revia magazine issue #9

polish-american magazine #9, MAY 2015 reviamagazine.compolish-american magazine polish-american magazine polish-american magazine #9, MAY 2015 reviamagazine.comreviamagazine.comreviamagazine.comreviamagazine.com

Photo Credit: FrANCIS SON PHOtOGrAPHYhair and makeuP: NINI JeNKINSLoCation: tHe GOdFreY HOteL CHICAGO

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revia reviamagazine.com #9, 20154

16Emily Dickinson once said, “Forever is composed of nows.”Living in a world so captivated

by technology– sometimes overly-captivated– is exciting, yet at the same time, utterly draining. From the ever-growing array of social media platforms at our instant disposal, to the growing list of addictive tech gadgets available on the market, we as a society are slowly accepting what is becoming the norm to over-technologize...and to add to that, in almost every aspect of our life. We compulsively feel the need to check our phone and email as if the world is about to end, and all too often, even I catch myself controlled by my smart phone… way beyond my own awareness! Not a proud fact to admit– but one I am constantly learning from and trying to improve.

I cannot express how many times I’ve stepped into a social setting, like a Starbucks or even high-class restaurant, only to witness people connecting to their devices, instead of with one another, nonchalantly ignoring the people they’re with. Couples casually tap away at their phones in each other’s presence, not blinking an eye in the process. Technology can give us pleasure, yet it can exhaust us to the point of ignorance, which causes us to overlook common respect for others– whether for romantic partners or not. We need to take romantic tech ignorance merely for what it is: ignorance, and remember that technology cannot replace human relationships, and it defi nitely should not hinder mutual respect in a social regard.

Hopefully this note steers you in the direction to use technology with enjoyment, yet with conscious measure– and to remember to enjoy the moment you are in right now– because you’ll never get back this very precious minute of your life.

Cheers and till next time,

moniCa doLeCkaassoCiate editor

Is it just me or does it feel like the years just seem to fly by even faster? Maybe it's part of growing up, but

with respect to technology, years just feel like nanoseconds lately. Everything is so instantaneous and moments just disappear in a snap (chat)!

I appreciate being born into a generation that had a glimpse of analog and transitioned into the digital era. The days of surprise calls (sans caller ID screening), sweet patience awaiting a letter via snail mail, and truly present interactions without pinging, poking, or posting are a mere distant memory. Just shy of my 30's, it's mind boggling to think how vastly different my upbringing has become from my parents', not just on a cultural and economic level, but on a technological level. At my age, my dad didn't even have a car phone, yet here I sit writing my note on a mini computer in the palm of my hand. Imagine how different Saved By The Bell would have been if Zack Morris had a smartphone!

There is something special about analog moments, especially when it comes to relationships. I encourage our readers to check out the article written by our Associate Editor Monica Dolecka, who does a fantastic job identifying three ways that couples can improve communication and quality time together with consideration of tech etiquette.

Likewise, there are a lot of positive aspects to technology. Our homes are becoming smarter, more convenient, and safer. Rich Bira of Fibaro shows us how the latest gadgets help improve our lives and how Fibaro is leading the pack.

Not to mention, the beauty of technology connects our readers to all the great things going on in our community. With over 1,000 RSVPs on our Facebook event wall, we are excited to celebrate Spring with everyone at the Godfrey Hotel on April 30th!

Enjoy the blossoming changes of the season, and until there is smellovison, don't forget to stop and smell the roses!

ania jaBLonowskieditoriaL direCtor

06 --- Contributors08 --- Status Group Networking Social Event09 --- Butterflies at Sunset10 --- May 3rd Queen Competition11 --- Live out Loud 3rd Annual Fashion Show12 --- Furever Charity Event13 --- Dar Serca14 --- Polish Entrepreneur16 --- Wingsuits Take Flight to a Higher Level18 --- Accepting Change19 --- Dr. Joanna Slusky20 --- Rich Bira: Taking Smart Homes to the Top24 --- Polish Cities: Szczawnica26 --- Polish Constitution Day History28 --- Zdrowie na Talerzu30 --- Allison Sima: Love your Brand31 --- K Mraz and “Growing Strong”32 --- Summer Makeup Tips33 --- Ask an Attorney34 --- Technology Etiquette in Relationships36 --- Charity Spotlight: Live out Loud Charity37 --- Ask Anita38 --- La Mode 31

Contributors

14

and to remember to enjoy the moment you are in right now– because you’ll never get back this very precious minute of your life.

moniCa doLeCkaassoCiate editor

38 --- La Mode28

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revIA Magazine is produced as a monthly periodical catering to young, assimilated Polish-american professionals in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. revia is one of the only Polish themed publications where the majority of content is in english, allowing for an unparalleled opportunity to remain part of the community for assimilated Poles.

revIA Magazine offers readers the absolute best in Polish culture, lifestyle and community living that Chicago has to offer. we target both the Polish community that wants to connect with the american culture, and the american community that desires to better connect with Poles.

revIA Magazine is building a bridge and closing a generational gap to unite our community!

Get the inside scoop on:

• Culture• events• interviews• Fashion• Film• music• health• Love• Food• and much more!

C O N N E C T I N G C O M M U N I T I E S . R E M E M B E R I N G R O O T S .

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CONTRIBUTORS

ALLISON SIMAAllison Sima is Program Manager at AdRevenu and is a Freelance Designer and Writer with over 10 years of marketing communications experience. Allison assists companies with brand development and lead generation. She is passionate about marketing that delivers results. A Chicagoland native, Allison's

cultural background is Polish on her mother's side and German on her dad's.

MARTA ZAWADZKAActivist, Editor and Writer. Originally from Poland, she is well known amongst the Polish community for her dedication and action for those in need. Marta is a very motivated, outgoing, highly imaginative, and a very resourceful individual whose goal is to positively change other’s lives. For the past four years she has

been helping women with her motivational group “Success in a Skirt”, where she helps women achieve their goals and pursue their dreams. Marta loves vegetarian cooking and traveling.

ANITA CHIPALATwo of my passions in life are helping people with their love life and writing. With my advice column, “Ask Anita, ”I get to combine the two! As a dating & relationship expert, I’m on a mission to prove that happy and satisfying relationships are possible. I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and hold a

Master’s in Marital & Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. I founded Relationship Reality 312, Inc., and I work with clients both internationally and in my Chicago downtown office.

3100 DUNDEE ROAD, SUITE 406, NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS 60062

TEL: 847-559-1515, FAX: 847-272-6701

E-MAIL: [email protected] | WWW.REVIAMAGAZINE.COM

revia magazine is not responsible for d isplay adver t isement , adver t is ing ar t ic les and their contents.

reproduct ion in whole or in par t without wri t ten permission is prohibi ted.

Copyr ight 2014 © Chicago review inc. al l rights reserved

LEANDRO MULETLeandro Mulet was born in Cuba and at age nineteen he moved to the United States. Mulet is a fashion designer currently based in Chicago. His designs have managed to catch the attention not only from models and fashion producers, but also from photographers desiring to use his editorial ensembles for photo-

shoots. With his fashion expertise and good styling, Leandro has dressed many local celebrities from Miami to Chicago.

MARTA PATLANThe first American born in her family, Marta’s parents

came to the US over 30 years ago. She grew up in Chicago in a typical Polish household and attended Polish school where she learned to read and write. She met her husband, a Mexican-American, with a similar family immigration story and together they

have three small children, ages 5, 3, and 1. A life-long learner, Marta has a love for writing as well as an interest in sharing stories with other moms about

running a home, being a full-time professional, and keeping Polish traditions alive (with a twist!) for the next generation.

DOUGLAS SPOTTED EAGLE

Douglas Spotted Eagle is a producer who wears many hats, and a wingsuiter who loves to teach.

He is an AFF Instructor, a wingsuit instructor, videographer, coach and can pretty much excel in

any branch of skydiving. 'Spot' has written several books about wingsuiting and is a major force in the field.

DIANA EVA LEBIECKIDiana is very active in Polish and Non-Polish events in

Chicago, while working full time and also getting her MBA at Kellogg @ Northwestern. Like many young Poles

born in Chicago to Polish immigrants, she attended Polish Saturday school all through her childhood and was active in Polish Clubs in high school and college.

She enjoys meeting new people, volunteering and exploring all Chicago has to offer. In addition she is on the Junior Board of Gift From the Heart Foundation (Dar Serca)

and is always looking for new volunteers to help plan more events for this great charity. [email protected]

K MRAZK Mraz, also known as Ladie K, is a fi lmmaker, model,

actress, writer, and activist fi ghting for equal rights for women, minorities, and the environment. She is

the owner of Ladie K Productions, Inc., Creative Works Media, Inc., and Smart Pretty Designs, Inc. and is actively

pursing her career in motion picture. Her goal is to change how the world perceives each other by changing what they see in the media,

and thanks all those who are supportive of her cause.

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Chicago Networking SocialOn March 18th The Status Group Inc. joined forces with some of the city’s finest companies and organizations to host The Chicago Networking Social where many of Chicago’s most elite entrepreneurs, professionals, models, and socialites mingled, exchanging business cards and enjoying some dancing throughout the night. This was not at all your average networking event, and never before

have so many elite companies collaborated together under one roof to bridge connections in business, charity, and life. Involved companies included: Revia Magazine, Chicago Scene Magazine, CLEO, Graco Funds, The Dapper Club, Network & Social, and Two Guard Media Group. The evening took place at I|O Rooftop at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago. A lavish escape from the traditional hotel scene,

The Godfrey’s fourth floor rooftop space stands apart from the rest and is definitely one of the most exclusive city spots around. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, this stylish and contemporary rooftop space ascends stories above the city, offering breathtaking views with a dramatic outdoor sky-deck and outdoor fire-pit for that extra ambiance. The group’s next Chicago Networking Social is highly anticipated.

Photo Credit:roCkin ray PhotograPhy

e v e n t s

9 #9, 2015 reviamagazine.com revia

Butterflies at SunsetOn Wednesday March 25th, Janay Graves of Chicago Design Concepts hosted the 2nd annual Butterflies at Sunset event at the beautiful Moonlight Studio in the West Loop, benefitting the New Horizon Center, a school for disabled

children.The main entertainment of the evening entailed a Fashion Show produced

by BENJAMIN COTTRELL DESIGNS which featured 5 local Chicago designers. Guests also enjoyed live music, shopping, cocktails, and a live butterfly release, followed by an after party at Shay.

