IN THIS EDITION:
CONFIRMATION
By Michael Lorenzo
 Cari Amici,
I was telling a buddy of mine how excited I was to be involved with the Italian Networking Organization ("INO"). I explained that we want to create networking opportunities for professionals of Italian decent. My friend, who is Jewish, responded, "It's about freaken time, where have you guys been? We've been doing that for years!" That's how I knew how important it was to be involved with the creation of this organization.
Love, honor, loyalty, respect, and at the nucleus, la famiglia. These are the some of the traits and emotions emblazoned in our hearts and souls by our fathers and grandfathers who came to this country from Italy.
A nation torn apart and then unified during the Risorgimento, Italy's history is defined by its quest for a patriotic identity. This quest was complicated by the dichotomy represented by the aristocrats of the North and the poverty of the Mezzogiorno, a place from which many of the ancestors of the Italian-Americans of the five boroughs escaped poverty, hunger, and an endless thirst unable to be quenched due to the lack of potable drinking water. However something they couldn't escape was the mafia. Although its genesis is debatable, it is clear that its roots lie within the need to be protected; whether it may be protection from the numerous conquerors of Sicily, or the need of nobility to protect its lemon groves from the angry peasants.
Immigrants arriving in America sought protection from the fear and anxiety associated with being a stranger in a strange land. The tired and vulnerable immigrants were deceived by the welcoming charm of Lady Liberty, instead to be greeted by calls of Dago, Guinea and Wop. Instead of signs reading "Welcome", the signs said "Italians Need Not Apply". The reality also set in that Mulberry Bend on Manhattan's Lower East Side was not paved with gold but with feces and cholera With a familiar dialect, a smiling face and open arms, the Padrone offered his protection; protection from unemployment and thus the inability to realize the American dream. "Non preoccupare paesano, I'll take care of you". Instead of protection, the immigrants faced oppression from the Padroni, who for all intents and purposes "owned" the immigrants.
To deny the existence of the mafia would be to forsake a portion of our history. However, it should by no means define us. In light of that fact, we must strive every day to be great and to do great things. The definition of great lies within our own hearts and not in the eyes of others. We should wear our last names and ancestry as a badge of honor and continue to proliferate the numerous accomplishments of other Italian-Americans, in such areas as, law enforcement, business, fashion and the culinary arts.
L'unita fa la forza, unity makes strength.
Con rispetto,
Michael P. Lorenzo
Vice President & Treasurer, INO ECM
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FOLLOWING LOMBARDI'S PATH
By Gregory Sibilio
Recently, much has been made about Tony Dungy becoming the first African-American head coach in NFL history to win the Superbowl. These accolades are absolutely appropriate. He is a living legend, with every milestone he accomplishes creating a path that future African-Americans can emulate. While watching Tony Dungy hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy, I could not help but think about Lombardi himself and how he was not just a great coach, but a proud Italian-American whom other Italian American's could model themselves after. In Lombardi's time, Italian-Americans were thought of as second class citizens. Lombardi himself, the son of a Neapolitan father and Salernitanan mother, is known to have said that he experienced frustrating delays in obtaining a head coaching job, due to his Italian heritage. Colleges and general managers weren't sure if they wanted an Italian to be the face of their team, that is until Green Bay gave him a chance as the Head Coach and General Manager. With that chance Lombardi won five NFL championships and two Superbowls, paving the way for Italian-Americans the way Dungy is paving the way for African-Americans in the present day. Vince Lombardi, did not just give future coaches a model of how to create a successful football program, but also showed Italian-Americans interested in coaching and sports management that they to could flourish in that environment.
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AGAINST ALL ODDS
By Louis D'Agostino
 "You will never play running back in the NFL!" was what my Linebackers coach yelled at me at the end of a practice while playing for the University of Rhode Island. In typical fashion, I would stay after practice and catch passes from the then URI starting quarterback, Chris Hixon. "He was the 6th running back on the depth chart at Hofstra as a freshman" was my highschool coach's justification when explaining to a good friend of mine why he could not help me get a scholarship offer to any school (after winning a very prestigious award given to the best highschool football player on Long Island). My college coaches were fired a year after I transferred to the University of Rhode Island and when I finally made it to the pro's, that coaching staff was fired after a dismal year. The story and obstacles go on and on.
My point here is that your mind and imagination are such powerful tools. No matter what adversity or obstacles that I faced, I saw myself belonging there, and consistently visualized myself playing at that level. My self image was not skewed and my confidence didn't waiver. This lesson and many others throughout my sports journey could transcend into anyone's business or personal life. Should you set out to do something, whether it be a career or personal pursuit, just visualize what you want and it can manifest itself into reality if it dominates your thoughts and if you have strong enough belief. I am living proof that no matter what anyone tells you or what cards you are dealt, you can make it happen you if you see it. Vision to execution!! Make it happen!
