ICC installs its newly-elected officers and directors at Nov. 3 ceremony
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Mary Triaggiano (standing at podium) officiated at the Nov. 3 swearing in of the majority of the Italian Community Center officers and all of the directors. Newly elected president Gina Spang was sworn in her uncle, past president Sam
Purpero. Those taking the oath of office as administered by Judge Triaggiano are seen standing in front of the podium facing the audience. From the left: director Peter Gustin, secretary Rose Anne Ceraso-Fritchie, sergeant-atarms Joanne (Sanfilippo) Czubek, director Tony
Piacentini, director Elizabeth Ceraso, director Ralph Busalacchi, director Anthony Zingale, director Anna Pitzo, vice president Giuseppe Vella, director Henry Piano and director Dean Cannestra. Some 220 people attended the installation. (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
Betty Puccio, ICC’s first female president, offers Gina Spang, ICC’s second female president, some advise and tools for maintaining order at meetings There have been 20 individuals who have served in the office of president of the Italian Community Center since the organization’s inception in 1978. Only two have been women – Betty Puccio, who held the presidency during the 1989-1990 term, and Gina Spang, who was elected to the office this past October. After Spang was sworn in as president on Saturday, Nov. 3, Puccio offered Spang some advice and some tools for maintaining order at meetings. First, Puccio presented Spang with a huge tape dispenser. Puccio told Spang and the 220 people in attendance that she had some personal experience with the use of a tape dispenser. “When I was in seventh grade at St. Rita’s grade school, a nun by the name of Sister Joanna Antida was my teacher. When the boys talked out of turn or too much, she would smack them on the back of the head or take a ruler to their hands.
When I did the same, she was a little kinder. She would put tape across my mouth. Not only was it embarrassing, but it hurt when she told me I could remove it. The worst part was that it left a big red mark across my mouth, which, of course, told my mother that I was not behaving well in school.” Puccio reminded Spang that there are a certain individuals serving the organization who are likely to talk too much at the various meetings she will chair during her term, so the giant tape dispenser might come in handy to put an end to the chatter. This, of course, drew an abundance of laughter from the audience. If the tape wasn’t enough, Puccio provided Spang with another instrument for maintaining order, a giant 36-inch sold oak gavel. “Just bang this on the podium a few times and everything will be fine,” Puccio said. Again, the roar of laughter filled the room.
Betty Puccio, a past president of the ICC, provided newly installed president Gina Spang with some helpful tools for maintaining order at the meetings she will chair during her term. In the top photo, Puccio (at podium) is displaying a tape dispenser, which she said might come in handy should Spang find it necessary to silence any individual who talks too much. In the bottom photo, ICC President Gina Spang (left) accepts the gift of a giant gavel that is being held by past presidents Sam Purpero and Betty Puccio. (Times photos by Tom Hemman)
The Tom Sorce Band performed at the installation dinner. From l to r: Tom Sorce (guitar and vocals), Brian Ford (drums), Todd Holmes (bass and vocals) and Dennis Kloepfer (accordian and keyboards). (Times photo by Tom Hemman)
PAGE 10 – DECEMBER 2012
THE ITALIAN TIMES