Rejuvenate the Federation

 

We have just had a zoom meeting of the Federation of Poles executive. We talked about the programme for the Independence Day celebrations which Monika Tkaczyk is organizing in POSK, and to which (in Albina's absence) I can actually lend a hand. I was finally shown the new website for the Federation, which is excellent, but it has not yet been published. I have made contributions to it by releasing to the  Federation website the archive material of past letters which I had composed and Wlodek Mier Jedrzejowicz, the chairman, had signed on behalf of the Federation. I also forwarded some relevant You Tube videos. 

At present they are concerned about being ignored by UK and Polish organizations because of the activities of the right wing British Poles who turn up everywhere and with a great hutzpah, they claim front row seats. I reminded them that they need to have the website up and running, and organize a launch meeting, possibly with an exhibition in POSK gallery, to which they invite not only social and cultural organizations, but also Polish businesses. If they do that then there could be a case for them to apply to PAFT (Polonia Aid Foundation Trust) for funding an employee to work in their office for two days a week. At the moment their office is an utter shambles, especially as it has not seen a cleaner for three years. 

The truth is that the main leaders, including Wlodek, are tired and in poor health, and that does sap their energy levels. But there are younger members who should eventually take over. Maybe even at the January AGM by picking a good young Vice-Chairman, though Wlodek should currently still hang on. He is intelligent and trustworthy but he is overburdened with other tasks as well, such as being Rector of the Polish University Abroad and Secretary of the Polish Cultural Foundation, which owns the ailing Tydzien Polski. 

Wlodek asked me to help prepare a letter of application to PAFT, but I will want those conditions fulfilled before I agree to compose such a letter. 

He also asked me to phrase a letter of congratulations to the new PM, Rishi Sunak. I composed something last night and sent it to him, as follows:

 Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP

Prime Minister 

10 Downing Street,

London SW1A 2AB

Dear Prime Minister.

On behalf of Polish community organizations in the United Kingdom, which we have represented as an umbrella organization since 1948, we wish to offer our congratulations on your being appointed Prime Minister of this country. We share the joy and satisfaction of our friends in the Indian community that a first generation descendant of a hard working immigrant family can aspire to and achieve the highest political office in the land.

We wish you every success in your declared endeavours to stabilize the economy and to restore confidence once more in this country’s traditional institutions,

Yours sincerely 

Nice and simple.

In the meantime, I received a thank you email from Rupa Huq which stated that it was a stupid mistake on her part to question Kwazi Kwarteng's right to be considered black, but that she was not a racist. She quoted the letter of apology she had sent to Kwarteng, and added that she had met him to apologize and that he had gracefully accepted her apology. That I can believe. Unfortunately, she will remain suspended from the Labour Parliamentary Party for the time being. I guess she will be alowed back in a few months, when the hue and cry had died down.