Total Signatures = 11653 - THANK YOU! The Threat of liquidation of the Polish Museum in Rapperswil (Switzerland) Select Language: S c a n d a l Regarding the Removal of the Polish Museum from the Castle at Rappersvil A meeting took place on Tuesday June 24 from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM 2008 at Rappersvil Castle in a hall built and financed by the Count Wladyslaw Plater in 1895. The meeting drew more then 300 persons consisting of the activist and residents of the city of Rapperswil with a numerous group of Polonians and their Swiss Friends. The audience represented many generations who took active part in discussions about the scandalous proposal to remove the Polish Museum from the castle. The meeting was called by the mayor of the City of Rappersvil but It was a great surprise to note the absence on the podium of the official representatives of the city and local administration of a commune Rapperswil. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future of the Polish Museum and the Castle. Strangely, sitting on the dais and speaking at the podium was the representative of the "Group of Three" locally known as "Pro Schloss". This group does not have any legal status. The group is embodied in the person of one Bruno Hug. Sitting with Bruno Hug') was James Schäpper, local F.D.P. representative http://www.fdprj.ch/de/Partei_10130.html and member of the aforementioned group. In attendance among others were; Peter Röllin was there representing the city's cultural affairs department. Philipp Bachofner, organizer of the famous Castle Concerts, who praised the outstandingly great acoustic features of the Hall built by Count Wladyslaw Plater. Professor German Ritz from the Department of Slavic University Zurich, represented Polish Museum Was present the current staff Polish Embassy in Bern, Mr Jaroslaw Bajaczyk and Consul Mieczyslaw Sokolowski. The main representative of "the group of three ' and main opponent of the Polish Museum at the Castle was, Bruno Hug, a local businessman. Many of the speakers interviewed affectionately referred to him as "our Bruno" during half an hour of his presentation. In his statement, he took the side of the other members of the "group of three." and left the meeting hall. Hi was so rush for a meeting with his sports business http://www.lakers.ch/d/home.asp and he do not has a time to explained plan of establishing a ball room in place of the Polish museum to be located near an exclusive restaurant in the Castle and a regional museum to make more profitable castle. From Bruno Hug's statement it can be noted that "the group of three" has not resigned from this scandalous proposal to do away with the Polish Museum at the Castle. The future of the Museum and the castle is still uncertain. Mr. Bruno Hug spoke on behalf for those who have entered into a contract with the Museum, which is the voice of the municipalities around Rapperswil. Many in attendance asked themselves the question, how is it possible, that "our Bruno" had the right to speak on matters belonging to the jurisdiction of cities and municipalities. http://www.dinersclubarena.ch/pdf_downloads/arena.pdf . For many it was difficult to understand this situation as handled by Mr.Bruno' Hug. Mr.Hug stated his position that the city should cancel agreement (lease) with Poles to house the Polish Museum. He also said that with the implementation of the new ideas it will require rebuilding the Castle, and incur additional costs. It will be necessary to establish "some foundations" with the local municipalities and cities, Mr. Hug and others would be shareholder. The proceedings failed to give the participants at the meeting any indication of how would the profits be distributed? Many participants at the meeting believed that Bruno Hug is first and foremost, a businessman and editor of local newspapers http://www.moneyhouse.ch/p/Hug/Bruno//Bollingen+(Rapperswil-Jona)/index.htm for whom the Museum would create a profitable business as well as for the state institutions. As a result he will become famous. No one believes that the castle would be a good location for new regional museum. Dr. Peter Röllin - art historian from Rapperswil. He stated that the Polish museum has a great potential for tourist and business to the community. The "Pro Schloss group" is not well informed about history and its importance. He also said that the castle is not a playground, where you can exchange players, as you like. These remarks met with strong applause. Prof. Ritz presented questions about financing and planning. He declared his assistance and to participate in the development of the project to modernize the Museum. At the end of the meeting Local Administration of Rapperswil asked for volunteers to sign a paper to work on a committee to creative new projects how to make better use of the castle. The paper quickly disappeared. People from audience asked a question how many people belonged to the "group three" and agreed with them, but no one answered. In final speech of President of the City Rapperswil-Jona, Benedict Würth, praised Mr. Hug and his ideas to remove the Polish Museum from the Castle. One of the participants