Italian Language Program, Winter 2008 

Members who attend Casa Italiana Language School (CILS) receive a partial reimbursement of tuition.   This benefit is available to all members.

To be considered for reimbursement for Winter 2008 classes, please email the completed Winter 2008 Application Form to Osvaldo Barsi.   You may also mail it directly to:

Osvaldo Barsi
Lucchesi nel Mondo - Tuscany Club
2302 Crestlawn Ave
Cheverly MD 20785

Just Like Nonna Used to Make 

Members/non-members meet monthly/bimonthly in the home of a member, where we get hands-on experience in making a traditional Lucchesi/Toscani dish.    At the end of the class, we get to enjoy our creations.

Classes are limited to 10 people (first come, first serve).    Members have first priority, however, non-members are always welcome if there's space in the class.   

The class is free to members, non-members pay $10.

If you're interested in hosting a class, please contact Ann Barsi.

To sign up, please contact Ann Barsi.

Carnevale 2008 

Each February we host a Carnevale for our members and other Italian-American organizations in the area.

Our Carnevale 2008 festival was held on Sunday 10-Feb-2008 from 3pm to 7pm at Casa Italiana. Our 2008 theme was "Ondina at the Beach".   

Italian Language/Cultural Study Program at Viareggio

Each year our parent organization, Lucchesi Nel Mondo, with funding from Regione Toscana - Consiglio dei Toscani all'Estero, provides scholarships for youth with Tuscan ancestry to attend this wonderful program.   Currently the scholarships cover the entire amount for the College program, full room and board at Cristoforo Colombo College dorms, all excursions, and reimbursement of ½ the student's airfare if the program is successfully completed.

We would like to encourage all eligible members to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.    If there is someone in your immediate family with Tuscan heritage (Tuscan parents, grandparents, even great-grandparents) and you are between the age of 18 and 30 years old (by July of the year you're applying), please consider applying for the program.

Locally we cannot guarantee that all applicants will be selected in a given year, but usually 1-2 students from our club are selected for a scholarship to the program each year.

While the 2007 program is now complete, if you would like further information about this program for 2008, please review the attached Program Information and Application Form, or contact Ann Barsi.

MEDAGLIA D'ORO Competition

This award goes to members whose ancestors come from the Province of Lucca and have distinguished themselves.    They must have distinguished themselves in economics, university education, and cultural, social, professional, or artistic activities.    Winners are honored at an awards ceremony in Lucca.

Scholarships from La Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa

Each year La Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa offers scholarships for Masters degrees to members of Tuscan descent.

For further information about any of these programs, please contact us.

Festa Italiana, 29-Jun-2008, Washington, DC

Join Fieri DC, the Italian Cultural Society and the Holy Rosary Church on Sunday, June 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. as downtown Washington comes alive for the city's lively 10th annual Italian street festival.   

Festa Italiana celebrates Italian-American culture and Italian-Americans' contributions to the Washington area. This year's festival will include live traditional Italian music, informative displays about Italy's capital region, Lazio, raffles, and much more. And those joining in the festivities will be able to enjoy a wide variety of delicious Italian dishes and beverages, including fresh pizza, pasta, sausage and peppers, Italian sandwiches, wine, and baked goods.

Lucchesi nel Mondo/Tuscany Club of Washington, DC is an official 2008 Sponsor of this event, and will have a table inside Casa Italiana. Come look for us!

Festa di Santa Croce, 13-Sep-2008, Lucca 

Every September in Lucca there is a festival associated with the feast of Santa Croce.    Every year Lucchesi from all around the world (hence, Lucchesi nel Mondo) come to reunite and celebrate.   

2008 will be the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the central LnM headquarters at Lucca. It is also the 150th anniversary of the birth of Giacomo Puccini. There will be many events planned around these celebrations. We would like to see a large contingent from Washington there. You need to start planning in early March 2008 for this trip. That's when the discounted airfares for September being to show up on internet sites.

Plan a minimum stay of 7 days which includes 13-Sep (the evening of the procession). The 10th to the 16th will probably cover most of the big events that will take place.

Osvaldo had a discussion with Alessandro Pesi about trying to get Lucca hotels to provide some discounted rates for LnM members. Alessandro was agreeable to this idea, so we will provide further information after the first of the year.

Watch this space for updates!