May 28, 2025
SLIAC TENTATIVE MONTHLY SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS 2025-2026
This tentative monthly schedule of events is based on the survey that was filled out by all members at the May, 2025 meeting. These were all the most popular events on the survey. The SLIAC Board and Committee helpers hope that you enjoy these events. Andiamo!
OCTOBER 2, 2025
Welcome back!
Italian Interactive Trivia between tables.
Photo’s from favorite villages and cities in Italy / members to discuss.
NOVEMBER 6, 2025
Italian Comedian Night
YouTube video clips on the big screen
DECEMBER 4, 2025
Christmas dinner & Super Raffle.
Singing and Entertainment.
JANUARY 8, 2026
History of the Roman Colosseum
Gladiator & toga dress-up!
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
Mobster & Goomata Night
Dress up!
Tom Lagravinese entertainer/singer/impersonator
SUNDAY MARCH 8, 2026
Potluck at Sisk Park
Mini Bocceball Tournament
APRIL 2, 2026
History of the Italian Circus from Italy to USA
Photos-Videos
MAY 7, 2026
3rd Annual “Great Italian Bake-off”
Individual small pastries 1st & 2nd place cash winners
SURVEY RESULTS from May Meeting
These are the most popular topics that were voted on by members at the May meeting. We will be announcing the monthly menus and topics soon on this website. First meeting for the upcoming year will be Thursday, October 2.
- Italian Comedian Night with Videos 59 votes
- Sisk Park Potluck & Bocceball Tournament 51 votes
- Great Italian Bake-Off Dessert Competition 45 votes
- Roles Italians Played in the Circus with videos 45 votes
- Discuss Best Italian Cities to Visit 36 votes
- Mobster & Goomata Night with Dress Up 35 votes
- Barbershop Singers & Christmas Party Raffle 34 votes
- Italian Wedding Night with Dress Up 33 votes
- History of the Colosseum with Dress Up 30 votes
- Interactive Italian Trivia 30 votes
- Spaghetti Western Movie Night 23 votes
- History of Siena Palio with horse race games 14 votes
- Panel Discussion about growing up in Italy 11 votes
Other Suggestions?
Opera Singers at Christmas Party 4 votes
Favorite Local Italian restaurants 1 vote
Italian Singers 2 votes
Cookbook of Italian recipes by Members 2 votes
Dancing with DJ 2 votes
Pasta Making 2 votes
Pompeii Discussion 1 vote
Genealogy Talk 1 vote
Dual Citizenship Talk 1 vote
Italian Mandolin Music 1 vote
April 11, 2025
CHANGE IN SEATING POLICY AT SLIAC DINNER MEETINGS
EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2025
The Sun Lakes Italian American Club (SLIAC) has definitely become very popular! Proof is evident by paid membership in the 50’s 5 years ago, to current paid membership of 175. Attendance at the recent April dinner meeting was 130 RSVP’s. 5 years ago we met in the tiny Saguaro Room at Cottonwood with attendance in the 30’s.
With growth comes growing pains. Years ago the rule was to sit next to a fellow member and learn about what US city they came from or where their grandparents lived in Italy. We have a current problem with members arriving early to save seats at tables for members who arrive later.
Effective with the May 1 dinner meeting, the new seating policy will be “No seats can be saved for other members” If you would like to sit at a table with your friends at a particular table, you will have to arrive together. The exception to this new rule will be “Singles Only” tables. We will continue to set aside 2 tables of 10 members for “Singles Only”.The doors will be opened at 5:00pm and dinner will be served at 6:00pm as usual. Don’t expect to be seated before 5:00pm.
Thank you for your understanding on this issue. The board members of SLIAC always strive to make this a fun and entertaining monthly event. That will not change. See you on Thursday, May 1.
Steve Ambroso
President SLIAC
THE MAY MEETING OF SLIAC WILL BE THURSDAY, MAY 1 AT THE OAKWOOD BALLROOM
PLACE: Oakwood Ballroom @ Oakwood Country Club
TIME: Doors open at 5:00 for Happy Hour & Registration (New policy / No reserved seating)
6:00-8:00pm Dinner / Meeting /Entertainment
PROGRAM: Installation of Officers (President, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms)
“Great Italian Cookie Bake-Off” contest judging
Italian Food Trivia Contest. Winning table wins prize.
All members complete survey for 2025-26 topics.
MENU: Steakhouse wedge with rolls & butter
Pork Tenderloin
Roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables
Lemon bar with blueberry reduction
COST: Cost for dinner will be $26 per person. Payment by Zelle or check & RSVP must be made by April 23.
REMINDER: You are responsible for repayment of $26 for dinner reservations if not cancelled by the RSVP deadline.
DEADLINE FOR RSVP & PAYMENT WILL BE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23.
RSVP MUST BE MADE TO LINDA McCABE
lhmccabe@aol.com TEXT: 480-773-0913
March 12, 2025
March 11, 2025
THE APRIL MEETING OF SLIAC WILL BE THURSDAY, APRIL 3 AT THE OAKWOOD BALLROOM
PLACE: Oakwood Ballroom @ Oakwood Country Club
TIME: 5:00-6:00pm Happy Hour & Registration
6:00-8:00pm Dinner / Meeting /Entertainment
PROGRAM: Musical entertainment by performer Thomas LaGravinese.
