A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear members and friends:

Our New Year (2018 already!) got underway with our General Society meeting on January 28th. The very first order of business was my swearing in as the new AMHS President. Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, still President at the start of the meeting, read me the oath of office, which I promised to uphold. In turn, I swore in our new Board members – Joe Novello, Joann Novello, and Rico Allegrino – as well as our officers serving in the New Year: Nancy DeSanti (First Vice President); Lynn Sorbara (Second Vice President); Carmine Spellane (Secretary); and Peter Bell (Treasurer). Maria D’Andrea-Yothers also awarded Certificates of Appreciation to outgoing Board members Jim Mustachio, Ennio DiTullio, and myself.

Following the business segment of the meeting, the over 90 AMHS members and guests in attendance, including Italian Embassy Minister-Counselor for Consular and Social Affairs Catherine Flumiani and Embassy Director of Education Maria Fusco, enjoyed a very good meal prepared by Fontina Grille. Members and guests then heard an extremely interesting presentation on the House of Gucci by author and financial reporter Sara Gay Forden, who regaled the audience with intriguing tidbits from her book on the lives of key players in the Italian fashion empire.

Her book promised an account of murder, madness, glamour, and greed and the presentation did not disappoint. Members and guests also had the opportunity to hear Gianluca Nigro, one of the two 2017-2018 NIAF/AMHS Scholarship winners, express his gratitude to the Society for his award. Gianluca, a junior at George Washington University, reminded those present of the high cost of college education, especially in the Washington area, and stressed how important the scholarship has been to him in the pursuit of his educational goals.

The presence of Gianluca was a real-life reminder of the important work our Society does, in partnership with NIAF, in raising money and awarding it to outstanding young ItalianAmericans, who can then pursue their educational dreams. As you can imagine, this work of the Society has consequences and benefits that extend well beyond us and into the future. It is some of the most important work that our Society does. Happily, our 2017 year-end appeal for donations has elicited a very generous response: AMHS members and friends have contributed over $6800 to the annual Scholarship Fund and $600 to the Endowment Fund. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the year-end campaign.

I encourage the membership to mark the date of our upcoming meeting on April 15th. It will include an enjoyable and informative presentation on pasta. Please see Nancy DeSanti’s article in this Notiziario for further details.

Best Regards,

Ray LaVerghetta