 | The American International Club of Rome c/o Advicorp, via Parigi, 11, 6th floor, 00187 Rome, Italy Tel: 06-4544-7625 Fax: 06-9725-4122 E-mail: aicr@aicrome.org | |
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 | Mission Statement |
| The purpose of the Club is to encourage Americans, Italians, and citizens of other countries to meet in a congenial, relaxed atmosphere and to provide its members an opportunity to enjoy mutual interests and experiences through cultural, educational and social exchanges. The American International Club of Rome is committed to the enrichment of international friendships through participation in and support of activities of a business, social, civil and charitable nature. | |
| Board of Directors 2007/2008 |
| Honorary President: Ronald P. Spogli Ambassador of the United States of America to Italy Honorary Vice President: L. Francis Rooney III Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See President: Chris L. Curry Chris Curry, who calls both Louisiana and Texas home, first came to Italy as a USAF officer in the 1980.s . to Comiso (RG), Sicily, where he met and married his wife, Corrada Biazzo. They have been living in Italy (this time around) for some seven years. In 2000, Chris was doing research for a doctorate at the Vatican Archive when he took the job as Director of Administration and Dean of Students at John Cabot University in Rome, where Corrada teaches Italian. Chris has a Master's Degree in History from Louisiana State University, where he worked for several years in administrative positions . and he taught history, Italian, and religion there as well. During the years Chris has been active in numerous professional and not-for-profit organizations. Chris's twin daughters, their husbands, and two grandsons live in the Houston, Texas area. His hobbies include tennis, golf, piano and photography. Chris was the Vice President of the AICR for the 2005/2006 year, and Treasurer of the Club in 2004/2005. Vice President: Marco Elser Marco Elser was born in Rome of an American father and Italian mother, then moved to New York City, only to return to Rome about 20 years ago. He received a Degree in Economics from Harvard College in 1981. His professional experience includes being head of international market sales for Kinetix Measurements in New York, first vice president for Merrill Lynch Capital markets in Rome and London, and head of international market and credit institutions sales for Northeast Securities in New York. Marco joined AdviCorp in 2002 where he set up its capital markets for which he is responsible. Marco is the President of the Harvard Club of Italy and his passion in life is polo. He speaks English, Italian, French, and Spanish fluently. Marco has been a member of the AICR Board of Directors since 2004. Treasurer: Nichole Parker Nichole was born on Guam and, after accumulating a significant amount of frequent flier miles by her first birthday, she settled down in Monmouth County, New Jersey with her parent while her sister and brother followed a 2 and 4 years later. Eager to explore the world, she took the first opportunity that presented itself to travel and ended up as an exchange student on Sardinia at the age of 16. Four frenetic (choir, baton twirling, honor society, AFS president) and successful years in high school were followed by an undergraduate degree at Georgetown University and a law degree at Tulane Law School. Despite an intense scholastic life, she managed to develop hobbies that she still cultivates today: yoga, swimming hiking, literature and music. Professionally, she developed her career in the international tax field and is currently a senior associate with an Italian firm. Nichole has been serving as AICR Treasurer since the beginning of 2006. Secretary: Debra Biagini Debra Biagini was born in Queens, New York to parents who were 29 years apart in age . thus, there were three generations in her home at all times. Debra studied Business administration and Psychology at New York University and her first job was with an insurance company in Human Resources. In 1986, she moved to Bermuda and worked as a buyer for the American Naval Exchange. Living in paradise is an experience she'll never forget. She then moved back to NY to work for a retailer as a men's underwear buyer and decided to move to Milan to expand her knowledge of international business. Since 1990, she has worked as a buyer of office stationery products in Rome, which requires her to travel periodically to Asia. In 2003, Debra opened DebraFlower, a retail florist that also displays and sells her personal artwork. Through DebraFlower, Debra has the pleasure of combining her skills as an artist, seamstress, and florist to do party planning and unique floral decorating for all occasions. Debra has been serving as the AICR Secretary since 2005. Gabi Arango Gabi Arango was born in Rome and moved to South Florida at the age of 8. She grew up in Coral Gables, Florida, and then went off to study at the American University in Paris, where she lived for five years. Upon returning to the US, Gabi made Miami her home. Here she worked in the field of International Marketing, coordinating various International events, seminars, and conventions in numerous different sectors. She soon got bored of the hot weather in South Florida, and decided Rome was more for her. Throughout the years, she's perfected her four languages (English, Italian, French, and Spanish), and obtained her local "Agente di Commercio" license. Gabi has dual citizenship (Italian and American) but is truly a citizen of the world. Her favorite hobbies include traveling, meeting colorful people, and engaging in professional and personal networking. Fulfilling her first of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors for 2007/2008, Gabi will serve as Membership Chairperson. Vicki Aubert Originally from Vermont, Vicki Aubert first fell in love with Europe on a class trip to France during her senior year of high school. She spent her junior year of college at Loyola University's Rome Center. That was the beginning of an ex-patriot experience in France, the UK, and Italy that has kept her in Europe for 23 years. Vicki has a Master.s degree in French from Middlebury College, is fluent in Italian and has a working