Welcome New Directors

Thu, 04/25/2019 - 4:00am
Rick Rzeszutko, President

International POLKA Association

Believe it or not it is SPRING! If we keep saying and thinking it, it will come true. I hope everyone made it through the tough winter months and are in good health. It’s time to get ready for another exciting Polka Festival Season.

First, I would like to welcome Jill Styczynski, our new Director from WI, and Dave Bonczkiewicz, our new Director from AZ. We look forward to working with you. Thank you to Debbie Dunaj and Jill Czerniak for your service.

The IPA Benefit Dance in Ludlow at the PACC, chaired by Fred and Linda Kendzierski and IPA Director Sue Szela, and honoring the great music of Wanda and Stephanie, was another great event. Thanks to Dennis Polisky and Maestro's Men, the Eddie Forman Orchestra and Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push for the great music and entertainment. Thank you to all the great polka fans who attended and supported this 14th annual event.

Also honored were polka promoters of the past: Fred and Marcia Bulinski and Gil and Mary Ziemski – Polkamotion by the Ocean; Bernie Goydish – Wildwood Polka Spree; and Dick Pillar – Polkabration.

Thank you Theresa Parker and the Texas Polka News for sponsoring another IPA Benefit dance in Texas in January. We appreciate all that you do for polka music and the IPA. I urge everyone to look into subscribing to the paper.

Also, thank you Debbie Dunaj for organizing the Wisconsin dance featuring Gary's Ridgeland Dutchmen at The Rib River Ballroom and to all the polka fans who attended and had a great time.

Our joint dance with Let’s Polka USA and the IPA was well attended and provided an exciting afternoon of polka music for all who were there. Thanks to Ray Jay, who came out and did a fantastic job with the IPA Tribute Band. It was great seeing you and Maryann.

Finally, I hope you enjoyed our live broadcast with the IPA Tribute Band on the Polka Jammer for the annual Jammerthon. Thank you to all who called in and donated during our time on the air. Special thanks to Steve Kaminski for engineering the event.

Let’s keep the momentum going. I urge everyone to continue to support all the polka promoters, polka bands, DJs and IJs, and the polka organizations. Let’s make 2019 a great year for polka music.

In closing, I would like to thank the officers and directors of the IPA. This dedicated group of men and women work hard to keep our organization moving in a positive direction.

To stay updated with happenings across the country, please visit our website.ipapolkas.com and like us on Facebook @ ipapolkas.