PEOPLE OF "WELCOME"

People of "WELCOME"

Wacław Wilczyński

Professor of economics. Born in 1923, officer of the Home Army. Studied at the Business College and Business Academy in Poznań. Ph.D. in economics under Edward Taylor in 1959. A long-standing director of the Institute of Economics at the University of Economics and president of the Poznań chapter of the Polish Economic Association. Member of the Economic Council in the governments of T. Mazowiecki and J.K. Bielecki. Chairman of the Economic Council affiliated to the President of the National Bank of Poland 1993 - 1997. Presently, a member of the Council of the Socio-Economic Strategy affiliated to the Council of Ministers. Professor at the School of Banking and the University of Economics in Poznań. Author of numerous books and publications. He has recently published two collections of his articles from the "Wprost" weekly entitled "My struggles with (economic) nonsense" and "A hostile welfare state" PWN 1999. In the 90s he published among others "The economy and economic policy of the period of transformation" (1996) and "The market and money in Poland at the turn of the 21st century" (2000).

And from our perspective? He is a very welcomed guest at our editorial office, who always talks about political and economic issues of utmost importance with relevance and animation. He is always in a rush, being always witty and kind. He always fulfils our request to write an article for our magazine with such elegance and willingness that we feel as if we were the most widely read magazine all over the world.

Waldemar Łazuga

He is an author of a column in our magazine. A historian, political commentator, passionate homo politicus. Professor at the Adam Mickiewicz University and the School of the Humanities and Journalism. An expert on the political thought of the 19th and 20th centuries. He made his debut several years ago with a book about an ideologist of Polish conservatism, Michał Bobrzyński, and since then he has been always very welcome in conservative Cracow. Then he wrote some more books - about conservatives but not only - and a handful of textbooks, in which he tries not to torture his students. His scholarly interests are rather focused. He is primarily interested in presidents, prime ministers and ministers as well as aristocracy and professors devoted to politics. If not Polish, then surely Austrian. He keeps in touch with the families of some of the heroes of his books. He will sooner or later reduce every conversation to politics. There is a large portrait of Francis Joseph hanging on the wall of his study as a symbol of the times he loves. A sinister look from his desk is thrown by Marshal Józef Piłsudzki, a symbol of our independence. Nobody knows how he can combine one with the other.

Whenever he is not busy writing, he is surely lecturing; if he is not lecturing, he is most likely busy writing. He cannot imagine his life without it. Nor without politics, which, as he puts it, is not only his favourite hobby but a kind of "professional training". This results unfortunately in the fact that all meetings with him are always too short. He does not know in how many places he has lectured; cities and town, big and small, from Przemyśl to Szczecin, from Białystok to Wrocław. Neither can he remember how many radio and television programmes he has recorded ("well over 200", he says). He has supervised MA theses of over a hundred students, in whom he takes a great pride and with many of whom he still keeps in touch. He likes to say that in politics and life he holds liberal-conservative views, although he sometimes "does not agree with them". It is his second term of office as the chairman of the Programming Board of the Regional Centre of State Television in Poznań. He was elected by joint forces of the right and left wings. He is a member of the Freedom's Union. He was responsible for setting up the Liberal-Democratic Congress in Poznań. Recently he has advised Andrzej Olechowski on the issues of education. After the elections he has returned to writing books. For him the time flies by so quickly that he has to be reminded about each article he is to write separately. However, he will not let you down in need. He is one of the few chosen ones who can combine erudition with the talent of an orator and writer.

And from the point of view of a woman? A contemporary dandy aware of his charms and a bit blaze because he is so much loved by his Muses. He accepts gracefully the adoration of spellbound listeners, both those who can appreciate his witty jugglery and those who are listening to him for the first time. In pursuit of the unattainable.