knowledge of Spanish. She has worked at the FAO and the World Bank, was the translator / editor of a French magazine, and has taught at universities in both France and Italy. For the past eight years, Vicki has been living in Rome with her husband, Jean-Luc, and their two daughters, Stephanie (now attending college in Boston) and Ashley. Twice a year, Vicki organizes shopping trips to factories and artisan shops in the north of Italy. A board member since 2005 and fulfilling her second year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors for 2007/2008, Vicki will serve as Events Co-Chairperson. Nell Derick Debevoise Nell Derick Debevoise grew up in Connecticut and earned a BA in psychology at Harvard College. A relatively recent arrival in Rome, she is no stranger to expatriate living: having caught the travel bug during a semester at the Sorbonne, she has been living abroad since college. These travels have brought her to Tokyo, where she learned two of the three Japanese alphabets and the true meaning of culture shock, and then to Reims, France where she acquired a taste for the local specialty: Champagne. Returning to the Anglophone world, she earned a Master's degree in Politics, Democracy, and Education at Cambridge University, and then followed her heart, and .all roads. to Rome. Here, she is the Youth Programs Manager at the Glocal Forum, an international non-profit organization. Outside the office, she is pursuing a Master's degree in Intercultural Education at Roma Tre University and serving the Harvard Club of Italy as webmaster. For distraction, she loves cooking, tasting wine and riding horses, though not always in that order. Fulfilling her second year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors for 2007/2008, Nell will serve as PR/Historian. Stephanie Hall Stephanie Hall has lived in Rome for over 4 1/2 years and loves Italy almost as much as her new husband Alessandro of seven months. Her love (of Italy) started at the University of Texas at Austin where she took an Italian class followed by six weeks in Rome. However, she returned to Texas to finish her degree in Communications with a specialization in creative advertising and copywriting. After graduating in 1998, she moved to New York, where she worked in fashion sales for Calvin Klein, Versace, and Oscar de la Renta. But her love for Italy brought her back to Rome in early 2002. She got her TEFL degree and taught English for over a year, then founded her first year company Gush Srl, selling photo and article reportages to magazines around the world. After a year, she sold Gush and co-founded Sogliano & Logan Public Relations, where she is currently the managing director. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys being outdoors, playing sports (especially soccer), and spending time with her new husband and stepsons. Fulfilling her second of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors for 2007/2008, Stephanie will serve as Director of the FREINDS of AICR Program. Carol Markino After years of travelling back and forth between the US and Italy, Ohio-born Carol convinced her twin sister to move to the birthplace of their grandparents. Leaving behind close knit siblings and worried parents, they had budgeted for a six-month stay. Sixteen years later, Carol is still here. Professionally, she teaches English as a foreign language working at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, University of Malta-Link Campus and the NATO Defense College. In addition, she conducts private lessons through her own venture, Everyday English Every Day. Growing up she learned the importance of volunteering and giving back in some way to her community and has continued in that same spirit in the Eternal City. She volunteered as an English Language teacher for refugees, given her time and skills to the WIN Global Forum featuring Cherie Blair, the Church during the Jubilee Year, and the Teacher Information Exchange & Support network. More recently, Carol served as project manager for AICR’s July 4, 2006 picnic. She has been a member of Rome’s Professional Women’s Association for 11 years—and held leadership positions for nine of those years. She likes discovering new places in her adopted city and country but aslo spends lots of time with her Italian family in Abruzzo. She also enjoys reading, surfing the net and city walks. Carol is fulfilling her first of a two year term on the Club Board of Directors 2007/2008. Achille Nicosia Though born in beautiful Palermo, Sicily, from the age of five Achille Nicosia was raised in Rome and attended high school at the prestigious .Nazareno College.. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and International Business Economics at the University of Padua, after serving in the Italian Army. Achille initiated his professional career in Turin and Paris, winning an internship placement at Fiat's International Treasury Division. He then moved to Milan to work at the Mediaset Group as a Media and Business Development Analyst. After earning a Master's degree at the University of Westminster Diplomatic Academy in London, he returned to Milan as the Executive Chairman Assistant of the British utility group, South West Water Plc. and then as the Business Development Manager for Experian Scorex, the decision support systems division of the world's largest information provider and credit risk manager. He is currently looking for a new professional experience either in Italy or overseas. He enjoys motor biking, trekking, gym, swimming, food, and wines and holds the qualification of .professional Sommelier.. Achille is dedicated to charity activities and is studying to achieve .one day. a professional diploma in modern drumming and percussions. Fulfilling his second year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors for 2007/2008, Achille will serve as Membership Co-Chairperson. Amy Elizabeth Roth Amy Elizabeth Roth grew up in a small lakeshore town in Ohio. She began her career with NBC News, working as a producer and correspondent, based in New York, Moscow, and Paris. Her work took her to 50 countries, where she covered stories ranging from civil war and humanitarian relief efforts to economic crisis and human rights abuses. She won an Emmy Award for her reporting on the war in