POINTers IN PERSON Minutes
Chapter # 10 Central Texas/Austin
Recorded by Zina VERSAGGI Graalfs (#3336)
Submitted by Marilyn MANISCALCO Henley (# 1653)
On Saturday, March 15, 2003, after enjoying a great potluck lunch, Lin ONOFRIO Brinkman (#1388) called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. The meeting was held at the Griffith Round Rock Public Library. There were 15 members and one guest present: Lin ONOFRIO Brinkman, Joe and Marie MASTRANGELO, Ernie and Gloria GAMBACCINI Silva, Jamie and Di CANNONE with baby Brianna, Dorothy MANGO Lippincott, Henry and Zina VERSAGGI Graalfs, Sheila BAYHA Dugosh with her sister Melissa BAYHA, Jeanie MARSALIA and her mother, Dolly MARSALIA, and Bill and Joyce TIANNELLO Snodgrass.
Lin spoke about the "St. Peter and the Vatican Legacy of the Popes" Exhibit, scheduled for March 2-July 27, 2003 in Houston at the Museum of Natural Science and passed out the brochures provided by Marilyn MANISCALCO Henley’s (#1653) son-in-law who works there. She also mentioned that the ICA (Italian Cultural Association) of Austin is scheduling a group trip to the exhibit.
Each member present received a small panettone bread, compliments of Pat OXLEY (#3713).
Lin received a letter from Kathleen VESCIO Rossella, Pittsburgh, PA announcing the annual National Genealogical Society Annual Conference in Pittsburg in May, and offering to share information about our Chapter. Lin also reminded the group that 2003 dues of $12 are now due.
The group discussed the amount of money the club would like to send to the Kansas City POINT Chapter, hosts of the 2004 International POINT Conference. Joe MASTRANGELO (#2614) moved to send $100.00 to help pay some of the conference expenses; it was seconded by Gloria GAMBACCINI Silva and passed unanimously. Joe mentioned that he has been invited by the POINT 2004 Program Committee to conduct a "beginner's genealogy" seminar workshop.
Joe has still not had a response from Putignano on his request for information. He sent a letter addressed "to the Mayor" Niente. He now has the name of the Mayor so may try contacting him directly. Lin also mentioned that the Cavalieri in San Antonio may be able to help. Joe is still extracting Putignano Civil records from the LDS films, and feels that in one to two more years he will be able to rebuild his entire family tree.
Some discussion was held on the question: "How do we insure protection of our genealogy records and research against fire, etc". Interesting dialogue but no solution except building a concrete room in one's home.
Marie MASTRANGELO shared information with the group of a Germanic Conference being held at the University of Texas March 28-29, 2003 in the Knoph Room. Nationalities represented are the Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Czechs, Poles and Germans, with noted speakers from across the country. Marie went onto "Google.com white pages" and retrieved obituary information on two cousins who have passed away. One article was found under information on the University of Illinois and the other was found in the local newspaper in Allentown.
Ernie SILVA reported that he has documented "Growing up in Oakland, California - real life experiences living in a building with so many different nationalities."
Gloria GAMBACCINI Silva found three more surname hits through Google. Her cousin in Kent, Ohio sent her packets of information, including a picture of her grandfather who served in the Italian military (1904-06). Three months after his discharge, he came to America. She also had a picture of a war wagon from the Italian military. Also in this packet were pictures and information of a granduncle (Grandmothers brother), who was a missionary priest. He was known as the "motorcycle priest" since that was how he traveled between parishes in Italy, due to her father Paul Gambaccini sending money to Italy in 1955 for him to purchase the motorcycle. She has the original letter he wrote in English thanking him for the money. The priest is Padre Leone RICCI and was ordained in Marotta, Italy in 1937 and Gloria has a picture of the ordination and other pictures. She also had a leaflet on the Lady of Lourdes grotto in Akron, OH. She has a picture of three cousins (all Gambaccini's) in military uniforms, reminding us of the presence of the Italians defending our country during WWII. Gloria visited a web site called www.Italyworldclub.com that gives the surnames of every Italian region and province. Gloria is looking for a translator of Italian documents and Joyce Snodgrass said she may have a contact at UT for someone who can translate the documents.
Jamie CANNONE added newborn baby, Brianna Madeline Cannone, to his and Di’s family tree. She is a "native Texan" and it was suggested that he contact the Governor's Office to obtain a certificate. He has updated his surname list : ALIQUO, BARO, CANNONE, CANNULI(?), CIGNETTO, CORNA, DORIA, FAGA, FIORINA, LERA, LEVRIO, MENDOLIA, MOBILIA, MOSSO, OTTINO, PEILA, SILVESTRO(?), SYLVESTRO(?), TRICOLI, TRUSSIANO, VESCO. He also mentioned he will be using his Texas Share Card (a free card issued through the local libraries) to access Census Records for 1910. They have had a lot of visitors on Di’s side of the family since the arrival of Brianna. Di shared with the group a four-generation picture taken with her daughter, mother and grandmother.
Sheila BAYHA Dugosh mentioned that member Maria TONTI Shultz's granddaughter is marrying, and Maria will be a great-grandmother through a grandson. Sheila also mentioned she found an interesting story about the town where her grandfather came from - San Mango d'Aquino, Cattanzaro. She also thanked all the members for the many prayers and sympathy cards sent to the family on the death of her husband.
Joyce TIANNELLO Snodgrass will be going by train to be with her Dad Ohio for one month. Joe MASTRANGELO recommended that if she had any free time to contact the local library and look into the City Directories for information on her early family. She presented an article from the local newspaper on Italians living in Cleveland. It is now a part of the Chapter library. She also has an antique family rolling pin she would like to give to her cousin's daughter.
Jeannie MARSALIA (#4251) contacted Joe BOTTINO of Vicksburg, Mississippi who is from the same region in Italy that her ancestors came from. He has sent her a lot of information on the history of Italy. She also shared a homemade project with the group of encasing family pictures in plastic to be used as coasters.
Our next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at 6:30 pm at the Griffith Round Rock Public Library.
Our website : http://www.main.org/pip10