Staszek Wojcieszak

- an artist, distinguished photographer, an author of many pictures and beautiful covers of our magazine. Staszek is an originator and creator of artistic sculpture and photography animations, dubbed photosculpture. His original idea presented at numerous individual and collective exhibitions won a quickly increasing circle of admirers. Old, time-worn photographies, which he framed, emanate with warmth, nostalgia, and provoke reflection on fleeting fashions concerning not only people but also objects they use. The fact that these objects quickly disappear from various art galleries to decorate collections of eminent persons like actors, politicians and scientists, only proves their great significance. Staszek likes to have people around, he needs them as a fish needs water. He is an extremely friendly, outgoing, helpful person, but quite often his thoughts reach out to distant horizons, which sometimes makes him absent-minded. Sensitive to a kind word, friendly gesture or a nice compliment. Constantly busy, he always experiences problems with time. He has mastered many skills about which he often boasts a little, calling himself humorously "a man of Renaissance." - He can take photographs, do sculpture, repair this and that as well as prepare excellent shashliks. He listens attentively to few people, although, to flatter myself, I am one of them.

Joanna Dziubkowa

- a graduate of the Polish philology and the history of art at the Adam Mickiewicz University. Curator of the National Museum in Poznań. An essay writer, an artistic critic and an author of numerous publications and exhibitions staged both in Poland and abroad, including a renowned exhibition "Vanitas coffin portraits in the light of Sarmatian burial customs", for which she was awarded a prestigious Prize of the Ministry of Culture and Arts and a highly valued Artistic Award of the City of Poznań. From 1993 to 1994 she was an artistic director of the Carmelitanum Gallery. This year she received a scholarship of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

She is interested in artistic activity which remains at the margins of "currently accepted and commonly cherished" art as well as in fashion as a socio-cultural phenomenon. She loves what is non-ingratiating, tough, complicated, introvert, her favourite animals being reptiles. Although her sign of the zodiac is Leo, she is susceptible to nice words. In friendship she is devoted but difficult. Her passion is coffin portrait. We met at the Opalińskis' crypt in Sieraków. She believes that for better and for worse we are heirs to the legacy of Sarmatian culture. Joanna often repeats that she has very few rules but the ones she upholds are unalterable. She rejected a proposal of receiving a state distinction. Although she is very strongly bound to her family she declares herself as a person with no "predilection for herd living". Being rather messy she shuns away from formalism and often plays small truants yet at work she can be extremely precise and demanding. It is better not to get into her back books then.

I asked Joanna to co-operate with our magazine in 1995. She writes about art, culture and fashion. She is a woman with beautiful great eyes, a clear bright look and unlimited imagination. She sees only good in everything because that is what she is like. She is a chatterbox ... but we see each other so rarely .

Włodzimierz Łęcki

A graduate of the Poznań Institute of Technology. Ph.D. in technical sciences in the field of durability of buildings. A touring and sightseeing activist, the author of 60 guide-books and tourism-related monographic literature on Poznań, Wielkopolska and West Pomerania (for all of which he has been awarded a few times). In the years 1990-1997 ha has been the governor of the Poznań province. During the social and economic transformation period he skilfully re-organized the subordinate Provincial Office preparing it for the awaiting tasks. Some of the significant achievements of the Office and the then governor were: transformation of the state-owned farms placed within the area of the province simultaneously avoiding mass dismissal and leaving the land uncultivated; privatization of industrial and commercial enterprises, establishing 6 landscape parks, developing cultural institutions and taking care of monuments, developing technical infrastructure of cities and villages. Presently he is working at the Poznań Industrial Construction Enterprise: "Number One, Poznań, Co.". As a Marketing Director, he is also a member of the PTTK (Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society) general authorities and advisory council of science of the Drawiński and Wielkopolski National Parks.

As a governor he was so kind as to notice and trust us. On behalf of us all he greeted the new, as far as I remember, year 1997 in the columns of our magazine, which we considered to be a great honor.