Proceeds from the event will go directly to the New Horizon Center`s new playground this Summer.


e v e n t s

Wybory Królowej Parady On Saturday March 28th the 17th Polish Independence Day Parade Queen competition took place at Jolly Inn Banquet Hall in Chicago. It took a few months to gather all candidates before the top 10 most beautiful and qualified ladies were finally chosen to compete for the special title of “Krolowa Parady”. Candidate requirements included: being of single status and of Polish heritage, possessing unique beauty with matching intellect, a strong desire for self-improvement with a heavy concentration on achieving personal and educational goals, being very determined, and most importantly, being involved in the Polish community through volunteering, charity work, and good deeds. All ladies were required to harmoniously reflect a young Miss Polonia involved in the Polish community as well in other, non-Polish communities, through altruistic contribution. Each woman represented her individual

beauty, intellect, and talent by showcasing singing, dancing, music, and art abilities. Regardless of the final result, each woman was individually recognized with a metal honoring her unique contribution to the contest. This year’s jurors confessed choosing the queen was not an easy decision.

This year’s judging panel included Urszula Babicz, Grzegorz Dziedzic, Żaneta Jankowiak, Marcin Krempa, Dr. Łucja Mirowska-Kopeć, Andre Napier, Michaelangelo J.Siracki, Katarzyna Sowacka, Karol Wróbel and Andrzej Fonfara.

This year’s chosen Parade Queen was Marlena Pierzchała, 22, who was also awarded $2,000 courtesy of Patricia Urbaniak, daughter of one event sponsor Montrose Deli. Marlena was crowned with a special tiara by last year’s titleholder, Paulina Sołtys, while the special sash was placed by Katarzyny Kwaterkiewicz, Manager of the Polish &

Slavic Federal Credit Union in Norridge. Additionally, the Miss Foto award went to candidate Gabriela Naronowicz and was sponsored by Idea Furniture and Marka Kowalczyk z małżonką.

The event was planned by the official election committee, lead by the Polish Association of Clubs, in addition to the energetic entertainment of the evening, provided by: Zespół Pieśni i Tańca “Polonia”, ABC Dance Academy, Dori Koz and Barbara Błasik, and Ricardo Litaliano, who serenaded spectators with their collaborative and unique talents.

We are grateful for everyone who sacrificed their time and efforts to make the event a huge success– including all volunteers and sponsors. Once again thanks you to all who helped make the evening, yet again, memorable and an unforgettable experience for everyone. We can’t thank you enough!

dorota romekPhoto Credits to andrzej BraCh, marek roik,

greg LewCzak


The Live Out Loud Charity (LOLC), 3rd Chicago fashion show, was a prestigious event that promoted self esteem, suicide prevention and awareness, and anti-bullying. Guests flew in from around the nation and world to attend this charity event.

Grammy nominated artist John Hill and Sherrie Gearheart (Founder of LOLC and the fashion show producer for the event) co-hosted the evening show. Fashion Show makeup and avant– garde hair was provided by Steven Papageorge Hair Academy and other select artists.

It was an eventful day with two back to back fashion shows with one goal: to educate the

public on the signs of depression and to save lives while giving hope. Intermixed between designers were powerful speakers sharing their stories of overcoming depression and ways to stop suicide. Speakers included the Live Out Loud Charity Leadership academy spokespersons: Kassy Harper & Liz Harper (Illinois), Oliviah Starr (age 6), Cindy Coreus & Sheila Ross (Ohio), Lynae Tucker (South Dakota), Debbie Larsen (MN), Tiffani Robertson, and Brittany Gallarneau. Featured guest speaker was Jason Patt, a Navy veteran and Investigator for the Lake County Police. Official performer, Jarius Grooves set the mood with his upbeat music

performance.Featured designers for the 3pm fashion show

were Little T's Boutique by Tiffany Cooper, Lil Couture Cutie by Raelynn Nichols, Ashley Alverth, Merle Taylor of Beauti-ful You Designs, Rae Hurst of FIBRE by Rae Hurst, and Nadia Dovydaitiene of Nadia Dovidi. Featured designers for the 7pm fashion show included: Leandro Mulet from Cuba, Satoko Mizuno from Japan, Words to Live By Apparel, and many more. It was a beautiful event and celebration of life.

For more inFormation aBout Live out Loud Charity, visit httP://LiveoutLoudCharity.org

Photo Credit zByszek guCzaL

Celebration of life and fashion – Live Out Loud Charity’s 3rd Annual Fashion Show


On Friday, April 10th, Bravo TV star, model and animal rights activist, Joanna Krupa, hosted a Bachelor/Bachelorette Date Auction at SHAY. The event, sponsored by Spot On Group and Be The Change Chicago, benefited Furever Rescue, a women-run, non-profit organization that rescues and rehabilitates animals and then facilitates foster homes and permanent adoptions for these animals.

A total of thirteen bachelors and bachelorettes represented various dates and experiences across the city. With their bid, each participant won tickets to a sporting event (Bulls, Blackhawks, etc.) or another

fun experience, as well as a certificate for dinner at a nearby restaurant, for the date experience. Revered Chicago event host, Marco Foster emceed the auction with his trademark wit and charm.

More than 300 guests were present for the bidding, which was as fast-paced and exciting as it gets. Successful bidders won their dates with bids ranging between $250 and $1800.

ABOut Furever reSCue:Furever Rescue is a group of women dedicated to helping animals who need medical care, rehabilitation,

love, and a home. Furever donates its time to help make a difference in the lives of animals in the Chicagoland area and beyond. The organization is a 100% volunteer-run, foster based organization relying solely on donations & volunteers. THEIR MISSION: Help animals in need find their second chance at life, love and happiness!

To read the full Furever Rescue story, visit www.fureverrescue.com

PhotograPhy Credit: monika Baranski PhotograPhy

www.monikaBaranski.PhotograPhy

e v e n t s

Furever rescue Bachelor/Bachelorette date Auction at SHAY

#9, 2015 reviamagazine.com revia 13

On April 11th Gift from the Heart Foundation’s Annual Spring Ball took place at Medinah Shriners in Addison, IL. Over 330 guests enjoyed this year’s special theme, as well as the folding fans and flowers offered to all ladies for the appropriate occasion. Grazyna Maneykowski and Marek Rzepkowski took upon MC duties, including Dorothy Malachowski – Foundation’s president – who also shared her voice with elegance and perfection.

This year’s raffle grand prize, an iPad, was sponsored by Sylwia & Peter Wojtowicz of Darpet Windows & Doors Co., and one lucky guest also won a gold &

diamond necklace – donation of Grazyna and Marek Maneykowski of Archer Gold store. The Silent Auction included enthusiasts who placed bids on a wide range of items such as sports memorabilia, paintings, jewelry, home-made brandies, decorative items and much more.

Guests viewed a short film about GFHF children, centered on the artistic vision of Kuba Luczkiewicz. During cocktail hour, guests also enjoyed music by young artists of XAZZ Band and the WiCi Dance Theatre, who presented two very special and artistic dances and whose graceful performance left all in awe.

Slowianie Band lured all the guests to the dance floor to join along in the fun.

The evening was truly enchanting– flaring a Spanish style and Polish spirit. The night was also a great success helping raise over $ 44,000 benefiting GFHF children, whose needs are greatest between January and July. 29 children in total will find care under GFHF wings, receiving medical treatments at top US clinics. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all donators, sponsors and supporters for making this event possible.

If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact the office at 847-671-2711 or visit www.darserca.org.

anna PiotrowskaPhoto Credit andrzej BraCh

Spanish eyes, Polish Hearts –GFHF Annual Spring Ball


Iwas born in the South-Western part of Poland after my parents rooted their life there after the Second World War. My

mom was born in Germany, while my Father was born in Ukraine.

Growing up, my parents were very ambi-tious people. They always reached for the best in life and family values were of most importance to them as they both worked very hard, often working very long hours at their job. My parents loved reading books and, ever since I was a child, there was al-ways a special time just for story time before bed. Our house was fi lled of love, and my parents taught me and my younger sister to always obey our elders, especially our grand-parents, always reminding us to visit them as often as possible.

Some Polish traditions that I still main-tain is celebrating important holidays like Christmas and Easter, of course, but also the tradition of spending time with family, as I used to in Poland, especially at both my grandmothers’ houses. That was an easy tradition to maintain since my grandmoth-ers were neighbors and lived so close to one another. Our house was always full of people, with many cousins and relatives, and for Christmas we went to church, sang carols together, and ate very good traditional Polish food. My grandmothers always baked delicious cakes such as poppy seed cake– my

favorite.I graduated Medical University in Poland

(in Poznan and Wrocław), specializing in obstetrics and gynecology and worked at a hospital for 10 years back in Europe, until I eventually ran own my private clinic. Later I decided to get some skills in business, so I fi nished my MBA in medicine.

I came to USA and was introduced to holistic medicine, which was new to me. I turned to oriental medicine and graduated Cum Laude from Midwest College in Chi-cago, specializing in oriental medicine. Cur-rently I serve the entire community in their well-being and health (helping people from childhood to adulthood). My passion is heal-ing people and helping them overcome their mental, spiritual, and physical struggles.

I like to do unique things. I encourage people that the most important thing is to use knowledge in combination with quality, and I show that through my quality time spent with each patient. First I do an initial evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and then implement a treatment strategy and I do not like to rush through this process. The fi rst treatment visit usually lasts about 2 hours. I have to understand peoples’ problems very well in order to fi nd the root of their disease. So, an acupuncture session at my offi ce is not just short needling, but also is dedicated time, which a patient needs to be fully healed. Later, I spend time educating my patient with diet options suitable for the patient’s health problem, along with teach-ing Tai Chi exercises. Some patients choose cold laser therapy, massages or cold laser facial rejuvenation. In the process, I also prepare individually blended Chinese herbal formulas. My patients are loyal and stay with me for years, often brining along their family members and friends to my practice.

I have a very personal relationship with my patients, which is why they trust me. I am very empathic and understanding and many would say I like their own family. I think it is very important to build proper relationships with my patients and to make them feel comfortable.

In the future, I would like to educate people on a global-level and am currently working on a holistic medicine university program that will educate students and people worldwide on the subject of holistic medicine. The holistic medicine program will allow graduated students to use their education and knowledge in their profes-sional practice all over the world. I would like to also run an online program so I can reach students everywhere and give them the opportunity to learn fascinating things. I’m also currently working with a musician on a meditation CD, which I hope will lead people to discovering their soul. I think ev-eryone would benefi t from this considering our crazy, technology fi lled world today.

Maybe one day I will move to London. I was recently asked by London's Gynecologi-cal Journal to contribute as a columnist and write publications on holistic medicine, acu-puncture and herbal formulas for women of all ages suffering from conditions like PMS, Infertility or Menopause.

