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Need a speaker for a meeting or special event? Here are some ideas to help you find one:
Tap into your local resources, including faculty at nearby schools and community colleges who can speak about Italian history, art, music (including opera), cinema and literature.
Check out your local daily or weekly community newspaper's columnists and reporters.
Consider local elected officials, genealogists, historians, musicians, and chefs at local restaurants who might do cooking demonstrations.
Check your community yellow pages for more ideas.
Don't forget to tap the talents and expertise of OSIA lodge members.
Contact one of the Sons of Italy Speakers Bureau experts, who are interested in promoting Italian American culture and history and are available to speak at events in their area and/or do book signings. Please contact them directly for more information.
Journalist/author and historian Celeste Calvitto will speak about her book, "Searching for Italy in America's Rural Heartland," and the importance of preserving Italian heritage. Will also do book signings. Based in Rapid City, S.D.
Contact: 605.718.4863 (home) | 605.390.5107 (Cell) | searchingforitaly@yahoo.com | www.searchingforitaly.com
Author Linda Dini Jenkins speaks on travel, especially to Italy. Book-signing of "Up at the Villa: Travels with my Husband."
Contact: 804.744.6377 | Ldjenkins@aol.com
Author/Corporate trainer Marlene Caroselli explores Italy and the Italian family's role in creativity. Book-signing.
Contact: 585.249.0084 | mccpd@frontiernet.net | www.caroselli.biz
Dr. Raeleen D'Agostino Mautner is a life coach and author, specializing in helping Italophiles achieve the passion, simplicity, and serenity of the traditional Italian lifestyle in their daily lives. Requires honorarium & expenses.
Contact: 203.606.3718
Cookbook author John Oliano will speak about his experiences putting together Italian Family Cooking and Wine Pairing. It offers traditional seasonal recipes from north to south and some special "new cuisine" ones as well. Will do book-signings.
Contact: (H) 215/493-3202 (PA). | Email: joliano@verizon.net.
Novelist/memoirist Florence Gatto will share vignettes from her Sicilian American childhood which she has captured in The Scent of Jasmine. Her talk includes a photo exhibit, Q&A and book signing.
Contact 526/785-4913 (NY). | Email: flogat323@aol.com.
Historian Vincenza Scarpaci speaks on the Italian American experience and immigration history. Book-signing of "The Journey of Italians in America," a Sons of Italy Book Club selection.
Contact: 541.343.3887 | vscarpaci@gmail.com | www.italianamericanjourney.org
Author/Journalist Dianne Hales speaks on the beauties of Italian as described in her best-seller, My Love Affair with the World's Most Enchanting Language, (a Sons of Italy Book Club selection). Will do book signings.
Contact: 415/383-0803. | Email: dmhales@earthlink.net. | Web: www.becomingitalian.com
B&B owner & Chef Diane DeFilipi on Italian cuisine.
Contact: 707.966.9220 | askdianed@sbcglobal.net
(Also Arizona) Decorated Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Cuoco speaks on his book "Echoes From the Mountain," on the wartime experience of an uncle in WW II. Book-signing.
Contact: 520.579.5807 | jfcuoco@yahoo.com
Lodges in southern California can contact Marge Bitetti to learn about the history of Italian Americans there. Topics include Mother Cabrini, the Watts Towers and artist Leo Politi. She has authored many books on our history. Will do book signings and is willing to travel.
Contact: 951.279.0078 | mbitetti@ca.rr.com
(North & Central) Award-winning author Raymond Ledesma ("Antonio's Journey") speaks on Italian traditions and also on writing and getting published.
Contact: 916.254.9493 | rled1934@aol.com
Historian Anthony Riccio gives tips on how to do oral histories (also expert on the history of Italian American women in workforce.)
Contact: 860.399.3423 | anthonyriccio@gmail.com
Tenor/author Philip Tropea performs Neapolitan songs, opera and operetta; speaks on famous singers he has interviewed on his radio show and his novel, "Marco". Book-signing.
Contact: 727.488.6160 | ptropea1@verizon.net | www.tenorphiliptropea.com
Author of "The Ultimate Italian Trivia," Scott Frush will speak on facts he uncovered and Italian history. Will also do book signings.
Contact: 248.752.5955 | sfrush@frush.com
(Detroit area) Artist/author Joe Borri speaks on collecting and preserving family history; also readings from his books and short stories.
Contact: 248.210.5773 | jborri@att.net | www.joeborri.net
As a child, author Pierette Simpson survived a shipwreck and tells about it in person and in her book "Alive on the Andrea Doria!" (a Sons of Italy Book Club selection) which may become a movie.
Contact: 248.349.8557 | pdsimpson@earthlink.net
Author/consultant Joseph John Conte offers advice on caring for seriously ill family members and Italian explorations. Book-signing.
Contact: 703.724.1992 | con20132@yahoo.com | www.alsgroup.org
Historian Marvin Colin, VP of Citizens for the Preservation of Obici House, speaks on the remarkable story of Amedeo Obici, the penniless Italian immigrant who eventually founded Planters Peanuts. Colin and his group want to preserve Obici's home in Suffolk, VA.
Contact: 757/218-8672. | Email: marvman71@yahoo.com.
Author Phyllis Martino Nugent speaks on her historical novels set in Italy. Book-signing.
