 | The American International Club of Rome c/o Advicorp, via Parigi, 11, 6th floor, 00187 Rome, Italy Tel: 06-4544-7625 Fax: 06-9725-4122 E-mail: aicr@aicrome.org | |
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 | Mission Statement |
| The purpose of the Club is to encourage Americans, Italians, and citizens of other countries to meet in a congenial, relaxed atmosphere and to provide its members an opportunity to enjoy mutual interests and experiences through cultural, educational and social exchanges. The American International Club of Rome is committed to the enrichment of international friendships through participation in and support of activities of a business, social, civil and charitable nature. | |
| Board of Directors 2009/2010 |
| Honorary President: Ambassador David H. Thorne U.S. Ambassador to Italy and to the Republic of San Marino Honorary Vice President: Ambassador Miguel Diaz Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See President: L. Chris Curry Chris Curry, who calls both Louisiana and Texas home, first came to Italy as an USAF officer in the 1980's to Comiso (RG), Sicily, where he met and married his wife, Corrada Biazzo. They have been living in Italy (this time around) for some ten years. In 2000, while Chris was conducting research at the Vatican Archive for a doctorate, he took the position as Director of Administration and Dean of Students at John Cabot University in Rome. Corrada teaches Italian at the American University of Rome. Among his degrees Chris has a Master’s Degree in History from Louisiana State University, where he worked for several years in administrative positions and taught history, Italian, and religion. During the years Chris has been active in numerous professional and not-for-profit organizations. Chris’s twin daughters, their husbands, and four grandchildren live in the Houston, Texas area. His hobbies include tennis, golf, piano and photography. Chris was the Vice President of the AICR for the 2005/2006 year, and Treasurer of the Club in 2004/2005. This is his fourth term as AICR President. Vice President: Marco Elser Marco Elser was born in Rome of an American father and Italian mother, then moved to New York City, only to return to Rome about 25 years ago. He received a Degree in Economics from Harvard College in 1981. His professional experience includes being head of international market sales for Kinetix Measurements in New York, first vice president for Merrill Lynch Capital markets in Rome and London, and head of international market and credit institutions sales for Northeast Securities in New York. Marco joined AdviCorp in 2002 where he set up its capital markets for which he is responsible. Marco is the President of the Harvard Club of Italy and his passion in life is polo. He speaks English, Italian, French, and Spanish fluently. Marco has been a member of the AICR Board of Directors since 2004. Treasurer: Debra Biagini Debra Biagini was born in Queens, New York to parents who were 29 years apart in age . thus, there were three generations in her home at all times. Debra studied Business administration and Psychology at New York University and her first job was with an insurance company in Human Resources. In 1986, she moved to Bermuda and worked as a buyer for the American Naval Exchange. Living in paradise is an experience she'll never forget. She then moved back to NY to work for a retailer as a men's underwear buyer and decided to move to Milan to expand her knowledge of international business. She has worked as a buyer of office stationery products in Rome, which required her to travel periodically to Asia. In 2003, Debra opened DebraFlower, a retail florist that also displays and sells her personal artwork. Through DebraFlower, Debra has the pleasure of combining her skills as an artist, seamstress, and florist to do party planning and unique floral decorating for all occasions. Debra has served as the AICR Secretary since 2005 and this is her first term as Treasurer. Secretary: Jennifer Hawkins Micocci Jennifer began her career as an interior designer with CMMI in Atlanta, GA, focusing on hospitality design for four and five-star hotel brands such as Hyatt and Regent. Before leaving CMMI she completed One Bal Harbour; a luxury, five-star hotel and residential condominium in Miami, Florida. After an unforgettable two week vacation in 2002 traveling through Italy, Jennifer decided to put in motion her dream of one day living and working in Italy. In 2006 she expanded her talents as an interior designer to Rome, Italy, where she works in collaboration with Hotel Design Consultants Srl. Independently she works under her own name, Jennifer Micocci Interiors, designing residential properties. She is also currently the editor of the AICR News, Quarterly Magazine. Antonella Amatucci Gianni Antonella Amatucci Gianni was born in Rome, but due to her father’s work, traveled extensively during all her youth, living in Africa, Asia, Canada and the United States. She studied in Marymount International School in Rome and afterwards graduated from “Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori” of Rome with a degree as a simultaneous interpreter both in English and French. She worked as interpreter for a few years and soon met and married her husband Massimo Gianni. She became a full time mother of her beloved son Filippo and settled down in Rome. In recent years she has started to help her husband, cooperating in the family construction and industrial real-estate business. Her favorite sports are horseback-riding and skiing, while her hobbies are reading, traveling and meeting and socializing with new people. Antonella is fulfilling her first of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors 2009/2010. Loretta Dusini Loretta Dusini is a native New Yorker who has been living in Rome since February 1999. She graduated with a B.A. from Queens, City University of New York. Loretta’s work experience includes the Italian Chamber of Commerce in New York as Marketing Manager, followed by Trade Analyst at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Chicago. In 1999, her husband’s job in an International company, brought them to Italy. Loretta then began a new challenge in Rome at the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican as Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Mission followed by Special