A few weeks back, I wrote a Report criticizing a Major Italian American Organization's $100,000 contribution this year's to Alzheimers, (a total of $1 million during the last 10 years). That original Annotico Report is at the end.
Dominic Candeloro responded on the H-ITAM Bulletin Board, that inspired a number of responses that showed an unprecedented degree of unanimity.
These responses included those from--- James Mancuso, Professor Emeritus, Franco Giannotti, Publisher, Italy at St. Louis, John Scocca, BioMedical Researcher, Leon J. Radomile, Publisher, Heritage Italian American Style, Bob Masullo, Journalist, Sacramento Bee, among others.
There were must thoughtful suggestions as alternatives, (1) Development and dissemination of authentic Italian American history, culture and literature, studies curriculum materials (2) Convention speakers who would address issues that relate to Italian-American affairs, (3) Awarding of Professorships and Fellowships in Italian American to improve the ways Italian Americans are viewed in the larger society, and elevate the stature of studies on Italian Americana (4) a program of donating Italian American books to Schools and Libraries.
If you agree with these opinions, consider
Forwarding this Message to OSIA, NIAF, UNICO, at <<ddesanctis@osia.org,
jmarino@niaf.org, unico.national@verizon.net>>
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From Dominic Candeloro, Executive Director,
American Italian Historical Association
At the risk of offending and as a member of OSIA myself, I bring up the question of priorities and funding.
One of the ways that an ethnic group can gain acceptance is by doing some goods works for the general welfare of the population. In its generous funding of Alzheimers research OSIA and SIF have surely done that.
On the other hand, charity begins at home;
and if development and dissemination of
authentic Italian American history, culture
and literature are not supported in at least as generous a way as OSIA
supports medical research, will our descendants have anything solid
with which to identify themselves as Italian Americans? And will
they be inclined to join organizations like the Sons of Italy who support
so many fine
charities? Just wondering....
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From: James Mancuso, Professor Emeritus
Regarding philanthropic efforts of Italian-American
organizations.
I made clear my own position on this matter as a result of attending OSIA state conventions. I found the conventions to be deadly.
The worst periods of the convention, in my mind occurred on the morning when the representatives of various lodges stood to declare their contributions to the varied beneficent causes supported by OSIA.
In the first place, the process was a total waste of time, aimed, I thought, at allowing each lodge to have its proverbial fifteen minutes of fame. A bulletin board listing the contributions would have served much more efficiently as a means of communicating the amounts raised, by whom, etc.
Secondly, I could not react positively to OSIA raising money for causes that had little direct or even indirect, connection to Italian-American issues.
The deadliness of the conventions, for example, would have been somewhat relieved if the lodges had raised money for a speakers' fund -- which would fund, at least, two or three convention speakers who would address issues that relate to Italian-American affairs.
I do hope that this discussion thread gets
the attention of people who are concerned about the direction of Italian-American
organizations.
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From: Franco Giannotti, Publisher, Italy
at St. Louis
You are absolutely right in your observations about charity beginning at home and while ANY charity work is commendable it is indeed sad that our own organizations, such as OSIA and many others, cannot conceive a more creative way to channel their resources toward promoting our culture and unity in programs that anybody would immediately recognize as being of "italic" nature, programs that would cause other I-A organization memberships to take notice and to emulate.
I cannot help but go back to the fine essay you wrote sometime ago, of which I quote the following very appropriate passage:
"... we can pretend that we are maintaining our identity. We can cling to Italian American organizations as a source of moral and political support to help us compete with other ethnic coalitions for the rewards of American society. There will always be ethnic organizations because they offer a personalized refuge from the anonymity of modern urban society. At banquet after banquet we can assure our "man of the year" and ourselves that we are just as good as anybody.
We can even raise large amounts of money
to fight diseases and help crippled children. And we can feel good about
"helping another Italian today". But we will be,
we are, losing that creative ethnicity,
that cultural duality that was the curse and the blessing of the immigrant
experience..."
The full essay, titled "CANDELORO HAD A
DREAM", can be seen in its
entirety at http://www.italystl.com/misc/m00e29.htm
We are all wondering...
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From: John Scocca, BioMedical Researcher
I strongly support the need for some additional thought on the kinds of philanthropy that organizations like the OSIA and its foundation fund.
The recent gift of $ 100,000 to support research in Alzheimer's Disease is commendable, especially since it is another payment in a series which totals about $1million. Who can criticize such a use?
Dominic had the courage to do so, and I follow his lead. And I do this as an aging individual who has made a career in biomedical research.
