Michael H. Traison, principal in the Detroit office of the law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., helped organize a ceremony held in Krakow, Poland on July 9, 2000, to thank non-Jewish people in Poland who are working to preserve the historic contributions of the Jewish people. He developed the idea of the awards to honor people he met during his trips around the country. This was the third annual awards ceremony. During the past three years, awards have been presented to more than three dozen people throughout Poland.

"It was great," said Traison. "I've met many Poles who, at their own expense, endeavor to save the remains of the Jewish culture." "Their efforts are not even rewarded with the words 'thank you.' I wanted somebody to tell them thank you."

Mr. Traison and Miller Canfield are counsel in the formation of the Foundation for the Preservation of Polish-Jewish Heritage, providing for the restitution of Jewish property in Poland. He is involved in protecting Praga, the last remaining historic neighborhood of Warsaw. He is a member of the Polish American-Jewish American Congress, and the Israel Polish Chamber of Commerce in which he created the annual program to honor Poles preserving Jewish heritage.

He received his law degree from the Detroit College of Law and represents clients with interests throughout the world, with special focus on Israel, Poland, the Czech Republic, and elsewhere in Eastern Europe.

Mr. Traison resides in West Bloomfield.

The 260-attorney law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., established in Detroit, Michigan in 1852, has offices in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Howell, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Monroe, Troy, Washington, D.C., New York City, and in Gdynia, Katowice, and Warsaw, Poland; with an affiliated office in Pensacola, Florida.