Ciao Everyone!
It's been some months since my last semi-official letter via the web site - most correspondence is through e-mail - but we want to use the SPSCA site more and more as we become familiar with the mechanics of submitting articles. We hope, as we get more experience, that you'll check back frequently for updates on SPSCA news and activities.
I can say without question that we've had a hard-working and committed board the past three years, focused not only on stewardship - keeping our sister city association thriving - but also on finding new projects and ideas to serve our members and to strengthen our relationship with friends in Perugia. I'm grateful to each board member for the energy and enthusiasm they've brought to our work.
Here is your SPSCA Board for the next three years after our recent uncontested election:
Jose DeLellis, Patty Mathieu, Anni Fuller, Mike James, Judy Olson, Arturo Mazzola, Alan Veigel, Debbie Jaeger, Marty Curry, and Mike Grigoni. All of us welcome your ideas, advice, and participation!
See the "Events" section for details, but keep in mind what's coming and/or underway the rest of this year:
Raffle to "Win a Trip for 2 to Perugia" - this is a great deal, with a flight to Rome for 2 from Seattle, transfers to Perugia, seven nights hotel accomodation in the medieval center, and some other treats. Tickets are only $5 each and are available from any board member. We'll also have the tickets available at every SPSCA event this summer and fall. We'll draw the winning number November 21, the final night of the SIFF-SPSCA Film Festival.
Summer SPSCA Picnic (August 29) - see our photos.
Festa Italiana, September 25-27, Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. It's always good fun, so come visit us at our SPSCA booth. We'll have information about SPSCA, those raffle tickets will be on sale, and we'll likely have a sneak preview of a beautiful Seattle-Perugia calendar for 2010. See the Festa photos.
SIFF-NICE (New Italian Cinema Events)-SPSCA Italian Film Festival - November 17-21.
Looking back briefly - in March we had a great evening with Carol Pucci, Travelwise Editor for the Seatte Times, who gave us entertaining and useful information about some overlooked regions in southern Italy.
In May and early June, several SPSCA members helped organize and staff the SPSCA booth at Perugia's annual Gemelle in Piazza, a celebration of the city's 6 international sister cities. The rain poured down almost every day and we're still grumbling about this year's location, but we managed to talk with a lot of Perugini about Seattle. They missed our usual raffle drawing for a trip to Seattle, but this year we're raffling a trip to Perugia! See above.
In June, we had a good supper at the Westlake Tutta Bella (Joe Fugere and Tutta Bella have been good to us), and then went to see the SPSCA-sponsored film at SIFF, "Il Divo," beautifully shot but a bit challenging if you've not been immersed in Italian politics for the last quarter century.
Also in June, David Johnson gave us another tasting tour of Italian wines; this time it was Umbrian vs. Tuscan wines, with the Lungarotti Rubesco Riserva from Torgiano emerging as one of the favorites.
Don't forget that three scholarships are available every year for a month at Universita` per Stranieri in Perugia. Let us know if you are interested for 2010. And every 1st and 3rd Sunday at Caffe` Umbria, SPSCA's Italian Table gives you a chance to work on the Italian you've learned. Come see us from 3-5PM. All levels welcome.
Your enthusiasm and support are the essential ingredients for SPSCA. Stay in touch, come to our events, buy a raffle ticket, apply for a scholarship, and give us your own ideas for events and projects.
Grazie mille!
Mike James, President SPSCA
