The ANNOTICO Report

UNICO has already been instrumental in establishing endowed chairs in
Italian Studies at the University of Connecticut, Seton Hall University,
the University of California at Long Beach, Montclair State University, and
Stony Brook University.

Hofstra University will soon join these and other forward-looking colleges
and universities at the vanguard of advancing Italian and Italian American
studies. Hofstra and the Queensboro chapter of UNICO have entered into an
agreement to fund a distinguished professorship in Italian and Italian
American Studies at Hofstra University.

Below is the Announcement and Solicitation for Donations.

As you all are already aware I'm sure Italian American Studies are Dear to
my Heart. Too often it takes a back seat to Italian Language.

15 March 2005

Dear Friend of the Italian American community,

We are pleased and delighted to announce that after several months of
fruitful collaboration, Hofstra University and the Queensboro chapter of
UNICO have agreed to establish a Distinguished Professorship in Italian and
Italian American Studies at Hofstra University. This will place Hofstra and
UNICO in a unique position to advance the scholarship and image of Italian
and Italian American studies as well as providing a stellar role model for
our students of Italian heritage. UNICO has already been instrumental in
establishing endowed chairs in Italian Studies at the University of
Connecticut, Seton Hall University, the University of California at Long
Beach, Montclair State University, and Stony Brook University. Hofstra will
soon join these and other forward-looking colleges and universities at the
vanguard of advancing Italian and Italian American studies.

Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university
located in central Nassau County, 25 miles east of New York City and offers
outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs on a beautiful suburban
campus. The university can boast of an academically challenging environment
with a new Honors College, a nationally-renowned faculty, state-of-the-art
living and learning facilities and exciting cultural programs and events.

As you may know, Hofstra hosts the annual "Italian American Festival" every
September which draws over 25,000 people from the New York metropolitan
area. With a funding grant from the Order Sons of Italy Grand Lodge
Foundation of Bellmore, NY, Hofstra has presented "The Italian American
Experience" lecture series every semester for nearly a decade under the
direction of Professor Stanislao Pugliese who has also directed conferences
on Giuseppe Garibaldi, Frank Sinatra, Italian Jews and the Holocaust
survivor Primo Levi. Demographically, nearly 25% of our student body is of
Italian descent.

Of course, interest in Italian and Italian-American history and culture is
not limited to Italian-Americans. Italian is the second most popular
foreign language at Hofstra and our students have a variety of courses to
choose from in Italian and Italian American subjects and three
opportunities to study in Italy: Hofstra in Venice, Hofstra in
Montepulciano, and Hofstra in Sorrento.

UNICO is the largest Italian American service organization in the United
States. Its Mission Statement eloquently expresses a noble endeavor:

To contribute to the well-being of our local communities and the nation by
making significant contributions to deserving local and national charities.
UNICO strives to honor, perpetuate, and disseminate the culture and ethnic
heritage of our Italian immigrant ancestors, by supporting higher education
and by educating and informing our members, local communities, and our
nation.

Queensboro UNICO, a private, non-profit organization, is comprised of
individuals of Italian ancestry committed to providing a better quality of
life for those in need on a community and national level. The chapter is
dedicated to preserving our Italian heritage through various cultural
programs.

We are soliciting contributions and donations to the establishment of the
Queensboro UNICO Distinguished Professorship in Italian and Italian
American Studies. How would the funds of an endowment be used at Hofstra?
The faculty member named to the Distinguished Professorship would be
charged with a wide range of responsibilities.

He or she will:

*enrich library holdings (books, journals, media) in Italian and Italian
American Studies by making recommendations to the Axinn Library to acquire
scholarly books, articles and media to be used by students and researchers;
*organize occasional conferences (in collaboration with the Hofstra
Cultural Center) on subjects pertaining to Italian and Italian American
history and culture;
*act as advisor to the Italian American Students' organization on campus
(CIAO) and mentor students from all academic majors;
*teach at least one course per semester in Italian or Italian American
Studies;*attend annual conferences in Italian and Italian American Studies
in order to increase the visibility of the Endowment at Hofstra University;
*continue to engage in research and publish the results of his/her work in
academic and popular venues, identified as the UNICO/Queensboro
Distinguished Professor of Italian and Italian American Studies.

As you can see, we are excited by the potential and promise of such an
endeavor and hope that you will join us in making Hofstra a nationally and
internationally known and respected custodian and sponsor of Italian and
Italian American culture. Please send a contribution (marked "Queensboro
UNICO Distinguished Professorship") to Mr. Mike D'Amato, Office of
Development, Hofstra Hall, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549 or
Queensboro Unico, 64-19 Mytrle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385. If you require
additional information, feel free to contact Hofstra University or
Salvatore Mendolia, Queensboro Chapter President at 917-418-6603 or Frank
Fabrico, Committee Chairman at 516-978-3584. We look forward to inviting
you to the investiture ceremony when we name a faculty member to the
Queensboro UNICO Distinguished Professorship in Italian and Italian
American Studies in the very near future.

Sincerely yours,

______________________________ ____________
Bernard J. Firestone, Ph.D. Frank Fabrico
Dean Committee Chairman
Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Queensboro Chapter of Unico
National
Hofstra University 64-19 Mytrle Avenue
Hempstead, NY 11549 Glendale, NY 11385