THE
ITALIAN TIMES Published by the Italian Community Center 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 www.ICCMilwaukee.com VOL. 34, NO. 4 OCTOBER 2012
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ICC election features races for directors’ seats; incoming president Gina Spang and all other nominated officers are unopposed By Thomas Hemman Times Editor The slate of officers and directors-at-large that was finalized at the Aug. 23 general meeting for the 34th annual Italian Community Center election results in races for the four open directors’ seats with all the nominated officers, including presidential nominee Gina Spang, running unopposed. Spang, currently the organization’s vice president, will automatically succeed David J. Spano, who is completing his second one-year term as president and is ineligible to run for the office a third consecutive time because of a term-limit stipulation established by the organization in its Constitution and Bylaws. (All of the procedures for conducting nominations, the election
Incoming President Gina Spang
and the selection of an Election Committee appear in Article V of the bylaws.) During the Aug. 23 general meeting, the Election Committee presented these nominees for officer positions: Gina Spang for President; Giuseppe “Joe” Vella for Vice President; Sam Purpero for Treasurer; Rose Anne (Ceraso) Fritchie for Secretary; and Joanne (Sanfilippo) Czubek for SergeantAt-Arms. Although they are permitted to do so, members offered no additional nominees for any of the offices. The committee then nominated the following individuals for directors-at-large: Dean Cannestra, Anna Pitzo, Joe Zambito and Joe Jannazzo. Members added the nominations of Anthony Zingale, Pietro Tarantino, Henry Piano and
A message from Dave Spano, Italian Community Center President First of all, I would like to extend my congratulations to our new executive officers: Gina Spang, your new President, and Joe Vella, the new Vice President. Both are very qualified and passionate about the Italian Community Center. Equally important, they are part of a generation that will ensure the continuation of the Italian Community Center. The combination of fresh new thoughts and the advice of experi-
enced Community Center members will ensure that the ICC reaches the next level. Congratulations also to Treasurer Sam Purpero, Secretary Rose Anne Ceraso-Fritchie and Sergeant-At-Arms Joanne Czubek, who will be returning to serve another term in their respective positions. There will be an election with eight members vying for four open Please turn to page 9
President Dave Spano
Bruno Giacomantonio. The Election Committee has confirmed that all the individuals nominated meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Article V, Section 1 of the bylaws. Voting procedures Under the procedures spelled out in the bylaws, ballots will be mailed to all members in good standing within eight days following the September general meeting. (That meeting takes place on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m.) The bylaws define a member in good standing as anyone who became a member or renewed a membership at least 60 days prior to the day when the election results are to be announced. In terms of this election, if you’ve been a member since Aug. 27, 2012, you’re eligible to vote and will receive a ballot in the mail. The Election Committee is in charge of mailing out the ballots to eligible voters. Regarding the submission of ballots, the bylaws state: “All ballots must be postmarked no later than the Thursday preceding the October general membership meeting. Ballots marked after that date will be saved, but will not be opened or counted.” The October general meeting is Thursday, Oct. 25. Therefore, ballot envelopes must be postmarked no later than Oct. 18, 2012 to be opened and counted. Instructions for voting and Please turn to page 4
Bob Ruggieri, long-time valued contributor to The Italian Times, former ICC Board member, loses battle with lung cancer By Thomas Hemman Times Editor Robert J. Ruggieri, a long-time member of the Italian Community Center who never smoked tobacco products, lost his 10-month battle with lung cancer on Monday, Sept. 17. He was 77 years old. Bob became actively involved with The Italian Times in 1985. He started out as a member of the Newspaper Committee and as a volunteer proofreader. By the mid 1990s, he was a regular writer for the newspaper, assisting the editor with virtually every issue. In April 1996, he began authoring a monthly column, “Conversazione with Bob,” which became a popular feature in the newspaper. He served as chairman of the Newspaper Committee for most of the last
two-and-a-half decades. For about a two-year period in the late 1990s, before this writer/editor was given the technological tools and training to layout The Italian Times on his computer, the work was done on paste-up boards on Bob’s kitchen table. Bob’s offer – to do this job at his home – saved the ICC a substantial amount of money. At the time, it was costing several hundred dollars per issue to have the work done at a publication house. Over the years, Bob became a trusted friend and the brother that this writer never had. He was an unbelievable proofreader and a gifted writer. More importantly, he provided guidance and advice, and was a great listener. He helped this writer get through many
rough patches. Without question, he will be sorely missed and difficult to replace. We communicated so often that Bob’s son, Paul, began to assume that every time Bob’s phone rang, it was me. I learned that Paul often referred to me as Bob’s “little brother,” something I consider a compliment. Bob also had a great sense of humor, even in his final days. Though he had been weakened dramatically by his rapidly spreading cancer, as late as early September, Bob insisted that he wanted to contribute to The Italian Times, no longer as a writer but as the volunteer proofreader. After visiting with Bob on Monday, Sept. 10, it became apparent to both of Please turn to page 13
Robert J. Ruggieri