A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Cari amici
It is a most wondrous time of the year, as we prepare to ring in the New Year with family and friends. There is much that I am thankful for, including a very successful year for the Society (AMHS), in large part due to your support and your generosity, especially those who have volunteered their time: the officers and the members and friends who have stepped up to help at general AMHS events and activities.
You should have received in the mail the 8-page booklet “The Gift of Scholarship Starts with Us”, which showcases the generosity of our members’ donations, over the period 2005- 2015, to the AMHS Annual Scholarship Fund (ASF) and/or the AMHS Grant and Scholarship Fund (AMHSGASF, the Endowment). The booklet acknowledges members’ donations by level of giving, and includes an appeal for 2016 donations to the ASF and/or the AMHSGASF. We hope that you will consider making a donation this year so that the Society can continue to award two (2) $4,000.00 scholarships in 2017.
I have every expectation that 2017 will be yet another successful year for AMHS, through our affiliation with The National Italian American Foundation; an ever-increasing membership; our scholarship fundraising campaigns; new and exciting programs; and the AMHS website and Facebook page, both of which have put the Society “on the map”, so to speak, in the DC area, and in the regions of Abruzzo and Molise. I look forward to working with the Executive Committee (EC) and Board of Directors to further the mission of AMHS, including new Board members Jeff Clark and Albert Paolantonio. I wish to thank Rocco Caniglia and Sergio Fresco for their service on the Board for three years, and to Maria Fresco, who served three years as Secretary and editor of the AMHS Notiziario. You brought sound advice and positive energy to the work of the EC.
I also wish to reiterate our urgent appeal for a member to consider serving on the EC as Secretary. The primary responsibility is to take the minutes at the EC meetings, which are held 6 times a year, and to disseminate the minutes to the officers for review. We know there is someone ready, willing and able to help!
I wish each of you the many blessings of this holiday season, and peace and prosperity in the New Year: “May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door”.
Cordiali saluti, Maria