I like to think that my future could lie in many different places – because I believe life is about making the right choices at the right time.

doctor violette Kolcan OMd, L.Ac, Board Certifi ed by NCCAOM.Ancient Healing Holistic Medicine Clinicwww.doctorviolette.com773-562-07343 convenient locations in Chicagoland

Doctor Violette Kolcan


p o l i s h e n t e r p r e n e r s


The voice of the NEXT generation of Polish Americans

PAN was founded in the beginning of 2015 with the objective to bridge the existing generational and cultural gap in our community. Our organization consists of educated and affl uent individuals who want to nurture the professional development of Polish-Americans, while preserving the valued Polish heritage.

The mission of Polish American Network is to provide a social, educational and business platform for Polish-Americans to build a stronger community in the US. We invite Poles to celebrate their cultural pride, develop strategic business relationships, and learn about their roots.

By encouraging Polish-Americans to play a leading role in shaping a modern Polonia here in America, PAN is a premier cultural platform that offers business professionals the chance to develop, build, and share their multicultural success stories and ideas.

w w w . p o l i s h a m e r i c a n n e t w o r k . c o m

A b o u t P o l i s h A m e r i c a n N e t w o r k - PA N


Now that the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and International Parachuting Commission have ac-

cepted Wingsuit Performance Category as one of the new disciplines for world level competition, there is a strong surge in the interest of Performance-based flying. Wing-suit Performance Flight is an individual sport, pitting competitors against each other in three different areas – Time, Distance, and Speed – using the same suit.

The three tasks take place all within a competition “window” of 3,000 meters to 2,000 meters AGL (9,842 – 6,561 feet AGL). Competitions are scored by Rounds; there being three jumps per round (one Time, one Distance, one Speed). Scores are logged using the FlySight device (PLD) and the Paralog Competition software.

HIStOrY OF PerFOrMANCe FLIGHt COMPetItIONS

Performance competitions held in the USA have been known as the “Perfor-mance Cup,” first appearing at Lake Elsinore, California in 2011, with the author [Douglas Spotted Eagle] as Meet Director. Previous competitions for distance and time were held at Skydive Utah and Skydive Elsinore; these competitions did not use the Flysight competitors logging system. In the spring of 2014, Zephyrhills, home of Skydive City, hosted the first US Performance Cup held away from Skydive Elsinore, who also held a Performance Cup competition in the fall of 2014.

In early 2015, James Hayhurst

of the USPA, along with Klaus Rheinwald, creator of the competition format, presented the concept to the FAI/IPC, who accepted the format. The 1st World Cup competition for Wingsuit Performance will be held at Netheravon, UK, in May of 2015. In March 2015, the United States Parachute Associa-tion accepted the Performance Category as a USPA-sanctioned event.

OBJeCtIveThe objective is to fly a single wingsuit in three separate tasks to demonstrate a com-bination of best lift (time aloft), best glide ratio (distance) and least drag (speed). Each round of the event is comprised of the three tasks. Each task is performed on a separate flight.

Time Taskthe wingsuit flyer is to fly with the slowest fall rate possible through the competition window. the result will be the time taken to fly through the competition window, expressed in seconds,

and rounded to one decimal place.Distance Task

the wingsuit flyer is to fly as far horizontally as possible through the competition window. the result will be the straight-line distance flown over the ground while in the competition window, expressed in meters, rounded to whole numbers.

Speed Taskthe wingsuit flyer is to fly as fast, horizontally over the ground, as possible through the com-petition window. the result will be the straight-line distance flown over the ground while in the competition window divided by the time spent in the competition window, expressed in meters per second (m/s), rounded to one decimal place.

Programthe event shall consist of three rounds, with three tasks in each round, for a total of nine jumps. at least one round of three tasks must be completed to determine rankings and de-clare winners.

deterMINAtION OF tHe WINNerSEach task in each round will be scored based on the top score of the task per-formed in that round. The top result will be scored 100%. The other results will be scored as a percentage of the top score, rounded to one decimal. All rounds for each task will be averaged for each competitor for an intermedi-ate result of the task. The three inter-mediate results for each task for each competitor are added up to give the total result for the competitor.

to Learn more aBout the 1st Fai worLd CuP oF wingsuit PerFormanCe FLying 2015, visit: www.Fai.org/iPC-news

By: douglas Spotted eagle

WINGSUITS TAKE FLIGHT TO A HIGHER LEVEL

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I t’s the time of year where spring is in the air, bringing with it the promise of renewal and anticipation of what’s to

come. I’m taking the time to determine where change fits into the picture and how we challenge ourselves to prepare for another exciting summer, but somehow enjoy the road there as well.

Many people fear change. They see it lurking around the corner and it gives them anxiety. When things change, people complain or run. Their comfort level is rattled and their world can seem upside down. Sometimes, it’s easier to resist change than to face it.

For me, I find calm in Change. Change is not lurking around the corner but rather is the old friend waving at me from a distance, saying, “See you soon!”

My parents left their home in Poland with my brother, lived in Austria for almost a year, and then had to build a life out of two suitcases, an orange blanket, and a set of silverware in a new world called Wisconsin. Then I was born and joined my brother; two little

faces staring at my parents, silently asking for stability and protection from Change. But, my parents shook hands with Change the day they landed at the airport and Change reminded them they would not be alone in their adventure. Change announced it was the only constant in the background of all the uncertainty. Only Change can make that promise.

Growing up, I saw my parents go through various careers, attend school, move in and out of homes, deal with being Mama and Tato to us, assimilate themselves into a culture different from their own, and somehow keep their own Polish identities. As a child I couldn’t see it, but this is where Change and I got to know each other pretty well. I gave Change an extra key to my life and Change knew it was free to come in and out as it pleased.

As an adult, I take comfort in Change. I get restless when Change hasn’t paid a visit in a while. I check my watch and look at my calendar when I think it’s time for Change. I’ve learned to be adaptable from seeing my parents do

the same and although I haven’t been through the experiences they have, I’ve been through my fair share. Guess who was in the background, waiting for me to get comfortable? As soon as I let my guard down and started to try to get to know Permanency or have coffee with Stability, Change ran over and like a friend looking out for me, reminded me that those two won’t last and that we are in this together. I’ve learned that having plans and setting goals is great – but only keep one eye on the distant prize and the other on today.

Change never said this was going to be pretty. The unpredictability of parenting is something no one can prepare you for. If I think of one 24 hour period as the Mama to my dzieci, there is a range of emotions, attitudes, and experiences that occur. My three bring me up, down, and spin me around. Every. Single. Day. They are the epitome of what I think Change has been trying to prepare me for all these years: Buckle up and hang on, one moment at a time. Stay nimble, be patient, this too shall pass. Oh and don’t forget to enjoy it while it lasts.

By: Marta Patlan

Accepting Change


Since 2008, Halsted Eye Boutique has been the leader and preferred

provider of quality vision care products and personalized optometric services to pa-tients in Chicago and the sur-rounding areas. Their experi-enced doctors and staff offer

comprehensive vision exami-nations and specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of eye diseases, conditions, and problems.

In her mission to provide the best eye care services possible, Dr. Joanna Slusky, O.D. uses only the most ad-vanced, state-of-the-art di-agnostic technology and eye care products available. Dr. Slusky is committed to edu-cating patients and providing personalized eye care services to the people of Chicago. At Halsted Eye Boutique, you will find eye care profession-als who genuinely care about your health and are dedicated to providing exceptional per-sonal service to everyone who walks through their door.

Our full-service optical boutique offers high-quality, limited edition frames from leading designers in the eye-wear industry. Whether your taste is unique or classic, or you wear progressive lenses, or you like to change frames with every outfit, Halsted Eye Boutique care is here to help. Our on-site doctors offer com-

plete optical medical services. Whether you wear traditional frames or contact lenses, want laser vision correction, have red or irritated eyes, need treatment for diseases such as glaucoma, or are experiencing common computer eye strain, Halsted Eye Boutique can

lend a hand.Halsted Eye Boutique ac-

cepts a wide variety of insur-ance coverage, so you don’t have to switch doctors just because you switch jobs. We are located in the Wicker Park section of Chicago and have convenient hours that suit your individual schedule.

Eyes are important indi-cators of overall health, and comprehensive eye care goes beyond a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. At Halsted Eye Boutique, we take the time to get to know you, your eye history, and your current vision needs. Dr. Slusky supplies her patients with expert care, advice, op-tions, and the follow up your eyes need and deserve.

Halsted Eye Boutique fea-tures a state-of-the-art au-tomated lens edger which enables our technicians to tai-lor your lenses or eyeglasses right here in our office. We also provide a wide array of designer frames, fit for every style and budget, atop of fea-turing comprehensive contact lens services.

dr. Joanna Slusky, O.d. was born in Poland and came to the United States dur-ing her childhood. She attended Northwestern University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. Joanna’s academic merits include the Tomb and Key Honor Fraternity, and Beta Sigma Kappa International Honor Society academic honor recognition.

In addition to providing comprehensive eye examinations, Dr. Joanna has a special interest in pediatric vision care, and the management of the anterior seg-ment of adult eyes. Specialty contact lens care, as well as dry eye and ocular allergy treatment are the emphasis of her vision and ocular health care in our community. Dr. Joanna has been recognized by the leaders of the contact lens industry for her recommendations for the best vision care options for her patients.

"With dedication, dignity, and knowledge, I look forward to serving you and your family's vision care needs as your eye care specialist. You are more than a patient in our practice; you are part of our family." – Dr. Joanna Slusky, O.D.

DR. JOANNA SLUSKY, O.D.IMPOrtANCe OF eYe exAMINAtIONSIt is recommended that everyone gets an annual eye exam, regard-less of their age or whether there is any sign of eye illness or trou-ble. Children should be tested at birth, then again at 6 months, at 3 years, and then every year after that to ensure proper ocular and visual development. If a child needs glasses and is not wearing them prior to being 6 years old, their brain may never develop the proper neurological connections and potentially preventing them from ever seeing with 20/20 vision as an adult. For adults, however, the frequency of eye care visits depends on the doc-tor’s recommendation and may occur every year or possibly more often, depending on your overall eye health, how you use your eyes on daily basis, and whether you wear glasses or contacts.

COrreCtING BLurrY vISIONGlasses and contact lenses correct blurry vision. You may want to wear them more often in order to see things more com-fortably and without straining

your eyes from squinting. To set the misconception straight, get-ting used to seeing things more clearly will not make your eyes worse or dependent on needing glasses or having to wear lenses. However, your lens prescription may change over time naturally because of age or external eye diseases. It is important to get annual exams to determine if your prescription is current and whether there are any signs of possible disease.Schedule an appointment with Dr. Joanna Slusky and give your vision the level of care and at-tention it deserves.

