Sons of Italy...Questo Mese

January 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
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DID YOU KNOW?

 

Italian children receive their gifts on the eve of the Epiphany from La Befana. To read more about this Italian tradition, click here.
 

Gennaio Gioviale!

SIF Hopes Donated Car Will Benefit Needed Charities
  
This past May Sergio Marchionne, chairman and CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, donated a 2013 SRT Viper GTS to the SIF.

The car is rare, a one-off model specially designed by SRT CEO Ralph Gilles for the SIF. Its pearl white exterior will be the only one produced in that color this year, and it features specially made wheels, hood and leather interior accented in the Italian colors of red, white and green.

Marchionne and Chrysler donated the car to the SIF because of its incredible record of philanthropy. Since 1959, the non-profit has given more than $127 million to medical research, international and domestic relief efforts and veterans causes. The plan is to auction the car off with all proceeds being applied to its charitable benefactors.

The car will be auctioned by Russo and Steele Auctioneers on Friday, January 17 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The car will be the highlight of a weeklong classic and luxury car extravaganza, and is scheduled to 'go on the block' between 7:30-9:30 p.m. that night. It will be offered "NO RESERVE." Potential buyers need not be present at the auction to bid; 
please contact Russo and Steele about bidding options, www.russoandsteele.com.
 
Read the full SIF press release, here.

 

Travel the World, Help the Sons of Italy

  

The Sons of Italy has formed a new partnership with renowned tour company Collette Vacations, opening up the world to our members who want to have a first-rate travel experience while also helping OSIA.

 

The new travel program will offer four tours a year to various hot travel destinations. (Except Italy, of course. Be sure to check out our trips to Italy through our partner Unitours.) And while you're experiencing exciting itineraries in places you've always want to go, you're helping support OSIA's Supreme Lodge. Collette is donating 10% of all land and air bookings on our tours back to OSIA. This is just another way we are focusing on generating non-dues revenue to support OSIA activities.

 

Our first tour will be in Summer 2014 to Alaska. 

 

Not interested in traveling to Alaska? You can book any of Collette's many dozens of other tours and still earn a donation for OSIA. Visit www.collettevacations.com for itineraries and call 800-437-0235 to book. Remember to mention "Order Sons of Italy in America" and promotion code "U001.AX1.918" for OSIA to get credit.

 

Buon viaggio!

 
Sons of Italy Scholarship Competition Underway
SIF 2013 national scholarship winners
Through the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) with hundreds of thousands of family members located in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, the Order Sons of Italy in America has awarded nearly $57 million in scholarships to date.

 

In past years, the SIF has offered 10 to 12 merit-based scholarships (National Leadership Grants), ranging from $4,000 to $25,000, in a nationwide competition. These figures and the number of scholarships may vary according to funding each year.

 

To learn more about this year's scholarships, click here.

 

New Year's Special on OSIA Cookbooks 

 

We're ringing in 2014 with a new sale on OSIA cookbooks! Order For the Love of Italian Cooking by January 15 and you'll receive free shipping on each purchase!     

 

  • Every book: $24.95 plus $5.00 S&H FREE SHIPPING!

 

In the pages of this unique cookbook, discover traditional fare for the New Year and other holidays, including a lentil soup with sausage (lentils symbolize money and good fortune) and struffoli (made with honey and representing sweet promises for the New Year). 

 

Proceeds from the sale of this publication will be used to fund the cultural, educational and charitable programs of the Sons of Italy.   

  

Buon Appetito!

 

To order your copy of For the Love of Italian Cooking:
The New Year's Special runs through 1/15; make sure to place your order by the deadline to receive free shipping & handling! 

Member Benefits Featured Discount: VPI Pet Insurance

Each month OSIA will feature an exclusive special benefit for all OSIA supporters:

 

VPI Pet Insurance provides healthcare coverage for your dog, cat, bird, hamster or other exotic pet. As an OSIA supporter, you receive a 5% discount on your VPI policy. 

