Valentine's Day Bal Karnawałowy 2025!
2025-02-15 17:00 - 2025-02-16 00:00 (America/Chicago) | Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville, MN, 55113, United States
The PACIM Valentine’s Day Carnival Ball will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville, MN 55113. The ball opens at 5:00 pm with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and dinner will be served at 6:00 pm.

Three-course dinner with the following choice of the main course:

8-ounce Top Sirloin Steak with a wild mushroom glacé.
Minnesota Chicken — Chicken breast stuffed with wild rice, dried cranberries & apples with morel mushroom cream sauce.
Walleye Pike — lightly breaded and baked, served with lemon and tartar sauce.

Accompaniments

Yukon Gold whipped potatoes and Amaretto glazed mini carrots.
Midland Hills Salad — romaine and iceberg lettuce with tomato, cucumber, beets, croutons, sunflower seeds, Parmesan cheese, and creme peppercorn dressing.
Warm rolls, regular or decaf coffee, or hot tea.

Dessert

New York-style Cheesecake with Strawberries or
Gluten-free Strawberry Cream Cake

A glass of red or white wine is included with the dinner. Cash bar.
Hors d’oeuvres will be served before dinner.
Program
5:00 PM Cocktails and Silent Auction
6:00 PM Dinner
7:30 PM Presentation of Award to Iwona Srienc
7:45 PM Performance by Dolina Dancers
8:00 PM Bal Opening with Polonaise dance
Dancing until Midnight.
We invite you to embrace the elegance of the evening by dressing to impress: suits or formal attire for men, and evening dresses or cocktail attire for women.
Tickets
This event is sold out, and no additional tickets are available. However, if any become available due to cancellations, feel free to reach out to office@pacim.org to check.

"Historia Wiktorii i Franka” – A Polish Play for Young Viewers
2025-03-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Landmark Center – F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium, 75 Fifth Street West, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
Story of Wiktoria and Franek: How Did Solidarity Come into Being?
Historia Wiktorii i Franka: Jak Powstała Solidarność?

The play transports the audience to the turbulent times of Solidarity’s rise and the August 1980 strikes. The story of the union’s formation is presented from the perspective of two ten-year-olds: Wiktoria, who lives in Gdańsk in 1981, and Franek, who travels from the 21st century straight into the heart of these historic events. Through his journey back in time, Franek has the chance to witness firsthand what he had only heard about in his grandmother’s stories.
What sets this play apart is its interactivity. The children in the audience are not just passive observers—they become part of events that took place more than forty years ago. The actors portraying Wiktoria and Franek actively engage the young audience by asking questions and encouraging them to find solutions together.
This performance is not just a history lesson; it is an exciting journey through time—one that will surely leave a lasting impression and inspire curiosity about the past.
The play is performed in Polish and is intended for young viewers, but it is open to all.
Produced by the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, the play is presented by the Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota in cooperation with the Adam Mickiewicz Polish Saturday School in Minneapolis.
Following the performance, a post-show reception will take place in the Chief Justice Room (430), offering an opportunity to continue the conversation and reflect on the evening. Guests will have the chance to meet the cast, discuss the play, and enjoy a selection of appetizers and non-alcoholic refreshments in a welcoming atmosphere.
Attendance is free.
Due to parking availability and costs in downtown St. Paul, please consider using public transportation or carpooling.
Because of the Wild game at 1pm that day, the Lawson Ramp will be $20 credit/debit card on the entrance and the Victory Ramp will be $15 cash/card on the entrance. The Victory Ramp at 344 Wabasha St is about a half block further from the Landmark Center than the Lawson at 11 W 5th St/10 W 6th St.

Monthly Board Meeting
2025-05-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Landmark Center Room 408, 75 Fifth Street West, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
PACIM Board of Directors will meet at a monthly meeting at Landmark Center, Room 408 on May 1, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM.
Please use the 5th Street entrance or Washington Street service door to access the building.
UPDATE: The meeting has been moved online. For a link to the Google Meet meeting, email office@pacim.org

Ride with PACIM – Every Saturday Morning!
2025-05-24 09:30 - 12:00 | Harriet Island Regional Park, 49 Harriet Island Rd, St Paul, MN, 55107, United States
This season, PACIM invites everyone to join us for relaxed, social bike rides exploring scenic trails around the Twin Cities.
🚴‍♀️ Don’t miss our inaugural ride!
📍 When: Saturday, May 24th at 9:30 AM
📍 Where: Harriet Island Regional Park, St. Paul
We’ll enjoy a recreational ride along the Mississippi River toward Mendota Bridge, returning along the opposite riverbank trail. Final route will be decided together at the start.
All biking levels are welcome—just bring your bike, your energy, and your sense of adventure.
Free energy bars included!
Let’s ride together and build community on two wheels!
Please RSVP below to help us better prepare for the ride.

