In February of 1997, we celebrated the end of our successful first year with the first ever PACBA Ball! We danced the night away in the rhythm of the two-by-four. Soon after, we had the honor of participating in the Third of May Constitution Day Parade. Our historical float won first place as the best and most appealing float in the entire parade. In May, legendary Polish actor, Jan Kobuszewski, was deemed Honorary Master of PACBA for his famous comedy sketch portraying the sometimes rocky relationship between contractors and their clients. On July 24, PACBA joined the relief effort for the victims of the largest flood to ever devastate Poland. One third of Poland was affected by this destructive event. PACBA decided to build three homes for the flood victims, gratis. The new homes were to be built in the American-style of construction and the labor would be completed by the member companies of PACBA. The location we chose had an astounding unemployment rate of 27%. As we built the new homes, we also trained the residents of this area in the American style of frame construction. After the completion of the three homes, the residents were to receive the tools used during construction. The three families we chose – Grazyna and Mariusz Kruk, Anna and Henryk Dominski, and Barbara and Franciszek Mamczur – lost their homes in the flood and were seeking help from the county in rebuilding their community. The construction of these homes began in November and continued into the next year.

In February of 1998, we began the year with the second annual PACBA Ball. All proceeds from the Ball were dedicated to the construction of the homes for the flood victims. During this Ball, we also bestowed the first Golden Nail Award to Lu Silver, president of Remodeler’s Supply. This 24-karat “common nail” is the highest honor granted to non-member affiliates of PACBA for their extraordinary support. In April on a little street named Chicago in the village of Stanowice near Wroclaw, Poland, we held a ceremony officially ending the construction of two of the flood victims’ homes and gave the keys away to their rightful owners. We were still seeking aid in order to finish the third home. PACBA’s historical float in the Third of May Parade attracted many compliments and attention in many American media sources. The most notable was a photo of the “PACBA Knight” in the Chicago Sun Times. On August 2nd, PACBA held a family picnic celebrating Father’s Day. A few thousand supporters took part in the festivities as they enjoyed performances, family activities, and of course, plenty of food. In addition to its numerous ventures, PACBA held many seminars and professional training sessions in various topics including law, safety, and construction techniques. The year ended with more groups of contractors flying to Poland to finish the third home for the flood victims.

On January 9, 1999, PACBA met in Springfield to celebrate the inauguration of Governor George Ryan. On February 6th, PACBA celebrated the end of another successful year at the annual Ball. Among the distinguished guests, we welcomed many who journeyed from Poland to thank us in person for our assistance for the flood victims. From the meetings with these Polish officials there arose a need to introduce American building technologies in Poland on a larger scale. The meetings also focused on strengthening the ties between American and Polish manufacturing companies. In April, we gave the last set of keys to third home for the flood victims to its new owners, bringing “Action PACBA – For the Flood Victims” to a close. The estimated value of these homes had they been built on U.S. soil was approximately $360,000. After the Third of May Parade, PACBA decided to organize its PACBA Expo 2000 for American manufacturers and Polish companies in the field of construction. In the Fall, the committee overseeing the organization of the PACBA Expo 2000 was elected – its members were Walter F. Bochenek – Chairman & CEO, Les Surowiec – President EXPO’2000, Grazyna Auguscik- Art Even Coordinator, Andrzej Kolopolewski- President of Finance, Bogdan Kulikowski – Chief Operational Officer, Jerzy Ucinski – V-President of Operation, Marek Zelek – Operational Officer, Jane Kulibaba – Chief Financial Officer, Justyne Jablonska – Promotion Officer, Margaret Wrona – Chief of Promotion, Katherine Karpinski – Chief of Marketing, Malgorzata Goralczyk – Markieting Officer – and representatives began meeting with U.S. and Polish government officials in Washington D.C. and Warsaw respectively.