2852 N. Halsted StreetChicago, IL 60657Phone: 773-549-1111www.visionsource-halstedeyeboutique.com

vision & heaLth news


By: Ania Jablonowski

ANY GreAt tINKerer KNOWS tHe BeSt WAY tO LeArN HOW SOMetHING WOrKS IS tO BreAK It dOWN ANd Put It BACK tOGetHer. rICH BIrA HAS BeeN reverSING eNGINeerING teCHNOLOGY COMPONeNtS AS eArLY AS He CAN reMeMBer, ALWAYS CArrYING ArOuNd eLeCtrICAL WIre ANd tOOLS, INSteAd OF tYPICAL tOYS. WItH A WIde rANGe OF exPerIeNCe IN CArPeNtrY, reAL eStAte, eLeCtrICAL eNGINeerING, POLItICAL SCIeNCe, LAW ANd PSYCHOLOGY, rICH IS HeLPING tAKe tHe POLISH-BASed COMPANY FIBArO tO tHe tOP OF tHe SMArt HOMe INduStrY BY LeAdING tHe uS LAuNCH.

rICH BIrATaking Smart Homes to the Top

eArLY YeArSI was born in Chicago, and my parents came from Rzeszow, Poland at age 19. After meeting at a town hall dance event, my parents dated for a while, fell in love, and married. Meanwhile, my aunt – who was the matriarch of the family – wanted everyone from my mom's family to move to America. Being the only one of her siblings to come here, my mom was looking to make a better living after the war, and six months later, my dad joined her.

I grew up in the notoriously Polish part of Chicago, around Belmont and Central Avenue, until I was about five years old. With four kids to raise, both of my parents worked very hard in factories. My mom's first job here was at Zenith, making the world's first keyboards on an assembly line, while my dad also worked in a fac-tory. After school I would help watch my sisters for a few hours since my parents each worked two jobs.

My aunt owned an apartment building, and my parents rented a small one bedroom unit from her while saving money to later rent the entire floor of a single family house. Soon after, they purchased a three-flat in Harwood Heights and rented out the other two units for 7 years until they purchased a single family house in the Norwood Park Town-ship.

Since my parents both worked full time, I would watch my sisters for a few hours after school. I give a lot of credit to my parents. It wasn't easy, but they managed to put all four kids through college due to their hard work and smart real estate invest-ments. My parents taught me a lot growing up, especially to do whatever it takes to provide for your family and the importance of a strong work ethic.

Polish was the spoken language in our house, and like many Polish-Americans, I attended Polish School on Saturdays throughout grade school. Growing up, I definitely felt different than some of my friends. We couldn't relate on simple levels, like what their favorite Saturday morning cartoons were or what afterschool sports they played. I also had to take English as a Second Language classes my first couple years in grade school since my parents first taught me Pol-ish. In a way, it seemed as though I had two groups of friends: my English school friends during the week and my Polish school friends on the week-ends. They were two different worlds, and it can take effect on a kid.

Photo Credit: FrANCIS SON PHOtOGrAPHY hair and makeuP: NINI JeNKINS LoCation: tHe GOdFreY HOteL CHICAGO


BACK tO tHe MOtHerLANdMy fi rst time in Poland was a hum-bling experience. In America, I often felt like we weren't as blessed as the other kids even though we had ev-erything we needed, and more. I took the availability of things for granted. But, visiting Poland for the fi rst time really opened my eyes. I was fi fteen years old and it was during the Cold War era. I stuck out like a sore thumb just by the clothes I wore. The means by which people lived were so simple, there wasn't excess in any-thing. I remember seeing my cousins wear my hand-me-downs.

Seeing that my extended family didn't have nearly as much as we did in the U.S. made me appreciate the life my parents had made for us. Just trying to purchase groceries at the store was challenging. I spent three months there on my summer break. Since my grandmother on my mom's side spent two years in the US with our family, I had a strong connection with her and it was great to visit her farm. She had cows, pigs, geese, two horses, and also harvested wheat fi elds. We'd get woken up by the rooster in the early morning, and it was fun to go on hayrides and ride the tractors with my uncle. We have a large family in Poland, with about sixteen fi rst cousins. My dad's parents lived about three miles away from where my mom grew up, so we spent time with them too, also traveling to Krakow, which is one of my favorite places in the world.

The second time I went to Poland was for a family wedding in my early twenties. It felt like a totally different country, things having changed for the better. I was pleasantly surprised by how progressive the country became, from the technology to the level of education and the types of careers people were going into. I've been there at least seven or eight times since, and each year I'm still in awe. Polish people, as a culture, have the mentality to work hard and dream big. I know that's refl ected in

my work ethic and how I want to cre-ate a better life for my son, Joey.

tINKerING WItH PASSIONEver since I was a kid, I had a fasci-nation for electronics and building things. There are tons of photos of me holding cables and wires instead of toy cars. I was always reverse en-gineering stuff that was broken, from a transistor radio to a thrown away

TV. I would tinker with everything to see how it was made and how to fi x it. My dream was to be a carpen-ter– I wanted to build houses, but my parents talked me into pursuing electrical engineering during college because of my passion for electron-ics. The fi rst year at University of Illinois in Chicago was eye-opening for me. I just couldn't see myself doing that as a profession; I liked my electronics shop class in high school, but this was completely different. So I ended up switching to liberal arts with a political science major and a psychology minor, with my new hope of becoming an attorney. However, toward the end of college, my entrepreneurial spirit did not want to be back in law school for a few more years. I always wanted to do something big; my mom said I was the dreamer in the family with very big goals.

Fibaro Home Intelligence is a rapidly growing Polish company that de-signs, engineers and manufactures innovative smart home ecosystems and devices. Currently, our products are in 80 countries and, under my leadership, we offi cially launched in the United States in September 2014. Our wireless Z-Wave system can be controlled from anywhere in the world via smart phone and/or tablet and includes smart scene automation, energy management, camera integration, multimedia plug-ins, lights, locks, shades and more.

Currently, the Fibaro System can transform every house into an au-

tomated home, which assists the lives of all members of the house-hold. Our solution allows electrical devices in your house to communi-

cate with one another, eliminating the need to run cables. We’ve been able to design miniature modules and sensors packed with the latest technology and features. The de-vices are easily installed in any wall switch box, behind a light switch or roller blind switch, etc. – and are compatible with every electrical system. One thing that differenti-ates our devices is that they do not connect permanently to a building’s infrastructure. So, if you want to redecorate your apartment – take down some walls and change the in-terior design concept – all you have to do is simply take out any given module from the wall and install it in its new location.

sourCe: FiBaro.Com

the FiBaro system

media interview at reCent trade show

reCent Live demo For the Press with maLikowski

Seeing that

my extended family didn't have nearly as much as we did in the U.S. made me appreciate the life my parents had made for us



My career path was a pretty windy road, but I know everything came together to bring me to where I needed to be. I had a banquet hall job throughout high school and then in college, a full-time job at North-west Savings and Loans. Later, I was recruited as an internal auditing manager at Best Buy to help open the fi rst Chicago locations. It turned out to be a pretty big opportunity at the time, and I managed six or seven stores. My last year at UIC I was of-fered a position as district manager which I declined because I wanted to fi nish school. After graduating, I got a job with Marshal Fields as the head of investigation. Between Best Buy and Marshall Fields, I had saved enough money to buy my fi rst condo in the South Loop of Chicago. Given all my investigation experience, I thought maybe applying to the FBI would be a good next step, however, after pass-ing all of the tests and scheduling a full day interview in Virginia, I found out that they needed me to move away from my hometown for the fi rst two years. Being a new homeowner, I did not want to make that kind of commitment.

Not wanting to go back into retail, I decided to get my real estate license and fi nance mortgages. I developed ten years of experience and opened up a brokerage fi rm. I was learning how to build houses and buying fore-closures to remodel and sell them. My fi rst project was a house in Lake Zur-ich with a custom home builder when suddenly the housing market fl ipped upside down. The partner I had at the time bailed on me when we were at 80% completion, leaving me as the general contractor. It took six months for me to fi nish up the whole project,

and as a result, I truly learned how all the mechanics of a house were con-nected, from plumbing and HVAC, to lighting, controllers, and electrical.

With a knack for technology since childhood, I always imagined integrating gadgets to create a smart home, even before it ever existed. Thankfully, the knowledge I gained throughout the years has connected me to a group of entrepreneurs look-ing for consulting for a Polish-based company, Fibaro. I was brought on to work with the engineering team to get the products certifi ed, marketed, and sold in the United States. Applying my passion and experience, I quickly identifi ed a strategy. Currently, I am the Managing Director for our USA team. It has been exciting to see the company grow and establish itself as an industry leader for smart home technology.

When I was approached to join Fi-baro, I immediately saw the potential for their product in the US market. Being in real estate development at the time, and focusing on all aspects of energy effi ciency within the home, Fibaro’s product could achieve this in a simple way for the end consumer. Additionally, knowing that the com-pany was born out of a garage in Po-land gave it that much more appeal.

Historically, there has never been a Polish technology company that designs and manufactures these types of smart home products. To date, Fibaro is little over 4 years old and currently has about 350 employees. The growth has been incredible and really mirrors what is happening in Smart Home technology around the world. The company is growing at a very fast pace with so many electronic products becoming smarter and more connected. Within several years, there will be millions of products connected and controlled by a smart phone or even smart watch. It is an exciting time to be in this space.

One exciting thing Fibaro is doing is sponsoring Mariusz Malkowski, a 40-year-old Polish mountain climber, as he proves that the Fibaro system can be controlled from anywhere in the world – the top of Mt. Everest! The demonstration will take place between May 16 and May 30 2015, depending on climbing conditions.We have a Facebook page, Twitter account, and website dedicated to

the FIBARO Mount Everest Chal-lenge. Malkowski has climbed

world-class mountains on four continents, many of them by him-self. For the FIBARO Challenge, Malkowski will be climbing Mount Everest alone, with no porters and no supplemental oxygen during the expedition. He is scheduled to begin his ascent on April 3 or 4, which will conclude around the end of May.