Monthly Board Meeting
2025-06-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Landmark Center Room 408, 75 Fifth Street West, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
PACIM Board of Directors will meet at a monthly meeting at Landmark Center, Room 408 on June 5, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM.
Please use the 5th Street entrance or Washington Street service door to access the building.

Ride with PACIM – Saturday Morning!
2025-06-07 09:30 - 12:00 | Harriet Island Regional Park, 49 Harriet Island Rd, St Paul, MN, 55107, United States
This season, PACIM and Fr. Cyprian invite everyone to join us for relaxed, social bike rides exploring scenic trails around the Twin Cities.
🚴‍♀️ All biking levels are welcome—just bring your bike, your energy, and your sense of adventure.
📍 When: Saturday, June 7 at 9:30 AM
📍 Where: Harriet Island Regional Park, St. Paul
We’ll enjoy a recreational ride along the Mississippi River toward the Mendota Bridge and Minnehaha Falls, returning along the opposite riverbank trail. The final route will be decided together at the start. Fr. Cyprian will lead the ride.
Free energy bars included!
Let’s ride together and build community on two wheels! Don’t miss it!
Please RSVP below to help us better prepare for the ride.

Afternoon with the Author: Anthony Bukoski
2025-06-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Landmark Center — The Chief Justice Room #430, 75 Fifth Street West, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
Anthony Bukoski, The Thief of Words
From University of Wisconsin Press: “The Thief of Words is filled with desperate runaways, the unhappily married, and the displaced. These characters often long for happiness but struggle to explain—even to themselves—what that would entail.
The lightly interconnected stories in this riveting collection are split between the Polish American communities of northern Wisconsin and Louisiana, where refugees from World War II were resettled. Exploring themes of dislocation and assimilation, love and loneliness, and generational conflict, Anthony Bukoski admirably paints portraits of people doing their best, despite the odds and their sometimes-thwarted attempts to follow the urgings of their better angels.”
For forty-one years, Anthony Bukoski has written short stories about Polish Americans in northern Wisconsin. In the program, he will tell why he began doing this and how he has been inspired to continue. Though understanding that the stories may be flawed, he has been loyal to his subject, never straying from it. He will read very brief passages from a few of the stories and conclude by reading “A Sea Story” from The Thief of Words.
A discussion will follow.
He will be pleased to sign books afterward.
Anthony Bukoski was born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin, the port city where his Polish immigrant grandparents settled. The author’s short story collections have twice won the Polish American Historical Association’s Creative Arts Award and once its Oskar Halecki Prize. The Sarmatian Review, under the aegis of the Polish Institute of Houston, also recognized Bukoski with its first Literary Award “for excellence in presenting the life of American Polish communities in the Midwest.”

Ride with PACIM – Friday Evening!
2025-08-08 17:00 - 19:00 | North Star Scenic Byway Pull-Off Area, 300 Shoreline Dr, Wayzata, MN 55391, MN, 55391, United States
Fr. Cyprian will lead a group of riders for a relaxed and social bike ride from Wayzata to the Winery at Sovereign Estate on Dakota Rail Trail. We are planning to stop at the winery for a glass of wine and live music by Jeff Carver and Friends.
🚴‍♀️ All biking levels are welcome—just bring your bike, your energy, and your sense of adventure.
📍 When: Friday, Aug 8, at 5:00 PM
📍 Where: North Star Scenic Byway Pull-Off Area, 300 Shoreline Dr, Wayzata, MN
Let’s ride together and build community on two wheels! Don’t miss it!
Please RSVP below to help us better prepare for the ride.