On February 12, 2000, PACBA held its annual Ball and dedicated the proceeds to the PACBA Expo 2000. PACBA also joined the largest organization of contractors in the United States – the National Association of Home Builders. In April at the International Builder’s Conference in Budapest, Hungary, representatives of PACBA, Walter F. Bochenek and Barbara Chalko gave PowerPoint Presentations to the representatives of professional building associations, developers, and large construction companies from Europe and the United States. In May, representatives of PACBA held the first Polish-American conference at the Polish Congress regarding new home construction in Poland. The first PACBA Expo was held on September 3, 2000 in the village of Stanowice near Wroclaw, Poland. The honorary guests of the PACBA Expo and the Music Festival were mother of Michael Jordan, Dolores Jordan, president of the James Jordan Foundation and her daughter, Rosaline Jordan. Over fifty American companies represented the United States in the Expo.

In February of 2001, the Ball was driven by the new PACBA Expo 2001, which was to take place in the capital of Poland, Warsaw. As a part of its mission to train Polish builders in the American-style of construction, PACBA translated master-builder Larry Haun’s book, The Very Efficient Carpenter into Polish – Nowoczesny Ciesla. The PACBA Expo 2001 took place at the beginning of September. Part of the Expo was a model home built by PACBA less than half a mile from the King’s Castle, which accommodated a few thousand tours of curious visitors. In preparation for the Expo, PACBA signed an agreement with the National Polish Home Builders Association. Among the many guests who came from the United States to participate in the Expo were Illinois State Treasurer, Judy Bar Topinka, and master-builder, construction book writer - Larry Haun.

The 2002 Ball marked the end of many successful international undertakings as PACBA decided to concentrate on its domestic goals. The year was primarily occupied with seminars and the creation of a standardized contractor-owner agreement. In May, PACBA again won first place in the Third of May Parade for its unique 75-foot long float in the shape of a space shuttle.

In 2003, PACBA began preparations for a new kind of Expo. This time, the PACBA Expo 2004 would take place in Chicago and would include a completely new kind of charitable effort. The seminars and training sessions continued, concentrating on permit acquisition and licensing problems. These meetings were accompanied by meetings with our long-time PR representative and Expo coordinator Regina Frasier. 2003 was another great year of joint efforts with Polamer, a shipping company who contributed to our endeavors by allowing us to use their services free of charge. Walter Kotaba and Joanna Bochenek again promised their assistance in shipping materials and supplies for the PACBA Expo 2004 in Chicago.

Because of their great deal of cooperation in organizing the PACBA Expo 2004, the Polish
Consulate was awarded the Golden Nail Award at the 2004 Ball. Throughout the year, PACBA concentrated its efforts on international meetings, which took place in Poland that popularized the PACBA Expo 2004 all over Eastern Europe. The PACBA Expo 2004 (Open New Door) took place in September at the Copernicus Foundation Theatre and Parking Lot in Chicago. Over 200 Eastern European and American Companies exhibited their products and services in the PACBA Expo 2004. A part of the 2004 Expo was the make-over of a child’s bedroom. In cooperation with Lowe’s Home Improvement and Channel 5 News with Anchor/Reporter - Art Norman, PACBA chose the child’s bedroom that was in the worst condition of all the entrants. George – an underprivileged youth from the south side of Chicago won the contest, which was broadcast on Channel 5 News. Representatives of PACBA rebuilt the winner’s bedroom, and one third of the entire house, promoting education and safety. Lis Lighting (exhibitor at PACBA Expo 2004 from Poland) provided free lighting for the entire house. The entire effort was estimated at $60,000. PACBA, occupied with the remodeling of the home, entered 2005.

In January of 2005, Channel 5 News along with T.V. Polvision and Radio 1030 AM recorded George as he walked into his brand new room, totally furnished by Idea Furniture, for the first time. At the 2005 Ball, PACBA presented all the organizers of the PACBA Expo 2004 along with the family of the winner of the “Ugly Room Contest.” In May, we again were honored with first place at the Third of May Parade. In August, we celebrated Father’s Day with another picnic. Safety and training meetings ended our ten year involvement in our community and beyond.

January 2006 was occupied with preparations for the Ten Year Anniversary Ball of PACBA to take place on February 18, 2006!