Marek Zaradniak

Marek. Zodiacal Virgo with the ascendant in the Scorpion. Since I met him, he has always walked his own ways. Non-submissive and independent. A bit mysterious. Always on time and diligent. Quick decision-maker. He has talked to many interlocutors, also those who do not live among us anymore, but exist in our hearts and minds; Jerzy Giedroyć, Jerzy Waldorff. Marek stopped counting his conversations with Niemen, Sojka or Penderecki already a long time ago. A perfectionist with excellent memory, especially in the field of music. He has got it not only in his head but also in his rich reference data bank. Music has been one of his most important passions and adventures. First in Pro Sinfonica, then in Jeunessess Musicales, and finally in mass media. For many years he has been co-working with Gazeta Poznańska. Marek loves Irish, Scandinavian, country, jazz as well as classical music. He listens to Vivaldi, Bach, Grieg, and, out of modern composers, Penderecki. Of all the solo instruments he mostly likes listening to the oboe, violin (especially hardanger) and the piano. He likes traveling and would gladly go somewhere for a very long time. By the way, he has got an unusual hobby: collecting schedules of air-lines. Marek's great passion are also foreign languages, particularly English, but he has also learned Japanese. Japan, apart from Scandinavia, also belongs to his fascinations. Marek, always friendly, hates cheating people. Marek, who grows impatient on seeing that though Poland lies in the center of Europe, we still are far behind the present level of civilizational development in Western Europe. He wonders why car-drivers in Scandinavia drive with lights on all the year round, whereas in Poland they do it only in winter time.

Wojciech Burchardt

Born on 25th December 1941 in Gniezno, of a family with strong medical traditions coming from Poznań. He went to schools in Koszalin, Warszawa and Gniezno. As many as 6 members of his close family were doctors. One of them, dr med. Józef Granatowicz, was a founder of the F. Raszeja Hospital and the first head of the Surgical Ward. It was these traditions and the atmosphere of his home that made Wojtek follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. He studied at the School of Medicine in Poznań. During his studies he actively participated in the tourism-oriented student movement. Having graduated from the University, he started working at the Department of Anatomy of the School of Physical Education and then at the Surgical Ward of the F. Raszeja Hospital. He soon became the deputy head of the Surgical Ward. In 1976 he received the title of a doctor of medicine. In 1980 he left for a few years to Libya where he organised and then headed a Surgical Ward. Having returned to Poland he resumed his former post and after Prof. Jan Fibak's retirement, he was chosen head of the Surgical Ward and has held this post to this day. Wojtek's wife is a professor at the Adam Mickiewicz University. Their two sons are about to finish their studies.

He is an author of over 40 publications in the field of surgical anatomy and orthopaedics. He published an obituary of an eminent Polish surgeon Professor Jan Fibak in "Welcome to Poznań". Thanks to the character and popularity of the magazine, as he put it, the obituary evoked a favourable response of a wide group of readers, friends and even abroad. He has persuaded me that we should publish an article on a dramatic situation of nurses and we are working on it together.

Wojtek is a very kind, friendly, warm, reliable, diligent and helpful person.

Magdalena Wrembel

A decision to study at the School of English was a natural consequence of her fascination with the English language and culture. She graduated cum laude in 1993. At present Magda is a lecturer at the Adam Mickiewicz University combining her work as a teacher, which has always been a source of great satisfaction for her, with a free-lance job of a translator and interpreter. Having upgraded her translation skills at a postgraduate School of Translation and Interpreting, she started lecturing there as well a few years ago.

For 4 years Magda has been co-operating with "Welcome to Poznań and Wielkopolska" translating interviews and articles from a variety of fields. She regards this co-operation as a "creative challenge", which has provided her with a constant stimulus to master her command of English and translation skills.

She has worked as a translator and interpreter for various institutions including the Poznań International Fair, the Office of the Provincial Governor, the "Głos Wielkopolski" daily, University Publishing House and local government organisations as well as numerous firms and private people - from florists, artists, scholars to the latest Honorary Doctor of our University.

She is a co-author of a dictionary "A Glossary of Contemporary Political and Economic Terms". At present she intends to devote more time to writing her Ph.D. thesis on teaching English phonetics.

Her hobbies include travelling, hiking in the mountains and being close to nature. The apple of her eye is her 2.5-year-old daughter.

