THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION VISION FOR THE FUTURE: The ITALIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND AFFILIATE PROGRAM
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is making changes to maintain its relevance in the future as the advocate for the interests of Italian Americans both here in the United States and abroad.
AMHS has been invited to become an affiliate member of NIAF and to be represented on the Foundation’s Italian American Leadership Council (IALC), a group of committed individuals and organizations to serve as stakeholders in NIAF, the Italian American community, and, as an Italian American organization, in our future. For many years, AMHS has enjoyed two key benefits from our relationship with NIAF: 1) Eight (8) years of matching funds for the AMHS scholarship program (since 2007); and 2) the half-price associate member rate for individual AMHS members.
As a sign of AMHS’ importance to NIAF and the DC area’s Italian American community, NIAF President John Viola addressed the AMHS Executive Committee on July 16, 2015 about NIAF’s vision for the future that will have an impact on these benefits. NIAF envisions a future by growing the IALC. It has invited AMHS to be part of the IALC. Individuals and organizations can become active members of the Leadership Council for $2500 per year. The following are its benefits:
• AMHS representation on the IALC, which includes, but is not limited to, participation in IALC Leadership Forums across the country, invitations to all activities open to the NIAF Board of Directors (e.g., the Annual Leadership Retreat and the summer Mission to Italy);
• Affiliate NIAF membership for each AMHS member, at no additional cost or fee (AMHS members would get all the traditional benefits of NIAF membership including a yearlong subscription to NIAF’s Ambassador Magazine; NIAF member discounts for travel, genealogy, retail, and more; mention in NIAF’s Annual Report publication; and exclusive NIAF member gifts); and,
• Continuation of matching scholarship funds from NIAF, currently at $4,000 a year in order to award two scholarships.
The AMHS Executive Committee, at its August meeting, voted to join the NIAF IALC and become an affiliate member to NIAF, but to submit its recommendation to the membership for its consideration and a vote. If approved by the membership at our general Society meeting (Sunday, September 27), this would 1) approve AMHS commitment to be a member of the IALC ($2500 per year); 2) continue NIAF’s commitment to match AMHS’ scholarship program (NIAF has given $29,500 since 2007); and 3) would grant NIAF affiliate membership benefits to each AMHS member. Your AMHS Executive Committee members, as well as a representative of NIAF will be available at the September meeting to address questions from the members (NIAF’s representative would be asked to leave the meeting before the member vote on the recommendation). If you wish to learn more about NIAF and the IALC, visit www.niaf.org