The Italian Government through their Italian Consuls in the United States have encouraged the creation of Advisory Committees in each Consulate Area.

Therefore if you possess an Italian Passport, you are entitled to become a candidate for the COMITES Advisory Committee, or vote for the candidates of your choice.

Contact your Local Consul General for details.

Our good friend Franco Giannotti is a candidate for COMITES in ST.LOUIS.
Those in St. Louis are encouraged to support Franco in his bid.
His dedication and contribution to the Italian American community is without equal.
He is well focused and well intentioned. He will make you proud.

Here in LOS ANGELES, one of the "Slates" is headed by Prof. Francesco Chiappelli, the son of Prof Fredi Chiappelli, one of the leading lights in the Italian American Community, and a distinguished representative to the general community.

Two lists of candidates will run in the next elections of the Comites i(Comitato degli Italiani all'Estero) Los Angeles, CA on March 26, 2004.  One list is directed by Dr. Giovanni Zuccarello, and is named "Azzurri/Tricolore" because it follows the political agenda of the Italian conservative right.

The other list, directed by Prof. Francesco Chiappelli, is named Minerva, and is characterized by not having a political agenda, or a party affiliation.  Rather, the list Minerva will dedicate its effort and energy to improving the well-being of the Italian community, to insuring the integration of Italians, and to increasing the appreciation and understanding of the Italian culture and language.

The slogan of the list Minerva is "helping the CommUnity, and creating the CommUnity" ("Aiutare la Comunita' e Creare la Comunita").

All Italian citizens are encouraged to contact the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles in order to verify the status of their registration in AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero), and their address, since the election process will be conducted by mail between the middle of March and March 26th, 2004.

It is important to emphasize that Comites is an elected body that seeks to represent the needs of Italian citizens living abroad in their interactions with the Italian Consulate.

Comites collaborates with the Consulate in its efforts to identify the social, cultural and civic needs of the Italian community.  Comites also fosters, for the benefit of the Italian community, the programs and initiatives that are pursuant to the betterment of the social, cultural, professional, school-related, and recreational well-being.

The Comites of Los Angeles represents Italians residing in Arizona, California (Imperial Valley, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Louis Obispo, and Ventura counties), New Mexico, and  Nevada.