A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends/Cari Soci ed Amici,

As 2013 comes to a close, and look back over the year, I cannot help but think to myself that we had one of our most successful years as an organization. We had wonderful programs throughout the year, as well as special events such as the lecture by Dr. Alison Luchs on Michelangelo’s DavidApollo and the Ferragosto picnic.

But I will say that one event topped them all, and that was our December 1 general Society meeting where we had, in attendance, close to 140 people! Joe and Joann Novello outdid themselves again with the savory porchetta and roasted vegetables, and our Hospitality Chair Lynn Sorbara with her wonderful dessert, homemade Chantilly cream with cakes. We had gracious wine makers who shared with us some spectacular homemade wines, as well as grappa and limoncello.

We also had important business to attend to, and that was the election of three members to the Board – Rocco Caniglia, Sergio Fresco and Lana Nardella - as well as the election of myself as President, Nancy DeSanti as 1st Vice President – Programs, Sarah Scott as 2nd Vice President – Membership, Maria Fresco as Secretary and Jeff Clark as Treasurer. Please be sure to read more about the December 1 general Society meeting elsewhere in the Notiziario. The outgoing members of the Board and officers will be officially sworn in at the January 26, 2014 general Society meeting. With the elevation of Nancy DeSanti and Jeff Clark from the Board to 1st Vice President and Treasurer, respectively, I, as President, have the responsibility of appointing two persons to serve out the last year of their terms.

I am very happy to report that Eileen and John Verna have both agreed to serve on the Board. I am also happy to report that Bruno Fusco has accepted my appointment to serve on the Board, to fulfill the one remaining year of Joe Onofrietti’s term following Joe’s resignation in early November. Eileen, John and Bruno’s appointments are effective January 1, 2014. We were all deeply saddened by the passing of a great friend and member of the AMHS Board, Joe Grano. At the wishes of his family, he will be buried in Pennsylvania. AMHS, along with the Italian Cultural Society, the Lido Civic Club, the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of D.C. and other organizations, are planning a memorial service for Joe in Washington, DC. The service will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2014, 6:00 p.m. at Casa Itailana.

Additional details will be provided at a later date. On a personal note, I am greatly honored to have been elected to serve a 2-year term as your President. I look forward to working with the Executive Committee – and to working with you to continue to grow as an organization and to bring you quality programs and events. I would be remiss if I did not share with you a growing concern of the Executive Committee to find members who will serve as an officer or a member of the Board. Increasingly it seems that our well is running dry, so to speak. I recognize that we lead busy lives, that many of us work, have families and we have other activities to which we commit our time. The responsibility of serving in a leadership position is not so burdensome as to be unmanageable.

I am very grateful to the newly elected officers and members of the Board who agreed to serve in 2014 – and to those who thoughtfully considered the requests of the nominating committee to serve in positions that were being vacated. In order for us to survive as an organization, we need each and every one of us to give of our time and carefully consider what we do, the audience we reach and the messages we convey to the Italian American community in the Washington, DC area. This organization is very near and dear to my heart, as it is to all of you. So, when the nominating committee or I, as President, approach any of you about serving as an officer, please consider all the positive contributions you could make to our Society.

Before closing my year-end message, I want to encourage you to respond to the recent fundraising appeal from Dick DiBuono, chair of our Fundraising Committee and myself, regarding donations to the AMHS/NIAF Scholarship Fund. In the spirit of giving that is felt by all during this time of year, I hope that each of you will consider making a donation, in any amount, so that AMHS can fully fund two (2) scholarships, in the amount of $4,000, next year. In closing, I wish each and every one of you “Buon Natale e Buon Anno”. May the New Year 2014 bring peace and happiness to us all. I look forward to a successful 2014 for our Society.

Cordiali saluti,

Maria D’Andrea