Ciao tutti – 

I am sorry to report to the Dante Alighieri Society membership some disheartening news about the Garden Club, where we have been meeting for the last 40 years or so.

We received this morning an email from the President of the Washington Federation of  Garden Clubs (WSFGC)  informing us that the Garden House was sold as of October 10, 2018 and that we, that is Dante, are not able to have our meetings there after October 31, 2018 at which date the lockers we rent there have to be emptied as well.

So we’re looking for a new meeting space, both in the short and the long term.

We have not yet spoken with the new owners and are trying to find out who they are and how to reach them.  It may be that they will be willing to rent to us, at least in the short term.  We’re trying to contact them.

Short term I am particularly interested in finding a location for our November 14th meeting.   I would welcome suggestions from the membership.  Please email them to me and to the Board rather than to the membership at large.  I don’t want to fill up everyone’s inbox with emails.

At the next meeting on October 24 – at the Garden House – the Board is planning an Q and A / Feedback Forum  before the presentation.  I hope as many of you as can make it will be there.

I know that this is discouraging news but I’m sure that as a group we can come up with a solution that will enable us to continue to enjoy our gatherings and presentations.

Forza e Coraggio!

Dan DeMatteis,
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Washington