Polish Falcons of America

Editorial Policy:
The Editorial Staff of the Sokół Polski reserves the right to edit, modfy or refuse submissions as needed. All submissions are the opinions of their creator(s). Typewritten/Electronic submissions are preferred and requested via email to communications@polishfalcons.org. The editorial staff is not responsible for any errors made in transcribing hand-written submissions. Deadlines are the first Tuesday of each month. Submissions received after the deadline will be considered for the next edition. Exceptions to the deadline must be arranged in adance with the Editors.

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For more information, contact Dave Motak, Director of Communications.

Meet the Staff:
Dave Motak, Director of Communications
Dave Motak brings a wide range of experiences to the Polish Falcons of America. A seasoned professional with extensive experience in non-profit management, fundraising, graphic design and project planning, Dave also has had significant background within the Polish-American community. An abiding interest in Polish culture and current events has been Dave’s life-long passion and he is extremely pleased to be able to serve the Falcons Membership as Director of Communications.

A graduate of Alliance College, Dave was selected for a two-year course of study as an exchange student at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, where he majored in Polish language, literature and history.
Dave’s professional career includes serving as an adjunct to the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh, where he coordinated numerous high profile projects including official trips, banquets, social events and formal functions. He also served for five years as the University Commencement Coordinator, the University’s largest official event.

He was also Director of Alumni Affairs and Publications for eleven years at the Pitt School of Engineering. His responsibilities included fundraising, alumni cultivation events, and developing high caliber publications. While Director for Alumni Relations at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh, Dave established the first alumni office in the school’s history. Dave’s work as an administrator in higher education was characterized by a deep sense of commitment, innovation and vision.

In addition to extensive experience in higher education, Dave has also served as an arts administrator and non-profit manager. He served as Executive Director of a community-based arts organization located in suburban Pittsburgh overseeing the development of over 300 arts classes and outreach programs annually. He has been involved in numerous Polish-American organizations as well as the Pittsburgh Folk Festival. In 2006 Dave was selected as “Polonian of the Year” by the Polish-American Congress, Western Pennsylvania Division.

Dave is also an artist. In 2003 he developed the Cracow Creche Workshop, an educational project designed to promote the appreciation and creation of the Cracow Szopka, Long associated with the historic city of Cracow, where they began as puppet theaters in the local churches, the szopka is a craft that is not generally practiced beyond the city of Cracow. Szopka making is not formally taught in Cracow. Consequently, Dave is the first person to develop a comprehensive, step-by-step building methodology for making szopki.

Through countless hours of study, travel, design and building, Dave has become the leading expert on szopka history, tradition and construction in the United States. Dave has traveled to Poland eight times
in five years to meet leading szopka artisans and study this art form. He has established strong relationships with various prominent szopkarze (szopka artisans) and various Polish institutions.
In addition to generating his own pieces, he has also mentored over 300 budding szopka makers (individuals and teams), overseeing the design and building of nearly 150 szopki, both in Pittsburgh and in workshops around the country.

Dave has had substantial recognition as a producing artist and exhibitor. In 2008 he was commissioned to create a major piece for the prestigious Gagosian Gallery in New York. He has received numerous grant awards. In 2008 he was awarded an Apprenticeship in Traditional Arts to study with eminent szopka artisan Maciej Moszew in Cracow, Poland. He was recently awarded a prestigious Fellowship in Traditional Arts by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Dave also produces an annual Holiday Tour to Poland through which he shares his substantial knowledge of Poland, Cracow and the szopka art form with tour participants.

His most recent work is a major art installation depicting the history of Poles in Western Pennsylvania entitled The Poles in Pittsburgh: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Dave researched, wrote and designed the work, which is a 25-foot graphic mural incorporating text, vintage photographs, illustrations and many of his own photographs and images. Intended as a traveling exhibition, the piece also features panels on Polish history, Polish-American traditions, cuisine and folk life.

Dave hopes that his skills as a writer and graphic designer will serve the Polish Falcons and Polonia well. In addition to producing an outstanding Sokół Polski for the Falcons membership, Dave’s dream is to some day exhibit one of his szopka pieces at Cracow’s annual Szopka Competition.

Gregory Gushard, Communications Assistant
Gregory Gushard graduated from Robert Morris University in August 2008, with a B.A in Communications - Advertising. Serving as a copywriter at a Pittsburgh ad-agency, and directing public relations for RMU's theater program, Greg brings a fresh perspective to the Communications department. Gregory will be overseeing development of the website, and implementing an internet outreach program.