A live connection from the Ever-est Base Camp took place on April 16 at the Z-Wave Pavilion at ISC West in Las Vegas. Attendees were able to watch Malkowski control several smart home devices includ-ing FIBARO sensors on the show floor using only his smart phone, all while he was halfway around the world.

sourCe:BuLLdog Press reLease

FiBaro sPonsors veteran mountain CLimBer to sPread the smart home message

ConneCting with the CLimBer at BaseCamP oF mt. everest

FiBaro 4 year anniversary Party in Poznan

With a

knack for technology since childhood, I always imagined integrating gadgets to create a smart home, even before it ever existed



Szczawnica is a resort city rising 1837 feet above sea level in Southern Poland, bordered by Slovakia and

nested in Nowy Targ County within the lesser Poland Voivodeship. It’s name means “szczawy”, or “sour water”, which is how the locals describe the water due to its acidity and acrid taste, and which also perfectly de-scribes the famous healing alkali hot springs that attract thousands of tourists for that reason alone. Currently, Szczawnica is a pre-dominately tourist-resort town best known for the healing powers of its medicinal water and therapeutic hot springs, as well as for its brilliant and picturesque nature.

Political matters seem to have no place in Szczawnica, as the people who live there choose to focus their time and energy on the beautiful nature and rich social culture that surrounds them instead. Szczawnica is a cultural sight to behold.

HOt SPrINGS MedICAL SPASzczawnica attracts tourists from around the world, and is one of the most highly sought out places for hydrotherapy, treating respi-ratory, musculoskeletal, or digestive related health problems. Szczawnica’s balanced weather, in combination with its mysti-cal waters, is known to alleviate symptoms of these conditions, sometimes even fully healing them. Respectively, Szczawnica’s indigenous and world-famous Natural Therapy Spa, which opened in 1973, special-izes specifi cally in the treatment of these health problems, prompting health-seekers

to come here for homeopathic treatment alternatives.

The Therapy Spa comes fully equipped with thermo-baths, along with other equip-ment necessary for medical therapies and special healing massages. The spa offers 42 astounding treatments including hydro-therapy, cell inhalations, physiotherapy, kinesitherapy, as well as addiction treat-ment. However, the natural Therapy Spa is not only for medical treatment– it is ideal for anyone needing that extra pampering and body rejuvenation that only the sour Szczawnica waters can offer. Szczawnica is the ideal place where you can fi nd yourself the same time you lose yourself.

WINterS ANd SuMMerSScenically breathtaking in the summer-time, Szczawnica glows with luscious green landscapes and is home to 6 big national parks and over 80 nature preserves such as the Dolny and Górny parks, along with Pieniski National Park, where visitors gather to partake in outdoor activities like rock

climbing, hiking, camping, and even river rafting down the gorgeous Dunajec River-gorge. The abundant forests and greenery is what produces the ever-ideal climate of Szczawnica, helping preserve the famous acidic hot springs.

During the warmer months, it is common for parents to send their kids to a locally organized summer camp (kolonie) for a few weeks, and in the winter, the scenic Palenica ski trail is a favorite for families and ski enthusiasts to enjoy over 5,900 sq feet of all-terrain skiing and snowboarding in the most ideal snow conditions. Palenica also hosts many ski-events including the famous Alpine Ski contest.

MOderN SZCZAWNICAThe mythical folklore legends of the high-landers continue to thrive in Szczawnica, their dialect still spoken intermittingly throughout town, and from time to time, you can still witness fi shermen, traditional dancers, hackney coach drivers and farmers all dressed in traditional highlander garb. Local markets cloth and feed the Szczawnica

people and the fi nancial state of Szczawnica still mainly relies on the circulative support of small business through keeping produc-tion and sales within city limits.

In 2005, Szczawnica constructed the 18 mile-long Pieniski National Park, construct-ed with fi nancial support from the European Union through various cultural grants, which provides exciting educational hikes and bike tours. The park’s trail path extends from the low base of the Palenica ski lift up to the Grajcarek river stream, winding back down to “Pieniny” road, and fi nally ending at Lenica on the Slovakian side.

To this day, active folk bands such as the Pieniny Division of Tatras Highlanders Union continue to be a main source of local entertainment. The socially inviting "Muzyc-zna Owczarnia" in the town of Jaworki offers an artist’s sanctuary with live performances by Rock, Blues, Jazz and Country music bands, along with other well-known per-formers. Every weekend "Muzyczna Owczar-nia” holds various musical festivities for all to enjoy and partake in, including tourists.

Photo Credit kasia augustyn

By: Monica dolecka

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Each year, Chicago commemorates Po-land’s offi cial Independence Day with the largest Polish parade in the United

States. May 3rd is a national holiday that proudly bestows honor upon Poland’s con-tinual fi ght for humanitarianism, acceptance and a democratic identity, which is what makes this constitution ahead of its time, given that during its conception Poland was a place of battle and blood in order to gain socio and political rights – A time “when most of Europe lived under the existence of unconditional power and tyranny exempli-fi ed by Prussia and Russia.”1

For over 115 years, Polonia's multifarious community makes it a point to join together for this traditional Chicago-style celebration of Polish history and tradition. The parade takes place on the Saturday closest to the third day of May and many people plan weeks in advance to make the event. This

year the parade will take place Satur-day May 2nd in downtown Chicago along Dearborn St., starting from Lake St and parading all the way to Van Buren St.

The very fi rst parade took place in 1893 in the heart of Polish Down-town– which is now the Humboldt Park area, and was led by polish offi cers. 50,000 faithful Polonians attended that day, accompa-nied by thousands of spectators

who curiously watched Polish traditions, like the dancing of the mazurka, unfold before their eyes. It was not until post– World War II that the parade was moved to downtown, though still in Chicago, oc-curring from State Street, and continuing on to Dearborn Street and fi nally (since 2003) concluding at Grant Park. The pa-rade has defi nitely come a long way since its beginning!

The Polish Independence Day Parade is organized and prepared by the Alliance of Polish Clubs and Polish Constitution Day Committee, under the premise and theme of Frederick Chopin, who also are responsible

for the crowning of the Grand Marshall and Parade Queen. Both associations assign and organize the role of each participating or-ganization like local schools, orchestra and bands for music production, guest speakers and attendees, as well as choosing the fi nal folk dance groups that perform throughout the parade. Local Politicians such as Robert Kennedy, who attended the parade in 1961, also make special appearances at the parade. The Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union, and Tatra Mountain Cultural Foundation also regularly partake in the parade, in ad-dition to Morningside Recovery and Allstate Insurance who are sponsors of the parade, among the many others.

For more inFormation, PLease visit www.may3Parade.org

By: Monica dolecka

The History Behind the Polish Constitution Day Parade

1. httP://www.PoLamjournaL.Com/LiBrary/hoLidays/3rdmay/3rdmay.htmL


Poland’s Constitution Day falls on May 3rd and first came into legislative effect in 1791. The infamous event is

dubbed "the first constitution of its type in Europe, while other scholars also refer to it as the world's second oldest constitution”1. During this period and about 30 years prior to the establishment of the constitution, Po-land’s political state was suffering a downfall due to the antics of the reckless King Augus-tus, who died in 1763 leaving the people of Poland desperate for a new, more competent leader. Anger and frustration spread across Poland like wildfire as residents feared his-tory would repeat itself with the new King. However, what they did not know was that very soon Poland would finally experience one of the most important and transcendent achievements in its history, although not achieved without first putting up a big fight.

On Sept. 7, 1764 Stanisław II was elected King by a democratic-like vote system, where majority ruled (a new concept in Poland at this time). Upon the implemen-tation of new fiscal and military systems, a “national customs tariff was established and a project for municipal reform was commissioned from Chancellor Zamoyski

and some of the country's magnates, with a more democratic constitutional monarchy”2. However, challenging the King’s plan to re-store humanitarianism in Poland, Empress Catherine of Russia (the King’s ex-lover and feigned ally) had other plans and did every-thing in her power to stop Poland’s progress. Catherine retaliated by ensuring that Poland slowly seep back into Russian conquest, and to once again be dependent on Russian sup-port. Originally, the Polish Constitution was created in hopes of restoring the permanent political defects of the Polish–Lithuanian republic. The Constitution aimed to replace the country’s anarchy, brought on by King Augustus, with a humanitarian-like society, but the challenges created by Empress Cath-erine complicated matters that much more. King Stanisław diligently fought back against Catherine to salvage the territory of Poland annexed by Russia, Prussia and Austria. The King successfully recovered the partitioned land, and with several other reforms in place, including educational and legislative amendments, the final reform mandated was the “Constitution” as we know it today, also historically known as “The Sejm (Diet)”. Immediately the constitution was countered, as “the Targowica Confederation was formed by a group of Polish nobles with Russian

backing. In a subsequent invasion by Rus-sia, despite valiant efforts by a small Polish army, the Russians succeeded in crushing the movement for a new constitution”3. Once again, Poland found itself fighting to get back everything the constitution aimed to restore.

The infamous May 3rd Constitution has “for generations helped keep alive Polish aspirations for an independent and just soci-ety, and continued to inform the efforts of its authors' descendants. In Poland it is viewed as a national symbol, and the culmination of all that was good and enlightened in Polish history and culture”4. Essentially, this val-iant and timeless document, so far ahead of its time when created, has for centuries held together the ideology behind a better tomor-row, promising its people independence, economic autonomy and the chance for their voice to finally be heard.

As far as the kind of affect the Polish Constitution has bore on first and second generation Polish Americans – well, that’s an interesting and continuous flux of soci-etal and socio-political influences ebbing back and forth between post-Constitution Poland to modern day life in America, trying very hard to find that harmonious balance between both. Surely, many of us Polish-Americans would happily agree that we are proud of our Polish roots, and our parents respectively, for striving for all of those op-portunities that the constitution first offered over 200 years ago.

Polish Constitution DayBy: Monica dolecka

1. wikiPedia 2015, httP://en.wikiPedia.org/wiki/may_3rd_Constitution_day

2. wikiPedia 2015, httP://en.wikiPedia.org/wiki/Constitution_oF_may_3,_1791

3. enCyCLoPedia BritanniCa, httP://www.BritanniCa.Com/eBCheCked/toPiC/563200/stanisLaw-ii-august-Poniatowski

4. wikiPedia, httP://en.wikiPedia.org/wiki/may_3rd_Constitution_day


Sałatka NowalijkowaPrzychodzi wiosna i niemal jemy oczami. Chce nam

się wszystkiego. Zwłaszcza tych młodziutkich ko-lorowych rzodkiewek, szczypiorku czy liści sałaty.

Nowalijki.Sztucznie pędzone to mniej odżywcze. Bez smaku,

bo nie dojrzewały w słońcu – przekonują ich wrogowie. Pyszne, pachnące, cieszą oczy – zapewniają zwolennicy nowalijek. Prawda, jak zwykle, gdzieś po środku. Wczesne wiosenne warzywa są lepsze i gorsze. Na które postawić? Co siedzi w sprzedawanej obecnie młodej rzodkiewce, szczypiorku czy sałacie? Lepsza rzeżucha czy natka pie-truszki wyhodowana na własnym oknie?

