June 14, 2020 was supposed to be a special day — the celebration of 20 years of existence for the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of the Washington D.C. Area and all of the spirit of community, family and love of all things Italian which have defined the Society’s character. Just as the coronavirus outbreak affected our ancestral homeland, so too we in the United States had to bow to the reality of life during a pandemic and postpone our 20th anniversary event scheduled for that date. We will hold it at a time when it is safe to come together in the kind of warm, open celebration that such a landmark occasion deserves. In the meantime, please enjoy these special messages from all of the Society’s presidents, past and present. Stay safe and andra‘ tutto bene. — Carmine James Spellane, Secretary

SPECIAL MESSAGES from Society Presidents

Founder and President Emeritus 2000 - 2003

It is appropriate and desirable to pause and recognize the accomplishments of the Society since its founding 20 years ago. Its purpose and objectives have been preserved and have manifested themselves in various programs and activities. Regrettably because COVID-19, we were prevented from holding a scheduled anniversary celebration in June. We hope this postponement is temporary and that we will celebrate the Society’s anniversary in due course. I invite all members to continue their support of the Society and serve as ambassadors to expand its membership. Un affettuoso augurio a tutti!

It is with great pride that I congratulate the leaders and members of the Abruzzo and Molise Society on the occasion of its 20th anniversary! This is an incredible milestone that I, as a founding member and second president of the Society, receive tremendous satisfaction in witnessing. While adapting to changing times, AMHS continues to flourish in its mission of service to the Italian American community of Washington, D.C., most specifically those of Abruzzese and Molisano origin.

The bimonthly meetings present topics of interest and provide the opportunity for cameratismo; the Notiziario offers well-written articles and lovely photographs emphasizing our heritage and the preservation of our traditions; and the awarding of the annual scholarships to worthy students encourages connections to Italian language and culture. A special thanks goes to all the officers who served the Society in the past and present. Without their commitment to the preservation of our roots in Abruzzo and Molise, we could not have achieved this past twenty years of success. Tantissimi auguri for an even brighter future!
Well, folks, here I go. One score years ago Lucio D’Andrea brought forth on the Washington Metropolitan Area a Society conceived in camaraderie and dedicated to the proposition that all Abruzzesi and Molisani should get together to keep their heritage and traditions alive.

These words may seem a bit wild but are basically accurate to describe what Lucio and a handful of his friends were able to accomplish. Besides, why not paraphrase the words of one of the world’s greatest statesmen when speaking of Lucio’s success story? Some skeptics said that the Society would not “long endure,” but they were wrong, and membership grew from approximately 150 at the inception of the Society to 239 as of June 1 of this year. A few of them come from regions other than Abruzzo and Molise and all members are creative and productive people well respected in the communities in which they live. A few (not I, alas) are even listed in the Who’s Who. Of course, not all the well-known people with roots in Abruzzo and Molise are (yet) members.

Perhaps it is up to Lynn Sorbara to recruit them! Abruzzesi famous all over the world include (but are not limited to) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, singer/actress Madonna, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ancestors of Pompeo and Madonna, like those of Edvige D’Andrea, Mario and Vince Ciccone, and Anna Maria DiPilla, came from Pacentro and part of those of Pelosi from Villa Sant’Angelo. Pacentro is a small town in the Provincia of L’Aquila and Villa Sant’Angelo is a village, also in the Provincia of L’Aquila, about ten miles from where I grew up. And so, my fellow members, let us be proud of belonging to AMHS and let us continue to strive to make it an even more important element in the conduct of American-Italian relations. Bless you all.