Assistant to Ambassador Jim Nicholson (also former Secretary for Veterans Affairs). She is currently the Global Employment Advisor for the Strategic Networking Assistance Program at the US Embassy to Italy. Loretta’s native language is English. She also speaks fluent Italian and studied Spanish and French. Her interests include art, literature, history and politics. Loretta is fulfilling her first of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors 2009/2010. Fabio Leoni Fabio Leoni was born in Rome to an Italian family. After receiving his mechanical engineering degree, Fabio moved to Dallas, Texas to work as an avionic engineer in the helicopter field. There he met his wife Dulce and he received a master degree in Business Administration. Two years ago he moved back to Rome to take the opportunity to work in international business for an Italian company. Currently he is involved in negotiation with Chinese companies. Having a strong connection to the American culture, Fabio joined AICR and actively participates in many events. Due to his vast international experience, he speaks English, Italian and Spanish fluently and is currently studying Chinese. His favorite hobbies include traveling, meeting people, watching movies and playing sports such as soccer and tennis. Fabio is serving his second year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors. Carol Markino After years of travelling back and forth between the US and Italy, Ohio-born Carol convinced her twin sister to move to the birthplace of their grandparents. Leaving behind close knit siblings and worried parents, they had budgeted for a six-month stay. Eighteen years later, Carol is still here. Professionally, she teaches English as a foreign language working at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, University of Malta-Link Campus and the NATO Defense College. Growing up she learned the importance of volunteering and giving back in some way to her community and has continued in that same spirit in the Eternal City. She has volunteered as an English Language teacher for refugees, given her time and skills to the WIN Global Forum, the Church during the Jubilee Year, and the Teacher Information Exchange & Support network. For AICR, she has created the CSI (Community Service Initiative) program and has played a role in organizing the July 4th celebrations. She was a member of Rome's Professional Women's Association for 11 years and held various board positions for nine of them. She likes discovering new places in her adopted city and country but also spends precious time with her Italian family in Abruzzo. She enjoys reading, surfing the net, city and beach walks. Carol is fulfilling her first of a two year term on the Club Board of Directors 2009/2010. Vincenzo Racana Vincenzo Racana was born in Hartford, Connecticut and moved to New York City at the age of 18 to attend New York University. While living in New York City, he gained a passion for international travel and business. After graduating from NYU, he joined JPMorgan where he had a 17 year career working in internal consulting, international marketing & communications and was the Director of Protocol and Event Management. All these assignments allowed Vincenzo to manage hundreds of projects in over a dozen countries. In 2007, Vincenzo relocated to Rome where he established VRacana Inc, a boutique services company providing communication, event and sponsorship management. He has dual citizenship (Italian and American) is a member of the Council of Protocol Executives (COPE) and serves on the St. Paul’s Within the Walls Vestry and Finance Committee. Vincenzo enjoys adventure travel, biking, and contemporary art. Fulfilling his second year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors 2008/2009, Vincenzo will serve as the Events Chairperson. Scotti Rhodes Scotti Rhodes believes she lives in arguably the most beautiful place in the world. She has been able to continue her work for her New York clients since moving to Rome in a very specialized area that is practically indigenous to New York. The mainstay of her business is publicity for actors, playwrights and theatre companies, although she has worked on occasion with international artists over the past 15 plus years since starting this job. Her publicity usually consists of creating a network of industry professional who attend her clients shows, thereby attempting to garner opportunities for them in a highly competitive market. She also does press for the shows she works on, which entails writing press releases that elicit listings and reviews. Scotti is fulfilling her first of a two year term on the Club Board of Directors 2009/2010. Marco Rossi Although he grew up in Rome, Marco never lost touch with his American roots. As he was born in New York City, he holds both American and Italian citizenship. He finds his roots continuously in music, arts, and in particular within his "obsession" with the English language, a never-ending study that he has been pursuing for more than thirty years. After graduating in Humanities, Marco attended extension courses at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and then, as he returned to Rome he worked in the cinema business as an editing assistant for 12 years. Little did he know an English-based environment would be knocking on his door again when he attended a linguistics course at the University of Aberdeen Scotland, which enhanced his love for Anglo-Saxon culture even further. Upon returning to Rome he met a group of American friends who introduced him to the AICR where has enjoyed being an active member ever since. He is fluent in English and Italian and has a love for English phonetics specifically. His other interests are Indian and Italian folk music, philosophy, religion, skiing, hiking, meditation and reading. Marco is serving his second year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors. Anne Tasca Anne Tasca was born in Paris but has lived in Germany, Morocco and Greece. She later attended schools in England and the US where she lived in Washington, NY and Florida. She obtained a BS in Marketing from NYU. Her work experience includes a travel agent, a tour guide, corresponding banking and retail, but now currently runs her family’s business in commercial and residential real-estate in Rome. Although she is based in Rome, she roams all over