Plus, owners of multiple pets are entitled to receive additional discounts! With coverage from VPI, your pets are protected if they are injured or become ill. VPI policies are easy to use and reimburse you for eligible veterinary expenses related to surgeries, hospitalization, X-rays, prescription medications and more. 

 

  • Freedom: Visit any veterinarian, even specialists and emergency providers
  • Flexibility: Choose the coverage that's right for your pet and your budget
  • Savings: Save more when you enroll multiple pets
  • Guarantee: 10-day, 100% money-back guarantee

 

Visit VPI Pet Insurance to see OSIA discounts or call 877-PETS-VPI. Remember to mention your OSIA membership to receive the discount!

 

Learn more about OSIA Membership and see all the incredible Benefits & Discounts available to members. 

OSIA Offers Trips to Campania in 2014

Sons of Italy Presents:

Campania: History, Art, Culture and Food

    

Need a New Year's resolution? Make one to travel more! Take the worry out of travel and come to Italy with us!    

 

Travel with the Sons of Italy and Unitours and take your mind off planning the details this year! With prices starting at $3,099, the tour of Campania offers multiple departure dates between April-October 2014 to fit your schedule. The price includes round-trip airfare between the U.S. and Italy on Alitalia, four-star hotel accommodations, breakfasts and dinners daily, and escorted tours to world-class museums and historical sites with English-speaking tour guides.    

 

To download a brochure for more information, click here.  

 

Trips to other regions also available. To view all trip itineraries, click here.  

For more information or to book your trip, email mpisano@unitours.com or call 1.800.777.7432. 

 

Italian 101: Winter Vocabulary
The holidays may be over but the winter season has just begun! As you take the kids skiing or watch the snow fall from the sky this month, teach your kids some Italian along the way! From winter sports to clothing, we've got you covered with this list of winter vocabulary words below!

 

 

Snow
neve
Iceghiaccio
Cold
freddo
Snowflakefiocco di neve
Hot chocolatecioccolata calda
Ski

sci

Scarfsciarpa
Glovesguanti
Ice Skatingpattinaggio su ghiaccio
Snowboard
snowboard

 

Why is the AP Italian program important?

Eight years ago, OSIA contributed thousands of dollars to help establish an Advanced Placement (AP) Program in Italian Language and Culture. Why did the Order do this?

  1. Only the best and the brightest high school students take AP courses.  
  2. AP courses are offered in all the major academic subjects (English, Math, History, etc.) as well as in Spanish, French, German and other languages. Until 2008, there was no AP program in Italian. OSIA joined forces financially with the NIAF and UNICO to establish the program and its exam.  
  3. The test can be taken at any school that provides the AP program and exam in Italian. Your local Italian consulate or the College Board, which runs the AP programs, can advise where those schools are. The exam currently costs about $85.  
  4. It is not necessary to take the Italian AP course to take the AP Italian exam. Students who are fluent or highly competent in Italian can take the test at a school that offers it and receive college credit when they pass it.  
  5. A student who successfully completes an AP course and passes the AP test, receives college credit for that course. Each college determines the preferred score when giving credit for passing AP examinations.  
  6. The advantages for high school students who take AP courses are that:
    • High school students enter college with already a certain number of college credits.
    • They then can take more advanced course even in the freshman year or skip taking (and paying for) required courses.
    • They save money on college tuition since they don't have to pay for the credits already received through the AP classes taken.
    • Since these courses represent academic achievement, college admission boards tend to give preference to high school students who have taken them. So AP courses often "tip the scales" to help students get into the college of their choice.

No wonder high school students prefer taking courses that have AP programs. Spanish, French and German all do, which is why OSIA worked so hard to get an AP Italian Program established in 2005. But if the Italian AP program is abolished, it is likely that enrollment in Italian will drop at both the high school and the college levels.


Social Media Post of the Month 

Have you joined the conversation? Check out our most popular post from last month on the OSIA Twitter and Facebook pages!       
 
Also, make sure to check out the latest post on the OSIA Blog!
 
Photo Blast from the Past

From the OSIA News Archives, 1980: 

 

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