NOTIZIARIO

November 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Have you ever been in a position where you are worried that your best laid plans may not work out as you had hoped? As of this past October, the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver has been around for 40 years, and that’s something to be proud of. So, I decided that this was reason to celebrate. The Board agreed and October 24th was the date chosen for the celebration.

Albeit late in the game, we started planning for the gala. Things were slowly falling into place but even as late as two weeks before the event the number of registrants was well below what I had hoped for. Believe me, I was worried!

Well, thanks to our marketing guru, collaboration with other Italian organizations and word of mouth, we ended up with over 100 people to celebrate and memorialize the 40th Anniversary milestone. The night couldn’t have been better with good food, good wine, good music, heartfelt memories of growing up Italian from Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, and the camaraderie of old and new friends of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver. We have a lot of photo's on our Facebook page, take a look.

VIEW PHOTO'S AND LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

To quote Alfred E. Nueman, the iconic mascot from MAD magazine, “What, me worry?”. Shoulda known. You all came through when it counted most. Thanks. See you for the 50th!

Grazie,

John Giardino
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Denver

October 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In an article in the 1977 issue of The Colorado Magazine entitled Inside “Little Italy”: Italian Immigrants in Denver, Christine A. DeRose wrote, “the cumulative influx of Italians to Colorado took place between 1880 and 1895. As the immigrant population grew, it felt the need to form organizations to serve the new arrivals. … The first Italian Society, established in 1887, was called the Unione Fratellanza,….” The number of clubs grew rapidly. From what I’ve heard, there were at one time thirty-six different Italian organizations in Colorado.

The Dante Alighieri Society of Denver, chartered in 1985, has been a mainstay among Italian organizations for the past forty years. It has provided historical and cultural connections to both the Italian and non-Italian communities throughout the region. Over the past forty years, the Society has hosted language classes, cultural programs and festivals, and community outreach programs that have enriched Denver’s cultural landscape.

In recognition of this milestone, I am proud to announce the Society’s upcoming 40^th Anniversary Celebration. Appropriately scheduled during Italian Heritage Month, the event will take place on the 24^th of October at Balistreri Vineyards. I encourage everyone to attend this gala in honor of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver and its founders. Their foresight led them to embark on a journey that has served not only the Italian community but also the entire metro area.

Join us for an evening of music, food, and camaraderie as we honor our shared heritage and look forward to many more years of cultural enrichment. Your presence will help us celebrate our past and inspire our future. For more information and to register, please go to our website, dantealighieriofdenver.com.

Grazie e ci vediamo presto!

John Giardino
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Denver

September 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Labor Day is here, temperatures are cooling, kids are back in school, the leaves are starting to change – all harbingers of fall which will arrive in a few short weeks. And, before you know it, it’s October, which has officially been proclaimed as Italian Heritage Month. The Dante Alighieri Society, along with other Italian organizations are planning a number of events during the month to celebrate and honor our Italian heritage and culture. One event of special significance this year is the celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of the founding of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver, to be held at Balistreri Vineyards on October 24. The evening will include food, wine, music and a tribute to the founding members and past leaders of the Society. Every Italian organization, state and local officials, our Italian Vice-consul, and our Consul-general in Chicago will all be invited to honor the accomplishments of the Dante Society of Denver over the past forty years. Details and registration information are available on our website. Plan now to attend this special event as well as the other activities happening during Italian Heritage Month.

Grazie, e buona giornata.

John Giardino
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Denver

July 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

This year marks a remarkable milestone for the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver: our 40th anniversary. In the grand scope of time, forty years may seem brief — but for a volunteer-led organization rooted in culture, language, and community, it represents something truly enduring and meaningful.

Since 1985, our Society has been a vibrant force in celebrating Italian heritage and sharing the beauty of Italy’s language, food, art, and traditions with the Denver community. Thanks to the passion of our members, the dedication of our volunteers, and the curiosity of lifelong learners, we’ve built a legacy that continues to thrive.

While we had hoped to mark this anniversary with an elaborate gala, some unexpected demands have shifted those plans. But milestones like these deserve recognition — and we intend to do just that.

This October, during Italian Heritage Month, we’ll host a special celebration honoring our past, embracing our present, and looking ahead to an exciting future. It will be an opportunity to reconnect, to reflect, and to recommit to the mission that has brought us together for four decades.

I invite you to be a part of it. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or recently discovered the Society, your presence matters. Join us in making this anniversary not just a reflection of what we’ve done — but a springboard for all that’s still to come.

Grazie di cuore, and I look forward to celebrating with you.

Warmly,
John Giardino
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Denver

August 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In the past I was always busy with family, work, community involvement, etc. But I expected that once I retired, things would slow down. Well, as I’m sure many of you know, that doesn’t happen. Having failed miserably at retirement and now busier than ever, my wife and I regularly coordinate our schedules so we know where we’re going, what we’re doing and when. Consequently, I know how important it is to plan ahead. So, in order to help you plan, here’s what’s happening for next few months - our annual summer picnic on August 10; Italian Heritage Month activities throughout October; the Christmas party in early December; regular cultural meetings on the second Friday of the month. Event details can be found on our website and in the Notiziario. I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities “to share and celebrate the richness of the Italian culture and language with the entire community”. That’s the mission of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver!

