The Italian Genealogy
Society of
ALBERT MAROTTA
The Italian Genealogy Society of New Jersey met on November 1, 2014
at the
Maria Carparelli opened the meeting
by alerting members that Charles Scalia, a long-time member of the Society,
died September 29, 2014 in his 87th year. A card of condolence was sent to the family
in behalf of the Society. Maria reminded
members of the need for a chairperson of the Trip Committee to organize two
research trips. Nine members planned to
attend the luncheon after this meeting at Tiramisu Restaurante in
The Society’s original 1998 bylaws
were amended and accepted by vote by the members in order to reflect the
organization’s new name and to update and clarify some articles and
sections. The
membership approved all revisions.
Judy Bonzkowski presented the treasurer’s report. The ending balance as of November 1, 2014 is
$288.00. The chapter has 31 members, 26
are active.
Al Marotta mentioned that the Firestone Library at
Angela Raimo gave the main interactive presentation, “Writing
Memoirs: Is There a Book in You,” following Silvia Del Priore’s brief
presentation, “My Kitchen Memories: How I started a Blog.”
Silvia Del Priore, after retiring, took writing courses, including
memoir writing, with the belief that everyone has a story in them. When you write it down, you will always be
more exact. It is not necessary that anything
you write must be published, but the activity of writing will focus the
mind. She said that we often fail to
realize that all families are dynamic families, but each in its own way. Thus, no family can be considered too
commonplace to write about. Her fiction
classes led her to begin blogging about her interests, especially cooking. She created a food blog, “My Kitchen
Memories: Every Recipe Has a Story”, which includes favorite memories of the
person behind the recipe. The senses of
smell and taste often provoke cherished memories and these can add another
facet to enhance a memoir or a family history.
Also, she is an avid collector of cookbooks and recipes and has been
doing this for forty years.
Dr. Angela Raimo is Professor Emeritus of Education Law and
Forensic Psychology at
Dr. Raimo’s goal was to have the members learn to write a six-word memoir with the help of an exercise. She provided each member with cards of titles to read aloud and each was to select three with the most interest. These topics were to serve as a “conversation starter” to make one think more deeply and focus. The topics on the cards were to be fuel for thought. Sal Lagattuta thought that these were like autobiographical haikus. Among the creative results were: “No room at the holiday table”; “Still dancing every chance I get”; “My life as I remember it”; “Ordinary, but in a special way”; “Tossing Junk is a great Catharsis”; and “Grandpa’s garden, the family dining room.” Now, with the “soul of the matter” discovered, the writing of a memoir could begin.
May 2, 2015
August 1, 2015
November 7, 2015
February 6, 2016