replaced by Vincentas Taškūnas as the chairman of the board. Taškūnas was the editor of Vilniaus aušra thus the newspaper reported frequently on the activities of the society. The society did not have its own publication, but other Lithuanian periodicals, including Vilniaus rytojus, Jaunimo draugas, Vilniaus šviesa, also reported on the society. Liquidation As Lithuania–Poland relations grew tenser, the Polish authorities began closing local chapters of the Society of Saint Casimir in 1934. The closures particularly intensified in 1936: in less than six months, 134 chapters were closed. By September 1936, about 250 chapters were closed. The society was prohibited to operate in Suwałki and Grodno counties of the Białystok Voivodeship on 26 November 1936 and in the Wilno Voivodeship on 3 December 1936. Officially, the society had about 20 chapters remaining in the Lida County of the Nowogródek Voivodeship. On 25 November 1937, Polish police searched the office of the Society of Saint Casimir as well as the residences of its chairman and two board members. The society was officially closed on 31 December 1937. Society's property and records were seized by the Polish authorities. It was part of a wider anti-Lithuanian campaign: in 1936–1938, nine Lithuanian organizations in Poland were closed. After the invasion of Poland in September 1939, Vilnius Region was occupied by the Soviet Union and then partially transferred to Lithuania in October according to the Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty. The Society of Saint Casimir was allowed to operate again on 28 October 1939. It managed to open five local chapters and 16 kindergartens before the Soviet occupation in June 1940. The society was abolished by the new Soviet regime. Activities Local chapters The society was very active in organizing local chapters in towns and villages. For a chapter, at least ten members were needed. Most chapters were initiated by local priests or by teachers of Lithuanian schools maintained by the Lithuanian Education Society Rytas. Therefore, in majority of cases, the town or village had both societies active at the same time. The society sent instructions to educate locals about the society and assist with organizational matters, including the registration with the Polish authorities. Sometimes, the instructors would also teach Lithuanian folk songs or Lithuanian games and provide other educational material. During holidays, chapters were visited by students who delivered lectures and speeches. However, for the most part, the local chapters operated independently from the headquarters