Pierwsze warzywa zazwyczaj pochodzą ze szklarni. Nie groźny im więc grad czy nocne przymrozki. Nowa-lijki rozwijają się tam w optymalnej dla tempa wzrostu temperaturze, wilgotności i oświetleniu. Są "dokarmiane" w taki sposób, by maksymalnie szybko trafiły na nasze stoły. Niekoniecznie z korzyścią dla naszych żołądków. Specjaliści zdrowego żywienia ostrzegają nas, że niestety mimo pięknego wyglądu i niepowtarzalnego soczystego, świeżego smaku zawierają wiele środków i substancji chemicznych, które wspomagają ich wzrost oraz w sztucz-ny sposób pielęgnują i wzmacniają ich zdrowy wygląd. Najbezpieczniej więc kupować młode warzywa bezpo-średnio od hodowców z dużych gospodarstw rolnych lub z gospodarstw ekologicznych, gdyż wtedy mamy pewność, że chemia była ograniczona do minimum. Unikajmy też najwcześniej pojawiających się nowalijek, gdyż te narażone były na duże dawki chemikaliów. Najbardziej niebezpieczne związki chemiczne, które zawarte są w nowalijkach to: azotany, ołów – najczęściej znajdujący się w roślinach z przydrożnych gospodarstw, rtęć oraz środki ochrony roślin. Młode warzywa dzieli się również na te, które w większym lub mniejszym stopniu gromadzą szko-dliwe substancje. Do tych pierwszych należą: szczypiorek, sałata, rzodkiew, buraczki, szpinak. Natomiast najbez-pieczniejsze są ogórki, ziemniaki, pomidory, marchew i korzeń pietruszki.

Wśród nowalijek są szczęśliwie i takie, które może-my wyhodować na własnym parapecie. Nawet bardzo

szybko. Nie tylko słynna rzeżucha, która nie domaga się nawet gleby, ale i szczypior, pietruszka, a nawet rzodkiewka, świetnie czują się w donicy. Z drugiej strony można mnożyć przykłady osób mających poważ-

ne problemy ze zdrowiem z powodu niedoboru w diecie warzyw i owoców. Trudno natomiast dowieść, że komuś

zaszkodziły nowalijki, umyte i z legalnego źródła.(ŹrÓdŁo weB mz)

SAŁAtKA NOWALIJKOWA• Kilka liści sałaty, porwać na mniejsze części• Kilka rzodkiewek pokroić w plasterki• Ogórek pokrojony w plasterki• Posiekany szczypiorek, natka pietruszki• Sól i pieprz

Wszystko razem wymieszać w misce polać oliwą z oliwek i cytryną. Dla tych co niekoniecznie na diecie można polać jogurtem. Smacznego!!

z d r o w i e n a t a l e r z u

revia reviamagazine.com 28

sałata, rzodkiew, buraczki, szpinak. Natomiast najbez-pieczniejsze są ogórki, ziemniaki, pomidory, marchew i korzeń pietruszki.

Wśród nowalijek są szczęśliwie i takie, które może-my wyhodować na własnym parapecie. Nawet bardzo

szybko. Nie tylko słynna rzeżucha, która nie domaga się nawet gleby, ale i szczypior, pietruszka, a nawet rzodkiewka, świetnie czują się w donicy. Z drugiej strony można mnożyć przykłady osób mających poważ-

ne problemy ze zdrowiem z powodu niedoboru w diecie warzyw i owoców. Trudno natomiast dowieść, że komuś

zaszkodziły nowalijki, umyte i z legalnego źródła.

SAŁAtKA NOWALIJKOWA• Kilka liści sałaty, porwać na mniejsze części• Kilka rzodkiewek pokroić w plasterki• Ogórek pokrojony w plasterki• Posiekany szczypiorek, natka pietruszki• Sól i pieprz

Wszystko razem wymieszać w misce polać oliwą z oliwek i cytryną. Dla tych co niekoniecznie na diecie można polać jogurtem. Smacznego!!

narażone były na duże dawki chemikaliów. Najbardziej niebezpieczne związki chemiczne, które zawarte są w nowalijkach to: azotany, ołów – najczęściej znajdujący się w roślinach z przydrożnych gospodarstw, rtęć oraz środki ochrony roślin. Młode warzywa dzieli się również na te, które w większym lub mniejszym stopniu gromadzą szko-dliwe substancje. Do tych pierwszych należą: szczypiorek, sałata, rzodkiew, buraczki, szpinak. Natomiast najbez-

By: Marta dabrowski


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YOur BrANd PuMPS BLOOdYour brand is your company’s heart. It is the air that your company breathes and it brings your company to life. It shapes the way that your target market views you and it absolutely shapes the way you do business.

Your brand is what makes customers fall in love with your company.

Sometimes the smaller your company is, or perhaps, after a long tenure, the more personal your company brand can become to you. We work hard and strive for the things we love, so your company brand deserves some TLC!

Whether you are new to building a brand, are revamping your brand or looking how to make improvements, here are a few ways you can start to build a company brand that demonstrates how much pride you have in your business and tells your customers precisely who you are.

YOur tArGet MArKet: tHe OBJeCt OF YOur AFFeCtIONThe fi rst thing you want to do, if you haven’t already, is clearly determine your target market. Write it down and make it as detailed as possible.

Even if you have already defi ned your target market, and have been servicing this market for many years, it is important to

keep this in the forefront when building your brand, because while it is your business, these are the people you are selling to so remember that what you do is speaking directly to them. You must defi ne a brand that resonates with your audience in a way that will draw them to you.

YOur MISSION ANd vISION: tHe WAY YOu APPrOACHYou know your company, your product or service, your capabilities and how you operate. Take this and add in your bells and whistles, the things that make you better than your competition. Now, defi ne your goal for delivering this to your customer base. Where do you want to be and how will your business get there? Sum it up in a short, concise and profound way and now you have a Mission statement.

Once you know your mission, look into your company’s future. Answer the question of where you want to be and write about it in a way that inspires you and your colleagues to keep working hard. This will give you your Vision statement.

YOur LOGO: tHAt FIrSt WINK OF AN eYeCompany logos are a huge part of your corporate identity. A logo is an image that when your audience sees it, they recognize your company within a split second. It is often the fi rst thing your audience sees on your business card, letterhead, website,

sales collateral, etc. and it is the smallest way to say it all. Make it simple, clean and memorable.

For tips on designing logos, see my article 5 Tips for Logo Design at www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-tips-logo-design-allison-sima

YOur tAGLINe: tHe PICKuP LINeIn just a few brief, memorable words, your tagline defi nes your brand and your commitment to your target market. Coming up with something catchy is second nature to someone who is creative. If you are passionate about your company and you are formulating a tagline, but you are not a creative person, try your best not to overanalyze it. Don’t choose big words that try to encompass everything. Instead, think of words that are short and simple. It should be something that is easy to say. And remember, it is about your brand and your commitment to your customer.

COLOrS ANd FONt StYLe: dreSS tO IMPreSSIt is unlikely that all of your marketing will be in just black and white. Your logo could be all black, but other things such as a website or PowerPoint presentation will have colors. Stick with a simple color theme on all of your marketing. You want your colors to be in harmony. When designing, think of using colors that are complementary or use tints and shades of your chosen colors.

When you have text, choose a font style and stick with it. You can have more than one, such as one for titles and one for body copy. Also, choose a font style that shows your company’s personality. Font styles can look trendy, classic, silly, fancy, etc. Your font should look like your brand.

YOur COMPANY SIGNAture: tHe x’S ANd O’SOkay, so you're not emailing a love letter, you are emailing a business message. Your company signature is the way you end your email and it is the last impression you give. If you can, include your logo. Include your tagline. Use your company colors. Include a website link, a company newsletter signup and links to your social media accounts. With a customer, you want to build and maintain a relationship that keeps them as a customer. Your email signature should reinforce your name, your brand and lead the customer to stay in touch.

The key to building a brand is to be consistent in everything you do. Your brand tells a story, so write your introduction carefully.

aLLison sima Provides uniQue Content with tiPs For Business deveLoPment and marketing strategy. FoLLow aLLison on Linkedin: www.Linkedin.Com/in/aLLisonsima

By: Allison Sima

LOveYOurBrANd


SummerMakeupTips

Summer is full of pleasures, but melting makeup, sliding eyeliner, and super sticky lipstick are not among them. In

hot weather, applying your makeup should be as simple and comfy as putting on your favorite pair of jeans and fl ip-fl ops. The heat and humidity are a challenge, so you have to make just a few little changes to your makeup-up routine.

1MAKe tIMe FOr PrIMer. You won't regret the few seconds it takes to smooth on primer, which goes on after

moisturizer, but before actual face makeup. Like a normal paint primer, makeup primer provides a smooth base for whatever makeup follows. Primers are incredibly light and don't have that heavy feel to them. A primer is that subtle additional layer that helps hold makeup in place.

2LIGHteN YOur FACe MAKeuP. Just as you switch to breezy skirts and linen blouses, dress up your face with lighter

makeup to complement. Swap foundation for tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizers are sheer formulas that look and feel airier, more breathable, on skin and are less likely to turn cakey on steamy days.

3BrONZe BeLIevABLY. Bronzer makes your eyes look brighter, your teeth whiter– everyone looks better with a

little warmth added to their skin tone. To keep results looking fresh and natural, it is recommended to apply bronzer just to

m a k e u p

the high points of your face, where the sun naturally hits you: forehead, cheekbones, chin and nose. Powder bronzers are the easiest to apply. Look for one with varying shades as it will swirl together for the most authentic, natural-looking results. And be sure to sweep a little bronzer onto your neck and earlobes, especially if you have short hair or your hair is up in a ponytail. Pale ears framed by a tan colored face that's will stand out.

4trY vIBrANt COLOrS. Just as you're probably more likely to wear a vivid top or carry a bright bag this season,

now is also the perfect time to play up your summery makeup palette. If you tend to stick with neutrals, experiment with just one area of your face. For instance, a punch-colored blush on the apples of the cheeks is a good place to start.

5StOP SHINe, Add GLOW. A slick T-zone instantly translates the message, "I'm hot"… and we don't mean sexy. To

eliminate unsightly shine in mere seconds, nothing beats using blotting papers. If you need to, perk up your makeup with a quick dusting of pressed powder with a hint of luminescence.

6WIPe Out tHICK LIPStICKS. Since heavy lip colors often feel like overkill once the weather warms up, many

women opt for clear lip balm or skip lip

color altogether. But– just because you're feeling low maintenance doesn't mean you have to look it.

