A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members and Friends/Cari Soci ed Amici, As we welcome in the New Year 2015, I look back on 2014 and say “wow, what a great year for AMHS”! We had informative and entertaining programs throughout the year, as well as special events such as the performance by the U.S. Marine String Quartet as part of the program on the Italian legacy in the development and growth of the U.S. Marine Band, the Ferragosto picnic, which probably saw the largest turnout in several years, and AMHS participation and support of the Italian Festival at Villa Rosa.
One of our most successful events was, of course, the November 23 general Society meeting where we had, in attendance, 120 members, friends, and guests! Joe and Joann Novello outdid themselves again with the savory porchetta, and a highly organized crew of volunteers made roasted vegetables and desserts, helped to cut the porchetta, and helped with set up and clean-up.
We had gracious wine makers who shared with us some spectacular homemade wines and limoncello. Everyone appeared to have a most joyous time. Please be sure to read more about this meeting elsewhere in the Notiziario. For the past 2 years, this meeting has served as a fundraiser for the AMHS Annual Scholarship Fund. Due to the well-attended event, and the generosity of those who bought raffle tickets and/or bought bread and leftover porchetta, we raised $1,397.04, which will be used to fund our two scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year.
You should have received a letter from me and Helen Free, Chair of our Fundraising Committee, regarding donations to the AMHS Scholarship Endowment Fund. In the spirit of giving that comes with the holiday season, I hope that you will consider making a donation, in any amount, so that we (AMHS) can grow our endowment to a level that will allow us to provide some if not all of the funds for the scholarships. We announced the winners of the AMHS/NIAF scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year - Sophia Labas and Christina McGrath - in the November issue of the Notiziario. Please be sure to read, in this issue, their letters of thanks to the Society and the importance of the scholarship to furthering their academic studies.
We have a wonderful program planned for January 25, 2015, on the Bersaglieri, a unique infantry unit of the Italian Army. Also at the January meeting, we will recognize the outgoing members of the Board, Bruno Fusco and John and Eileen Verna, and Rosina Brienza Schacknies, Ennio DiTullio, and Raymond LaVerghetta will be sworn in to the Board. Please be sure to thank Bruno, John, and Eileen for their service, and to welcome Rosina, Ennio, and Ray. Before closing my message for the year, I would like to say special thanks to 1) the AMHS Executive Committee for all of their hard work in 2014.
The officers and members of the Board, who are all volunteers, are highly dedicated to AMHS and are constantly looking for new ways of doing business, in an effort to meet the needs of our membership, to connect us with other Italian American organizations and with the regions of Abruzzo and Molise, and to promote us and our events via social media; and 2) our members, who continue to support our events and activities with great enthusiasm. We cannot exist without this support, and we hope you will spread the good word of AMHS so we can continue to grow our membership. We are our own best ambassadors! In closing, I hope that the New Year 2015 brings peace and happiness to all. I look forward to a successful 2015 for our Society.
Cordiali saluti,
Maria D’Andrea
TO NOTE
• If you would like to subscribe to the Holy Rosary Church email distribution list, you are welcome to sign up at http://holyrosarychurchdc.us9.listmanage2.com/subscribe?u=8ec350fae8ec5aa7f92f4ac 0a&id=aaa53b612b. By signing up, you will receive occasional notices, via email, about events at Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana. To sign up, you will need to provide your name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number. Once submitted, you will receive an email to confirm the correct email address in order to activate your subscription. This is voluntary to our membership, and your information is for the Church’s use only. It will not be shared with any outside entity or organization.
• We apologize to any of our members who did not receive the November 2014 issue of the AMHS Notiziario. There were complications with the post office from which the newsletter was sent. You should have received the November issue via email; you can also view it on our website at www.abruzzomoliseheritagesociety.org