ATLANTA—Michael Athans, chairman of the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast United States, was recently presented with the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Poland’s ambassador to the United States, Jerzy Kozminski, presented the award to Athans in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the president of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski.

“The award was a complete surprise,” Athans said. “I really feel that it’s as much of an award for all the volunteers that put on the Polish chamber events as it is for me.”

Athans, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Atlanta, has chaired the PACC for the past five years. Although his heritage is Greek-Irish, not Polish, he became involved in the volunteer organization through friends and was eventually asked to serve as its chairman.

“When I was first asked to chair, I said, ‘I think a Polish-American should do it,’ but they thought it would add credibility for a non-Pole to chair.”

The service organization is open to people of every heritage. Athans, managing partner of the Atlanta office of the law firm of Lord, Bissell & Brook, travels twice a year to Poland on business for his firm or the chamber. During the 1996 Summer Olympics, the firm served as a consular agent to the Polish athletes for two months.

Athans said that the PACC has a “business orientation” and helps companies who want to work with corporations in Poland and Central Europe. The organization also helps students seeking information about Poland and travelers from Poland visiting the United States. Members gather for social and cultural events during the year.

Athans believes that the Polish-American community has strengthened the Catholic community of Atlanta.

“Most Polish-Americans are Catholic, so one of the great blessings for me is that I’ve not only been able to share my faith with others, but grow in my faith,” he said.

Athans has taken Polish language classes and feels fortunate that he has been able to learn more about the culture through the PACC, an organization, he said, that is committed to service.

“If we can provide service to not only the Polish-American community, but to the community at large, then we’re doing what we’re supposed to.”

For information about the PACC, contact Debbie Spangler at (404) 870-4641 or by e-mail at dspangler@lordbissell.com.