7StAY-PrOOF YOur eYe MAKeuP. For longer lasting shadow, avoid using cream on eye lids, and smooth on

eye primer instead, which will minimize creasing and create a base for the shadow to cling to, making eye shadow last longer. Although powder shadows stay longer than cream, the ultimate tip for all day wearability is to layer on powder shadow over the cream shadow.

8WAde INtO WAterPrOOF. If you’ve tried waterproof mascaras once but found it to be less than stellar, don’t

give up and give waterproof another go! Water-proof mascaras used to create brittle, crumbly and fl aky lashes, but today's formulas are much better and they actually last.

9GO SHeer. To lighten up your look, switch to a sheer version of your go-to lip and eye hues. Use a lip liner,

pre-application (if you need that extra defi nition) but go with a nude shade to keep a carefree feeling. Or, opt for invisible lip liner, which deposits a clear waxy fi lm to prevent color from bleeding.


By: Ania Szymanska


By: tHe reeL K, K Mraz

All winter long passionate indepen-dent fi lm-makers, living off ramen and warm caffeinated beverages, spend endless hours in their home-

made snuggles glued to their Apple com-puters. They attempt to splice together one more sequence before passing out, or before their poor overworked computer simply explodes. The winter, "the slow season," is when everyone feels the pains of starving artistry the most. Jobs are scarce, funds low, and we long to see our friends, apparent fellow sadomasochists, on set again while working, eating, and sometimes sleeping side by side. So when spring hits, all our underpaid editors and directors fi nish up the movies the cast and crew gave their blood, sweat, and tears to, and everyone looks for-ward to coming together to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Last March that’s exactly what happened; I was able to see Growing Strong for the fi rst time!

GrOWING StrONGGrowing Strong, a fi lm by Rita Ciolek, is a story about acceptance. Taken from personal experiences, Growing Strong (GS) touches on the subject of domestic abuse. It dis-cusses the struggles one overcomes to end the cycle, break free, and essentially grow strong. "On a metaphorical level, the pro-tagonist’s soul incarnates for the purpose of eradicating these patterns by standing up to

and confronting the perpetrator… As in any story of immea-surable feat, the pro-tagonist is provided with extraordinary support and must grow a backbone before she can fulfi ll her destiny,” Rita tells me.

This refreshing coming of age story revolves around 15 year-old Lily. “Any moment when I saw myself in Lily was a little piece of treasure to me,” Rita states. Lily "is emotionally and physically abused by her father – Wes." After escaping to her grandmother, Rosemarie's, Ken-tucky farm, "Lily is haunted not only by the constant threat of Wes coming after her, but also by the

psychological effects of the abuse that mani-fested in fl ashbacks and nightmares." Rose-marie, "a spiritual woman who meditates, eats a vegetarian diet, and reads metaphysi-cal books," does all she can to infl uence the child. Still, the change in atmosphere isn't enough; Lily must fi nd it within herself to confront the antagonist, heal her scars, and grow strong. She accomplishes all this while making a few friends, including neighbor-hood country boy, Sam White.

PrOduCtION deSIGNWhat does a Production Designer do? Simple, they design productions. That's what I do, I design movies. We PDs (every-thing in fi lm is abbreviated) manage the Art Department. This includes set design, props, costumes, hair, and makeup. When working on a project, like GS, I must stay in contact

with other departments to ensure awareness of all creative decisions and changes in the script or production. The PD then trickles down the information to their team. For GS I picked script supervisor, Kelsey O'Brien, as both my Set Decorator and Props Master because of her eye for continuity. Carl Er-ikson fi lled my second art spot as local Art PA in Kentucky. Hair and makeup was all Genell Banks of Etcetera Beauty. The four of us spent two weeks down in Paris, Kentucky along with about 18 other cast and crew members from Chicago, Ohio, and New York helping with Growing Strong.

When we returned to Chicago, right hand Tina McCarthy joined the team for the last 3 days. “K Team” members, Matthew Wrobel and Scott Feigen, also came as Art PAs. "The Art Department was faced with an enormous challenge during the Growing Strong production. The script was fi lled with numerous little details regarding props and wardrobe, and keeping track of those details was no small task," Rita admits. Without each of them there was no way I could have completed all that needed to be done for GS.

tHeN ANd NOWLast June I received an email from Assistant Director, Steven Callas, regarding a project in need of a PD; it was to take place in Ken-

tucky, and end at Cinespace. I was stoked! Kentucky meant a change in scenery, country air, and moonshine. Working in Cinespace studios (home to Empire, Chicago PD, and mov-ies like Transformers 4) was the icing on the cake!

Meeting Rita for the fi rst time was a pleasure! The two of us quickly agreed on a budget, a rate, timeline, and immediately started discuss-ing the details of the fi lm. She is not only a strong female in the fi lm industry, but a strong

person altogether.Before living in Chicago, Rita spend her

childhood in Poland, "which, at the time, was under a communist regime. In this regard, my upbringing taught me about scarcity, isolation, and the lack of freedom to individuate. I also faced personal challenges as I grew up with a father who was physi-cally and emotionally abusive. The effects of the abuse manifested as PTSD, anxiety, a sleeping disorder – all the things I’m show-ing in Growing Strong."

Rita immigrated to The U.S. at 21, about 20 years ago, and hopes to live up to the expectations she’s set for herself. “I made Growing Strong for two reasons: to show audiences that physical and emotional abuse psychologically wounds the child, and to suggest that an inward spiritual journey is a viable path for healing.”

OnGrowing StrongSPrING IS Here. tHe WeAtHer IS CHANGING, ANd tHe WINd, ICe, ANd SNOW tHAt KePt MOSt INdePeNdeNt MOvIe PrOduCtIONS INSIde, IS GONe. It IS MY FAvOrIte tIMe OF YeAr FOr MANY reASONS, ONe BeING PreMIereS.


LUCAS FUKSA

Q: I write blog posts as part of my job. I want to submit some of my blog posts to a maga-zine for publication. Can I?A: The answer to this question depends on whether you are an employee or an indepen-dent contractor. If you are an employee, then through the work made for hire doctrine, your employer will own the copyright in any work you produce. If you are an independent con-tractor, you will own the work unless your agreement with the company explicitly states otherwise. The difference between employees and independent contractors is the “right of control.” Generally, if the employer creates a long-term or permanent relationship, dictates your working hours and location, provides you the tools you are use (like a computer or a software license) for the performance of your job and otherwise exercises discretion over

how you do your work, you are likely an em-ployee. Independent contractors, on the other hand, are free to complete a job with their own tools, set their own schedules, and work on an irregular basis for more than one employer at once. Freelancers, for instance, are generally independent contractors. Accordingly, it is important that you ask your employer to issue you some kind of written agreement that you sign before beginning work; at the very least, this can help you determine whether you own your written work or not.Q: I was hired to perform work on the con-struction of a house but failed to record a claim for mechanics lien, have I lost my abil-ity to recover money for the work performed?A: You may have limited your legal options, but you almost certainly haven’t lost all your rights. For one thing, you can always sue the

party with whom you contracted to perform the work for a breach of contract. If you con-tracted directly with the property’s owner, you would be suing them. If you contracted with a general contractor, as a subcontractor, you would sue the GC. In both cases, your ability to recover would depend on the strength of your case (whether you performed the work prop-erly, whether remedial work was necessary, etc.). There is nothing wrong with suing for breach of contract, and most commercial dis-putes are founded on that exact legal theory. Regarding mechanics liens, you must file your claim for lien within four months of finishing your work to have a lien that is not subordi-nate to other lien holders such as a mortgage. Therefore, if four months have not yet passed, file your lien. However, even if four months have passed, you still may utilize a mechan-ics lien to recover against the homeowner. For example, if the house you performed work on does not have a mortgage on it, your lien would still be valid against the homeowner even if it was filed after four months.Q: I have a contract that hasn’t been paid. Can I recover interest in addition to the amount owed under the contract?A: Yes, Illinois law allows for prejudgment in-terest to be applied to money owed under any written instrument at a rate of 5% per year. Accordingly, if you are owed $10,000 under a contract, you may recover $500 for each year the amount is not paid.

MY NAMe IS LuCAS FuKSA and I am an attorney engaged primarily in the practice of business law, construction law, real estate transactions, and commercial litigation. I co-founded Fuksa Khorshid, LLC in late 2006, a boutique law firm located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. I served as president of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce for four years. Through the PACC, I have been a part of many initiatives focu-sed on promoting the interests of the Polish-American business community. In late 2012, I co-founded a political action committee, the Polish American Leadership Political Action Committee (PAL-PAC), whose main focus is to address political issues that are important to the Polish-American community, engage the Polish-American community in the political process, and elect candidates that will best serve the needs of Polish Americans.

ASK AN ATTORNEY


Prioritizing your social media identity over your loved one can potentially have detrimental effects on your

relationship. It may not happen overnight, but if continued, studies confi rm that substituting cyber-intimacy with real life quality intimacy sooner or later causes harm to relationships, leaving many couples feeling alone and fending for their right to be respected. Dr. Rachel Needle, a psychologist at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida notes, "Not only is social media like Facebook changing the way we relate to one another, many are also confusing digital intimacy with true intimacy…it has been estimated that Facebook activities contribute to at least 20% of divorce cases".1

For a while now, people have been curiously wondering: is social media affecting romantic relationships? Many mental health professionals believe so, while others deem the impact isn’t worth stressing over.

As staggering as the above stats are, there is hope for people in romantic relationships to avoid these technology overuse habits and salvage their relationship before it hits rock bottom. Here are a few common relationship tech faux pas, along with quick and easy solutions to help avoid this new age phenomenon Dr. Needle refers to as, “love attention disorder”.

teCH vIOLAtION #1: Obsessively, impulsively, habitually checking your phone for or responding to texts, emails, calls, voicemails, or social media notifi cations in the presence of your signifi cant during designated one-on-one time.

LOve CONSeQueNCe: Reduced relationship satisfaction. The ignored signifi cant other may eventually begin to

feel less important, grow resentful and even become defensive in other areas of the relationship or, worse, grow distant, which puts the entire relationship on the line.

QuICK FIx: Set aside time in your schedule designated solely for the two of you, without your beloved tech gadgets – no exceptions. This can include a quick, yet hearty and genuine chat, or it can be an entire weekend, but make it a point to set an exact timeframe where the world belongs to just you two, sans social media. If you must tend to your tech device for urgent matters during this time, silence your notifi cations and apologize to your partner for the interruption. We often forget how forgiving our partner can be when offered a simple ‘I’m sorry” or “please excuse me’.

teCH vIOLAtION #2: Over-sharing personal information on social media platforms without either without your partner’s permission fi rst, or against their strong wish to keep your personal life private.

