Messaggio Dal Vostro Presidente

Uniti siamo sempre piu forte . . .

Spring is again upon us and summer will soon roll in with vacations and family fun. God bless you all during these gorgeous days—stay safe and have fun.

During the summer months, with people away, your Club falls into its dry season—the least prosperous—and because of the faltering economy our scheduled outside parties are few and far between. That aside, we continue to move ahead with a positive attitude. Michelle Casciato, our events planner, has many plans going forward. In the meantime, your Officers, Directors and fellow Members are taking on tasks to generate more income and to bring about as few cuts as possible.

Our Board of Directors has approved the following changes effective immediately:

1. Members who have not paid their 2010 dues shall be charged non-member prices.
2. Starting after the June stag, tickets will be purchased through our office only.
3. The Club raffle is happening and under way. Tickets will be sold at $5 each and books of 6 tickets will be sold for $20.00. The prizes will be well worth your purchase. Please assist us in selling as many books as possible. Members who sell the more than 40 ticket books will receive a Club jacket.
4. Although cuts are frowned upon, the Board agreed to close on all three-day weekends unless there is a planned event. The reasoning behind this decision is that most members and friends go out of town on three-day weekends.

In addition, the administration has discussed new ways to help us generate more income and save some costs. These include different methods of paying your 2011 dues in advance;

1. $100 voluntary payment
2. $200 payment gets one free stag ticket
3. $300 payment gets two free stag tickets.
4. Lifetime assessment of $125 will get one free stag ticket. By paying in advance you not only get a free stag ticket (or two) you will have a smaller bill due next year. Raising dues for membership is not going to happen this year and not under this administration.

Although there are men who continue to be negative toward the Club, your leaders will remain positive and strong and pray that we make the hike without any major difficulty or cutbacks to the membership. We will not succumb to any suggestions that will not be favorable for our supportive membership. Members have paid their dues and they should be respected for the support they give the Club.

What a very few vocal members do not seem to understand is that we have hundreds of members who have paid their dues and are welcome to use their Club as they wish in accordance with our Bylaws. If at all possible, they should not be cut off from anything the Club provides. We have 15 Board members that were voted in by the membership. These men continue to work together to help this Club weather the storm. Remember, I asked you to hold on as we take this roller coaster ride together. “Together we stand, divided we fall.” As old as this adage is, it is still very valid.

Again I thank you for electing me your President. I knew I was coming into some difficult times, and since my inauguration, I have been struggling attempting to unite this wonderful Club, with mostly progress and with some disappointment. The disappointment comes with people who place personalities and egos before the wellbeing of this great historic Club. Remember, united we stand gentlemen.

A few people, who continue to stay on a negative path, have criticized me for my leadership abilities. What we need are solutions and not the creation of more issues. Bring forth ideas to help us flourish.

I continue to be warned by a disappointing few that say I am a “silent leader” and a leader that is letting the ship go astray. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Every day your administration continues to keep your Club what it truly is, “a gem in a neighborhood of gold.”

I would be the first to re-evaluate the way meetings of the Board are chaired. Good leadership sometimes steps back and watches and listens to those who may not hold title but have leadership qualities within them. I believe that this Club will get stronger and camaraderie among its members will once again bond into a solid core which will make this organization tops in every endeavor. Let’s think positive, make positive suggestions, and explore solutions for any issues we may face.

Italians and Italian organizations need to speak to one another and support each other in unity. There is no reason not to. No one group is better than the other. No one group can make it without the other. Some organizations were apparently mistreated by SFIAC and no matter what I have done to help mend the issues, several individuals from the organizations continue to negate the good standing of this historic Club. Gentlemen, if ego comes before spreading culture and heritage, then we as Italian-Americans have already lost our way.

Since its origin, the Club has been promoting our culture and heritage through sports and friendships. And friendships are what created this wonderful establishment – friendships and the love that these friends had for their family and heritage. They knew that if they could share this wonderful space with those that come from the same mother country and join together, no matter where in that mother country they came from, they could introduce their heritage, the love for family, and the warmth of friendship with others in this God blessed country that gave us prosperity.

