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News You Can Use 
June 5, 2012

  IN THIS ISSUE
Gala Luncheon 
Member News   

Community News 


BUON VIAGGIO
to the 2012
Cultural Exchange Participants!

Stay tuned for pictures and news from their trip to Italy! 
 

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www.noiaw.org
2012 Gala Luncheon
Gala Luncheon a Huge Success!

On Saturday, May 5, 2012 the National Organization of Italian American Women held its annual Gala Luncheon at The Metropolitan Club in honor of Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D. to celebrate her contributions of 32 years in the Italian American community, her retirement, and status as Founder and Chair Emerita.  NOIAW's new Chair, Betty Santangelo, Esq. and Maria T. Vullo, Esq, Vice Chair of NOIAW and Gala Luncheon Co-Chair, welcomed guests to the celebration. Consul General of Italy to New York, Hon. Natalia Quintavalle also greeted the audience. Cristina Fontanelli, acclaimed soprano and NOIAW member opened the event with the American and Italian national anthems.

Bastianich, Sirey, Cuomo
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D., &  Matilda Raffa Cuomo

 Scholarship awards were presented by Donna de Matteo to three of the five recipients in attendance. Claudia Massimo Berns, Cultural Exchange Program Co-Chair and Gina Attinello, 2010 Cultural Exchange participant spoke about the upcoming trip to Italy and its benefits to Italian American college women. Cristina Matera, MD, Board Member and Gala Luncheon Co-Chair recapped NOIAW's programs and events from the year. Guests enjoyed entertainment by Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna and had the opportunity to bid on exciting silent and live auction packages.    

Cristina Fontanelli
    
Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna
Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna










            
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Hon. Angela Mazzarelli, saluted Aileen and congratulated her for her efforts in promoting and supporting the advancement of women of Italian ancestry.

The luncheon concluded with remarks from Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D. and a ceremonial passing of a gavel to NOIAW's new Chair, Betty Santangelo, Esq.

Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D. & Betty Santangelo, Esq.
    Our annual Gala is an important fund-raising event that enables NOIAW to continue its mission to promote positive role models and the advancement of Italian American women through our valuable Mentoring, Scholarship, Cultural Exchange and Member Cultural Programs. Thank you to all of our supporters!
Member News
Rossella Rago Rossella Rago, NOIAW Member, host of cooking show and food webisode series, Cooking With Nonna, and recent winner of the Food Network's 24 Hour Restaurant Battle - Battle Italiano, is searching for a Nonna in the Milwaukee area to cook with her.
 The Nonna will cook live on NBC - TMJ4 the morning of July 21, 2012 and at the Festa Italiana in Milwaukee on July 21st & 22nd.

Please click here for more information.
Deadline is June 15, 2012.
 
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Joann Sicoli, CMP, NOIAW Member and singer will be performingJoann Sicoli in a Cabaret show with The Arrangement Experience Singers at Don't Tell Mama on Monday, June 25, 2012.

 
 Please click here for more details, including reservation information.  

Community News
Italian Minister of Justice Hosted by NOIAW

At the request of the Italian Consulate of New York, NOIAW Founder and Chair Emerita, Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey
President Jo-Ann Daddio-Larsen of NOIAW's Connecticut Region, and Board member Judge Angela Mazzarelli of the Supreme Court Appellate First Division hosted the Minister of Justice, Paola Severino, for two days.  Minister Severino is the first woman to have served in that position in Italy.

Consul General Quintavalle and Dr. Sirey, accompanied Minister Severino and some 14 guests and press to visit a prison in CT, to the State House to meet with Gov. Dannel Patrick Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman (who is a long time friend and attendee of NOIAW Epiphany events). 

 

These visits were followed by a lovely Luncheon hosted and arranged by NOIAW CT President Daddio-Larsen and the CT Women's Bar Association by NOIAW member Alice Bruno.  Several women state legislators from CT also attended. Gifts were exchanged and Dr. Sirey presented the Minister and Consul General a NOIAW pendent which was a replica of the medal carried by the first Italian American woman astronaut.

 

On the following day Judge Mazzarelli hosted Minister Serverino with a visit to Family Court in New York City where she had an opportunity to both observe and have an informal question and answer session with Family Court Judges.  

Photo Credit: Riccardo Chioni
 Minister Severino, Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey and Jo-Ann Daddio-Larsen