Waterbury Unico Newsletter November 2015

Lately some of you have mentioned to me that you have seen a TV show or commercial or

a movie or play in which Italians are depicted in a very offensive way: as criminals, organized

crime figures, racists, and/or uneducated slobs. There is a long history of Hollywood and

indeed all media indulging in this type of stereotyping of Italians. Indeed, Thomas Edison

who invented film produced a number of one reel short films starting what later became

the film industry. One of the first he made was a short which became one of the first crime

dramas. In it the police seize a man who is a professional pickpocket. Who is he? An Italian

immigrant of course or as the characters in the film call him, "the Dago." So as you can see

right as the first wave of Italian immigrants were arriving in this country, our ancestors

were being slurred with the aura of criminality which continues to this day.

One of UNICO National’s committees is the Anti-Bias Committee of which I am the Vice -

Chair. We respond to any offensive portrayal we learn of via email, telephone and letters

to the offending parties requesting that they cease and desist. In addition to UNICO, the

Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the Italian American One Voice Coalition and

numerous other Italian organizations around the country have

protested these portrayals. The Italian American One voice

Coalition was founded by Dr. Manny Alfano a longtime UNICO

member from New Jersey. This organization has many UNICANS as

members and along with UNICO National, many individual Chapters

have also joined to support its mission. At our last Board Meeting

we voted to have our Chapter also join One Voice.

However, we cannot fight these insults alone. We need every

concerned person of Italian descent to get involved. Speak up when you see something

insulting; let me or our committee know about something you've seen or heard especially if

it is in the popular media or even in our own community. We will take it from there. No

other racial, ethnic or religious group puts up with these type of insults. Why should we?

I'll speak more about this at our next dinner meeting on the 24th. Hope to see you there.

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT FRANK TRAVISANO

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November Dinner Meeting

Our November Dinner Meeting will take place on Tuesday,

November 24th at Juniper’s Restaurant in Middlebury at 6:30pm. Cost for dinner is $25.00 which includes one complimentary glass of

wine. Feel free to bring a friend as we welcome our guest speaker, Jonathan Draper from the OLLI Program at UCONN-Waterbury.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is an academic cooperative that provides older adults with opportunities for intellectual development, cultural

stimulation and social interaction. Programming is centered around classes developed and taught by members who volunteer their time to share their knowledge and experience with other members. The OLLI program also sponsors special events featuring noted authors, scholars and

experts in respected professional fields.

Chapter Newsletter

November 2015

“Service Above Self”

www.waterburyUNICO.com

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/WaterburyUNICO

It’s the holiday season and the bells are ringing…...this time at

Town Plot IGA on Fairfield Avenue in Waterbury!! On Saturday,

December 12th from 10am—4pm, 2 volunteers are needed for

each 1-hour shift to ring the bell for Salvation Army!!! If you’re

interested, send an email to [email protected] or

sign-up at our next meeting. Another “feel good” event that you

don’t want to miss!! Dress warm and spread the holiday cheer!!!

RING THE BELL FOR SALVATION ARMY

WARC CHRISTMAS PARTY

Volunteers are needed to help serve pizza and ice

cream to the program participants at the Annual

WARC Christmas Party. The party takes place on

Sunday, December 6th from Noon—4pm at the

WARC Gymnasium located in the old Anderson

School on 1929 East Main Street in Waterbury. This

is one of our favorite community events!! If you want to be part of an experience that will swell your heart

and put you in the holiday spirit…..then be sure to

join us for all or part of the afternoon. Excellent

opportunity to bring your family members to help.

Let us know you’re coming by sending an email to

[email protected] or tell us at our

Dinner Meeting. Thank you!!!

PS—Please try to wear your UNICO Shirt, Santa Hat and dancing shoes!!! Check out the

movie “Passione” available on

DVD & Netflix for a

look at the musical

roots & traditions of

Naples!

Page 2 WATERBURY CHAPTER OF UNICO NATIONAL

BAKE-LESS FUNDRAISER

Be on the lookout for a letter from Fran

Durante, Bake-less Fundraiser Chair,

asking all members to participate in this

new fundraiser. Instead of running a

bake sale, send a donation in the amount it would have cost to bake/buy a cake or

pie or cookies! Please make checks payable to Waterbury UNICO and indicate

“bakeless fundraiser” in the memo line. So get cookin’ and send your donation to our

PO Box or bring to next meeting. It’s easy as pie! (smile)

PENNIES FOR ST. VINCENT DEPAUL

Keep bringing your pennies and loose change to all meetings

and event. Chairperson Dianne Minardo has already rolled

almost $40 worth of coins and is ready for more! All funds

will be donated directly to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of

Waterbury.

CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY

Join us on Thursday, December 10th

for our Annual Chapter Christmas

Party! The dinner will be held at

Verdi Restaurant located at

Western Hills Golf Course on Park

Road in Waterbury. Cost per

person is $30 for a fantastic dinner and a complimentary glass of wine.

