POINTers IN PERSON Minutes
Chapter # 10 Central Texas/Austin
Submitted by: Sherry PACELLI Haddox (#4883)
After a wonderful potluck lunch with many delicious dishes, Lin ONOFRIO Brinkman (#1388) opened our May meeting on Saturday, May 13, 2006, with 18 people in attendance.
Lin and her husband, Bill, happily showed pictures of their first grandchild, Emma Marie Brinkman, daughter of USAF Major Andrew D. and Dijana Harcovic Brinkman. Emma made her debut on May 9, 2006 at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. Huse Harcovic, Dijana's father, was a guest of Lin and Bill. Huse and Dijana's mother both came from Bosnia to be here for Emma's birth and to witness Dijana become a citizen of the United States!
Lin mentioned that long-time member, Sheila Dugosh, will be moving to the Denver, CO area soon. Lin suggested she start a PIP Chapter in Denver.
Jeanie MARSALIA (#4251) received her certified documents with the required apostilles from the Secretary of State in Austin, Texas. She now has all the documents ready to mail to the Italian Consulate in Houston to begin the process of obtaining her dual citizenship. Jeanie's cousin in Illinois sent her a copy of a letter she had received from her grandmother's relatives in Italy.
Scott Patrick (#4819) announced he had made contact with another relative who had discovered him through the meeting minutes from our January meeting. This person had done a Google search of her grandmother's name, Michelina GALLO. Michelina was married for a time to Scott's great-uncle. Scott has been exchanging information and pictures and has learned a good deal more about his great-uncle, Mack Gardner (aka Ercole GARAGUSI), and also about Michelina after she divorced Mack. He now has several pictures of Camille GARDNER, daughter of Mack and Michelina, and also of Michelina and her other children. This contact gives Scott connections to four of his great-grandmother's five siblings who had children, leaving only Aurora GARAGUSI who married Ralph DERAGO still to find. Scott also mentioned that he had found the birth record for Rocco GALGANO, who married Scott's great-aunt Amalia MARONE. As Scott had surmised, Rocco was born in the village of LAURENZANA (PZ BA). Scott has been able to share this information with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Rocco and Amalia with whom he has recently made contact.
Jamie and Diana CANNONE announced that they are expecting their second baby in October!
The meeting adjourned at 4:30pm. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 6:30pm in Room A at the Round Rock Library.