Grazie,
John Giardino
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Denver

June 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Best laid plans….; only constant is change……; etc. Those old adages that are often scary to think about can, in my mind anyway, be considered other meanings for “dynamic”. The Dante Alighieri Society is currently in a “dynamic” state as we are faced with making changes necessary to continue providing the cultural and education experiences expected of the organization. But rest assured, our foundation will not change though processes might. In the meantime, we have a lot of experiences in the works over the next several months as we continue to fulfil our mission “to share and celebrate the richness of the Italian culture and language with the entire community”.

John Giardino

May 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

From the time it was chartered in 1985, the mission of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver was to not only celebrate and share the Italian culture but to also ensure that it would continue its relevance across generations. To that end, the founders decided to provide scholarships to qualified local college students who would be studying in Italy. Over the past forty years, the Society has awarded over $400,000 in both academic and music scholarships to hundreds of young people, enabling them to expand their education at the epicenter of Italian culture, language, music, and history – Italy!

Several years ago, the Dante Alighieri Society realized the importance of acknowledging the impact Italian women have had not only on our Italian community but also on our society as a whole. With the establishment of the Donne di Merito Award, recognition is now given to those women, both historical and contemporary, who have made exceptional contributions to the Dante Alighieri Society’s mission of celebrating and sharing the Italian culture.

On Sunday May 4, 2025 at the Annual Awards Luncheon, those students and women selected by their respective committees were recognized and presented with their awards. As those who have attended this inspiring event in the past will affirm, this is one of the highlights of the year for our Society. I thank all who attended and look forward to seeing you at future events.

Spero di vederti lì, John Giardino

April 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The first thing I need to do is congratulate the Italian American Business Association (IABA) on a very successful Bravo! Awards Gala! With well over a hundred people in attendance, it was a perfect example of the collaboration of several organizations working together to strengthen our common goal of promoting the Italian culture. I’m proud to say that the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver was again a supporter of this effort. I also want to congratulate Suzanne Fasing, a long-time member and former Chair of the DAS Language Program, on her nomination for IABA Italian-American Volunteer of the Year Award. Her contributions to our Society and the Italian community are in no way diminished despite not being chosen for the honor.

In some unexpected news, a partnership between the Società Dante Alighieri in Rome and the National Italian American Foundation has recently been announced. During a brief ceremony, Presidents Andrea Riccardi of SDA and Robert Allegrini of NAIF signed an agreement for promoting Italian language and culture in the United States. At this point I’m not exactly sure what will now become available to us, but I suspect the benefit to our local community will be great. I’ll keep you informed as we learn more.

Finally, as always, I’m here to serve our members so let me know what’s on your mind.

Grazie, John Giardino

March 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Last month I talked about the fact that October 2025 will mark the 40^th anniversary of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver. Plans are currently underway for not only the commemoration of this landmark date but also a rededication to the mission of the Society, to “share and celebrate the richness of the Italian culture and language with the entire community”. Plan now to join with the Dante Alighieri Society and other members of the Denver Italian community at large, to be a part of the celebration. We’ll keep you updated on details as planning moves forward.

I was recently introduced to a concept I’ve never heard of before, the “third place”. Ray Oldenburg, an American sociologist, created this term to describe the places outside of the home (the first place) and the workplace (the second place) where people go to converse with others and connect with their community. I strongly suspect that the founders of the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver found their “third place” when establishing and then maintaining this very important and relevant organization. And I know that many of us, including myself, have found the DAS to be their “third place” as well. I would hope that every member, whether active or not, might give some consideration to making the Dante Alighieri Society your “third place” where you can become an integral part of sharing and celebrating the richness of the Italian culture and language with each other and with the entire community.

Grazie, John Giardino

February 2025

‍PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The Dante Alighieri Society of Denver will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in October!

The Dante Alighieri Society of Denver was chartered in 1985 by a handful of people dedicated to celebrating and sharing the many traditional, wonderful aspects of the Italian culture. As you would expect, the organization has gone through many changes in operations, programs, and leadership over the years. But it has continued to fulfill the mission upon which it was created -- bringing the Italian culture to life in the Denver area. It’s only appropriate that the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver should celebrate not only its successes of the past forty years but also its promise of continued successes in the future.

Credit must go to Gianfranco Marcantonio who painstakingly documented the history of the Dante Alighieri Society in a series of photo albums until his passing last year. His wife, Pamela, has now taken on the project and continues to memorialize the Society’s activities. If you are interested in seeing pictures, articles, programs, etc. from long past to present, please let us know. I can’t think of a better way to understand and appreciate why celebrating forty years of existence is so meaningful.

Even though we were living in Leadville at the time, I joined the Dante Alighieri Society of Denver in the early 90’s because I recognized that this was an organization primarily focused on the Italian culture. Living a hundred miles away, I rarely had the opportunity to take advantage of all the Society had to offer. But when we moved to Denver in 2004 that changed. At first, I was just a general member, then I became a member of the Scholarship Committee, then served as its Chair for more than ten years, eventually becoming president of the Society. Though it does require a good deal of time, I have no regrets about leading this time-proven organization that continues to change and grow to meet the demands of the times in order to fulfill its mission. I can’t imagine that the Dante Alighieri Society won’t be here for another forty years. We’d like to think you feel that way too.

Grazie, John Giardino