Definition: Internet PORTAL; the entrance to an Aggregation, or Collection of Web Sites/Pages, in which areas of specialized interest are categorized/sectioned.

One day the Italian American Community may realize my vision of an Italian American PORTAL, where Everything and Anything of interest to an Italian American can be found in ONE Place!!! A sort of National Cultural Center on the Net!!

In the meantime, there are certain I-As that are setting an example of how Web Sites on Specific Areas of Interest can/should be established.

For instance. There should be Sites that serves ALL the Italian Americans of each "US CITY", that has a significant I-A population, of those who want to be informed about that LOCAL I-A News, Events, Organizations, Facilities, Issues, and History to permit I-As, and encourage I-As, to "connect" with their Italian Community and Heritage, much in the manner of "Italy at St. Louis", www.italystl.com, nurtured by Franco Giannotti. These sites would be Proverbial "Little Italys" of the Web.

[Comment: St.Louis leads, and sets an example for all I-As in the US ???; Where is NY/New Jersey, and Chicago???]

There should be Sites that inform us on each of the "REGIONS OF ITALY", much like "Sicilian Culture",<< www.sicilianculture.com >>, a richly spectrumed creation of web designer, Justin Cristaldi. 

There should be Sites that explore each of the ISSUES of particular importance to those who are interested in protecting the Italian American/Italian Heritage, in the manner of "Italian American One Voice" << www.italianamericanonevoice.org >>, that fights I-A Defamation, under the leadership of Dr. Manny Alfano. Other issues deserving of their own Site relate to the defense of Columbus, and advocacy on behalf of Meucci. 

"Pointers" <<www.cimorelli.com/pie/piesani.htm>> sets the standard, and is the starting point for Italian GENEALOGY search, and was founded by Dr.T.E. Militello.

The Albany Chapter of Sons of Italy, is a leader in compiling information on REGIONAL Italian American History and Personages in the UPPER NY STATE area, and is unmatched by any other Sons of Italy Chapter, or ANY other organization. The site is located at << http://www.capital.net/~soialban/invite.html >> under the authorship of Prof. James Mancuso.

Give yourself a treat, and visit each of the Sites above.

Think about the possibilities. An Italian American PORTAL/ COLLECTION that would allow any I-A to easily connect with Sites Specializing in "LITTLE ITALYS" throughout the US (50 to 100?), I-A REGIONAL HISTORY and Culture (hundreds), I-A ISSUES and PROJECTS (Dozens), I-A/Italian GENEALOGY Sites, ITALY's NATIONAL History and Culture, Italy's REGIONAL (20) History and Culture, TRAVEL In Italy -Assistance and Information, Genuine Italian FOOD/PRODUCTS and Imports, etc., ad infinitum.

In other words, as stated before ANYTHING and EVERYTHING about Italian American and Italy in ONE Place, arranged in an easily assessable manner.

A few Caveats: One, neither, "Italy at St. Louis" or "Sons of Italy at Albany" are "pure" sites, confining themselves solely to the topics cited. But that is only because they have tried to fill an enormous gap of information that should be available to Italian Americans on more "specialized" Sites.

Second, Many organizations do admirable work in service to the Italian American Community in a "brick and mortar" sense. There is NO intent to ignore their valuable work. However until those organizations move to "embrace" the INTERNET, and make their "knowledge" easily available on the WEB, they will be doing themselves, and the Italian American Community a great disservice. They are using "scrivener" methods in an "electronic media" age. 

On the other hand, I am very impressed by the incredible number of Italian Americans who are "web savvy", and armed with only the good intentions, and no resources, are attempting to fill that void, often with outstanding material! 

Their (and our) problem is, that those pages CAN'T be found!! 

Furthermore, and somewhat in the same vein, an Italian American can NOT, NOW go to ONE place and "browse", or do "research" on Italian American/Italian matters. In other words, there is NO Italian American Library or Cultural Center of  the Web, and the Web is NOW already the "browse" and "research" method of overwhelming choice!!!! 

Meanwhile, until we are able to "cobble together" this PORTAL, I encourage each and every one of you to encourage your I-A organizations, to place on their Web Site, as much information as they have created and developed, to immediately make available that "treasure trove", and hopefully in anticipation of the I-A PORTAL.