Film Fundraiser

Finding the Mother Lode: Italian Immigrants in California

On April 6 and 7, the North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation (NBICF), the Santa Rosa Junior College Department of Modern & Classical Languages & American Sign Language and the Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County will host filmmakers Gianfranco Norelli and Suma Kurien for the screening of their film, “Finding the Mother Lode: Italian Immigrants in California”.

Finding the Motherlode documents the experience of Italian immigrants in California. Through stories set in seven Italian communities throughout California, including Sonoma County, this film examines how economic and social mobility became possible for many Italians in the Golden State. It is also a look at how immigrant identity is maintained and transformed as immigrants become assimilated into mainstream America. To learn more about the film & the film makers, visit the official film site by clicking here.

      • Sunday, April 6, 4:30-7:00 pm – Finding the Motherlode: Italian Immigrants in California – Special Film Documentary on the Italian Immigration to California at Carole Ellis Auditorium on the Santa Rosa JC Petaluma Campus, 680 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy. Prior to the filming there will be a reception with light refreshments and following the film there will be a post screening discussion with the filmmakers.
        Tickets $10/ SRJC Parking $4. Tickets may be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets – click here to order.

        Tickets will also be available for purchase at the NBICF March 16 Dinner at the Veterans Hall, 5:00 PM.         Tickets for “will call” at the theater may be ordered by mail until April 3 by sending check for $10 per ticket to NBICF at 64 Brookwood Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95404 – Call 707-591-9696 for more information.
    • Monday, April 7, 5:00-7:00 PM – NBICF and the Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County host Gianfranco Norelli and Suma Kurien, directors and producers of Finding the Mother Lode, for a fireside chat and wine reception at the Sonoma County Wine Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg. The reception highlights a few of the winery principals interviewed in the film including Cellar #8 at Asti Winery, Pedroncelli and Seghesio. Artisan cheese and local bread will accompany the wine tasting. The directors will speak briefly about their project and also will have the DVD for sale at the event.Tickets: $25 to the general public, $20 for NBICF members Wine Library Associates. To purchase tickets see Fireside Chat with Gianfranco Norelli and Suma Kurine at www.eventbrite.com by clicking here.

Monthly Dinner – March Date Update

Monthly Dinners – March Date Changed to March 16.  

The day and date of the March Dinner has been changed to Sunday, March 16. The NBICF office will call members who may have already sent in their reservation form to inform them of this change. The reservation form in the Mosaico now has the correct date. Call the NBICF office if you have a question about your reservation. 

  • Sunday, March 16, 5:00 pm – Tavola di San Giuseppe at Santa Rosa Veterans Hall – In keeping with our “Regional Dinner” menus, we will present from the region of Tuscany and our menu will feature roasted pepper crostini & warm foccacia; Pasta with Pork Ragu; salad & bread. Assorted cookies and orange sponge cake for dessert. Doors open at 5:00 – Dinner at 6:00. Come early and enjoy music and conversazione with friends to commemorate the ancient tradition of Tavola di San Giuseppe. Prepaid reservations only must be received by March 12, 2014.
    $14 members, $16 guests, $8 teens 13-17, $5 children 5-12, under 5 free.

 

Monthly Dinners – March and April

Monthly Dinners 

  • Monday, March 17, 5:00 pm – Tavola di San Giuseppe at Santa Rosa Veterans Hall – In keeping with our “Regional Dinner” menus, we will present from the region of Tuscany and our menu will feature: Roasted pepper crostini & warm foccacia; Pasta with Pork Ragu; salad & bread. Assorted cookies and orange sponge cake for dessert. Doors open at 5:00 – Dinner at 6:00. Come early and enjoy music and conversazione with friends to commemorate the ancient tradition of Tavola di San Giuseppe. Prepaid reservations only must be received by March 12, 2014. DATE OF THIS DINNER CHANGED TO MARCH 16. 
    $14 for members, $16 guests, $8 teens 13-17, $5 for children 5-12, under 5 free.
  • Due to scheduling problems, we are moving our monthly dinner meetings for the months of April, May and June to the St. Rose Parish Hall Dining Room.
  • Monday, April 21, 5:00 pm – Post Easter Dinner at St. Rose Parish Hall Dining Room, 398 – 10th Street, Santa Rosa. In April we will visit the region of Emilia Romagna and our menu will feature the following: Antipasti: Salami, Copa, Balsamic Veggies Entree: Chicken Cacciatore and Tagliatelle Pasta Including Salad and Bread, Torta di Mele (apple cake). Entertainment and raffle scheduled. Doors open at 5:00 – Dinner at 6:00. Prepaid reservations only must be received by April 16, 2014.
    $14 for members, $16 guests, $8 teens 13-17, $5 for children 5-12, under 5 free.
  • See the current newsletter, Mosaico Culturale, for dinner reservation forms.