Polish Picnic 2025
2025-08-16 12:00 - 18:00 | MN
Join us on Saturday, August 16 at Huset Park in Columbia Heights for a fun-filled celebration of Polish culture and community! The Polish Picnic is organized by PACIM, Sister Cities International Columbia Heights, and the Polish Saturday School.
This year’s event features a fresh format with:
🎶 Live music and traditional dance performances featuring Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo polka band, Joe Mack (accordion), and the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers
🍽️ Delicious Polish cuisine available for purchase
🎈 Entertainment for all ages, including:

Games, arts and crafts
Splash pad
Playground

🤝 Participation from many local organizations and community groups
…and much more!
The event is free to all!
To mark Polish Armed Forces Day and the anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the event will begin with a moment of remembrance at the 1944 USAAF Warsaw Uprising Airlift Memorial in Huset Park.
Menu

Grilled Polish Kiełbasa with sauerkraut and bun …………….. $10.00

Bigos (Hunter’s Stew) with rye bread …………………………. $10.00

Pierogi (Potato & Cheese Dumplings) ………………………… $10.00

Combo Platter (kiełbasa, two pierogi, bigos) ………………… $18.00

Also available for purchase will be soda, non-alcoholic Polish beer, Prince Polo chocolate wafer bars, and ice cream.
Free drinking water.
BYOB*
You can order your meal online or purchase it at the event.
If you have a volunteer discount code, please enter it when ordering.
Enter volunteer discount code:
Purchase Meal Tickets

If you’re able to help at the event, please contact us at office@pacim.org or call 612-718-7718.
All volunteers will receive a discount code for meal purchases, and those helping with food service will receive a PACIM logo T-shirt (while supplies last) to wear during the event and keep afterward.
* Citi Ordinance $10.201 prohibitions on consumption of alcohol in city parks do not apply to Huset Park on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Polish Literature in English Reading Group
2025-09-24 19:00 - 21:00 | MN
Stanisław Lem, The Star Diaries: Further Reminiscences of Ijon Tichy, 1957, 273 pp., Satire/Sci-Fi Short Stories, Link
An accessible introduction to Lem’s satirical style, Polish Science Fiction, and the challenges of writing around the censors. There are 12 short stories that follow the cosmic experiences of Ijon Tichy, most of which can be read in one sitting.
Zoom meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the form below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

An Evening with Polish Cinema – Two Sisters
2025-10-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Landmark Center – F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium, 75 Fifth Street West, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
PACIM is proud to present an exclusive screening of Dwie Siostry (Two Sisters), the newest film from acclaimed Polish director Łukasz Karwowski. This moving drama follows two sisters who, after years of separation, are drawn back together to face long-hidden family secrets. Blending personal conflict with universal themes of memory, reconciliation, and identity, the film offers a gripping glimpse into the depth and artistry of contemporary Polish cinema.
Two half-sisters, who have been in conflict for years, set off to Ukraine to pick up their seriously injured father. They travel by car, then by train, in the end – on foot. The world of war, bombarded houses and burnt down tanks is gradually revealed in front of their very eyes. Near Kharkiv they cross the frontline unawares and enter Russian-occupied territory. Will they manage to find their father? Is there a place for forgiveness and love in a world of war? What will this journey bring about?—Gdynia Film Festival
The screening will be followed by an open discussion, providing an opportunity to share impressions and reflect on the film’s themes together. The movie will be presented with English subtitles.
Admission $10, sold at the time of the show.

The event is co-funded by the Polonia funds of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago.

Dwie siostry (2024) © Canal+, Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej, Zoom Media

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - October
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
Olga Tokarczuk, The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story, 2022, 416pp., Historical Novel, Link
The latest novel by the living Nobel Prize Winning Polish author that is fit for Halloween. This novel is set in the early 1900s and provides a modern perspective on language, culture, and gender with a spooky twist.
sitting.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the form below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Soup Festival - Fall'25
2025-11-16 10:30 - 15:00 | Holy Cross Catholic Church – Kolbe Hall, 1621 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413
Warm up with us this fall at PACIM’s annual Soup Festival!
We’re bringing the community together to celebrate the comfort, flavor, and tradition of Polish soups. Guests will enjoy a wide variety of homemade recipes prepared by PACIM members and friends—each bowl offering a taste of culture, heritage, and creativity.
This family-friendly afternoon will be filled with delicious food, lively conversation, and a welcoming spirit. Whether you come to cook, taste, or simply enjoy the company, the Soup Festival is the perfect way to gather as the days grow cooler.
Proceeds from the event will help fund the creation of an electronic catalog for the PACIM Library.
We’ll be serving six traditional Polish soups:

