I come from 30th and
California Street and have lived NE all of my life. Besides being a board
member of PACIM, I sing in the Polish choir at Holy Cross and am associated
with the Polish Rosary Society. I joined PACIM in 1993 because I was tired
of hearing about “dumb Poles.” During the summer of 1994, Ela Brodziak and
I started the Polish American Library with 300 books donated by Mary Jane
Gustafson. I’ve continued the buying, cataloging, etc. and we now have
4,300 books, audio books, CD’s and the very popular DVD’s. Since our move
in 2006 to 2514 Central Avenue NE , Library patronage has increased
dramatically. We also have a presence which testifies to the education and
culture of those who came before us.
I received a BA from the University of
Minnesota in 1975. I worked mostly in mortgage and trust banking with a few
years in building management. I slid into retirement in 2006 and have been
busy with volunteer activities ever since. I organized the first Bal
Karnawałowy, the first bus trips to Milwaukee and Chicago , the re-enactment
of a turn-of-the-century Polish country wedding, and movie night. I am
responsible for the day-to-day running of the Library, the Wigilia Benefit,
the caroling, and our participation in local parades. I am editor of the
“Events” page of the Pol-Am and also am a correspondent for The
Polish American Journal and the Polska Gazeta. Many people may
only know me as
judytam@usfamily.net from their email version of
the Polish Update.