Hearty congratulations to the members of the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society on this special occasion — the 20th anniversary of our Society’s founding. To my congratulations, I add my appreciation and thanks to all those members who have served the Society in some way during the past two decades. Without those volunteers and their efforts, it is certain that the Society would not be where it is today … one of the most vibrant and active organizations of Americans of Italian heritage in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

I know that you want the Society to continue to provide the activities you enjoy attending or participating in, so, carry on the great tradition and step up to the plate when asked to serve on a committee, help at some activity, or stand for election as a director or officer of the Society. With your involvement the Society will continue to thrive and provide benefits to its members. When I lived in Virginia (I now reside in Massachusetts), the Society was the focus of my attention and my efforts for many years. I had the pleasure of serving it in many capacities and always with enjoyment. Like most of you, I found it to be a group of wonderful folks who, like I am, are proud of their Italian heritage and of the contributions made to American society by our ancestors and ourselves. I am a third generation Italian American and was the first president of the Society not born in Italy.

My parents were born here but their parents, my grandparents, all immigrated to America from Italy in the very early 1900s — the paternal side from the lovely town of Ielsi in the region of Molise, and the maternal side from the beautiful seacoast city of Fano in the region of Le Marche. Listening to the stories told by and about my grandparents’ young lives in Italy and the values and customs they brought with them and carried on here, sparked the interest I have for Italian history and culture, for my Italian genealogy and for Italy itself. I am a proud American, a proud Italian American and, still, a proud member of the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society. Auguri AMHS!

Since its founding in June 2000, the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society has survived and thrived, one of the most vibrant Italian American organizations in the Washington, D.C. area. Throughout the years, the Society has stayed true to its core mission, the development and promotion of the cultural, social and educational heritage of the Abruzzo and Molise regions of Italy, and that of Italy in general.

Through the tireless dedication of the Executive Committees past and present, as well as the many member volunteers, we have provided our members and friends with informative and entertaining programs, special events, galas, the Ferragosto picnic, the annual winetasting event, and travel — just too many activities to list! Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our members. As the Society has grown and matured over the years, we have worked hard to make ourselves a more dynamic organization that reaches across the ages and the country. We have embraced social media in order to appeal to a wider audience, through a Facebook page and through the creation of a revamped website.

We have done all of this while staying true to the vision of the Society’s founders and to the mission. Through our collective efforts, I know that our Society will continue to grow, survive and thrive for many years to come. It is unfortunate that we could not come together on June 14 to celebrate the Society’s 20th anniversary — but we will be together in spirit — our AMHS family — and look forward to celebrating together next year. Buona fortuna e tanti auguri AMHS!

I happily take this opportunity to congratulate the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of Washington, D.C. on the 20th anniversary of its founding. In doing so, I am recognizing the dedication, enthusiasm and skills of all of our members past and present, and in particular of all of the current and past members of our Board of Directors, and of all of the current and past officers of our Society. It is these individuals who collectively are the AMHS and who therefore have earned kudos and congratulations for the organization’s continuing operation, viability and success. To what end over the years have our officers, Board members, and members given up their time, channeled their energies, and lent their talents?

The answer is that their goals have been exactly those set out by the organization’s founders: to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage of the regions of Abruzzo and Molise and, indeed, of Italy in general, as a way of honoring those who came before us and of inculcating pride and respect in those who will come after us. Our members, Board members and officers have accomplished these goals by celebrating Italian culture together at our general meetings, by collaborating with other local Italian-American organizations whose goals coincide with ours, and by awarding scholarships each academic year to two deserving students who have shown an interest in Italian culture and language. The scholarships in particular are an effective force multiplier in the AMHS mission to preserve and pass on an appreciation for Italian culture and language to future generations.

Our Scholarship Committee members, past and present, and all of our AMHS members and supporters who have contributed to our annual Scholarship Fundraising Campaign, have played a key role in helping outstanding young students carry the banner of Italian culture and language into the future. Sustaining our organization will be a challenge. As in the past, it will take the hands, heart and ideas of a more than a few likeminded individuals, particularly of the younger generation. This challenge, however, is a story for another day. Today is about congratulating the AMHS on everything that it has accomplished over the last twenty years and wishing it similar success in the future.

Postponed Celebration Does Not Dampen Community Spirit; Special Messages from Society Presidents

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Treasurer’s Report for 2018