Cabbage (Kapuśniak)

Barley (Krupnik)

Mushroom (Grzybowa, vegetarian)

Tomato (Pomidorowa)

Borscht (Barszcz, vegetarian)

Potato (Ziemniaczana)

…and, of course, Bigos — not exactly a soup, but a favorite hearty winter hunter’s stew!
Prices:
A sampler of six soups of your choice plus Bigos — $15
Children ages 5–10 — $5
Children under 5 — free
You can also purchase a 32 oz jar of your favorite soup to take home for $10, or three jars for just $25.

If you can lend a hand in cooking or serving, please sign up here:

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - November
2025-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
Anthony Bukoski, Children of Strangers, Stories, 1993. 187 pp., Polish Immigrant Experience, Link
Written by a local author and the son of a Polish immigrant, these stories depict the immigrant experience in the Upper Midwest and the challenges that the first and second generations faced in the United States as both Poles and Americans.
The author will join the discussion.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Carnival Ball
2025-12-09 17:30 | Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville, MN, 55113, United States
Join PACIM for an unforgettable evening of elegance, celebration, and community as we bring together the vibrant spirit of Polish Carnival with the warmth and joy of Valentine’s season.
Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for this special night!

Carnival Ball
Come Celebrate Polish Tradition in Grand Style

Valentine’s Day — Saturday, February 14, 2026
Midland Hills Country Club • Saint Paul, MN
Three-course dinner • Music & Dancing • Surprises

Ticket price: $120 (PACIM member) • $125 (non-member)

Add Guest
Remove Last Guest

Total: add at least one guest.

Buy Tickets with PayPal

Each guest must have their own ticket and meal selection.
You will be redirected to PayPal to complete secure payment.

Annual Membership Meeting
2025-12-10 18:30 - 21:00 | Landmark Center — The Chief Justice Room #430, 75 Fifth Street West, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
The PACIM Annual Membership Meeting, including board elections, will take place on December 10, 2025. Detailed information about the agenda, election process, and candidates will be shared with members in a separate email. After the meeting, we’ll gather for an informal Christmas reception.

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - December
2025-12-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
Joanne Asala (ed.), Polish Folklore and Myth, 2019, 118 pp., Medieval/Folk Tales, Link
This short collection of folklore and myths is light reading before the holidays. Folklore and myths are passed down from generation to generation.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Carnival Ball
2026-02-14 17:30 - 2026-02-15 00:00 | Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street, Roseville, MN, 55113, United States
Join PACIM for an unforgettable evening of elegance, celebration, and community as we bring together the vibrant spirit of Polish Carnival with the warmth and joy of the Valentine’s season.
The ball opens at 5:00 PM with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM.
Dinner
A three-course dinner with your choice of main course:
Main Course Options

6-ounce Top Sirloin Steak with a wild mushroom glacé
Minnesota Chicken — Chicken breast stuffed with wild rice, dried cranberries & apples with morel mushroom cream sauce
Walleye Pike — lightly breaded and baked, served with lemon and tartar sauce

Accompaniments

Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
Amaretto-glazed mini carrots
Midland Hills salad
Warm rolls
Regular or decaf coffee, or hot tea

Dessert
A glass of red or white wine is included with the dinner. Cash bar available.
Hors d’oeuvres will be served before dinner.
Program

5:00 PM – Social Hour & Cocktails
6:00 PM – Dinner
7:15 PM – Presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to the Polish Community Award to Fr. Spencer Howe.
7:45 PM – Performance by the Dolina Dancers (tentative)
8:00 PM – Ball Opening with the Polonaise Dance
Raffle Drawing
Dancing until Midnight

Suggested dress code: suits or formal attire for men, and evening dresses or cocktail attire for women.

