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Dear Companions,
I greet you in the name of our Beloved Patron, Saint Stanislas.
After a labour of love of some three years during which time, I suffered a whole series of setbacks, I have "finally," with the help of HSH The Grand Master, Countess Avril, Colonel Mike Michaelski and a crew and cast of hundreds and thousands; completed and published, the new Handbook of the Order of Saint Stanislas.
I wish to thank each and every Companion who also gave assistance along the way. Thank you.
Copies of the 'Handbook' are now available and can be ordered individually, or in any numbers from the publisher. The publisher, Mr Brian Riggir has forgone his fees for setting up costs etc and has lowered all costs involved with the book so that Grand Priories can add a small cost to the sale of each book so as to assist with Priory/Commandery funds.
The cost of each book is $18 NZD, plus postage and packaging.
Although this may sound like a considerable sum, please be aware that New Zealand currency is something akin to 'monopoly money' internationally. The following are the International costs in hard currency:
Cost per book:
Euro = E 9.97
(The above is today's current rate of 14 April 2004) - PLUS POSTAGE!!!
OK, so what does one get for their money?
This handbook is A5 in size, 200 pages in length, soft covered and contains the following:
1. Current Nominal Roll of Officers of the Order.
At the back of the book I have placed a complete "model" for an Investiture Service.
It runs into about a dozen pages of text and is designed to be photocopied and then handed to ones local printing shop to then be printed as the formal order of service (this document was authored by Count Joseph Subritzky-Kusza with amendments by Chevalier Couling).
I have designed this book so that it is a "living" document and can be updated at any time, for no cost. Very obviously after such a marathon effort, involving several dozens different languages, as well as four variations of written English there are still a few spelling errors. To get rid of these simply email me the details of the page, the error and how it should read. Thank you.
I have given the Handbook a white cover and the reason for this is that if any Grand Priory holds an "historic" event, they can produce a write-up of the event, plus photographs of the occasion, submit that information to either myself or the publisher and that historic local event can be inserted, a differing colour cover produced and that book can then be purchased by that particular Grand Priory. Hence my use of so many photographs. EG if the Grand Priories historic event took up 10 pages, then 10 pages of photographs would be removed from this, the original Handbook. This "special" event based book could then have a differing overall body colour. (blue/yellow/green etc)...I hope this doesn't sound complicated, as it is a very simple process now that the Handbook is finally published.
To order copies of the Handbook, please email the publisher Mr Brian Riggir.
Brian's email address is: riggir@ezysurf.co.nx
American = $11.88 USD
Canadian= $ 15.87 CD
Australian = $15.71 AUST
British Sterling = L 6.53
Swiss Francs = F15.50
Japanese = Y1270.44
2. Historic Decree separating the Order from other decorations of the late Polish Government (In Exile).
3. History of Saint Stanislas.
4. History of the Order of Saint Stanislas.
5. Amended Constitution of the Order (details duties of all Officer appointments).
6. Powers and Duties of all Officer appointments.
7. Grand Priory Staffing.
8. Activities of Grand Priory/Priory.
9. Commandery Organisation.
10. Guide for wearing uniforms (this document was authored by Sir Lee McMahon and Chevalier Westgaard).
11. Artwork of all uniforms worn by the Order.
12. Artwork of mantles.
13. Rank Badges.
14. Rank distinctions (cuff and collar distinctions).
15. Order of wear for decorations.
16. Rank, precedence, style and title.
17. Historic Decree of the late Polish Government (In Exile).
18. Photographs and information on all of the Orders Grand Masters.
19. Rules for displaying armorial bearings.
20. Artwork showing customs of armorial bearings (see No 19).
21. Notes on the Polish Noble House Nowina-Sokolnicki.
22. A history of Polish orders of chivalry.
23. Registration of Nobility for Class I Companions.
24. History of the Polish Nobility Association.
25. Registration of the roll of arms.
26. Registration of Nobiliary titles.
27. List of Post Nominals.
28. Information on the Yearly Ball of the Order.
29. Complete list of Investitures and the Officer who presided.
30. Historic documents of the late Polish Government (In Exile).
31. Historic photographs of the "Cold War" period.
32. Historic Treaties of the "Cold War" period.
"But wait there's more..."
Dozens and dozens of photographs of the Order. Both in black and white and also in colour.
33. Youth programme of Knighthood (authored by Chevalier Kevin Couling of Glengibbons).
34. A history of the various charities that the Order has been involved with in recent years (authored by Chevalier John Wrobel).
"But wait there's still more..."
So fellow Companions, the Handbook is finally published. If you have any queries please feel free to contact me. To those who supported this project with a donation of $25 US, do please check that your photograph appears at least once in the publication. If not then please let me know and I will immediately rectify this oversight.
In closing I wish to pay tribute to the foresight and vision of our Prince Grand Master, Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki, President of the late Polish Government (In Exile), descendent of HM King Stanislas Augustus Poniatowski, and also the Polish Saint Stanislas (through the Mother of the Saint); who was at the forefront of the re-establishment of the Order 25 years ago. And who, through his dynamic Leadership has witnessed the Order grow from just a rag-tag bunch of disgruntled, politically incorrect Freedom Fighters, with a dream of a 'Free Poland' to the worldwide Brotherhood that our beloved Order is today.
PRAEMIANDO INCITAT
(Be Inspired by Reward)
Michael S-K
NEW ZEALAND
PLEASE GIVE THIS REPORT YOUR WIDEST PROMULGATION THROUGHOUT THE ORDER OF SAINT STANISLAS AND ALSO THE CHIVALRIC COMMUNITY.