LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Lodge 30-Polonia Association upon the
occasion of celebrating its 125th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those renowned organizations that devote their energy, resources and
thoughtful care to improving the quality of life in their communities;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Lodge 30-Polonia Association upon the occasion of celebrating its 125th
Anniversary on Sunday, May 23, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Affiliated with the Polish National Alliance of the United
States of North America, Lodge 30-Polonia Association has prospered for
125 years; and
WHEREAS, The Polish National Alliance of the United States of North
America, popularly known today as the "PNA" or the "Alliance", is the
largest of all ethnically-based fraternal insurance benefit societies in
this country; and
WHEREAS, According to data collected by the National Fraternal
Congress of its 105 member organizations, the PNA was the 8th largest of
all fraternals in membership, the 13th largest in assets, and the 18th
largest in the total amount of insurance it provided its members; by far
the largest of all fraternal insurance benefit societies created by
Americans of Polish origin, the PNA has members in every state of the
Union and possesses 916 local lodge groups that assist it in carrying
out its mission; and
WHEREAS, The PNA was formed in 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and
in Chicago, Illinois, by emitter patriots whose aim was to unite the
members of the Polish immigrant community in America of that time behind
the twin causes of Poland's independence and their own advancement into
the mainstreams of American society; in 1881, the PNA set up its own
newspaper, ZGODA, to promote its objectives to the larger community; and
WHEREAS, In 1885, the PNA established an insurance program for the
material benefit of all who wished to join the Alliance; from the early
1890s onward, it created a variety of programs aimed at enlightening the
members of the Polish population in the United States about their herit-
age, citizen rights, and obligations as Americans; to further its aims,
the PNA established its own daily newspaper in Chicago, DZIENNIK ZWIAZ-
KOWY, known today as THE POLISH DAILY NEWS; and
WHEREAS, From the World War I era to the present, the Polish National
Alliance and its members, together with the entire Polish American
community, have given generously to help meet the material and medical
needs of its people; in addition, the PNA has helped thousands of refu-
gees from World War II which devastated Poland, and helps them in reset-
tling in the United States in order to build new lives for themselves
and their children; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Polish National Alliance is proud of its record of
serving the insurance needs of the more than two million men, women and
children who have been in its ranks since 1880; it is proud of its work
on behalf of all Americans, Polish and non-Polish alike, in promoting
citizenship in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Polish National Alliance is destined to continue its
noble mission of service to the community, and to the world, exemplify-
ing its ideals for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Lodge 30-Polonia Association upon the occasion of celebrating
its 125th Anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Lodge 30-Polonia Association.