On 13 and 14 December, the Congress of Lower Silesian Regionalists met in Wrocław. The date was not chosen by chance. Fifteen years earlier, the Congress of Polish Culture was to have taken place. Unfortunately, martial law dashed hopes for changes in culture initiated by August 1980.On the first day of the proceedings, 13 December, the 40th anniversary of the activities of the Lower Silesian Social and Cultural Society was commemorated, while on the second day Lower Silesian regionalists met. Among other things, Anatol Jan Omelaniuk, vice-president of the DTSK, delivered a paper entitled “A Regional Association in the Creation of ‘Small Homelands’.”The congress was attended, among others, by: Olgierd Poniżnik, a member of the DTSK board; Bożena Adamczyk-Pogorzelec, director of the Regional Museum in Lubań; Ivo Laborewicz, head of the State Archives in Jelenia Góra; Mikołaj Janikowski, president of the Bolesławiec Photographic Society; Zdzisław Mirecki of the Society of Bolesławiec Enthusiasts; and Robert Onoszko, chairman of the Society of Lubomierz Enthusiasts.There are approximately 1,500 regional societies operating in Poland, including around 120 in Lower Silesia. How does our regional homeland differ from other regions of Poland? It is multinational and multireligious. Generations of Silesians—Germans and Czechs—created their own material culture. After 1945, new values were brought by settlers, both military and civilian. The settlers came from territories throughout the Second Polish Republic: from the Vilnius region, Podolia, Volhynia, Galicia, Pomerania and Greater Poland. Today, we can speak of the cultural and customary mixture found in Lower Silesia.The fundamental tasks of regional self-government include the rational use of intellectual potential, natural resources and economic opportunities, as well as the protection of the natural environment and the preservation and enrichment of cultural heritage. Regional and social organizations, regional and creative societies, religious associations, foundations and similar bodies are an important factor in a full regional life. They are partners for authorities and institutions, supporting them with their knowledge of the region, experience and activity in planning the future.“Charter of Polish Regionalism” “Łużyce”, 31 December 1996.