PIP CHAPTER #1 CHICAGO
Meeting Report - Condensed
by Cav. Anthony Lascio #1051

On the crisp Fall evening of Wednesday, October 17, 2001, at 7 PM, a total of 42 Chicago area PIPsters attended the 37^tTH gathering of Chapter #1 Chicago at Suparossa Ristorante Italiano in suburban Woodridge, IL.  It was also Chapter #1's Ninth anniversary.

The dinner meeting began with everyone rising for the stirring “Inno di Mameli”, the anthem of the Republic of Italy as the group stood at attention before the Italian flag.  This is a tradition once a year on the anniversary of the founding of the first PIP chapter in America.  This time, due to the events concerning our nation, the group also joined together in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Jenny Floro Khalaf #3902 acted as recording secretary and Debbie Peters #3842 was Dinner Collection Captain.

PIP Founder, Cavaliere Anthony Lascio #1051 welcomed everyone and asked the first timers to introduce themselves.  They were, Jim Tolone of Chicago, Virginia Barberi Collins of Naperville and Patti Pallohusky visiting from Plano, Texas.

The business portion of the meeting consisted of seeking volunteers to make a presentation at PIP meetings in 2002; a big plug for POINT membership; and an inquiry regarding who is planning traveling to Italy and who is expecting to attend the 3^RD PIP Conference in Salt Lake City next October. Only a few hands were raised in response to both inquiries.

Lascio informed the group he made a genealogy presentation before 132 members of St. Elizabeth Seton parish senior citizens club in suburban Orland Hills on October 2^ND.

Before the formal program began, the attendees played a genealogy game naming relationships as, “Who is your father’s mother’s uncle”? The evening’s program was announced with the introduction of Chapter #1's own Deanna Spingola #2393, a member of the Mormon Church, who gave a one hour lecture and slide presentation entitled “Research at the Family History Center”.  Deanna is a long time Chapter #1 participant and the Director of the Family History Center in Naperville, Illinois. She has traced her own roots back to the.....900's.  Her content, knowledge and presentation were excellent.  Many questions were asked.  Some of Deanna’s points were: the importance of good record keeping and resource recording; the LDS on line site has 8 million hits per day; the Mormon Church expects to have filmed all of Italy’s civil records within the next 3 to 5 years; Southern Italy is already complete;  and refine your search in more specific terms rather than a broad base search.  Deanna also provided the attendees with two hand outs.

Before the meeting adjourned at 10 PM Jenny Floro Khalaf urged the group to consider joining the Italian Genealogical Group (New York) and the benefits of their membership.

The next gathering of Chapter #1 is Wednesday, February 20, 2002, same time, same place.