Dear Members and Friends,
On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, we will learn about Poland from the Polish Head of Mission, Mr. Bogdan Klich. Mr. Klich’s presentation was originally scheduled for September 2025 but had to be postponed due to a last-minute Polish Presidential visit. In 1980, the world watched in wonder as Lech Wałęsa’s Solidarity movement helped initiate the fall of the Iron Curtain. Poland went on to achieve one of the most successful transitions from the Polish People’s Republic and its planned economy to the Third Republic of Poland and a thriving market economy. Today, Poland is one of the United States’ key allies and an important member of both NATO and the European Union.

Mr. Klich became the Head of Mission in the Embassy of the Republic of Poland as of 28 November 2024. He has been a Senator in the Polish Parliament between 2011 and 2019, Minister of Defense from 2007-2011 and a Member of the European Parliament.

In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, he was active in the democratic opposition movement. Mr. Klich graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the Krakow Medical Academy and the Faculty of Philosophy and History at the Jagiellonian University. You can reserve a seat for you and your friends at https://icannapolis.org/dinner-reservation. Please note that we can only accept reservations made online – so we can give accurate numbers to the hotel. Because of PayPal problems you will need to pay this month by check only. You can contact our Reservations Chair at [email protected] with any questions. Please make your reservation by noon on Friday February 6. 2026

I look forward to seeing you on 10 February at 6:00 pm at the Doubletree Hotel,
Phil Reynolds
President, International Club of Annapolis