Kosovo. Later she worked as the Media Advisor of the Harvard-affiliated organization "Women Waging Peace,. advocating for the full inclusion of women in peace processes. In 2003, she came to Rome to complete a Master's Program in Peacekeeping and Security Studies at Universita degli Studi Roma Tre. Months later she began working at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See as the Public Affairs Coordinator. Amy holds U.S. and Irish citizenships and speaks Italian, French, and Russian. She serves as the Senior Warden at St. Paul's Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome. One of her passions is photography, indulged by Italy's great scenes, as well as her travels and human encounters. Amy is fulfilling her second year of a two-year term on the Board of Directors for 2007/2008, and will serve as Liaison to the US Embassies in Rome. Anthony Sistilli Anthony Sistilli hails from the upper Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh, PA. After finishing a law degree and a brief stint with Federal prosecution at the US Attorney's office, he landed in Rome in 1992 through an international lawyer exchange program. A dual citizen whose family originates from Abruzzo, he thought this would be a great way to spend a year in Italy discovering his roots. Little did he know that he would still be here 13 years later running his own law practice. Anthony has been active with the American community in recent years, has a passion for politics . currently sitting on the board of Democrats Abroad in Rome . and is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fulfilling his first year of a two-year term on the Club Board of Directors for 2007/2008, Anthony will serve as Legal Advisor. Nina Farrell, Club Manager & Communications Specialist Nina Farrell grew up not far from Philadelphia, and has been living in Rome for 8 years. She came to Europe for a year after graduating from Penn State University and never left. While living in Rome, Nina founded an English language service, English Made Easy, which provided English lessons and translations and was involved in organizing events. In 2006 she completed a Master's in Communication in Rome and worked as Deputy Secretary General Operations for CUS Roma, organizing world and European sporting championships on a university level. In addition to being the Club Manager, Nina also helps out her husband's family business, Azienda Agricola Massimo Carafa Jacobini, by selling extra-virgin olive oil. Nina is an avid runner and enjoys playing sports. She also loves reading, cooking and being near the sea. | |
| History |
| The American International Club of Rome (AICR) was started in 1953 when a group of Americans living in Rome (led by Henry Luce, the husband of the U.S. Ambassador to Italy Clare Boothe Luce) felt there was a need for an organization that would provide opportunities for meeting regularly with other Americans. A luncheon was held at the Grand Hotel... and the Club was born! Each United States Ambassador to Italy since 1954 has served as Honorary President, a practice that continues today. The United States Ambassador to the Holy See serves as the Club's Honorary Vice President. From the beginning, the AICR has maintained its principal purpose: to be a means for Americans and non-Americans in the constantly changing international community in Rome to meet and become acquainted in a congenial atmosphere, and to provide a practical instrument for the furthering of international friendships. Today The American International Club is just that: international. The Club currently counts about 300 members, with 40% Americans, 30% Italians, and 10% from other countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela and India! In addition, the men and women in the club are as diverse as the countries they come from, some working in embassies, others writers, singers, lawyers, photographers, teachers, and the list goes on. This mix of mentalities, nationalities, and different types of people makes the Club what it is today. It's fun and interesting to continuously meet new people and welcome new members. It creates a friendly and stimulating atmosphere that serves as a home base for many foreigners in Rome and gives our local members the chance to learn about our culture and introduce us to theirs. Every month we hold events to socialize, network, participate in community service efforts, and meet new people. The First Fridays Happy Hours are a great way to reconnect each month, and is open to non-members as well, giving them a chance to explore the Club. Other events include speaker luncheons, wine tastings, boat cruises, holiday celebrations (see CALENDAR for specific event details). In addition, we strive to foster relationships with like-minded Clubs in Rome, the AICR has collaborated on events with the American Chamber of Commerce, the American Women's Association of Rome, the Professional Women's Association, the Commonwealth Club of Rome, the Caledonian Society of Rome, and many others. The AICR continues to be very active in Community Service and strives to provide opportunities to encourage its members to do so as well. A few years ago the Club changed it's website and Email address to a ..ORG. to better reflect the Club's charitable nature. Funds have recently been raised for such diverse causes as the Associazione Peter Pan, the Jesuit Refugee Service, and the tsunami relief efforts by way of the UN World Food Programme. The American International Club is proud of the role it has played in the international community in Rome during the last 52 years. While the driving force behind the Club has been primarily professional people volunteering their time, the overriding theme of Club activity continues to be one of international relations, goodwill and understanding between people and cultures. To become a member, simply fill out an application and submit it to the Club Membership Committee for consideration at the next AICR board meeting. Prospective candidates will be reviewed at a monthly board meeting and, if accepted, will be notified by mail and warmly welcomed as a new member of the Club. Dues are currently 60 euros, with 1/2 price discounts for students, family members and senior citizens. |
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