A Letter from our President, Phil Potestio

Carissimi Amici e Sostenitori di Portland Bologna Sister City Association (PBSCA),

It is my pleasure, as President of the Board, to report on the state of the Association, as well as ask for your continued and much appreciated support. PBSCA is blessed with a strong and productive Board of Directors and 2023 has been a year of activity, renewal, exploration and satisfaction.

Thanks to a generous gift honoring the life of one of our favorite people, la vera donna bolognese Maria Rosa Martelli Brekke, we established the Cibo e Amici Fund, a program bringing our two cities together through food.  

We presented a “Taste of Bologna”, a virtual cooking lesson featuring Bologna chef Giorgia Lambertini preparing an authentic dinner, complete with recipes, shopping list, and a step-by-step preparation demonstration. We’ll continue and expand this program.

We presented two wine-related events, both held at Oregon Wine Reserve in Lake Oswego. The first was a “Sip and Share” where we gathered to share tastes of our favorite wines. The second was “Fast Cars and Fine Wines” where super wines, accompanied by excellent salumi e formaggi, were experienced among a striking collection of Ferrari and more, raising money for Emilia Romagna’s flood relief efforts. We are working with our friends there to ensure the funds are directed where they are needed most.

Our always highly anticipated Amici Dinner was held at a Cena Ristorante, and once again the meal and the company were superb. We celebrated Ferragosto in style, gathering at Sellwood Park for spritz, aperitivi e gelato. Our Sagra fundraiser was once again an affair to remember - with lasagna and gelato by Emilio Palici, incredible wines, accompaniments, music by Samuel Stewart and an auction, the proceeds of which help sustain our programs.

Speaking of programs requiring and appreciative of your support, 2023 saw the renewal of our highly valued Youth Exchange Program. This year, eleven young people from Bologna visited Portland for two weeks in the early summer. As always, this life-changing experience revolved around getting to know each other and the city, planned activities together, sharing good times with the host families, and this year our exchange contained a day of community service. In just a few months, our Portland Youth Ambassadors will travel to Bologna for the reciprocal leg of the cycle! We would be unable to administer this important program without the financial contributions of our friends, the hours of volunteer work by our Board and of course, the generous participation of our host families, who open their homes to our guests from Bologna.

We are tremendously excited about 2024, the 20th Anniversary of the Portland and Bologna Sister City agreement. Much has been accomplished and many have benefited from the connections formed and the programs developed. Stay tuned for announcements of special events, official and citizen delegations traveling and visiting and become part of our celebration!

It is through your contributions that we continue to function as a 501 c3 non-profit organization. Your support and interest are truly what sustains. Please keep donating and GRAZIE INFINITE!