the world and has travelled extensively in Africa, the Far East and the Middle East. As you can tell, Anne loves to travel and also enjoys reading. Fluent in Italian and French, she has a knack for languages. Anne is serving her second of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors. Nina Farrell, Club Manager & Communications Specialist Nina Farrell grew up not far from Philadelphia, and has been living in Rome for 10 years. She came to Europe for a year after graduating from Penn State University and never left. While living in Rome, Nina founded an English language service, English Made Easy, which provided English lessons and translations and was involved in organizing events. In 2006 she completed a Master's in Communication in Rome and worked as Deputy Secretary General Operations for CUS Roma, organizing world and European sporting championships on a university level. In addition to being the Club Manager, Nina also helps out her husband's family business, Azienda Agricola Massimo Carafa Jacobini, by selling extra-virgin olive oil. Nina is an avid runner and enjoys playing sports. She also loves reading and being near the sea. Anthony Sistilli, Legal Advisor Anthony Sistilli hails from the upper Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh, PA. After finishing a law degree and a brief stint with Federal prosecution at the US Attorney's office, he landed in Rome in 1992 through an international lawyer exchange program. A dual citizen whose family originates from Abruzzo, he thought this would be a great way to spend a year in Italy discovering his roots. Little did he know that he would still be here 17 years later running his own law practice. Anthony has been active with the American community in recent years, has a passion for politics, currently sitting on the board of Democrats Abroad in Rome and is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Roberto G. Melerango A North American, Canadian born native who has been living in Rome, Italy for the past 23 years. The CEO and Owner of Driver in Italy! Roberto started his online business in 1994, built solely on his family values, hard work and Roberto’s savvy experience in the business relationship management area. In addition to his current role, Roberto is quite active throughout Rome’s civic arena. He is currently volunteering his time on a multitude of important community and government projects. A true family man, married to Marzia Verdone with two beautiful daughters Carolina & Priscilla. Roberto’s strong network of family and friends are the true meaning of his happiness in life. His greatest passion is for the world of sports, travel and wine tasting. | |
| History |
| The American International Club of Rome (AICR) was started in 1953 when a group of Americans living in Rome (led by Henry Luce, the husband of the U.S. Ambassador to Italy Clare Boothe Luce) felt there was a need for an organization that would provide opportunities for meeting regularly with other Americans. A luncheon was held at the Grand Hotel... and the Club was born! Each United States Ambassador to Italy since 1954 has served as Honorary President, a practice that continues today. The United States Ambassador to the Holy See serves as the Club's Honorary Vice President. From the beginning, the AICR has maintained its principal purpose: to be a means for Americans and non-Americans in the constantly changing international community in Rome to meet and become acquainted in a congenial atmosphere, and to provide a practical instrument for the furthering of international friendships. Today The American International Club is just that: international. The Club currently counts about 250 members, with 50% Americans, 30% Italians, and 10% from other countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Venezuela! In addition, the men and women in the club are as diverse as the countries they come from, some working in embassies, others writers, singers, lawyers, photographers, teachers, and the list goes on. This mix of mentalities, nationalities, and different types of people makes the Club what it is today. It's fun and interesting to continuously meet new people and welcome new members. It creates a friendly and stimulating atmosphere that serves as a home base for many foreigners in Rome and gives our local members the chance to learn about our culture and introduce us to theirs. Every month we hold events to socialize, network, participate in community service efforts, and meet new people. The First Fridays Happy Hours are a great way to reconnect each month, and is open to non-members as well, giving them a chance to explore the Club. Other events include speaker luncheons, wine tastings, boat cruises, holiday celebrations (see CALENDAR for specific event details). In addition, we strive to foster relationships with like-minded Clubs in Rome, the AICR has collaborated on events with the American Chamber of Commerce, the American Women's Association of Rome, the Professional Women's Association, the Commonwealth Club of Rome, the French Union, and many others. The AICR continues to be very active in Community Service and strives to provide opportunities to encourage its members to do so as well. AICR members and friends give back to the community on various days of the year as part of our AICR Community Service Initiative. Funds have recently been raised for such diverse causes as the Italian Red Cross for the victims of the Abruzzo Earthquake, the Italian Union of Major Superiors Counter-Trafficking Office and the World Food Programme. The American International Club is proud of the role it has played in the international community in Rome during the last 56 years. While the driving force behind the Club has been primarily professional people volunteering their time, the overriding theme of Club activity continues to be one of international relations, goodwill and understanding between people and cultures. To become a member, simply fill out an application and submit it to the office or Club Manager for consideration at the next AICR board meeting. Prospective candidates will be reviewed at a monthly board meeting and, if accepted, will be notified by email and warmly welcomed as a new member of the Club. Dues are currently 60 euros, and 40 euro for students, family members and senior citizens. |
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