FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions I have a question for the FAQ, how can I make it appear here? Email us your question at info@polamrtp.com . We will add the question and the answer to the FAQ, if appropriate. Why are meetings and official gatherings conducted in English? The Club was started in 1981 by Poles and children of Polish immigrants. Most spoke Polish but there were some that did not. To make sure everyone knew what's going on, English become the business language for meetings and official gatherings. Today, a lot of members speak Polish but there is a small percantage that does not. Again, to make sure everyone knows what's going on, English is the official language. Polish is used almost exclusively when only Polish speakers get together. Who can join the Club? Everyone is welcome. If you are Polish, or have family or friends that are Polish or simply you are interested in Poland, please feel free to join PAC. Do I have to speak Polish to be a member of PAC? No. Does PAC offer Polish classes? Yes - we have classes for children, teenagers and adults. The programs for children and teenagers are done in coordination with Polish Embassy in Washington D.C. For adults, we offer 10 week class every year. For more information, contact polish.classes@polamrtp.com. Why is the website done mainly in English? (1) Since the Club is open to everyone (even non-Polish speakers), we need to make sure they understand what is going on in PAC. (2) We have one person writing the HTML code. Translating everything into Polish would double the work for our over-worked webmaster. (3) We have concluded that there is no reason to have the same page in two languages (most Polish speakers here read and speak English). (4) We have documents on the website that are in Polish and have not been translated into English. Why is the site called www.polamrtp.com? PolAmRTP stands for Polish American Club of the Research Triangle Park. We have the .com in the ending because this is how it was initially set-up. It would be too inconvenient for everyone to change this to a .org now. Who runs the Club? The club is staffed entirely by volunteers. We always welcome new help! How do I publish articles or advertisements in News Polonia? We welcome articles for our newsletter News Polonia. Please contact our Editor at news.polonia@polamrtp.com or mail your articles on a CD to PAC, PO Box 20363, Raleigh, NC 27619-0363. How can I become a member of PAC? You can become a member one of three ways: 1) You can apply and pay dues online here 2) By mailing your paper registration form PO Box 20363 Raleigh, NC 27619-0363, along with the dues. 3) Next time you come to a PAC event, sign up on the spot. What does the Club do? The Club organizes many events. Examples include: Christmas party; Easter Mass; sporting events; and Fesitivals. For more details, check out our Events calendar to see what's happening this month. When was the Club started? 1981. How do I donate money to the Club? You can donate money in one of two ways: 1) Use your PayPal account or credit card to donate. online 2) Mail your check to PAC, PO Box 20363, Raleigh, NC 27619-0363 What are the benefits of being a member of PAC? 1)Discounts for PAC events 2)Access to Polish books 3)Subscription to News Polonia 4)Participating in elections for Club officers Can I come to PAC events even though I am not a member of PAC? Yes. Everyone is welcome to join us. Non-members do not receive discounts to events and are required to pay full price. If you are a non-member and would like to become a member, you can sign up at the event. How do I sign up to help in day-to-day activities or special projects at PAC? Come to one of our meetings. Talk to the members of the leadership team about your ideas, interests and availability. We have planty of work and never enough people. How do I voice my ideas & opinions? We welcome new ideas, suggestions and especially your involvement in the day-to-day activities of the club. If you have an idea for a project, or an improvement to current process, do not hesitate to contact members of the leadership team and volunteer your time. PAC meetings are 1st Wednesday of every month (except for summer months). Join us and share your thought, ideas and time with PAC. When are PAC meetings held? PAC meetings are 1st Wednesday of every month (except for summer months). How much are the annual membership dues? Please check the membership page. How do I donate books to the Club? The Club has quite a collection of books. If you are interested in donating books to the Club, feel free to contact members of the leadership team. Does PAC participate in International Festival? PAC participates in the International Fesitval in Raleigh every time it is held. In addition, PAC will hold a Polish Festival in 2005. What is PayPal? PayPal allows user to pay or donate money using credit card. It's a secure and quick way to sign up for events, pay your membership dues or donate money. Why does PAC use PayPal? PAC uses PayPal for the following reasons: 1) To allow for easy payment for club events; 2) To join the 21st century of paying methods; 3) To save money by not developing own credit card processing forms; 4) To save on stamps for members (no need to mail-in checks); 5) To save time for our Treasurer (no checks to deposit); 6) To speed up the registration process for club events. What kind of projects are currenly done by PAC? Some examples of current projects: scholarship committe, film & theatre, membership list, Polish school for kids, teenagers and adults, Polish Easter Mass, Pasterka, Polish Festival, International Festival, Ognisko, Majowka, Sylwester, Christmas party, Ostatki, News Polonia, Website & monthly meeting preparation. Are there Polish Catholic priests in the area? Yes, there are. 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