Tribute to Jeanette Mancini Mitchell

Tribute to Jeanette Mancini Mitchell

At the Carnivale dinner on February 16, 2014, NBICF paid a special tribute to Jeanette Mancini Mitchell for her 30 years of service to the Foundation. Jeanette, Co-Founder and President of NBICF since 1985, retired from the Presidency of the Board of Directors on February 5.

Jeannette Mitchell Tribute

Sharie Sbrazza, Jeanette Mancini Mitchell, Virginia Mennucci Wilburn, George Golfieri

New Board President George Golfieri presented Jeanette with a special certificate from the Italian Consul of San Francisco commemorating her leadership and guidance of the Foundation. Susan Gorin, 1st District Sonoma County Supervisor, paid tribute to Jeanette’s contribution to Sonoma County. The NBICF Board presented Jeanette with 14K gold earrings of Etruscan Design as a token of appreciation for her dedication to NBICF and all 160 guests at Carnevale concluded the celebration with a prosecco toast.   

 

 

New NBICF Web Site

NBICF Web Site Development

A new NBICF web site is in development.  If you would like to participate in the evaluation of the new site and offer constructive criticism to the authors, please click on this link nbicf.users.sonic.net to visit the site. 

We appreciate your feedback on the quality of the information and ease of use. We solicit your input on a specific design issue. Generally, “red & green” colors are used to highlight titles and activities of interest to our readers. We have used “green underlined text “ for links to other pages and web sites. Is this convention satisfactory? is site navigation simple and easy? Send your feedback via the Contact page. 

To subscribe to future web site updates, find the E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION LINK and click on the Subscribe link.  A pop-up window will request your email address. Subsequently, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription.

Election of New Officers

Election of New Officers

At the February Board of Directors meeting , new officers were elected:

  • President – George Golfieri
  • 1st Vice President – Maggie Brothers
  • 2nd Vice President – Susan Terracina Adler
  • Treasurer – Linda Apel
  • Secretary – Virginia Mennucci Wilburn

Monthly Dinners – February

Monthly Dinners

Sunday, February 16, 5:00 pm – Carnevale di Venezia
Come to the annual Carnevale celebration. This is a special event with entertainment by the Norquist Dancers and Steve Albini Dance Music. Come in costume or black & white attire. Doors open at 4:30 pm. 

Carnevale

Dinner Menu: spinach frittata, bay laurel roasted chicken, risotto with peas & asparagus, salad, garlic bread with tiramisu for dessert. Seating limited to 160. Prepaid reservations only must be received by February 12, 2014.

$14 for members, $16 guests, $8 teens 13-17, $5 for children 5-12, under 5 free

See the current newsletter, Mosaico Culturale, for dinner reservation forms.

Sundays at the Center

Sundays at the Center – Movies, Opera, Lectures

Activities at the Center continue providing interesting Italian movies, operas and lectures. The doors open at 2:00pm and the program begins at 2:30pm. Refreshments will be provided. Please call to reserve your seat at no charge. See the current newsletter for descriptions of these programs:

February 23 – Movie – Golden Door 

Desperate and poor Southern Italian family seeks a way out, and, having heard reports of rivers running in milk and coins falling off of trees, leave their stony rural cottage and buy passage to America. The trip to the boat, aboard the boat, and at Ellis Island is one of wonder and hope and usually very little dialogue. A magical movie that succeeds in illustrating the other, humble, ordinary and tough passage to the new world without mafia dons or violence. The huge disadvantage of illiteracy is beautifully illustrated here, and the risks associated with leaving behind everything. Amazing, touching, real. The customs and rules of early 20th century already seem archaic, even though it was less than 100 years ago.