The 2022 AGM was held on Thursday 24th February at Kohinga: St. Albans Community Centre. The main business of this AGM was to elect our officers and committee for the coming year. All officers and most the committee from 2021 were happy to stand again:
President: Carlo Guglietta
Vice-President: Maria Fresia
Treasurer: Lindsay Serra
Secretary: Jan Tedesco
Committee: Louise Easter, Lisa Fazi, Anna Hall, Rosie Hill, Philippa McLaughlin, Brunella Olivieri, Roberta Panareo, Enrica Sciarrino and John Walsh.
Here is our President’s Report for 2021:
RELAZIONE ANNUALE 2021
2021 was to be another year plagued with COVID but this time with a number of restrictions imposed upon us.
It was the year of the vaccine and masks, and scanning in became second nature.
After a short break for the holidays, we started the year with our AGM in February with the previous committee being re-elected. Long serving member Denis Walker resigned from the committee and Rosie Hill was welcomed on as a new member.
In April, after 10 years at St. Ninian’s Church Lounges in Puriri Street, the Dante Language school moved to our current location in St Albans; Kohinga: St. Albans Community Centre, a brand-new building.
Another Intensivo Course was successfully run at Rangi Ruru over Anzac Weekend with over 50 students in attendance and some additional teachers coming down from Auckland.
In May, we were finally able to track him down and Denis Walker was awarded his lifetime membership to the Dante Society for his outstanding service and dedication as President for 12 years.
On the Sunday 6th of June we celebrated La Festa della Repubblica. This was held at Tūranga Library and was well attended with fantastic feedback provided after the event.
The Italian Film Festival that was scheduled to begin in August was postponed until November. We celebrated Ferragosto on Sunday the 15th August here at the St Albans Community Centre with Italian board games and cards and in September we held a ‘Passeggiata di Primavera’ - Spring Walk from Margaret Mahy Park through the centre of town, and despite a few COVID delays, in October we were able to have a stall at the Mediterranean Food Company’s 20 year celebration. We received huge interest for both the School and the Society in general.
We closed off another year with a positive outlook on what was to come in 2022.
Carlo Guglietta
Presidente
Società Dante Alighieri di Christchurch
SCUOLA DANTE
After a great start in mid-February we have now moved all the Dante Italian classes on to ZOOM for the month of March. We hope to resume face to face in April, Omicron permitting.
Also because of the uncertainty Omicron is causing we will not be holding the Intensive Course at ANZAC Weekend.
THE BOOK CLUB
WEDNESDAY 27th APRIL
The Book Club meetings have been delayed by a month. Here are the new dates:
Wednesday, 27th April 'Whereabouts' by Jhumpa Lahiri
Wednesday, 29th June 'A Girl Returned' by Donatella Di Pietrantonio
Later in the year, date TBA 'The Day Before Happiness' by Erri De Luca
Annual membership is from 1st January to 31st December. All membership fees already paid for 2022 or those that will be paid over this coming year, will now cover membership for both 2022 and 2023.
We are now only accepting payment by internet banking. Please pay your fee to the following bank account - 11 7800 0054463 11
Single Member - $20.00
Single Member (non-waged, pensioner or student) - $12.50
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