Konstanty Tukałło

Since the times of the ancestor Maciej who, on behalf of the Lithuanian side, signed the Act of Lubelska Union, the Tukałło family have always been attached to the land within the triangle: Vilnius - Mińsk - Lida. Therefore, Professor Konstanty Tukałło tried to familiarize the readers with the history of the Polish Wileńszczyzna (the land around Vilnius), which, according to the conditions stated in the Yalta Agreement, was taken away from Poland. In 1945 the Tukałło family had to leave their land. While escaping from the terror of NKGB, the force of Providence, as it is claimed by the professor himself, led him to Krotoszyn, where, in 1948, he successfully passed his maturity exam, and, prior to the last month, he finally managed to complete the realization and unveiling the monument of Hugo Kołłątaj, the patron of his school, founded by the Society of Graduates and Teachers of the Secondary School named after Hugo Kołłatąj. After graduating form the secondary school, professor Tukałło moved to the capital of Wielkopolska. The studies and long-term work in Poznań shaped the Professor's local, Posnanian patriotism which he was often reproached for while working in the Senate of the 2nd Term.

Professor Tukałło graduated in 1953. Since then he has gradually climbed the "professional ladder", from the post of an assistant to professor, achieving the highest title of the Honorary Member of the Polish Surgeons' Society. Some of his most brilliant achievements are: the early introduction of the endoscopic diagnostics and therapy, performing the second (in Poland) laparoscopic surgical procedures, creating and realizing the program of kidney transplantations, as well as organizing the unit of urologic and vascular surgery. Perfection of the assistants educated and trained in Poland and abroad allowed for performing technically difficult operations with a high rate of success. Regardless of the work at the patient's bed, assistants significantly contributed to scientific research, whose results were published in 96 written works, monographic literature and chapters included in surgery manuals.

Professor Tukałło may take pride in the fact that the post-graduate courses, doctoral dissertations and other accomplishments of his assistants and friends prove the progress of medical sciences made at the Surgery Department. He says that his assistants frequently exceeded their Master by their immense surgical knowledge and technique which only made him happy and proud. Appreciated in the medical world also by those who met him at least once in their lifetime. An expert and lover of history, especially the one concerning the eastern lands. He perceives people as they really are. Careful in choosing friends. I have an honor to be one of them.

Jędrzej Stefan Płaczkowski

Jędrzej Stefan Płaczkowski was born on 17th January 1953 of a family of aristocracy and the intelligentsia from Poznań. A historian by profession, he graduated in 1980 having defended his MA thesis on "J. F. Kennedy's policy towards Cuba". At present he is working on his Ph.D. on "Stanisław Wachowiak 1890-1972 - a history of an exceptional career in the II Republic of Poland". An author of numerous books and publications including "Poznań in the year of the General Domestic Exhibition" (1989) as well as articles published in "Głos Wielkopolski", "Gazeta Poznańska" and "Welcome to Poznań and Wielkopolska". An author of scenarios and curator of numerous exhibitions e.g. "Images of John Paul II" (June - July 1999). Devoted social activist, who established the Salon of Poznań Intellectuals; vice president of the Society of Friends of the National Museum in Poznań.

Awarded with numerous mentions, including the Honorary Distinction of the City of Poznań (1989), the Golden Distinction of the City of Poznań (1985) and the Prize of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of the 1st degree (1998). Our faithful friend, who wholeheartedly promotes the magazine wherever he happens to be. And where does he mingle? Which places he frequents? ... Legends arise ...

Grażyna Banaszkiewicz

A director of documentary films and poetic programmes, a poet and a journalist. She started her work as a journalist in 1972 by entering into co-operation with Poznań daily papers, her main field of interest being culture. From 1974 to 1981 she worked for the then illustrated magazine "Tydzień" (Week) published in Poznań. From 1979 to 1981 and then since 1985 to this day she has been working for Television. In 1982 she contributed to the "Wprost" weekly editing among others interviews with people of culture (until 1985)

She has co-operated with several nation-wide cultural magazines. For four consecutive years, starting from 1996, she wrote articles "ABC of good manners" published in "Głos Towarzyski", a supplement to the "Głos Wielkopolski" daily. She publishes her articles about art in various Poznań periodicals.

She is the author of the text in the newest album about Poznań, which is being prepared by a press reporter Jerzy Unierzyski. She runs an art gallery "Witryna (a glass case) in the Edison Hotel" favouring particularly small sculpture.

At present, she combines her work in TV with a job of an editor of "ARTeon", a new magazine on art published in Poznań.