THE NIAF ITALIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND AFFILIATE PROGRAM

By Ray LaVerghetta

In September 2015, 2016 and 2017, AMHS members voted to formally affiliate with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) for one year. The Society’s membership as a formal affiliate means that: •AMHS is a member of NIAF’s Italian American Leadership Council;

•NIAF continues to provide matching scholarship funds ($4,000 a year) to AMHS, which allows the Society to award two $4,000 scholarships instead of just one; and

•AMHS members are formal affiliate members of NIAF, whereby you 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.

The financial commitment for formal affiliation remains at $2,500 for one calendar year At the August 19, 2018 AMHS meeting of the Executive Committee (EC), the officers unanimously voted to support a fourth year of formal affiliation with NIAF. Some of the reasons for this decision include: 1.The matching scholarship funds and NIAF management of the scholarship process; scholarship candidates are screened by NIAF using the collective criteria established by both NIAF and the AMHS Scholarship Committee.

The Committee then selects the two winning candidates. Subsequently, NIAF notifies the candidates, ensures that the award checks are made out to the appropriate educational institutions and are delivered to the students’ preferred address, obtains thank you letters and photos from the awardees, and arranges publication of the announcements in the winners’ respective local media; 2 2.AMHS continued representation on the Italian American Leadership Council (IALC), which, through IALC events, has brought greater name recognition to AMHS with NIAF’s Board of Directors and the Italian American Congressional Delegation; and 3.Benefits of NIAF membership to every AMHS member.

The EC recommendation will be submitted to the membership for its consideration and vote at the September 23 general Society meeting. Voting will be done by closed ballot. The AMHS Executive Committee will address any questions you have prior to the vote. If you wish to learn more about NIAF and the IALC, visit www.niaf.org