San Francisco, Calif. (PMN)--Continuing to be under attack for alleged past association with the Communist Party in Poland, Waldemar Glodek, published a "List Otwarty" ["Open Letter"] directed to the publisher of the News of Polonia, a Polish American publication based in Southern California.
It was not long before a person by the name of Yan [sic] Pawlak replied via the Internet that it was "A letter full of distortions of the facts surrounding his conflict with the St. Stanislaus Society in San Francisco." The writer pulled no punches, referring to Glodek as "trained by the Communist Party of PRL [Polish Peoples Republic] and an experienced apparatchik."
A posting by Halina Grochowska-Jimenez at the Polish Club website states that Communist and fascist infiltrators have used various tactics for years to break up viable, growing, and strong organizations, but it is unclear at whom the claims are directed. "The Polish Club, Inc., and its officers in San Francisco," she states, "are in the midst of a great battle to defend itself from the takeover of just such a group of individuals."
Glodek is ostensibly a Vice President of the Polish American Congress (PAC) in Northern California, but Pawlak denies that status, saying that "his term expired with the election of a new president on July 9, 2006." However, that disputed election is still to be determined at a future meeting of national PAC directors.
Glodek is pictured as a leader of the Polish Club in San Francisco at the organization’s website and his "Open Letter" prominently appears there.
A lawsuit initiated in 2002 between the St. Stanislaus Society (SSS) and the St. Stanislaus Benevolent Society (SSBS) concerned the true ownership of the Polish Club building. Although a decision was rendered, the parties continue to argue about what it actually meant. One thing both admit: the court proceedings were financially harmful to all concerned.
Some persons in San Francisco, Edmund Lewandowski in particular, continue to demand that Glodek prove he was not a communist collaborator. Although his name appears on the infamous Wildstein List of alleged collaborators, no hard evidence against Glodek has been produced. Moreover, it is generally admitted that similar and same names belonging to other persons can appear in the list.
There are rumors that Glodek intends to move to Florida for business reasons. Marty Cepielik, editor-publisher of News of Polonia has addressed questions regarding the Polish Club, writing, "Before you leave San Francisco all questions should be cleared up for the sake of your good name, for the sake of your children, for the sake of your grandchildren. You owe it to yourself, you owe it to Polonia of San Francisco." News of Polonia occasionally carries articles contributed by Edmund Lewandowski, a principal opponent of Glodek.
Christopher A. Kerosky, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in San Francisco, referring to the PAC dispute, stated in writing, "I want to go on record in expressing my strong preference and recommendation that a compromise be found to end this dispute for the benefit of the organization and the community. I would be willing to do what I can to help find a compromise in the interests of moving the organization forward."
The complete open letter by Waldemar Glodek, the posting by Halina Grochowska-Jimenez and other related information may be found at http://www.polishclub.org .