March 2006 Meeting Notes

Our March PIP1 meeting was enjoyable as usual. Thanks to all who helped organize the dinner and participated, with special appreciation to Sharon Reif, who described how to acquire valuable genealogical information at the LDS library in nearby suburban Naperville. Other participants shared their recent discoveries obtained either by ongoing research or visits to Italy.

The marvelous resources of the LDS library in Salt Lake City were portrayed by several attendees who visited there last year. Sharon went with a research group that studies their ancestors from Termini-Imerese, Palermo, (Sicily) Italy. The 4-day trip was organized through a genealogist from Salt Lake City, Kathy Kirkpatrick. Kathy is well-known in the Sicily region as a professional researcher from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

The Family History Library is four full floors of books and microfilms holding vast amounts of records from all over the word. The US/Canada Microfilms are held on the main floor with plenty of microfilm readers and computers for patron use. The US/Canada Book collection is held on the floor above with a complete reference desk manned by staff and volunteers. The holdings on floor B1 are International records with books and microfilms from Europe, Asia, Africa and elsewhere in the world. This floor also has a reference desk with staff very knowledgeable in the research of records worldwide. The B2 floor holds all of the microfilm and books for the British Isles, and also has a reference desk for patron assistance.

Each floor has microfilm readers, with the exception of the 3rd floor which only houses books and computers. Microfilm scanners and copiers are also available each floor. Generally, the library is open about 9:00 am to 9:00 p.m., however, the staff will make revisions periodically when large groups are visiting, or during seasonal holidays periods.

Sharon suggests that visitors be very prepared with what they want to find in the library, as this will save time with their research. Come prepared with what you already know, and know what else you want to find out. Staff members are very courteous to help in finding the right films and books to assist with research. Some staff are also fluent in foreign languages and can help in translation of documents that you may find during your research.

Most of all, Salt Lake City is a very nice place to visit with a group. Don’t forget to take in the sights of the Temple Square, which consists of 35 acres in downtown Salt Lake City. In the summer months there are garden tours and concerts in the park. Shopping and local restaurants are very reasonable and compare with those found here in the Midwest.

Ron Turano, who operates a familiar Chicago-area bakery, couldn't accept our invitation as a speaker because of his election campaign travel schedule. He is running for Italy's Parliament in the April elections as an "estero" candidate. Registered Italian (single or dual) estero (Overseas Constituency) citizens can vote in the April elections. We wish him well; maybe we can get him to join us for a future meeting. [Late news: Renato Turano was elected as the first senator to represent Italian citizens in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.]

We welcomed new participants Art Scacia and his wife, who live in Channahon, Will County south of Joliet.

While dinner was underway, attendees had an opportunity to test their knowledge of regional Italian foods, through copies of a questionnaire distributed around the tables. It was a difficult challenge because there was a list of regional food specialties to match to 20 regions, and none of us were knowledgeable enough to match all the regions with the foods. The answers were distributed afterwards.

Our PIP1 treasury had accumulated enough funds, thanks in particular to the memory of Tony Lascio, that we could offer to pay the registration fee of two chapter "representatives" for the national POINT meeting in Los Angeles on 6-8 Oct. 2006. Two of our attendees, Patti Tolone and Gracia Bittner, were already planning to participate at their own expense, so by default they are the two that we happily reimburse their registration. Their registration fees will be refunded at the December PIP1 meeting, when they make their coordinated report of the presentations and events that take place at the annual POINT meeting.

Our next get-together is scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday in June, the 21st at 7pm, Suparossa as usual. Topics are yet to be determined, and suggestions are especially welcome. One topic is DNA tracking as an aid to genealogy; it's a fascinating subject, but we'll need to find someone reasonably knowledgeable on the topic. You can pencil in 20 September and 21 December for the subsequent 2006 PIP1 gatherings.