“COMING HOME”

WELCOME TO THE 35TH YEAR OF IALA!

It is a privilege to serve as your President, and I am excited for the year ahead.

I remember the first time I attended an IALA event at Casa Italiana as a law student. The welcoming atmosphere that night made me realize I had come home. At every meeting since, I have experienced the warmth, fun, support, and fellowship that are the hallmarks of our organization.

This year, as we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of our founders and rejoice at the opening of the Italian Museum, we encourage former members to “come home.” We have begun an ambitious oral history and online scrapbook project to ensure that the voices and events of the past will not be lost.

We are coming home to the Casa for our monthly dinner meetings, where MCLE credit is served alongside mostaccioli! Our February speaker is dynamic City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. In succeeding months we will present two rising Italian-American public servants: Assemblyman Mike Gatto and newly-elected City Councilman Joe Busciano.

Other favorite themed evenings will continue, and we remain the only bar association to annually host the California Supreme Court in December.

We welcome all law students as members and our commitment to future lawyers has increased. We have adopted Tom Girardi's practice of holding a reception for new bar admittees and will fulfill his plan to host several Italian law students throughout 2012. For the first time, we will award a second $3,000 scholarship to a deserving law student.

STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER SUSPRISES AND...

AVANTI CON CORRAGIO, RISPETTO DELLA TRADIZIONE, E ALLEGRIA!

Stephen A. Mesi

35th IALA President