asked the President of the city of Rapperswil, whether he also represents "a group of three"? In his speech the President of the City did not mention one word about history of the Polish Museum and over 138 year impact the museum had on the local community and business in the city Rapperswil. Who exactly pulls the strings in a plan to remove the Polish Museum of Rapperswil castle? Who is responsible for attacks on the symbol of the Polish ethnic group and who has an interest in creating a conflict between people? This scandal needs to attain the attention of the Swiss federal authority to maintain the Polish Museum at the castle in Rappersvil. A petition of signatures is presented at http://www.rapperswil-castle.com from 66 countries of the world. Bruno Hug in his newspaper distributed to the inhabitants of Rappersvil repeats slogans about the "aggressive Polish nation." http://www.suedostschweiz.ch/medien/archiv/pdf/blaettern_gross_frameset.cfm?seite=01_onon_01_2008-06-26 (19 lokalspiegel) How can the local and federal authorties permit such an attack on a ethnic group in modern Switzerland? The result of the meeting held, showed a strong support for Museum location at the castle for 138 years. The whole discussion proved that Museum was and is an important institution in city and Switzerland. It will assist in maintaining Polish tradition and culture in Switzerland and Europe and a great opportunity for the city and tourism. PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING POLISH MUSEUM IN RAPPERSWIL On June 24, 2008 , at 19.30 o clock (7.30 PM) in the Castle of Raperswil, in the hall (picture attached) constructed by the private funds of the Graff Wladyslaw Plater as well as free Polonians donations - will take place a public debate about the scandalous proposition to remove the Polish Museum from the Castle. At the Graff W. Plater time this hall was called the "Great Exhibition Hall"; these days it is called "the Great Knights Hall", even though the above mentioned tendency has nothing in common with knights and especially with the chivalry. In our opinion the most proper name shall be "the Graff Wladyslaw Plater's Hall".   Response to the hundreds of letters received. The hundreds of question flow in - why announcing the Public meeting being omitted the organizers…? Now, the organizers of the public discussion on June 24, 2008, at 7.30PM are the city council of Rapperswil. Regretfully we have no idea if the City President will attend. We hope, that the City will be represented by people with authority, whom will be able to respond to many of your questions directed to us. We take this opportunity to thank you for the genuine interest about the Polish Museum; we are equally as you convinced that the meeting will be a constructive one. Of course we are sending our representative to observe development of this event. Then we will report all to you. DISCOVERED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVE We found an article in The New York Times archive dated 19 May 1895 about the Polish Rapperswil Museum. Click to Open. Please read this article in PDF format entitled* "POLAND'S ONLY NATIONAL LAND; MUSEUM OF RAPPERSWIL NEAR ZURICH IN SWITZERLAND. Count Ladislas Plater's Gift to His Compatriots -- Andre Bukowski's Collection of Rare Art Objects". The Article speaks about the entire Castle being in total ruin except for two rooms, i.e. the Clock Tower and Watch Tower. It was in this condition when Count Wladyslaw Plater signed the Contract for ninety-nine years. The two rooms mentioned in the Article were occupied by guard-sentries. Could it be that the people of Rapperswil have forgotten that the Castle as it is today was restored and saved by the Polish people? * Requires AcrobatReader Dr Theodor Curti  A lot of your questions concerns Dr Theodore Curti. We are in the process of preparing more elaborate materials about the activities of this statesman, who at the end of his life was the chief editor of the "Frankfurter Zeitung" (1902-1914). That newspaper was a predecessor of nowadays very popular the "Frankfurter Allgemaine Zeitung" In the process of preparations is also the elaborated part about the history of the Museum - from its beginning to this days. A special emphasis will take place on an involvement of some prominent Rapperswil's families; the most active ones as Hans Rathgeba, Walter or Domeisen family. According to some historical material in our hands - Dr Theodore Curti was never properly recognized by politicians of Raperswill, moreover as the Count Wladyslaw Plater. Perhaps an idea to name one of the City Hall's rooms - Dr Theodore Curti room - or install a commemorative board, honoring above historian, medical doctor, social activist, publisher, politician and former president of the City of Raperswil, who was born in 1848 in Raperswill. With out his good-will and help the idea of Count Wladyslaw Plater's to create the Polish Museum will be unable to materialize. Because of that - in our "Petition" - we put both of them on the same level. (A new - archive - picture of Dr Theodore Curtis can be seen in the part - "photos".)  