Contact: 856.468.5870 | thomas.nugent@verizon.net
Genealogy and detective work helped author Ernest Caponi research his Italian roots in Le Marche and Abruzzo, which he writes about in "Arthur & Rose." Will tell his experience, give research tips and/or do book-signing.
Contact: 978.534.4735 | caponi21833@hotmail.com
Novelist Jim Ciullo ("A Tango in Tuscany") will talk about his novels and do book signings.
Contact: 413.443.2163 | jciullo125@yahoo.com
(Also Mid-Atlantic) Author Mark Saba can speak about Italian American poetry and fiction.
Contact: 203.230.8365 | mark.saba@yale.edu
(Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn) Author John Amodeo can speak about his novel "Voices of Hell's Kitchen" which is based on people in his New York City Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.
Contact: 212.244.4871 | jvamodeo@yahoo.com
(And beyond) Paola Corso, whose book of short stories "Giovanna's 86 Circles" was a Sons of Italy Book Club selection, reads from her works and discusses Italian American culture.
Contact: 718.398.5591 | paola_corso@hotmail.com
Historian & author Salvatore LaGumina, noted scholar of Italian American studies, speaks on Italian Americans in WW II as well as their response to the earthquake of 1908 in Messina, Sicily. Will do book signings.
Contact: 516/798-8256. | Email: sallagumina@yahoo.com
(New York only) Theater expert Emelise Aleandri, Ph.D., speaks on immigrant theater, Italian Commedia dell'Arte and Italian traditions. Book-signing.
Contact: 347.964.7892 | EAleandri@aol.com | www.FrizziLazzi.com
(And beyond) Olive oil and love songs may seem an unlikely combo, but singer/oil expert Micheal Castaldo speaks with authority on both. His family has produced olive oil in Calabria for 80 years and he has recorded two CDs of Italian love songs. Topics include history & allure of olive oil (can be combined with olive oil tastings) and the influence of Neapolitan songs on pop culture. He also performs at festivals, conventions, etc. Willing to travel.
Contact: 212.947.7271 | mcastaldo@nyc.rr.com | www.michealcastaldo.com
Parenting, weight loss and nutrition expert Vincent D'Amico will speak on these and other topics.
Contact: 845.353.2229 | DrVinnie@optonline.net
Theater expert Emelise Aleandri, PHD, speaks on immigrant theater, Italian Commedia dell'Arte and Italian traditions. Book-signing.
Contact: 347/964-7892 | Email: EAleandri@aol.com | Web: www.FrizziLazzi.com
(Cleveland area) The bond between a dog and its family is poignantly explored by Bruno G. Botti in his novel,"Beyond the Tether." Will also do book-signings.
Contact: 440.461.6317 | bgbotti@aol.com
(Dayton area) Author Peter Carusone will speak about his book "Where's the Minestrone? An Italian American Explores Italy." He speaks about Italy's many surprises regarding housing, shopping, driving (and parking) with humor and affection for Italy and its people.
Contact: 937.436.2112 | peter.carusone@wright.edu
The history and achievements of Italian Americans in Berks County are the topic of talks by Judge Albert Stallone.
Contact: 610.478.6438 | cstanziola@countyofberks.com
Author Guy Graybill speaks on the contributions of Italian Americans to music. Book-signing of his study "Bravo!"
Contact: 570.374.1524 | guyoldt@gmail.com
"Have book, will travel" could be the motto of Vincent Iezzi, author of the popular novels "Coffee with Nonna" and "More Coffee with Nonna." He is a frequent speaker at lodge meetings in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Contact: 215.755.0196 | dismasdamiano@aol.com
(Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey & Delaware) Former Italian instructor and award-winning author Frank Salvatore will talk about his novel, "Janus: Two Countries, Two Love Stories." Also speaks on Italian emigration.
Contact: 610.449.0677 | franco_cb@yahoo.com
(Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Delaware) Vincent Iezzi, author of the popular novels "Coffee with Nonna" and "More Coffee with Nonna."
Contact: 215.755.0196 | dismasdamiano@aol.com
Author/researcher Vincent (Jim) Damiano speaks on Italian genealogy and his novel, "Rosa's Story." Book-signing.
Contact: 214.544.0660 | vdam102445@aol.com | www.jimdamiano.com
Author, scientist & cancer survivor Diana Fidone Griggs, PHD, speaks on the physical, mental and spiritual techniques that helped heal her cancer as detailed in her book, Whispers and Roses.
Contact: 210/695-5755 (TX); | Email: diana@whispersandroses.com.
(And beyond) Artist/author B. Amore whose exhibit of Italian immigrant artifacts was mounted at Ellis Island and later became the topic of her beautifully illustrated book, "An Italian American Odyssey" (a Sons of Italy Book Club selection), will speak about her work and the immigrant experience. Willing to travel.
Contact: 802.273.2278 | amoreb@earthlink.net
Writer Paul Salsini speaks on his two novels set in Italy during WW II and its aftermath. Book-signing.
Contact: 414.964.8819 | psalsini@execpc.com | www.thecielobook.com
WW II survivor Franca Mercati Martin, whose book "Franca's Story" was a Sons of Italy Book Club selection, relates firsthand what the war was like in Italy.
Contact Diane Kinman: 425.235.1285 | dianekinman@msn.com
Compiled by Dona De Sanctis