LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, March 7, 2025
Can you believe the Sun Lakes Italian-American Club (SLIAC) is down to the last 2 dinner meetings of the year? Time flies when you are having fun! We will take the summer off after our May 1 meeting, and resume in October. At our next meeting on Thursday, April 3, the theme will be “Mobsters & Goomatas”. It should be a wild night with “la familia”. Don’t forget to wear your wildest mobster & goomata outfits. Have fun with it! The host and entertainer will be Tom LaGavinasi.
We will have SLIAC Board elections for President, Treasurer, & Sergeant-at-Arms at the April 3rd meeting. Bios are included for each nominee in the SLIAC website (iacsunlakes.com). Please check them out ahead of the meeting.
At the April dinner meeting, we will be having a head start to the May 1 “Great Italian Cookie Bake Off Contest”. There will be signup sheets for 10 volunteers to bring authentic Italian cookies that will be judged at the May meeting. First place will receive $100 cash and second place will receive $50 cash. It’s time to find the best Italian cookie baker in the Sun Lakes area. Could it be you?
We now have 177 paid members in the SLIAC (a new record). I guess it’s true…Italians have more fun! See you April 3rd. Mobsters & Goomatas!
Steve Ambroso / President
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, February 11, 2025
WOW! What a night! Our February 6th SLIAC dinner / meeting was an awesome event. We had 124 members (the most ever for an event) RSVP for the second annual “Traditional Italian Wedding Event” that had everything…women in their original wedding dresses, men in tuxedos, men dressed like they were actors in the original Godfather movie and women sparkling in glitter. The night included 129 photos projected on the big screen of Italian ancestor wedding scenes and personal member wedding photos. The DJ got the members out of their seats to do the Tarantella. This event was the idea of Patty Panullo and Joann Belack They did a great job planning and coordinating the event. The grand finale was a raffle for the “Boosta Bag” that Jan Hood won with $530 in it. Bravo!
The upcoming Potluck Lunch at Sisk Park on Sunday,, March 2 should be a “can’t miss” event with the opportunity to play in the 4th annual Mini Bocce Ball Tournament. Look for all the details about the Bocce Ball Tournament and the Potluck on the website. Remember…the Potluck is for SLIAC members only (no guests). Your club will be providing the sausage, peppers, onions, sauce & buns. This is the time for all members who attend to shine…homemade Italian desserts, appetizers & pasta salads. Mangia!
There is one other bit of club info all members should be aware of. Elections of SLIAC board members (President, Treasurer & Sergeant-at-Arms) will take place at the April meeting. Please check out the candidate bios on the website .
Steve Ambroso / President
Viviamo la vita al massimo
(Let’s live life to the fullest)
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, January 14, 2025
The first Sun Lakes Italian-American Club (SLIAC) dinner/meeting of the new year had member / guests hear from Giovanni Trescornia from Ethica Wines. Giovanni had an interesting talk about the wine regions in Italy and how they differ in various parts of the country.
It’s was great to see between 109 members at our monthly dinner meeting. Hopefully, we can continue to provide speakers and events that stimulate conversation and participation. The upcoming “Traditional Italian Wedding” event at our February 6th meeting will be a “can’t miss” fun-filled spectacle. Last years event was a huge success. It is your time to dress up, dance and party!
I am very excited about the upcoming March 2nd Potluck lunch at Palo Verde Sisk Park. This year the Potluck is on Sunday March 2nd to avoid any conflicts with Cottonwood’s Art at the Lakes. To me it is the highlight of the SLIAC year. This year we will also be having our 4th annual Bocce ball Mini-tournament prior to the potluck. This will be another “can’t-miss” event. Your SLIAC will again be providing complimentary sausages, buns and peppers. You bring the homemade appetizers and desserts. Look for all the details in our website www.iacsunlakes,com.
Thought for the day…
Vivi la vita (Live life)
Vivi la bella vita (Live the good life)
Vive bene (Live well)
Steve Ambroso
President SLIAC
Letter from the President, December 12, 2024
Ciao e felice anno nuovo (Hello and Happy New Year!)
What a way to close out 2024 at the Sun Lakes Italian-American Club (SLIAC) annual Christmas Party & Raffle on Tuesday, December 10. We welcomed 112 members & guests with the East Valley Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus singing Christmas songs and a unique version of “My Wild Italian Rosa”. A great time was had by all and the raffle organized by Patty Pannullo and Joann Belack had great prizes and netted over $1300 for the club. Way to go Patty and Joann! Our 2 charities appreciate you.
Let’s keep the SLIAC train rolling while we start planning our 2025 monthly schedule. The January 9 dinner meeting will be highlighted by Giovanni Triscornia from Ethica Wines. Giovanni is an Italian wine expert who will discuss the different Italian wine regions. February will be highlighted by our 2nd annual “Traditional Italian Wedding Night”. Time to get that wedding dress and tuxedo out of mothballs. March will be highlighted by the annual Sisk Park potluck lunch & mini Bocceball tournament (a hit for the last 3 years). I can’t wait to see all the different kinds of Italian food and desserts that our members bring to this potluck. Mangia!