Below - photos from the Museum's history. The president of the City Rapperswil- Honorable Walter Domeinsen and Polonians Pastoral - Most Reverend Wladyslaw Rubin during the meeting of the Swiss - Polish Friends of the Museum Society in 1977 In June 21, 1975 took place the renewal opening of the Polish Museum. On photo Honorable Hans Ratheb, the City Councilman as well as the well- merited President of the Society of the Friend of the Polish Museum in Rapperswil. In opening speech he underlined that -"it is a day which will be the most beautiful in my life. I am touched that we have had such a numerous gathering". The count Julian Godlewski - benefactor of the Museum on these days. Thanks to him the Museum get a solid financial fdoundation.   Informacja dla Ambasady RP w Szwajcarii Ambasada RP w Bernie Elfenstrase 20a 3000 Bern 15 Tel.: 004131-358 02 09 Offener Brief An den schweizerischen Bundesrat & Herrn Bundesratpräsident Herrn Pascal Couchepin Frankfurt/M., den 18. Mai 2008 Thema: Ich bitte den schweizerischen Bundesrat die entsprechende Schritte zu unternehmen, damit das Polnische Museum im Schloß in Rapperswil die weiteren Jahrzehnte arbeiten dort kann. Sehr geehrter Bundesratpräsident, Herr Couchepin, Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, ich erfuhr, daß das Schloß in Rapperswil, der Sitz des Polnischen Museums, einst eine abbruchreife Schloßruine, das im Laufe von 130 Jahren von Polonia und den Schweizern zu einem Prachtschloß umgewandelt wurde (nach 1945 verläuft die Arbeit und im Standhalten des Polnischen Museums ohne einer finanziellen Unterstützung der schweizerischen Behörden jedoch auf der Grundlage des Vertrages mit der Gemeinde und ihres Wohlwollens) und Dank des großen Engagement der schweizerischen Polonia bis heute sehr gut geführt wurde, nun an einen privaten Käufer verkauft werden könnte. Für mich ist leicht vorstellbar, daß bei dem Wechsel des Schloßbesitzers, werden z.B. die Steuern an die kantonale Steuerbehörde des neuen Besitzers/Käufers des Schloßes in Rapperswil deutlich höher liegen als die heutigen Pächter - Polnisches Museum - diese heute zu entrichten verpflichtet sind. Auf diese Weise könnten auch andere Geldbeträge, die mit dem Wechsel des Besitzers zustande kommen würden, der kantonalen Administration extra Quellen der Gelder zur Verfügungen stellen, die womöglich anderen Bereichen des öffentlichen Lebens zu Gute kommen könnten, sei es der Finanzierung der Parkanlagen, der öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel etc. Das Polnische Museum würde in so einem Fall statt eines repräsentativen Schloßes in Rapperswil, kein zweites Schloß als Domizil erhalten, um durch ihre kulturelle Arbeit die Polen und Schweizer nahe einander zu bringen, und gleichzeitig in Erinnerung der Welt aufzubewahren, daß die in der Schweiz internierten polnischen Soldaten im II. Weltkrieg fünf Jahre lang unentgeltlich an diesem Schloß und anderen Bauprojekten ihrer neuen Heimat tätig waren, weil sie genauso wie die Schweizer nicht für den Krieg sondern an der Zukunft im Frieden arbeiten wollten. Würden die 80% der ausländischen Besucher, die in großen Scharren das Polnische Museum jedes Jahr zu dem am meist besuchten Museums dieser Gegend machen, sich die Mühe machen, so wertvolle Ausstellungen dieses Museums, wie die Polnische Schule der Kunst- und Baudenkmalpflege oder der die Ausstellung von Beständen des Preußischen Museums, unter einer anderen Adresse zu suchen wäre, wenn das Polnische Museum eine abgelegene, nah eines Murmeltierbaus Alpenhütte in Aussicht bekommen würde, die ebenfalls mit höheren Gebühren als ihr früherer Besitzer dafür zahlte, zu haben wäre, damit nach dem Verlauf der nächsten 120 Jahren der sehr kostspieligen für Polonia Selbstfinanzierung des neuen Sitzes des Polnischen Museums, diese Geschichte sich wiederholen könnte? Das ist die Sichtweise des Problems mit den Augen eines EU-Bürgers. Eine gesundere Perspektive dieses Problems könnte der schweizerische Bundesrat realisieren, wo es nicht um den schnellen, heutigen, finanziellen Gewinn für die respektablen Käufer bzw. der Immobilienspekulanten geht, sondern um die Bedeutung der Schweiz im Ausland als ein Land, in dem vom II. Weltkrieg bis heute die Erhaltung der polnischen Kultur im Polnischen Museum auf dem Schloß von Rapperswil für die Bürger von Schweiz und die ausländischen Touristen weiterhin ein Symbol des Respekts der schweizerischen Nation für die Kultur der anderen Völker auf dem Boden von Schweiz zu sehen sein kann. Ich bitte Sie, Herr Bundesratspräsident und den schweizerischen Bundesrat die entsprechende Schritte zu unternehmen, damit das Polnische Museum im Schloß in Rapperswil die weiteren Jahrzehnte arbeiten kann. Im voraus danke ich Ihnen für Ihr wohlwollen gegenüber derm Polnischen Museum in Rapperswil, einem Symbol des gemeinsemen Respekts vor der Kultur der Völker Europas. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Schriftstellerin, Journalistin, Maria Sulkowska-Kneier D-60316 Frankfurt / Germany* * Administrator www.rapperswill-castle.com entfernt private Adresse

Registered 10000 th petitioner was Mr. Filip Andrzejczak from Poland. Congratulation! Congratulation to All of You!

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