LOve CONSeQueNCe: This can be the fastest road to mistrust… as well as a contributing cause for plummeted satisfaction in the relationship.

QuICK FIx: As social media possibilities broaden, the gap between privacy and respect in relationships also widens since people forget they are part of a team, not a one man show. Leaving out your partner’s unique needs and requests in the relationship makes them feel mute and ignored. Ask for your partner for permission when posting anything sentimental or personal from your mutual life together, and if asked not to share, make it a point to respect your partner’s desire to not publicize your collective life. Again, don’t underestimate the power of communication. Vocalizing your

social media decisions before the whole world gets fi rst dibs will allow your partner to feel heard and valued, regardless of their stance on sharing personal details on social media. Sometimes compromising on a few photos here and there may not be a big deal to your loved as long as there is initial agreement on the matter.

teCH vIOLAtION #3: Excessively communicating with someone of the opposite sex via social media who is not immediate family or a close family friend.

LOve CONSeQueNCe: Relationship often loses trust and can become defensive and even revengeful, causing people to say and do things they normally wouldn’t. "It's very easy to get swept up into a fantasy life in social media which may make it tempting for individuals to stray from their committed romantic relationship," explains Dr. Christina Steinorth, a psychotherapist from Santa Barbara. This creates a “grass-is-greener” mentality that’s leads to comparing our mate to others, especially since social media posting blissfully exaggerates the truth, putting people in a better light than reality warrants. And this makes our partner feel threatened.

QuICK FIx: Notify your signifi cant other anytime you become friends (virtually, or, in real life) with anyone outside your mutual social circle, especially if it’s someone they don’t personally know. And if your partner is especially sensitive to these kinds of issues, explain your newly established friendship demonstrating extra concern for their sensitivity. There’s usually a good reason why people feel the way they do– so take heed. Providing your partner with the overall gist on your new acquaintance will ease their nerves and lessen suspicion about your intentions, thereby earning you the trust you deserve likewise.

By: Monica dolecka

TechnologyEtiquette inRelationships

1. mediCaLdaiLy.Com


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Suicide does not discriminate against race, gender and ethnicity, each year claiming over one million lives world-

wide. In Illinois, for example, suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages seven through fourteen. This is where organizations like Live Out Loud Char-

ity (LOLC) factor in. LOLC is a nonprofit organization focused on suicide awareness and prevention, founded in 2010 by Sherrie Gearheart – one year after Sherrie lost her, then 19 year-old, childhood friend to suicide. Since its inception, LOLC has educated more than 80 million people on the early signs of suicide and how to stop this preventable cause of death.

LOLC’s mission focuses on core character development [in youth], incorporating self esteem boosting techniques that encourage youngsters to make healthy choices and to celebrate “life" instead. Each year LOLC also orchestrates a fun event called ‘Kids Day’, which aims to do just that.

LOLC educates the community via programs such as our Leadership Academy, various outreach events, and school tours. The main outreach event includes several fashion shows featuring models of all sizes, heights, ages and ethnicities, in the effort

to promote self love and acceptance. LOLC collaborates with numerous Chicago fashion designers, as well as designers throughout the states and internationally, each with their own sentiment for the cause. Some notable contributing designers include: Leandro Mulet, Michelle Schaps of Mixxi G Accessories, Satoko Mizuno, Aimee Cua, Prina Ba of Prin by Prina.

“We are thankful for the tremendous fashion family we have built over the years. each model, audience member, and fashion individual has been educated about suicide and how and where to seek help. Our models have saved lives throughout the years. Fashion is a way to celebrate life”, shares Gearheart.

3 SIMPLe & PrOveN StePS tO SAvING A LIFe

as shared By the QPr institute

SteP 1: QueStIONOne major myth about suicide is that talk-ing about it makes it worse. This is false. By talking about suicide, we actually open up a path that allows people to get the help they need and deserve. Realize that not everyone will be honest and open up to you right away, but once they do, use that as the perfect opportunity to LISTEN. Remember to be compassionate and not judgmental, or the person will not feel safe enough to share their feelings. It is natural to want to immediately throw solutions at people, but carefully listening to someone’s story is cru-cial when deciding what the best treatment option is for them.

SteP 2: PerSuAdeAfter listening to the person, the next step is trying to persuade them to get help and that there is hope. We all have had times of struggle. Think back to your own difficult situations. How were you able to overcome these challenges, and how did the experience make you a stronger person? Depressed individuals tend to feel like things will never change. The key task is to make them believe that, with proper help, things can change for the better. Feel free to use your own personal experiences with depression to help with the encouragement process.

SteP 3: reFerIt is important to refer the individual to proper assistance resources. Encourage them that it is ok to call a hotline, and understand that people do not necessar-ily need to be suicidal to call. We hearten people to call on the behalf of others and to call local counseling services that are free of charge, or at least very affordable. Hotlines serve as 24-hour counseling ses-sions always led by professionally trained individuals.

If you or someone you know are feeling suicidal, depressed, need a sponsor or are having relationship troubles, or just need someone to talk to, please call a suicide hotline today.

the Hopeline(800) suiCideSuicide Prevention(800) 273-taLkQPr Institutewww.qprinstitute.compowertochange.orgsign up for a free, confidential email mentor

tO LeArN MOre ABOut LOLC ANd ItS MISSION, vISIt LIveOutLOudCHArItY.OrG

Photos Courtesy oF: visata ruPeika

Live Out Loud CHArItYBy: Sherrie Gearheart, Founder


a s k a n i t a

Dear Tracy,Girl, get on this! If a man has already dropped hints at being interested in you, what are you waiting for? Guys are scared of rejection, and he’s dropping hints to see how you will react. He’s testing the waters so to speak so that he won’t feel as rejected if you don’t show signs of interest.I coach a lot of men and some guys need obvious signs before they ask a woman out on a date. They will pass up asking a woman out on a date because they think she’ll say no. And unless you text him every hour, this guy won’t think

you’re desperate. When you’re out with your group of friends and he’s there, flirt, touch his arm, laugh– be playful! You can compliment and say things like, “You’re so easy to talk to” or “You’re hilarious.” Make it a point to talk to him more than to your friends (and don’t talk to other guys). Be prepared with questions that will engage him in a conversation beyond talking about the weather or work. You can also mention upcoming events or restaurants you’d like to try – it’ll give the guy some date ideas and perhaps an opportunity to ask you out on the spot!

two oF my Passions in LiFe are heLPing PeoPLe with their Love LiFe and writing. with my adviCe CoLumn, “ask anita, ”i get to ComBine the two! as a dating & reLationshiP eXPert, i’m on a mission to Prove that haPPy and satisFying reLationshiPs are PossiBLe. i’m a LiCensed marriage & FamiLy theraPist and hoLd a master’s in maritaL & FamiLy theraPy From the university oF san diego. i Founded reLationshiP reaLity 312, inC., and i work with CLients Both internationaLLy and in my ChiCago downtown oFFiCe. any Questions you have aBout dating, reLationshiPs and marriage, PLease emaiL me direCtLy at [email protected]. i Look Forward to hearing From you!

Dear Liz,It’s great that he has the desire to be more open and that you’re willing to look at your own role to help him do this. There are a lot of things you can do. You can ask him what his fears or concerns are about opening up. What does he think will happen? I’ve had clients tell me that they think if they discuss a difficult topic, that they’ll get in trouble, or that their partner will judge them or think of them as a failure. Opening up requires risk, and people can feel threatened or weak. Some of my clients have even worried that their partner would leave them! During conflict, people might also be reminded of past bad experiences and are worried the same thing will happen in the present relationship.Fears like these don’t go away easily, but they can be managed through positive experiences, and you have a lot of influence in these conversations. You can put him at ease by addressing his concerns and empathizing with him. Don’t be critical, try to change his mind or get him to see your perspective at this point. Each time he shares, any form of “I get where you’re coming from” from you is important because it’ll show him you’re listening and understanding him.

If you want your man to be honest, you have to take what he says in stride. You can respond positively, even if your feelings are hurt. It doesn’t mean you have to agree, but acknowledging his point and thanking him for his honesty will go

a long way in being able to talk through things more productively. Also mention everything positive that you get out of your talks. For example, if he’s worried about hurting you, you can tell him that knowing what’s on his mind makes you feel better than him not bringing up a topic at all.

Another potential concern is that your boyfriend may be worried that you’ll get emotional and he doesn’t feel equipped to handle it. It can be very intense for a guy to have his woman cry or be angry during a conflict. He may feel helpless and think it’s easier just to avoid conversation altogether. You can remind him that you can’t always control whether you cry or not, but your tears and anger are your responsibility, not his.

Timing is also important. Make sure you don’t have these conversations after a long day at work when you’re both drained. To ensure that the conversation still happens, you can decide on a day and time to revisit the topic. Another thing for your boyfriend to reflect on is the point at which he shuts down. He needs to be aware of that “point of no return” and let you know when he’s nearing it. Calling a time-out in that moment can help prevent him from shutting down completely.

Finally, be patient – both of you! It takes time to practice new habits and create new, positive experiences. Practice these suggestions, modify as needed, and your conversations will be more productive.

Dear Anita,While out with a group of friends, how should I let a man (who has dropped hints at being interested) know I’m interested in being more than friends, without being "desperate" or committing Facebook "stalking" after accepting his Friend request?

Tracy

Dear Anita,When my boyfriend and I have confl ict he tends to shut down/shut me out. This often leads to a fi ght. He wants to be able to be more open about his feelings, so we can talk things through in a more productive manner. Is there anything I can do to help him feel more at ease opening up?

Liz


l a m o d e

Beauty, nowadays, is as accessible as ever. Modern technology is available at our fingertips through

endless electronic devices, different cosmetics, and products that help us to achieve that desired idea of beauty. Personally, I am a savvy user of modern technology, whether is through computer programs, photography, or fashion, but that doesn't mean I let it take over everything I do throughout my day. We live in the "selfie" era, and one positive thing about this is that sometimes the best photo, the one that most reflects who we are and speaks volumes in our favor, is the one without the filters and tweaking that we sometimes add to achieve that perfect shot. Technology has evolved considerably in the past few years, and fashion being one of the fastest paced businesses has absolutely kept up with this technology trend, making a huge impact on how we approach fashion today. Although I am all in favor of modern technology, I do believe in the importance of simple natural beauty, a timeless kind of beauty that transcends time. I always encourage people to worship the skin they’re in and to enjoy it, and to embrace those qualities because that’s what make them different. Technology is here to help, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget about the beauty within us. So embrace your inner beauty, and don’t forget to dress on the outside as an expression of how you feel on the inside.

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