“Justinians for Equal Justice” has been our theme this year 2008-2009. Spring is here and we are looking towards the end of the school year for our children and a summer of activities with our families. As Justinians, we pride ourselves on family relationships and our relationships with each other. For me, that means more time for my family: my wife, Pearl, my daughter, Mary, and my son, Nicholas. As I close this term as your Justinian president, it has been an exciting and special year and one that will be fondly remembered.

We can pride ourselves on our accomplishments during this year. In spite of an economy that is suffering our membership ranks have grown. One of my objectives was to visit every law school in the area and encourage new student membership. In that effort, we have been enormously successful. Our policy of free membership for law students and first year lawyers has proved to be very encouraging as we look to the future. Moreover, we have solicited the membership of many lawyers not of Italian American descent to join our ranks. Our reception at the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) mid-year meetings promoted awareness that we are an open society that encourages membership for all. I would like to give special thanks to the membership chair, our Third Vice President Katherine Amari.

Another objective was to grow our connections with the Justinian chapters in the outlying counties. I am proud to report that I have regularly attended the Justinian Society chapters in DuPage, Lake and Winnebago counties. We shared meetings and events, ranging from installation dinners to picnics, and joined mutual interests. Our January dinner meeting at the Rosewood restaurant in Rosemont highlighted this bond among our fellow Justinians as we broke bread on the coldest night of the year.

Other events have been largely successful through the tireless efforts of those involved. Our scholarship program, spearheaded by Anthony Farace, Umberto Davi and Richard Caifano, along with Sam Tornatore, is quite healthy. Many contributors have ensured the ongoing success of the program. The bocce ball tournament, as usual, was one of our most anticipated events. Our March meeting includes a tour of the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame (IASHF), in the heart of Little Italy, on Taylor St. The IASHF is a tribute to Italian-American greats in sports. Our April meeting at Biancalana’s in Elmwood Park will promote the numerous activities of the Justinian Society. We have a Law Day program scheduled for May 1. The May dinner meeting will feature the installation of our new officers, with Don Storino, Jr. as the next president.

It has been quite rewarding to find common ground with other Italian-American organizations. My role as the Justinian delegate to the Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans (JCCIA) allowed me the chance to spend time with other Italian-American leaders at various functions. A number of these leaders met for a Sunday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii where the Columbus Day Parade begins each year. We shared ideas to promote awareness of our faith. Our friend, Father Richard Fragomeni, presided over the day. The chairperson at the Shrine, Regina Scannicchio, agreed to assist the Justinian Society plan an event there. Similarly, Justinians again scheduled a family day and a Christmas mass with lunch in December to highlight that most important Italian bond, the family.

Our two major events, the golf outing and installation dinner were exciting, fun, and very successful. At the golf outing we enjoyed wonderful weather, an exceptionally large contingent of golfers, and even more dinner guests. It was my privilege to bestow our first ever “Justinian’s for Justice Equal Access Award” upon Chief Justice Robert Thomas, our friend and fellow Italian-American. Thanks to Judge Gloria Coco our installation dinner was again a success. At that dinner, the only other Italian-American Chief Justice in Illinois Supreme Court history, our special friend, Moses Harrison, graced us with his presence as he swore me in as the 88th president of the Justinian Society. Joseph Gagliardo, one of our most beloved past presidents, was honored with the Award of Excellence. Vince Lombardi, Jr., a name that needs no introduction, graciously traveled from Arizona at my request to join us at the dinner. Lombardi, a fellow lawyer and motivational speaker, received the Outstanding Achievement Award in the field of Communications. It was a wonderful occasion.

I would be remiss if I did not give a special “thank you” to my right hand, our Executive Assistant Nina Albano Vidmer. Nina has proved again to be invaluable in the day-to-day workings of the Society. We owe her a debt of gratitude. Of course, our newsletter editor and past president Leonard Amari, has, as always, been there for the Society. He and the newsletter staff put out great newsletters we can all be proud of.

As Abraham Lincoln stated “I am a firm believer in the people.” In this year of the bicentennial of the birth of Lincoln, it is important to note that if not for the people, members that go unnamed but not unnoticed, none of this would be possible. I wish there were room to thank you each individually.

I gave my promise at the time of taking the helm as your president at Tufano’s on May 8, 2008 that I would give my very best effort to support and promote the Justinian Society of Lawyers. I have given everything possible to honor that commitment. I recall Vince Lombardi, prior to the most important game of his career (the Ice Bowl) in his quest for a third straight NFL title quoted St. Paul to inspire his players: “the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize, so run to win.” Naturally, Lombardi won that game. Similarly, as Justinians, we always give our best effort. We continuously run to win to be the best ethnic bar organization in the nation. We have much to be proud of as we continue a tradition that began October 21, 1921.

In closing, I thank my fellow officers, the executive committee, and each one of you for this wonderful opportunity. Finally, and most importantly, I owe special thanks to my family for their time and support during the year.

I wish Don Storino, Jr., his officers, and the Justinian Society the best in 2009-2010.

May God Bless You All,

Mauro Glorioso, President 2008-2009