THEME: MOBSTERS & GOOMATAS. (Wear your wildest Mobster & Goomata outfits!)
MENU: Wedge Salad
Rolls & butter
Lasagna
Cannoli’s for dessert
COST: Cost for dinner will be $26 per person. Payment and RSVP due by March 26.
DEADLINE FOR RSVP WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26. RSVP MUST BE MADE TO LINDA McCABE
TEXT: 480-773-0913
March 10, 2025
February 19, 2025
SLIAC Election in April
At the SLIAC February meeting we announced that we would be holding elections at the April Meeting. The SLIAC Nomination Committee had 3 members respond to the 3 open positions on the SLIAC Board. Steve Ambroso will be running for the office of President; JoAnne LaSalle will be running for the office of Treasurer and Buddy Meola will be running for the office of Sergeant-At-Arms. Their Biographies are listed below:
February 13, 2025
January 17, 2025
November 18, 2024
November 15, 2024
SLIAC ITALY SURVEY RESULTS
WHERE ARE MEMBERS/RELATIVES FROM IN ITALY
17 OUT OF 20 REGIONS
94 MEMBERS
1. SICILY 33 members
Palermo 8
Messina 2
Trapani 2
Cantina 2
Castellammare del Golfo
Segusa
Valledomo
Montedoro
Corleone
Catania
Cefalu
Montelbano
Augusta
Ragusa
Mazzara sant Andrea
2. CAMPANIA 22 members
Naples 13
Ischia 2
Avellino 2
Scafati
Ferucci
Ruviano
Caserta
Atripalda
Taurasi
3. CALABRIA 8 members
Campobasso
Cosenza
San Giovanni in Fiore
Ciara Zavalle
4. UMBRIA 4 members
Perugia
Bastia Umbra
Citta di Castella
Costacciaro
5. TUSCANY 4 members
Isola del Giglia (Grosseto)
Massa
Carrara
Aulla
6. LAZIO 3 members
Rome 3
7. Piedmont 3 members
Turin
San Giusto
Valperga
8. LOMBARDY 3 members
Milan 2
Lago di Como
9. ABRUZZO 3 members
Chieti
Abbruzzi
Pratola Peligna
10. PUGLIA 2 members
Bari 2
11. EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2 members
Fanano
Vignola
12. BASILICATA 2 members
Trivigno 2
13. VENETO 1 member
Calvene
14. SARDINIA 1 member
Bonorua
15. FRUILI VENEZIA GUILIA 1 member
Trieste
16. MARCHE 1 member
Ancona
17. LIGURIA 1 member
Genoa
October 11, 2024
WANTED!!
BASKETS or ITEMS FOR OUR HOLIDAY RAFFLE (December 10, 2024)
All Baskets must be submitted by the November dinner – NOVEMBER 14th
Choose a theme and have fun creating your basket.
Items must be newly purchased, some theme suggestions:
Italian themed food and gifts
Movie Night
Barbecue
Spa
Coffee
Golf
Sports
Handyman
Pet Lover
Gadgets
Stationary
Lottery Tickets
OR, please consider a donation – your donation will either go towards creating a basket in your name, or helping to fund music for our special events.
Direct any questions to Patricia Pannullo, Event Coordinator, jerseygirlaz51@yahoo.com
SURVEY RESULTS from May 2, 2024, posted August 30, 2024
The survey responses have been tallied and the results are in, and they are in order of most popular to least popular:
1.) Sisk Park Potluck/ Bocce ball—-39 votes
2.) Italian Wedding—32 votes
3.) Great Italian Bake Off—31 votes
4.) Italian Comedy Night—29 votes
5.) Italian Mobster and Gumba night–24 votes
6.) Interactive Italian Trivia—23 votes
TIED for 7th with 20 votes each:
Italian Wine Expert
Best Italian Cities to Tour —Suggested cities: Lake Como, Rome, Assisi, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Palermo, Sicily, Firenze, Catania
8.) Italian Circus—16 votes
TIED for 9th with 15 votes each\
Italian Consulate Speaker—15 votes
AZ Opera Singers had 15 votes
10.) View short Italian movie—11 votes
11.) Photos of Italy—10 votes
Choral Christmas singers had 10 votes
and 2 people circled @ Christmas Party/Raffle
No one disagreed with the “Club policy of charging $23 for your dinner if you do not cancel your RSVP before the deadline date”
Many positive comments that the club is fun and enjoyable, and that we are doing a good job.
Suggestions and comments included:
-Salute to Italian Composers/Singers—hire a band and I’ll donate my voice as well as help as a sponsor
-Someone who can actually speak about genealogy–not like the last speaker on the subject
AND Board decisions need more visibility
-Travel agent–small town/city tours
-Best wine & cheese combinations and kinds of different cheeses from Italy
-Home cooking
-Cooking contest–pasta fagioli
-Is there a way for more people to sample the desserts from the bake off?
-Food has improved this year
-Dances
-Sophia Loren movie
-Great Italian Pasta Cook off
-Christmas Carols
-Better Italian Food
-Italian Wine Tasting