As I have said before, I am honored to be your President of the SLIAC. I am looking forward to 2025 and meeting more friends at our monthly dinner meetings. Don’t forget to RSVP early by Zelle or send check by mail. RSVP and payment deadline is January 2, 2025. All RSVP info, photos, recipes and club news is in the SLIAC website at iacsunlakes.com. Check it out!
Facciamo in modo che questo sia l’anno migliore di sempre (Let’s make this the best year ever)
Steve Ambroso / President SLIAC
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, NOVEMBER 15, 2024
The November 14 meeting of the Sun Lakes Italian-American Club was attended by 114 members and guests. That is almost a 20% increase over our November, 2023 dinner meeting. Thank you to all who attended! I think everyone attending had a great time at the “Night of Italian Comedians”. I heard a lot of laughter after watching the 10 comedian videos. We might have to make it an annual event.
The upcoming Holiday Party, Raffle & singing by The Harmonizers is our big event of the year. Patty Pannullo & Joann Belack have done a fantastic job of decorating and gathering donations and gift baskets that will be raffled off. Please get to the Oakwood Ballroom early to check out all the items available for the Raffle.
Please wear your best Christmas outfits! We want to see a lot of Red & Green! The Holiday Party & Raffle is always the most attended event on the SLIAC calendar. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale starting at 4:45. There will not be any 50/50 tickets sold at this event…only tickets sold for the Raffle.
See you at the Oakwood Ballroom on Tuesday, December 10!
Buon Natale & Felice Anno Nuovo,
Steve Ambroso / President
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, OCTOBER 5, 2024
Benvenuti a tutti (Welcome to all).
November means cooler weather! Doesn’t that sound great after a brutally hot summer? Traffic has shown an increase due to the influx of “snowbirds”, Holiday decorations are appearing at retail stores, and the Sun Lakes Italian-American Club had its first meeting of the year at our new location at the Oakwood Ballroom. What a success!…the food was great and we had a record October attendance of 93 members (including 16 new members)! The competition was fierce between members to see which table knew more Italian Trivia. Questions about Italian culture, food, and history made for a fun, spirited night.
The November 14th meeting will be the first time we have ever had a night of Italian Comedy with videos of Italian Comedians. Get ready to laugh!
Thank you to all members & guests who used Zelle to prepay your October dinner and annual membership. Also to those who mailed a check ahead of time. Oakwood catering requires us to give them an RSVP count one week before the dinner meeting. We no longer accept payment at the door on the night of the meeting. All of the deadlines, RSVP info, menu, and photos are available on our new website (iacsunlakes.com). Please check it out!
Remember…our goal at SLIAC is to see smiling faces, laughter, and the enjoyment of each others company. This is the fastest growing club in Sun Lakes for a reason. Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday, November 14.
Italian thought for the day…
La famiiglia e il cuore del tuo cuore (Family is the heartland of your heart)
Steve Ambroso
President
SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
SUN LAKES ITALIAN-AMERICAN CLUB (SLIAC) UPDATE FROM STEVE AMBROSO / PRESIDENT
Let me start by saying “CIAO A TUTTI” (Hello Everyone!) This has been an exciting and challenging summer for the Sun Lakes Italian-American Club Board of Directors & Committee members. We think we have made this fantastic SLIAC club much better and can’t wait to introduce you to the changes…
CHANGE #1
All our dinner meetings will be moving to the OAKWOOD BALLROOM at Oakwood Country Club as of our first meeting on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Address is 24218 S Oakwood Blvd, Sun Lakes (next to Stone & Barrel Restaurant.)
CHANGE #2
All dinners will be catered by Oakwood Ballroom staff with the food taken from the menu of the Stone & Barrel Restaurant. You will notice an immediate improvement in the quality of the dinners.
CHANGE #3
The dinners will be going from $23 to $26 as of the first meeting in October. I think everyone is familiar with the escalation in restaurant pricing over the last few years. We held onto the $23 pricing for the last 2 years, and Stone & Barrel food quality will be noticeably better than our previous caterer.
CHANGE #4
We will have a website as of September 10, 2024!
You will be able to access the website by going to www.iacsunlakes.com.
There is info about how to access the website later in this email. This is a huge development for our club. There will be Club News, RSVP dates, photos, and other info in the website. Let’s hear it from you about how we can make the website better.
CHANGE #5
RSVP info…Due to the change from Cottonwood to Oakwood Ballroom, RSVP requirements will change also. All RSVP’s must be made a minimum of seven (7) days before the event. Continue to make the RSVP with Linda McCabe at [email protected]. You will not be able to attend the dinner meeting if you do not RSVP and pay at least seven (7) days before the event.
CHANGE #6
Payment info…Annual membership has increased from $15 to $20. This is the first annual membership increase since 1996.
Dinner payments of $26 and $20 annual membership must be paid at least seven (7) days before the first event you attend. If you are attending the October 3 dinner meeting, this means you must pay $46 per person by September 26.
You can pay online by Zelle or mail a check to:
Joanne LaSalle
3840 E Horseshoe Pl
Chandler, AZ 85249
The check should be made out to SLIAC
You will not be able to pay the night of the dinner meeting. No cash payments will be allowed!