Seven candidates running the four, open director-at-large seats in ICC election from page 1 took place on Sept. 5, the date this issue was published.) 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 at least Aug. 5, 2013, you are 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. 3. Therefore, ballot envelopes must be postmarked no later than Sept. 26, 2013 to be opened and counted. Instructions for voting and returning ballots will be included in the mailing sent by the Election Committee. Election results will be announced as part of the proceedings at the Oct. 3 general meeting. The newly elected officers will serve for one year while the new directors-at-large will fill two-year terms. All terms begin officially on Nov. 1. An installation ceremony will take place at the general meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7. A dinner will precede this meeting. About the uncontested officers Spang is the second woman in the 35-year history of the organization to serve as president and will become the first female to serve two consecutive terms. Betty Puccio served the ICC as its president during the 1989-90 term. Spang had previously held the vice presidency on two different occasions and served as a directorat-large. A longtime, third generation member of the ICC, Spang has served on numerous ICC and Festa Italiana committees over the years. She was the general chairperson of the 2013 Festa Italiana and will continue in that capacity for the 2014 celebration next July. She is employed as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for Milwaukee Public Schools. She is a civil engineer with emphasis on facilities and construction management. Vella, who is completing his first term as vice president, previously served as a director-at-large. The 17-year owner of Peter Sciortino’s Bakery, Vella is a longtime member of the ICC and a past president of the Madonna Del Lume Society. He has been active in Festa Italiana the last several years, serving on the Management Committee, the Advisory Committee and Food Committee. He and his wife, Rhiana, were honored as Re and Regina (King and Queen) of the ICC’s Il Grande Carnevale in 2010. Carnevale is the organization’s pre-Lenten costume and mask ball. Since the inception of the ICC in 1978, Purpero has served on the Board for all but two years, holding the positions of president (1982-83), president-elect, first vice president, treasurer and director-at-large. This election marks his fifth con-
secutive term as treasurer. He has been heavily involved in each of the 36 Festa Italiana celebrations organized by the ICC. Ceraso-Fritchie, a longtime member of the organization, has held the office of secretary for the last nine years. She has long been an active volunteer in Festa Italiana. In the most recent years, she has served as manager of golf carts. She is currently the president of the Milwaukee Chapter UNICO National. She is chairperson of the ICC’s Avanti Committee and has been on the committee that is responsible for orchestrating Carnevale. Czubek first won the sergeantat-arms post in the 2010 election, making her the first woman to hold the position in the history of the ICC. She previously served on the Board as a director-at-large (19972002). She has a long history of volunteer involvement in the ICC and with Festa. She has been co-chairperson of Carnevale the last six years and has chaired the Membership Committee and the Election Committee. She has volunteered for many events and has been co-manager of Festa Signage the last several years. For the last 18 years, she served as Festa’s volunteer coordinator. She is currently a member of the Newspaper Committee. Others who are continuing their service Dave Spano will continue to serve on the Board in the non-elective position as immediate past president. Also continuing their service are directors Dean Cannestra, Henry Piano, Anna Pitzo and Anthony Zingale, who are in the middle of their two-year terms. Departures from the current Board will be Ralph Busalacchi and Peter Gustin. Busalacchi was ineligible to run because of the organization’s term limit stipulation, which allows a director to be elected to no more than two consecutive two-year terms without taking a hiatus from the Board. Gustin, who is completing his first, two-year term as director, opted not to seek re-election. Director nominees seek your vote As an informational service to the ICC membership, The Italian Times asked the seven nominees for the four open director-at-large seats to complete a questionnaire. Their comments are presented here in the same order as their names appear on the official ballot. The only question that the candidates were asked to answer was: If you are elected to the Board, please describe in 50 words or less what you are going to do to help the organization? A drawing for ballot positions was held on Tuesday, Aug. 13. It was conducted by Election Committee chair Rosemary DeRubertis in the assistance of Business Manager Patrick Morgan and ICC staff members Constance Palmer and Gina Manning and witnessed by the writer of this article. The names were drawn in this order: Pietro Tarantino, Elizabeth Ceraso, Susan DeSanctis Christiansen, Joseph Jannazzo, Jr., Bruno Giacomantonio, Paul Iannelli and Tony Piacentini. Other members of the Election Committee are Frank D’Amato, Bill
PAGE 10 – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013
Dickinson, Sal Lo Coco and Mary Ann Maglio. * * * Pietro Tarantino, self employed. “Reestablish relationships with Italian regions to provide cultural exhibits and entertainment for Festa and the Center AT LOW COST. “Will provide fiscal and fiduciary responsibility to establish budgets for Festa and the Center, to comply within our financial and economic environment. “Dismal finances require accountability and transparency.”
Susie (DeSanctis) Christiansen, Legal Secretary/Back-up Trainer, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. “I will preserve the Italian culture at the ICC and Festa in the most authentic form possible – the language, dance, music, art, food, history and traditions. I am devoted and will work tirelessly to ensure that our members feel valued and will contribute to the longterm strength of the ICC.”
Susan (DeSanctis) Christiansen Pietro Tarantino
Elizabeth (Liz) Ceraso, Adminstration Assistant/Reservations for Carey Limousine. “I’ll continue my efforts to bring in new members through activities that embody our commitment to our Italian heritage. “I’ll do my best to keep the ICC moving forward while maintaining the vision of our founders. I want to make this a place that families and younger members can be proud of and call ‘home’.”
Joe Jannazzo, Jr., Agency Manager for Southeastern Wisconsin, Country Financial. “My entire focus will be on engaging younger individuals and families with the ICC. “The long term success of the organization is dependent on how we get the next generation to take an active role in the ICC. I want to help drive that change.”
Joe Jannazzo, Jr.
Elizabeth Ceraso
The statements of Bruno Giacomantonio, Paul Iannelli and Tony Piacentini appear on page 11.
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