 years of occupation, the Polish state was reborn and regained its independence. Autumn 1918 marked the end of World War I and the defeat of all three occupiers. Russia was plunged into the confusion of revolution and civil war, the multinational Austro-Hungarian monarchy fell apart and went into decline and the Germans bowed to pressure from the forces of the Entente.

For Poles this was a unique opportunity to reclaim their national way of life. Following defeat of the occupying forces, the Poles began to seize military and civil power, building the foundations of their future nation. On 28th October 1918 the Polish Liquidation Commission was formed in Krakow. The Commission began to seize power from the hands of the Austrians in Galicia and Cieszyn Silesia. A few days later they succeeded in disarming the Austrian forces using members of the secret Polish Military Organisation as well as legionnaires and young people.On 1st November 1918 fighting broke in Lvov out between the Poles and the Ukrainians who were mounting a rebellion of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic.

On the nights of 6th and 7th November the Provisional Government of the People’s Republic of Poland was formed in Lublin under the supervision of Ignacy Daszyñski. The government was made up of representatives from the Polish Socialist Party (PPS), the Polish Social-Democratic Party (PPSD) and the Polish People’s Party “Wyzwolenie” (Liberation). At the same time the Government troops disarmed the occupying forces in Lubelszczyzna and Kielecczyzna. It was at this point that Józef Pilsudski returned to Poland. He had been imprisoned since July 1917 by the Germans. On 10th November 1918 he arrived in Warsaw. His arrival was enthusiastically met by the population of the capital and saw the mass disarmament of the occupying forces across the whole of Poland.

On 11th November 1918 the secret departments of the Polish Military Organisation, demobilized soldiers, legionnaires and young people, disarmed the Germans in Warsaw and other Polish towns.

On 11th November the Regency Government appointed Józef Pilsudski Commander-in-Chief over the Polish Forces and three days later Pilsudski was given complete civil control. The day before he was also put in charge of the Provisional Government of the People’s Republic of Poland in Lublin. Józef Pilsudski formed a new centralized government which on 21st November issued a manifesto announcing agricultural reforms and the nationalization of several branches of industry. He declared, however, that these measures would depend on the decision of the future legislative government. At the same time Józef Pilsudski brought in highly favourable conditions for the workers and called parliamentary elections.

On 22nd November Józef Pilsudski was appointed Chief of State and together with the Prime Minister signed a decree about the provisional authorities of the Polish Republic. The Polish people had to fight bloody battles to preserve their regained independence.

On 27th December 1918 a Polish uprising broke out which restored Poland as the motherland. In Eastern Galicia there was a hard-fought battle with the Ukrainians and in the Eastern parts of Poland self-armed divisions fought with the Bolsheviks. Moreover, three uprisings were needed in Silesia before the Upper Silesia area was once again.
polish@stirling.org.pl