Giving Back

The last couple months at the Italian Club have been a whirlwind of activity!

We hosted the Festa della Repubblica Celebration, we staged our 2^nd in a series of Battle of the Bottles, we rocked at Taste Addison winning the People’s Choice Award, we’ve introduced a new format for Wednesday nights called W.O.W. (Wine on Wednesday) and on top of all of that, we’ve staged our regular events including two great Regional Cenas featuring Tuscany and Umbria.

Now it’s time for us to take a little break and to give something back.

In addition to our support of our two regular charities, the Children’s Craniofacial Association and the Special Olympics Texas Bocce Tournament, we’re extending our outreach.

Last fall we tried something new and our member volunteers found it to be one of our most fulfilling events – Feed the Troops at D/FW Airport – so fulfilling in fact that we’re planning to repeat it. 

Every day, between 150 and 250 members of the United States Armed Forces depart D/FW Airport for deployment in the Middle East.  This year, on September 12, the day after the 10^th Anniversary of 9/11, the Italian Club of Dallas will once again be feeding these heroes as they depart for the Middle East to protect and defend our great nation.  Plans are underway to give these men and women a warm and delicious send-off, Italian Club of Dallas style!

Something else that’s new will be presented at our General Membership Meeting on June 26 ~ the formation of Gli Angeli del Circolo Italiano Dallas ~ the Italian Club of Dallas Angles.  As the Italian Club, we encounter situations of Italian’s residing here in Texas who are facing extraordinary circumstances.  In the Dallas area, they have had no place to turn… until now.

I’ll be personally heading up this new extension of our community outreach and will share more details about the program after we’ve released it to our General Membership on June 26.

During our recent Festa della Repubblica Celebration at the Club, Miss Clara Vick was presented with the Star of Italian Solidarity and the title of Cavaliere (Knight) for her tireless, lifelong dedication to the support of Italian POWs.  During the acceptance remarks, her daughter Rita stated quite simply: “Mother taught us our entire lives that you give back to others without expecting anything in return… that’s just how you do it.”

Her words really hit home with me personally and they are why I’ve championed these added programs on behalf of our Club.  I know the kind hearts our members have and I know they will respond enthusiastically to support these new extensions of our current community outreach. 

It Was A Night of Knights!

We hosted our Festa della Repubblica and Italy’s 150^th Anniversary of the Unification event at the Club Saturday night… and what a night it was!

Following a welcoming reception, we began the night with a performance by I Colori Italiani, our Italian folk dance troupe from the Italian Club.  Our guests then followed a procession of the flags of Italy and the United States into the dining area. 

Leading the flag procession was US Army Major General Keith Thurgood.  The flag of Italy was presented by Colonel Gianluca Piccolomini, Commander RAMI of the Italian Air Force at Sheppard Air Force base who was joined by several members of the Italian Air Force.  The flag of the United States was presented by retired US Air Force Colonel and the current Mayor of Parker, Texas, Joe Cordina.

With the colors in place, the guest joined in rousing versions of the Italian and American national anthems led by soprano Marsha Anderson and tenor Ron Montgomery.

Next up, I had the honor of introducing the many dignitaries and guests attending.  Our special guest for the evening was the Consul General of Italy, Fabrizio Nava who was joined by the Consul Generals from the countries of Finland, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Peru, Romania and the Slovak Republic.  Rounding out the list of dignitaries were Castro County Judge William Sava, General Director and CEO of the Dallas Opera Keith Cerney, COO of American Eagle Airlines Fred Cleveland and Sr. Executive VP of Flight Operations at American Eagle, Captain Jim Winkley.

The President of Com.It.es (the Italians’ living abroad committee) Vincenzo Arcobelli then presented remarks which included a moving video paying tribute to the 150^th Anniversary of the Italian unification.  Mr. Arcobelli was followed by Consul General Nava who shared some very special moments.

Mr. Nava began with the reading the declaration passed through the Texas legislature designating June 2 as Italian Heritage Day in Texas.  He then presented two “Star of Solidarity” Knighthood Awards as declared by the Italian President to the Chair of the Castro County Historical Commission Miss Clara Vick and to the Distinguished Professor of Art History at Southern Methodist University Dr. P. Gregory Warden.

Consul General Nava, Rita and Clara Vick, Vincenzo Arcobelli and myself

With the formalities completed, our guests enjoyed a wonderful four-course meal prepared by our Chef Tomasso.  Following dinner were performances of Italian Art Songs and arias by Marsha Anderson and Ron Montgomery and the fitting conclusion of the evening was the singing of Happy Birthday (in Italian) as Consul General Nava, Mr. Arcobelli and myself cut the beautiful birthday cake.

As an American-Italian, I have to say this was one of my proudest evenings at the Italian Club of Dallas.  The evening had the perfect balance of protocol, history, emotion, hospitality, friendship and entertainment and it was a wonderful representation of our Italian heritage and traditions.  I was honored to have played a small role in the evening.