All Officers, Directors, and a great majority of members believe this concept is still within us, and will ultimately prevail over any negativity. As long as I hold the presidency, and long after, I will continue to spread positivism and friendship within our Club and throughout the community as a whole. I continue to believe that we can prevail over any difficulty. Our ancestors have, why can’t we?

How much more difficult can this be than the difficulty our ancestors faced when they came to this country not knowing anything about it, not speaking the language, and having nothing in their pockets? Those individuals created this Club. The greatest part about these wonderful people is that they stuck together, held each other up in times of trouble, and shared and nurtured friendships. They worked hard and prospered to bring us where we are today. We cannot forget this although times may be much better for most of their children now.

I have had nothing but an upward struggle since my inception however I will continue to climb upward until I finally reach the top. I only have eight months left in my tenure, and I come to you as your elected President to ask again for your support. There are those that have not renewed their membership because they are not happy with certain people within this Club. I suppose that by not renewing their membership, they believe that this is a great way to protest and get even with those that they do not agree with or dislike. Well, if they haven’t renewed for this reason and the people they don’t get along with are still with the Club, then who really wins? The Club is the only entity that suffers—after all, the egos and personalities they left the Club for remain, and the funding from membership falters. Then there are those that have stayed because they love the Club. They stayed because of what our ancestors created, the love they have for the Club, and what it stands for—the Club’s rich history and the splendid neighborhood in which our ancestors created. To the new members, God bless you and thank you for your support. Please enjoy yourselves and make friends with the seasoned Members, they can share a few great stories.

Dear members, for you support, I thank you and literally take my hat off to you all. To those that are on the fence, all I can ask is that you come back to support the SFIAC. It’s not about “ego” or “testosterone,” its about what we have in our hands that can easily be gone. The Club is what it’s actually all about. In the end some personalities will always somehow clash, but this Club with your continued support and good leadership will always stand. As your President I would like to inform you that although we are having some economic hard times, and the world around us is struggling to keep their economy stable as well, your Club’s administration is working diligently to keep this 92-year-old establishment stable and on the correct path.

This past Stag Dinner your administration and kitchen staff united, and with the membership’s positive response, we worked together in these hard times. Although we need to save in these dry months, we realize that our staff cannot completely be cut off. We cannot repay good with bad. That was never the Italian way.

Brian Serafini Blewer and member Tom Torriglia are working diligently to make the Bocce tournament a success this coming 24th of July. Keep watching the Club bulletin board and website for developing details.

This year’s Festa will, by economic necessity, has been more prudently planned. Tom Torriglia has already begun planning the September 25th event, our third year of opening or doors to the community and celebrating Italian heritage for all to enjoy. The key to this year’s success will be donations and sponsorships. If you have any leads or suggestions in this regard, please step up and get involved. Get on the committee by contacting Tom Torriglia at tom@ladyofspain.com or by calling Rich Baldoni-Denney at 415-781-0165, ext. 2

Also this summer, July 31st, for those that can attend, we will be putting together an “Italian Night” featuring my native region of Marche on the 31st of July. This year my family will be treating the membership and our community to home made delicacies. We will be featuring the pasta making experience on the biggest screen in our north beach community. This evening of food and fun will also feature the winners of the SFIAC raffle. Secure your seats now, they won’t last at these prices. Members have first choice then the seats will be sold to the supporting community.

Keep strong and do not worry. This club has been in more difficult situations before and has always come right back into action. Stop the negativity and please, if you do not wish to help at least don’t cause more hardship.

God bless all the strong supporters and those that take on the leadership to suggest better ways. May God also bless and help all who continue their negative ways, that one day they will funnel their energy into positive and prosperous avenues.

Tante belle cose a tutti i nostri socci e le loro famiglie e amici,

— Il vostro Presidente, Gianrico Claudio Pierucci