On 16 December, the “mid-term” reporting and informational Congress (meeting) of the Society of Bolesławiec Enthusiasts was held. On this occasion, I would like to pass on some information about the Society to the residents of Bolesławiec and the readers of “Głos”, and add a few of my own reflections and comments.
The Society was established 17 years ago (registered on 20 December 1977). In the broadest terms, the Society’s purpose was to bring together people of various beliefs and professions who wished to work for the benefit of the city. These people were to collect materials concerning the past, record and document important events in the life of the city, influence the city’s aesthetic and cultural character, care for historic monuments and natural monuments, protect the environment, maintain contacts with people originating from Bolesławiec, cooperate with partner cities, instill respect and love for the city, especially in young people, and promote the city in art, publications, etc., etc.
Of course, many of these lofty goals and pious wishes remained on paper.
The initiative to establish the Society (modeled on other respected cities) came from the Bolesławiec Cultural Center, around which many elements of the city’s cultural life were concentrated. At the beginning of its activity, the Society alienated many interested people by taking the so-called easy route and narrowing its sphere of influence to collective members—that is, to contacts with enterprises and workplaces—“collecting,” with the help of the political authorities of the time, membership fees and subsidies for various activities, from supporting the “Bolesławiec” song and dance ensemble (instructor fees), through co-financing events, to organizing receptions for various delegations and prominent figures.
In 1981, TMB printed its first monographic booklets (“Bolesławiec: Notes, the Year 1945”) by holders of master’s degrees Zbigniew Szczepański and Paweł Śliwka. A few years later, with the assistance of the Lower Silesian Social and Cultural Society, Paweł Śliwka’s book “Bolesławiec Yesterday and Today” was published—the only work of this kind to date on postwar Bolesławiec. The preparation and printing of this book by DTSK took many long years, and much of the content it contained became outdated amid the country’s simultaneous political transformations.
In 1985, the Society published a portfolio of graphics, “Bolesławiec in the Graphics of Mieczysław Żołądź”. These graphics were also reissued several years later through the Society’s efforts, in a different presentation and form.
A considerable revival in TMB’s activity took place in 1990–1993. Political changes and the country’s difficult economic situation led to the collapse of many enterprises and workplaces that had previously supported TMB. The Society also stopped receiving subsidies from the Department of Culture of the Voivodeship Office and from the city budget. The impoverishment of society also reduced membership-fee income. In addition, many people unfriendly toward the Society were among those governing the city. It was believed that TMB had communist origins, and that people who had supported communism, etc., were still among the Society’s members.
Fortunately, among a large part of the city’s residents, TMB’s appeal for support, renewal and assistance met with proper understanding.
Many new, supportive members joined the Society, mainly from among merchants. Several doctors, lawyers, teachers, artists, military personnel, craftsmen and students also joined the Society.
Today, TMB’s youngest member is 17 and its oldest is 87. The Society has more than two hundred members in all. During its most difficult period, the Society also supported several enterprises, workplaces and companies.
For three years, thanks to the financial assistance of many, many people and enterprises, the Society has been publishing artistic (“Bolesławiec”) calendars. The calendars featured graphics by M. Żołądź and Jan Bancewicz, and this year, a color photograph by D.T. Dzieduszkowie. In 1993, it was possible to publish four sets of graphics in “small portfolios,” with texts prepared in two languages. These were graphics by Jan Bancewicz depicting selected city landmarks, in the sets “Old Town”, “Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, “Town Hall” and “Viaduct”.
The undeniable achievement of TMB is the publication of the monthly “Głos Bolesławca”—a paper still far from perfect, but the longest-running socially edited publication, now at issue 31. For more than two years, this paper has been published without a penny in subsidies, relying solely on contributions and donations from supportive sponsors and readers.
At the end of 1992, the Social Committee for the Purchase of a Cardiac Ultrasound Machine for the Hospital was established at TMB. The fundraising campaign for this costly device, conducted jointly by the Committee and “Głos Bolesławca”, once again confirmed that much can be done for the city when people work together. With the money collected in less than a year, not only was an ultrasound machine purchased, but an additional medical device for the needs of laryngology was acquired.
Currently, the Social Committee is raising funds to purchase a laparoscope.
From 1978 to 1994, the Society was headed by Edward Lereher, Edward Sobczyński, Janina Pietrzak and, currently, Zygmunt Brusiło. For many years, the following people worked very actively in the Society (some of them are still active): Irena Lenartowicz, Maria Tylenda, Jan Trawniczek, Maria Modl, the late Alojzy Skorupa, Leon Piątkowski, Zbig-niew Szczepański and Paweł Śliwko, who still works there, Janina Pietrzak, Zygmunt Brusiło, Edward Sobczyński, Jadwiga Mytnik, Zdzisław Mirecki, Mieczysław Żołądź, Jan Bancewicz, the entire editorial team of “Głos Bolesławca” and others.
I will mention several critical comments:
- in my view, during the recent period the Society unnecessarily abandoned activity in sections, such as the historical and publishing section;
- the Society has very little influence on cultural activities and events in the city (Bolesławiec Days, events, concerts, etc.);
- there is no systematic and planned activity with school students; after all, Friends of the City clubs could successfully operate in schools;
- contacts with enterprises—collective members—are being lost, as they are essentially offered nothing, perhaps apart from calendars;
- congresses or other constructive meetings of TMB members and supporters are organized too rarely (sessions, conferences, community meetings);
- tasks are distributed among TMB members ineffectively: 99% of the members and at least half of the Board members remain in the shadow of all the activity;
- the Society should expand the scope of its influence and activities to a larger area, along with changing its name to the Society of the Bolesławiec Region (for example).
These, however, are only my personal opinions and impressions.