Day 1. Saturday February 17th. The SSCA “Treviso Team” of five volunteers head out to Tampa International Airport to welcome and transport the delegation from the Province of Treviso, led by its president Leonardo Muraro, back to their hotel on Lido Key for their week long stay in Sarasota. We have an extensive agenda prepared to connect our new sister city to Sarasota at a cultural and commercial level. The Team has been tracking their airplane journey from Venezia, Italy via the Internet and cell phones, with much commentary from our communication and media specialist, Tom Halbert, as if we were following the re-entry of the space shuttle. Snow and postponements have slowed their arrival in Tampa.
The excitement is building and everyone is anxious to start on each or our assigned tasks and responsibilities for the week. Upon our arrival at the airport, we position ourselves in a receiving area displaying our white and orange Treviso flag so we will be recognized by our arriving guests. One crowd after another passes us by until, finally, one group emerges appearing to try to find their way and spots the flag. At that moment, they smile and, though very tired, they are energized by our welcome and we bond almost immediately as we leave for Sarasota.
Our motorcade of three cars stops by Paul Mattison’s place in downtown Sarasota at his gracious invitation for something to eat and drink and to welcome the delegation. It’s midnight and Paul’s place is getting ready to close, but he insists and asks his staff to stay a bit later. Later we escort the delegation to their hotel or to their home host.
Sunday. I decide to cancel the boat tour of Sarasota Bay as the weather is the coldest of the season, with high winds and choppy waters. Instead, we enjoy a reception in an Italian bar downtown and introduce the delegation to all the volunteers that have made this “twinning” between cities possible.
Later, we meet for brunch at the Sarasota Yacht Club where Mayor Fredd Atkins and several city commisioners welcome the delegation with speeches and recognitions. The Italians especially enjoy the brunch as it is a new form of dining for them. Afterward, the delegation plants a tree at City Island, commemorating the new Sarasota-Treviso Sister City relationship.
The Gulf Coast Italian Cultural Society on Siesta Key sponsors the evening dinner and there is great fesitivity and celebration of the delegation’s arrival.
Monday. The first day of our “work” week, we begin with the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Arts, where the delegation is ecorted through the museum by Dr. Wettenhall. On the way to the museum I receive a call from Jennifer, the marketing director of Mattison’s, asking if Domenico Longo, one of the visiting Italian chefs, and I would be prepared to give a brief interview with Sarasota’s ABC Channel 7 TV weatherman, John Scalzi in a couple of hours. I look at Domenico and ask him if He knows a recipe he can whip up on live TV in 5 mintues max. Domenico takes about 30 seconds to ponder my question and says “No problem.” We assure Jennifer we’ll be there then head out to pick up the required ingredients and kitchen tools for the show. At the studio, Mr. Scalzi interviews me in regard to my position with SSCA and our Treviso connection through the Asolo Theater. Thereafter, the cameras move to Domenico and I translate as he cooks his appetizer.
We catch up with the delegation at Dr. Polizzi’s house, where an intense singing and instrument playing is taking place along with a great display of food. We have some import issues, since the delegation had specially arranged for food and wines to arrive from the province of Treviso. One of the number one products (Radicchio di Treviso, a type of lettuce unique to Treviso) has not yet been delivered. After several calls, I am able to get a guarantee for delivery the very next day. A relief, since it’s need for the much anticipated dinner to be prepared this week by the delegation, featuring Treviso foods and dishes. The delegation next heads to the Ringling School of Arts where Dr. Larry Thompson assumes the lead.
Mary Ann and Robert Servian have arranged for the evening’s reception at the Renaissance. Navigating the heavy traffic has taken a toll on the schedule and the delegation is late returning to the hotel to prepare to attend the reception.When they finally arrive, I split the delegation and send most everyone but President Muraro to the reception and accompany the president, Chef Domenico and Marinella Fagaraz, chef- proprietor of Treviso’s Ristorante Casa Coste, to Flemings Restaurant for scheduled photo shoots with journalist, Judi Gallagher, of Sarasota’s Channels 6 and 21. [Author’s subsequent note: Flemings also later hosted the delegation and volunteers, which was a great way for the delegation to experience an American meal in style].
Tuesday. Today the delegation meets the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce board of directors, splitting into groups with a counterpart from the Chamber and a translator. Meanwhile, the chefs are hard at work in preparing the feast of their traditional Treviso foods offerings.
Lunch is casual and relaxing at the Salty Dog Cafe, which the delegation enjoys immensely. The water and sunshine are starting to look much more like Sarasota. But, enough of the relaxing. We are back at city hall for a brief official welcome by the mayor and commisioners.
In the evening, the delegation arrives at the historic Asolo theater with the Italian Consul General of Miami, for the official reception and signing of the Sister Cities documents. Approximatly 220 people attend this historic event.
The Key Chorale sings “Il Nabuco” in their opening performance, grabbing the attention of all the attendees. The Sarasota opera presents “la ci darem la mano” with a great mezzo soprano and a bass-baritone. An excellent performance by the Asolo Repertory follows, after which the official signing by Mayor Atkins, Treviso President Leonardo Muraro, SSCA President William Wallance, and me, SSCA City Director for Treviso Mirco Chiodi, is held. The ceremonies concluded with dinner at the adjacent Treviso Restaurant and acknowledgments of all the major players who have worked to make this “Gemelaggio” a reality.
Wednsday. Some of the delegation visit Mote Marine and Chef Domenico prepares a dish at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion. Lunch features sturgeon from the farm of Mote Marine, providing a natural topic of conversation after spending the morning there.
Later, we visit a Sarasota branch of a Treviso-based company, Breton USA and enjoy a visit to Piero Rivolta’s home for a reception and tour of his magnificent sailboat.
Meanwhile, the Mattison Steakhouse on Longboat Key is a very busy place with everyone preparing for the representation of “Provincia di Treviso” through presentation of the region’s food and wine. The event is attended by the delegation, city commissioners, SSCA members and the media.
The staff at Mattison’s excels in their service and hospitality and everyone is absolutely delighted by the unique dinner presentation. Providing her unique insights throughout dinner is Susanna Wriston-Delucia, who initiated efforts to develop Treviso as a Sister City 5 years ago and promised me she would return when I promised to carry on the work she had started. Giuliana Meneghetti_(Province of Treviso Cerimonial coordinator)_ has prepared a gift for all participants, a bag colorfully decorated with the province’s logo and filled with literature about Treviso and its products, a special pasta, cheese, and a bottle of Prosecco for everyone to take home.
Thursday. We visit the Military Academy and watch them perform the flag raising, then sing the US national anthem, followed by the Italian, in Italian by children of Italians at the school.
A visit to Sarasota Middle School is next, also led by Carla Puppinato, and the delegation fields questions by the students of Mr. Schemeck’s class. And then to Riverview High School, to be welcomed by Principal Linda Nook and teacher, Bridget Coughlin.
After a gift exchange at the Federal Building between Mayor Atkins and President Muraro, and a book signing by Dr. Joe Polizzi for his recent work, “Andrea Palladio,” dinner is hosted by Gianrico Filippetto of Breton USA at the Mediterraneo Restaurant. The volunteers and delegation has become quite a family after sharing all these meals and activities together.
Friday. Departure. It is very emotional for everyone, but we are satisfied that we will continue the Citizen Diplomacy we have begun this week through the wonderful relationships we have formed. We all look forward to putting the ideas we have discussed into action.
Mirco Chiodi
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