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CONNOISSEUR'S CORNER: HOW TO PICK A GOOD CIGAR
By Ghostwriter
"A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke", as revealed in the Rudyard Kipling poem "The Betrothed", as far back as the 1800's. Cigar smoking has been a form of relaxation since Christopher Columbus landed on Cuba's eastern shores in October 1492 and observed native Taino Indians carrying around long tubes made of leaves and stuffed with more leaves, which they sucked from one end while the other end burned: "The First Cigars". This discovery was to become one of the most enjoyable leisure products the world has ever known.
But enough of the history lesson, let's move forward to how to enjoy one of these modern day smokes. You should know your own tastes to begin with, but if you don't, start off with a mild Connecticut shade wrapper cigar. Make sure not to inhale the cigar, you should savor the aroma and the experience with your favorite cocktail and good friends. After dinner is a perfect time to unwind, but you will soon find out for yourself that any time is a good time for a good cigar. A cigar should be firm, rolled tightly but not too tight, with a good wrapper. There are many different shades of wrapper but we'll stick to the basics for now. Most good cigars are hand rolled and wrapped with one leaf. The binders and fillers are from the same leaves. The wrapper leaf accounts for a large portion of the cigar's flavor as well as its visual beauty. Let's look at the cigar first before we pick it, then smell it, feel it, firm with a spring in it when you touch it, if it has been kept properly. The cigar's foot is the end that gets lit and the cigars head or cap is the part that gets cut before you light up. All you have to do is cut the crown or cap off about 1/16 of an inch with a clipper or however you like. Some people do still bite the tip off. That's how they do it in Cuba.
Now let's see how we pick a good cigar. First we will look at the appearance of the cigar, the color. Darker is usually stronger. Then there's the feel of the cigar. It should be firm but with a bit of spring in it. Most important is the smell of the cigar you choose, before and of course after you light it. Price is important too. I've had some very expensive cigars that couldn't hold a candle to some much cheaper ones. It's all about what you like and what fits in your budget. Remember, there is a little difference between a good cigar and a great cigar, but a big difference between a bad cheaply made cigar and a good one. I am going to light one up myself right now, so happy cigar smoking.
Ghostwriter
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Congratulations to Joseph Buffalano (Executive Committee Member) and wife, Danielle on Birth of son, Joseph Nicholas -10/20/06
- Congratulations to Louis D'Agostino (Executive Committee Member) and wife, Lori on Birth of son, Louis Jr- 3/23/07
- Congratulations to Anthony Buffalano (Honorary Member) and wife, Stella, on birth of son, Anthony Leonardo-3/31/07
- Congratulations to David DeGidio (Member) and wife Yolanda, on birth of Eva-6/28/07
- Congratulations to Pat Palleschi (Friend) and wife Dina, on the birth of Luca and Olivia-12/20/06
- Congratulations to Frank Decicco (Member) and wife Cammy, on the birth of their daughter Franky Noelle DeCicco-12/12/06
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ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER WELCOME
Please join me in welcoming John DiRocco as an advisory board member to the organization.
John is the current Chief Operating Officer of Balance Asset Management, a hedge fund manager located in NYC. In addition to his work at Balance, John is also the founder and CEO of Hedgespeed LLC, a technology company serving the needs of hedge fund industry. John has well over 20+ years of experience in the financial services sector and is actively involved in a variety of charitable organizations. Click here for John's Bio.
We are truly fortunate to have John be part of the organization and we look forward to his mentorship and advice in helping build The INO.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
August 14th - INO's 1st Networking Event @ Merchants Cigar Bar located at 1125 First Ave. from 6 to 9pm. Enjoy Hors Doeuvres, drinks & cigars with other INO members at one of NYC's finest Cigar Lounges. Please RSVP ASAP. Only 40 Tickets are being sold.
August 20th - Inwood Buccanneer Golf Outing @ Lawrence Country Club. 12pm Shotgun Start- Price per person is $190-Current INO Member Frank DeCicco is also the Chairman of the Inwood Buccaneers, a nassau county based youth sports league. This is an annual event which helps raise money for expenses such as uniforms and insurance.
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SPECIAL THANKS
The INO would like to extend a special Thanks to the contributors of the organization's first ever newsletter:
- Michael Lorenzo;
- Gregory Sibilio;
- Ghost Writer; &
- to James Berthelon(eone)
We would like to give James a special thanks for all of his work with the creation of The INO's website (www.theino.org). James is not Italian, but we added the "eone" for effect. He is now officially one of the family.
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