First, some unpleasant facts. An annual budget of $100,000 would barely sustain the work of one very junior investigator in a medical center or research university. In terms of patient care, $100,000 will provide top-notch residential care for a single patient or bare-bones care for two for a year. The unfortunate bottom line here is that gifts of this size make a nearly invisible contribution to the study of Alzheimers or to the care of those afflicted with this brutal disease.
I also know that it is no joke for an ethnic organization to raise these sums of money for charitable uses. And as one who makes modest donations to this particular organization, I would like to see the money make a lasting contribution to the national life, and advance the position of Italian Americans in the USA.
So I came up with a way to spend the money
that might improve on the ways Italian Americans are viewed in the larger
society, and elevate the stature of studies on
this immigrant group and their descendants.
Proposal: In every odd-numbered The Sons of Italy Foundation award research professorships of $50,000 each to two senior academics who are prosecuting research on some area of Italian America. These one-time awards would be for one year, with the expectation that a significant publication (monograph or edited collection) would result.
The recipients would be expected to attend the OSIA convention at the end of their appointment and to discuss their results in a talk before a general audience. This kind of money is like a gift from heaven. It means time away for research and for writing. It might pay an assistant. It can work magic for a career.
In every even-numbered year, the Foundation
will award four dissertation fellowships of $25,000 to promising graduate
students who are investigating some topic under the general heading of
Italian American studies. Again, the recipients would give general
talks at the OSIA convention when they finish their dissertations.
The
recipients will be incredibly grateful
-- they can stop working at Home Depot to support their educations.
They are likely to do better work, and to get it published quicker.
They will be in good position to compete for jobs in a tight market.
The results of this program will be: plenty of opportunities for photos with grateful recipients; much more publicity in influential academic circles; and the steady conversion of Italian American Studies into a mainstream field that attracts top talent.
Believe me, academics orient in money gradients
like everyone else. And money for
the humanities is always scarce especially
for younger scholars doing dissertations. The recipients of these
awards will be the envy of their associates. They will make the field
the place to be. And every one of them will have the Sons of Italy
Foundation prominently displayed on their biographical sketches and resumes
<per omnia saecula saeculorum> .
Any comments?
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From: Leon J. Radomile, Publisher, Heritage
Italian American Style
Would it not be wonderful if reference books like The Golden Milestone, The Proud Italians, Italians In America, and even my Heritage Italian-American Style could be donated, promoted and circulated to libraries and schools across the country. What a statement that would make!
A $100,000 donation for Alzheimers research is like adding a grain of sand to a beach. Whereas using the same amount on some savy public relations through educational and library channels would make a tremendous impact on the continual flow of negative images and stereotypes of Italian Americans for upcoming generations to come.
I recently learned that the director of the Coccia Institute, Dr. Gina Miele and its benefactor, Joseph Coccia (at Montclair State University, NJ) have such a book donating program. Now here are two Italian Americans that are REALLY doing something to make a difference besides talking about it.
But you can't do much of anything without
the proper funding. Dominic Candeloro is right!
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From Bob Masullo, Journalist, Sacramento
Bee
Leon (Radomile) makes an excellent point.
Are his comments being forwarded to the
people in NIAF, OSIA and UNICO who control
the purse strings?And if not,why not?
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The ANNOTICO Report
Subject:
Charity Begins a Home-- SIF gives $100,000
this year. $1Million last 10 years
Date: 4/13/2004
I continually laud OSIA, or NIAF, & UNICO for their "awakening", and increasingly greater "pro active" stance toward "cultural enlightenment" and "negative stereotyping".
So my intent is NOT to "attack" OSIA, or
NIAF, & UNICO for their contributions to NON Italian Charities or Projects,
on a local and national basis, BUT merely to suggest a REEXAMINATION of
such a Policy, since so many recommendations
for furtherance of the Italian American
community, must be "shelved" for lack of "Funding"!!!!
Some decades ago, Italian American organizations
felt the need to appear to be good American Citizens by "buying" acceptance,
by contributing to LOCAL charities.
That is "old school", outdated, and discredited
thinking.
Even then, NATIONAL contributions seemed to have TOO obscure a PR benefit.
In this age, with a more fragmented Italian American community, with even less resources, with even more battles to be fought, it seems a great waste to "divert" ANY monies to OTHER Non Italian areas, no matter how worthy.
I well may be one of those that benefit from Alzheimer Research, but I would like to see an Italian American Organization focus solely on Italian American needs.
Each of the Members of an Italian American Organization can decide on their own which Charities they wish to donate to, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Strokes, Heart, Lung, Orphans, etc, etc. Members don't need Board Members "diverting" their Italian American Resources.
If you agree, make your thoughts known
to the leadership of NIAF, OSIA,& UNICO.
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