Cash bar. Festivities start at 6pm

with Cocktails/Cheese & Crackers

and 7pm for Dinner Buffet with

entertainment provided by Ralph

Belvedere. Come ready to sing

because as Buddy the Elf says— “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is

singing loud for all to hear.”

Our “Party Planner”, Dr. Carmine Paolino, is asking all UNICANS to bring a

package of diapers [sizes 3-6 preferred] and baby wipes that evening for donation

to the Diaper Bank operated by Catholic Charities of Waterbury.

Advanced registration is required so please reply no later than December 2nd.

The party is open to all Members, Families and Friends….spread the word—the

more the merrier!!! You can send payment [Checks payable to Waterbury

UNICO] to our PO Box or bring to our next meeting. If you have any questions,

contact Dr. Paolino at 203.217.4401.

Be sure to

listen to

Andrea

Bocelli’s new

CD entitled

“Cinema”,

featuring his

version of

songs from

your favorite

movies!

Page 3 NOVEMBER 2015

BAKE-LESS FUNDRAISER

MEMORIAL MASS

Thank you to everyone who participated in our

Memorial Mass for Deceased Members of UNICO.

While the attendance of members was small (10 in Mass and 12 at the Reception) the

intent was large. Chairs Bianca Daniels & Lou Gelada & Committee did a great job

organizing and promoting the day. Plans for next year are already underway and the

date will be released soon so that more of us (especially those with ties/relations to

deceased UNICANS) can be in attendance.

ITALIAN HERITAGE

As part of their Fall Lecture Series, the Italian Resource Center

and the Library of Central CT State University welcomes

Professor Mario Mignone. He will lecture on the publication by

the Library of Congress: “Explores, Emigrants, Citizens”.

Thursday, December 10th at 3:00pm in the Library

Classroom—Third Floor of the Burritt Library at CCSU located

at 1516 Stanley Street in New Britain. Refreshments will be served.

Waterbury Chapter of UNICO National

PO Box 933 Waterbury, CT 06721

Waterbury—The Birthplace of UNICO

CT/MA Meet the President

Sunday—November 22nd

The Elks Club—Torrington

Noon—$45

November Dinner Meeting

Tuesday—November 24th

Juniper’s Restaurant—Middlebury

6:30pm—$25

Christmas Open House

Friday—December 4th

National Office—Fairfield, NJ

Noon—7:00pm

Board Meetings

2nd Tuesday of Every Month

[12/8, 1/12, 2/9, 3/8, 4/12, 5/10, 6/14]

Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall

6:45pm

Chapter Christmas Party

Thursday—December 10th

Verdi Restaurant—Waterbury

6:00pm—$30

January Dinner Meeting

CT-I District Meeting

Tuesday—January 26th

Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall

6:30pm—Price TBD

Italian Corned Beef Dinner

Wednesday—March 9th

5:00pm—7:30pm

Location & Price TBD

National Day of

Community Service

Saturday—April 23rd

Time & Location TBA

Scholarship Dinner

Tuesday—May 24th

La Bella Vista

6:00pm—$35

Save the Date!!!

founded by Gerard J. Somma in 1939 with customers nationwide & overseas

located on Scott Road since 1957

www.sommatool.com

Manufacturers of tooling

for the Precision Turned Parts Industry

109 Scott Road Waterbury, CT 06705

JOHN A. SALERNO, M.D.

INTERNAL MEDICINE

573-0300

60 WESTWOOD AVE

WATERBURY,CT 06708

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

Tim Clark, Realtor Cell-203-592-5201

[email protected]

Proud to be a member of Waterbury UNICO

94 Years of “ Service Above Self ”

The Largest Italian-American Service Organization

Founded in Waterbury, CT 1922

SUPPORT OUR

SPONSORS

Integral Psychiatric Services

203-430-0315

Adver�se your

business with us

Monthly Meeting Schedule (Sept-June) Board of Directors – 2nd Tuesday 6:45 pm - Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall

Regular Dinner Meeting– 4th Tuesday - 6:30 pm - Juniper’s Restaurant

Want informa�on included in the next newsle�er? Care to receive the newsle�er electronically?

Contact us at [email protected]

Memorial Section

Waterbury Chapter of UNICO National Check out our website

www.waterburyunico.com

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WaterburyUnico

Contact us at [email protected]

In Loving Memory to our parents:

Charles and Louise Gerace

Ralph and Lillian Santopietro

~ With love from Bob &Marilyn

In Memory of my Grandparents:

Giovanni “John” and Theresa Meoni Gelada

Giocondino and Amelia Fusco D’Amico Santopietro

~With Love, your grandson, Louis C. Gelada Jr.

In Memory of my parents:

William and Dora Samela

~From Bianca Daniels