During the last two weeks of June, the ICBIE founders made a whirlwind tour in the United States, to trumpet our cause and build, strengthen and energize our wonderful network of American supporters.
The first stop was in New York, where, on Sunday the 17th, Mary Norris opened her quaint bungalow (newly christened “Forest Lawn”) in Rockaway for a picnic lunch with a dozen friends. Pietro pulled out his culinary magic for the first time.
The next day we flew to Chicago and moved in with Lee and Kate, just in time to prepare a big dinner on Tuesday for all the key people involved in a future exposition-festival of D’Artagnan works, which will hopefully take place sometime in 2013.
The next three days were filled with driving through Michigan,
seeing Roy’s friends and family, including Rick and Ann
and Dan and Sheila, who are all long-standing ICBIE supporters.
Back in Chicago, on Sunday the 24th we had dinner with Rod and Marilyn. Rod is a Chicago lawyer and he has kindly offered to assist us in American fund raising strategies.
Then it was time to fly back to New York for five busy days, squeezing in social contacts along with the European Soccer finals. Our first stop was at KS Art to see Kerry, who launched D’Artagnan in America and continues to sell the master’s works. Oh, happy day!
We stayed with Toby on Mott St., where on Wednesday Pietro cooked a lobster dinner for Toby, Mary and Roy’s former student Flavia, another of our staunchest supporters.
On Thursday we were invited to dinner by Robert and Hadas. Robert was one of Roy’s very first students in Rome, and of course he has followed the ICBIE story from the very beginning.
On Friday the 29th we celebrated the final bash, a dinner party for about 25 people to celebrate Toby’s birthday. Guess who did all the cooking?
Our heartfelt thanks to all the people who made our trip so enjoyable, everywhere we went. See you all in Bahia!!!