If you cannot attend the Carnival Ball this year, you can still support PACIM by helping offset event costs or contributing to our other programs through a charitable donation.
Donate

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - February 2026
2026-02-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, Tadeusz Borowski,
1959 (1976), 180 pp. Short Stories Link
A canonical work from the postwar Polish literary corpus and thus thought of as required reading, this collection of short stories provides the reader with the opportunity to think and rethink about what it is to be human, through our humanity and inhumanity. We will also explore individual and collective memory in our discussion.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - March 2026
2026-03-18 19:00 | Google Meet, MN, United States
To the Letter, Tomasz Różycki, 2016 (2023), 127pp. Poetry Link
A collection of modern lyrical poetry, mostly quarterns, that provide a modern post-communist perspective on Polish life, longing, and suffering. Pick your favorite to read for the group.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - May 2026
2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
The Polish Complex, Tadeusz Konwicki, 1977 (1984), 211 pp. Surrealist Novel
This novel was translated into English within a few years of being published and presages conditions in Poland in the 1980s (or reflects those that already existed). A mixture of surrealism and the absurdity of the everyday, through which we will revisit what we thought we knew about Poland and the forging of Polishness through the fire of suffering. Where possible we will compare with the surrealism of Witkacy from the previous month.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - June 2026
2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States
With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i mieczem) by Henryk Sienkiewicz
We are pleased to announce that we will begin reading the Trilogy by Henryk Sienkiewicz this summer. Based on a consensus with the group, we will start with the first volume, With Fire and Sword and continue to meet on Wednesdays, with slight variation. Here is the reading schedule based on the 1991 Kuniczak translation (chapters provided if you are using a different version):
6/17: 1-398 (Chapters 1-26)
7/29: 399-694 (Chapter 27-47)
8/19 695-1137 (Chapters 48-79)
We will watch the film at the end of the summer.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - July 2026
2026-07-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States

Polish Picnic 2026
2026-08-15 11:00 - 17:00 | Huset Park, 530 Mill St NE, Columbia Heights, MN, 55421, United States
Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 15, and join us at Huset Park in Columbia Heights for Polish Picnic 2026!
The event is organized by PACIM, Sister Cities International Columbia Heights, and the Polish Saturday School, and will feature:
🎶 Live music and traditional dance performances by Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo Polka Band, Joe and Jerry Band, and Dolina Polish Folk Dancers.
🖼️ Exhibition of paintings by Teresa Cieńska-Hollanek.
🍽️ Delicious Polish cuisine (individual plates or combos) and nonalcoholic Polish beer or raddler available for purchase (BYOB*)

Bigos (Hunter Stew)
Gołąbki (Cabbage Rolls)
Pierogi
Grilled Kiełbasa
Szarlotka (Apple Cake)

🎈 Entertainment for all ages, including:

Games, arts, and crafts
Splash pad
Playground

🤝 Participation by many local organizations and community groups
…and much more!
Tentative schedule:
11:00 AM Ceremony honoring American and Polish soldiers at the 1944 USAAF Warsaw Airlift Memorial
11:30 AM Food service and festivities start
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo Polka Band **
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Performance by Dolina Folk Dancers
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Joe and Jerry Band **
The event is free and open to everyone.
If you are able to help at the event, please contact us at office@pacim.org or just sign-up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D45A4AC22A5FB6-57246920-polish#/ Volunteers will receive a discount for meal and beverage purchases. In addition, those helping with food service will receive a PACIM-logo t-shirt** (while supplies last) to wear during the event and keep afterward.
* Citi Ordinance $10.201 prohibitions on consumption of alcohol in city parks do not apply to Huset Park on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
** Entertainment is partially funded by a grant from the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago.
*** PACIM custom t-shirts are printed and delivered by OOSHIRTS.

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - August 2026
2026-08-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Google Meet, MN, United States

Polish Literature in English Reading Group - September 2026
2026-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Google Meet, MN, United States
The Slave by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Originally written in Yiddish by a Polish Jewish émigré, this story recounts the experience of a Jew in the 17th century, the period in which With Fire and Sword is set. Four years after the Chmielnicki massacres of the seventeenth century, Jacob, a slave and cowherd in a Polish village high in the mountains, falls in love with Wanda, his master’s daughter. Even after he is ransomed, he finds he can’t live without her, and the two escape together to a distant Jewish community. Racked by his consciousness of sin in taking a Gentile wife and by the difficulties of concealing her identity, Jacob nonetheless stands firm as the violence of the era threatens to destroy the ill-fated couple.
PACIM Library has a couple of copies of the novel, as well as other books by the author, available in both English and Polish.
Google Meet meeting details will be emailed to individuals who register using the button below.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support our reading group and help cover costs, we invite you to make a donation.

Every contribution makes a difference!
