Massachusetts HD 4272: A report of the Special Commission to Preserve Polish Heritage in the Pioneer Valley (under Chapter 6 of the Resolves of 2016, as amended by Chapter 2 of the Resolves of 2018) submitting a report of its findings and recommendations regarding the preservation of Polish culture and history in the Pioneer Valley

Bill Text

Report of the
Special Commission to
Preserve Polish Heritage
in the Pioneer Valley

June 2019

Legal Authority: MGL, Chapter 6 of the Acts of 2016
Secretariat: Joint responsibilities by Governor’s Office &
both Legislative Branches; Amendment House No. 4922
January 11, 2017

HR 4562
Resolution: Establishing a Special Commission to Preserve Polish Heritage in the Pioneer Valley

HR4522
Amendment: Resolve reviving and further continuing the special commission

Letters:
Letter from Chairperson - Carl Eger
Letter from Legislators – Senators Humason, Lesser, Representatives Scibak, Smola

Table of Contents

Members of the Commission........................................................................ 7

Acknowledgments..................................................................................... 8

Commission Summary................................................................................9

Introduction............................................................................................10
History of Polish Immigration to the Pioneer Valley...................................................10
Difference Between Culture and Heritage.......................................................11
Demographics – Size of Community.............................................................13
Economic Impact.....................................................................................14

Vision.....................................................................................................16

Recommendations......................................................................................17
Connecting People: A Comprehensive Approach................................................17
Creating the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Pioneer Valley Heritage Region...........20
Seal of Biliteracy - Incorporating Polish Language..............................................22

Implementation..........................................................................................23

Table of Contents

HR 4562
Chapter6
of the Acts of 2016

T H E C O M M O N W E A L T H O F M A S S A C H U S E T T S

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court

RESOLVE: ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO PRESERVE POLISH HERITAGE IN THE PIONEER VALLEY
Resolved: That there shall be a special commission to investigate and
report on the preservation of Polish culture and history in the Pioneer
Valley. The special commission shall: (1) promote public support and funding
of Polish cultural preservation activities in western Massachusetts; (ii)
complement activities that acknowledge the contributions people of Polish
heritage have made and continue to make to the Pioneer Valley and the
commonwealth; and (iii) evaluate the public and private resources available to
preserve and research Polish language, history, culture, genealogy, music and
the immigrant experience.

The special commission share be comprised of; 3 members of the house of
representatives, of which at least 2 shall be of Polish heritage; 2 members of
the senate; and 5 members to be appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall be
officers in Polish heritage or Polish genealogical organizations located in
Hampshire, Hamden or Franklin County, 1 of whom shall be selected from a list
of 3 persons nominated by the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning, Inc. in
the town of Chicopee and 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons
nominated by the director of the Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies
Program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

The special commission shall file its report with the clerks of the
senate and the house of representatives and the chairs of the senate and house
committees on ways and means, not later than July 1, 2017.

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4922

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, October 4, 2018.

The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Resolve
reviving and further continuing the special commission established to
investigate and report on the preservation of Polish culture and history in the
Pioneer Valley (House, No. 4543), reports recommending that the same ought
to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying resolve
(House, No. 4922).

For the committee,

JEFFREY SÁNCHEZ.

FILED ON: 10/4/2018
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4922

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

Resolve reviving and further continuing the special commission established to investigate and report on
the preservation of Polish culture and history in the Pioneer Valley.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by
the authority of the same, as follows:

1 Resolved. That the special commission established in chapter 6 of the resolves of 2016 is
hereby revived and continued to June 1, 2019. The special commission shall file its report with the
cl