The 81st year of our existence begun with a change in Society’s leadership in January, 2007. The General Assembly elected a new board of directors as we all felt so indebted to the wise leadership of the outgoing president Ionela Kloes and her team which stirred the society for the past four years.
At same meeting we also recognized the long standing support demonstrated throughout the decades by the Bonca and Cepoi families, inducting them as Honorary Members of our organization.
On February 11th, the Society organized a banquet celebrating Romania’s accession to the European Union and commemorating the Unification Day of the Romanian Principalities, all of these under the flavor of St. Valentine’s… The event, organized at the elegant Los Angeles Athletic Club, was honored with the presence of Romania’s Consul General Catalin Ghenea and his wife. The special guest of the banquet was Counselor Dorian Mihai, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Romanian Embassy, arrived from Washington DC to celebrate with us the two events.
Viitorul Roman’s collaboration with the Romanian Consulate General in Los Angeles has continued throughout the year on other three occasions.
The first one came in May, when, on Sunday, the 19th, our representative, Mrs. Ionela Kloes volunteered as a member of the election committee on Romania’s presidential referendum vote.
In July, while travelling to Romania, I have had the opportunity to address the viewers of TVR International by responding the station’s request for an interview, the third of this sort in recent years. This enabled us to bring the message of our Society in many peoples’ homes, in Romania or abroad.
At the August meeting, held at my residence, members of the board decided to plan for the traditional November Annual Banquet and for the New Year’s Eve celebration.
The Annual Banquet, held in Glendale at the Sayat Nova Banquet Hall, enjoyed a great participation. On same occasion, former president Jon Cepoi has launched his memoires, “Following My Footsteps”, to a very enthusiastic audience, while the well-known Romanian ethno music band “Autentic” brought a spirited performance to our guests. I just want to express my gratitude to all those who donated important cash contributions to supporting the cost of bringing “Autentic” to our banquet, such as the Cepoi, Kloes, Serban. and Selles families.
The second collaboration of the year with the Romanian Consulate was the European Parliamentary elections vote, where our Mrs. Kloes chaired the electors’ committee, on 25 November, 2007.
On November 29th, Viitorul Roman Society sponsored the celebrations organized by the Romanian Consulate General in Los Angeles, held at the Beverly Hills Country Club occasioned by the National Day of Romania, where I have had the privilege of hosting the event.
And, as it has become the tradition, the year ended with a New Year’s fundraiser organized on December 31st at the Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn in North Hollywood, where a most cheerful crowd greeted the New Year!
The varied activities and the growing interest in our organization resulted in an increase of membership this year, as we are happy to welcome Anca and Virgil Adumitroaie, Vlad Vasilescu, Romeo Redford, Ioan Mocanu, Bogdan Briscan, Mihaela si Diana Cristina Caldarescu si Andreea Boier-Jennings.
Looking forward to the new year, which I hope to be even more exciting and rich in events, I wish to thank my wonderful committee for their hard work and dedication!
Cristian Calugarita,
President of Viitorul Roman Cultural and Aid Society.
Los Angeles, 27th of January, 2008.