All’ICCC (At the ICCC) – September/October 2023 – Letter from Claudia Gentile Sims
Cari Amici,
SOLD OUT!
These two words are music to our ears. The Songs and Styles of Italy Fashion Show & Luncheon is SOLD OUT! Scheduled for October 17, this popular event, which supports ICCC and its scholarship programs, sold out early. Kudos to ICCC board member and committee chair, Gina Gusemano Leck, and her team members: Lesha Elsenbrook and Ginger Neimann, fashion show chairs; Mary Milloy, Julie Mastroianni, Roz Pactor, Lu Caltagirone, Franelle Rogers, Karen de Guerin, Jeanne Ruberti, and ICCC Executive Director Erika Myers.
Donations, large and small, can still be added to an already fabulous catalogue of offerings. If you can’t attend but would like to be part of the success of this event by contributing a nice bottle of wine or restaurant dinner or cash or unique experience, please contact the office at 713-524-4222. Ext. 7. The deadline for being included in the publicity is September 15. Don’t miss out.
Gina and her committee will set up a waitlist so you might still have a chance to buy a ticket even though we’re sold out; fingers crossed. Again, congratulazioni to Gina and her team. I’m really looking forward to attending on October 17 along with about 300 other friends who support ICCC and want to help students realize their dreams of higher education and study abroad through ICCC’s multiple programs.
At ICCC, we’re living the Pony Express motto, “Neither rain, or snow, nor gloom of night, can keep us from our duty” or another way to say it is, “The Show Must Go On.” We’ve been shorthanded because of summer vacations and a key staff change. The blistering heat has been hard on everyone, plus we’re undergoing some previously unplanned construction. It’s been a challenging summer, but we persevered. No matter the obstacles, and there’ve been a few lately, we continue to get the job done, offering thoughtful programming and gracious hospitality to our members and guests.
We’re all back from vacation now and we’re delighted to report that Tayleigh Greene has accepted the position of Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Benvenuta, Tayleigh! We’re glad you’re here.
The plaster ceiling in the living room that unexpectedly collapsed one July day is being replaced. After a thorough investigation by a professional forensic engineer, it was agreed that the best thing to do to ensure the safety of everyone is to replace the old plaster ceilings with drywall. We hope to have this work complete within the next couple of weeks. Until that work is complete, most of the older part of the house is closed. However, the newer part of the house – breezeway, kitchen, library, bathrooms and auditorium, as well as the dining room and parlor which already have drywall ceilings, continue in use as we host films, classes, wine tastings, concerts, lectures and so on. “The show goes on” at ICCC even with our challenges this summer. Like the Pony Express – nothing can keep us from our duty to bring Italian culture to you, our patrons, with a song in our hearts. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Don’t forget to download the latest issue of La Voce Italiana Magazine to be updated on all the ICCC activities and to enrich your knowledge of Italian Culture.
Click here to download the PDF.
Un abbraccio,
Claudia Gentile Sims, President
