Prez Sez

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The Prez Sez

What a turnout! Approximately seventy members showed up to an evening of chatter and great food. The evening started early with videos of Alfas and a Rendezvous in a Ferrari GTB. Wine began to pour through old and new friends glasses. The aura was one of mingling between the colorful rooms to patronizing the beautiful bar just outside the frenzied crowd. Thanks to the merchants we support throughout the year, door prizes were once again abundant. Thanks to all that attended, this years Banquet was again a great success. The evening was particularly special to me. Not only was I rewarded by the great turnout, I was honored with a beautiful plaque that read “Alfisti of the Year”! Peter Webb, part time computer geek / full time Alfaholic, was presented with the most amazing Tazio Nuvolari trophy award. Peter was well deserving of such recognition, he would have gone as quick many years ago if his car would have made the trip to Road America without breaking down on the way up. I want to personally thank Jim Hand for taking the time to create such amazing art. Thank You Jim!

To put additional cream on the “torta”, the Banquet presented all of us with the passing of the torch. Or something like that. Unfortunately, with all the new drama, etc. we failed to appropriately acknowledge the new Board. Therefore, the new Board consists of the following members:

President: Carmelo La Spina (Thanks again, I think?)
Vice-President: Dennis Sbertoli
Secretary: Charles King
Treasurer: Jim Hand
Trustee: Mike Besic
Trustee: Kirk Boone
Trustee: Don Brubaker
Trustee: Tony Cavaliere
Trustee: Gregg De Zutti
Trustee: Sandy Ganun
Trustee: Dave Johnson
Trustee: Wayne Seely
Trustee: Peter Webb

This banquet marked my 20th year with CAROC. It seems like not long ago that I entered a dark smokey space with a large stuffed Kodiak bear in the bar area with empty peanut shells covering the floor. That night at the Comeback Inn, I met Alfredo Giallanza, who quickly asked what type of Alfa I owned. I said, “a TZ and a Montreal”. Steve Crowley was there with Craig Bielat, Rick Dunleavy, Sandy Ganun, Al Promisco, Larry Ogle, Mike and Dianne Besic, Jeff Ginger, Rob and Pam Zalinger, … in other words, kind of like the folks here this evening, just twenty years later. Not long after attending that meeting, my son Giuseppe was born and his first ride home was in my newly acquired GTV6 (which I still own). Tonight Giuseppe is here along with my daughter Eliana, Mike Besic Jr., Giulia Giallanza and Eric Promisco depicting what holds in the future of CAROC. Who knows, 20 years from this fantastic evening, our children will probably bring their children to share this passion we call Alfa Romeo.

Ciao a presto,
Carmelo La Spina