UNICO kc Newsletter 03/9/2026

"Marzo re dei capricci, ogni giorno combina pasticci ," - Italian quote Translation : "March is the king of tantrums, everyday he makes a mess ”

Upcoming Meetings/Events - Save The Date(s)

March Wed. Mar. 11th Monthly Dinner @Johnny C’s 7012 Universal Ave. 64116 KCMO 64116 Cocktails at 6pm Dinner at 7pm

April Wed. April 15th Monthly Dinner @Caddy Shack 700 E 3rd St, Kansas City, MO 64106 Cocktails at 6pm Dinner at 7pm

May Wed. May 20th Monthly Dinner with Scholarship Winners Location TBD

Benvenuto Marzo!

We are only a few days into the month, and already we see the truth behind the Italian reference to a crazy March!  We have had low temperatures of 12 degrees, a confirmed EF-0 tornado, and a forecasted day this week of over 80 degrees!  Crazy seems an understatement.

For my household it will slow down a little because the wrestling season and show choir seasons are finally behind us.  Now is the chance to get caught up, and get prepared for outdoor chores and activities.  I hope everyone has the opportunity to enjoy some time with family, and embrace the “March Madness!”

And last but not least, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the rumor that St. Patrick was Italian:)

St. Andrew’s Shrimp Dinner — Our annual All you can eat Shrimp dinner was another success!  Thank you to all who donated their time, money and support to make this another successful fundraiser for our organization.

UNICO Scholarships— Our Scholarship deadline is fast approaching.   Application hard copies and all required information must be submitted by mail and received by March 16th.  Please contact our Scholarship Chairman, Dave Sullivan, with any questions.  Or you can reach out to me and I will put you in contact with Dave.

Festa Italiana 2026— Mark your calendar for May 29th, 30th and 31st for our annual festival!  Volunteers and support will be needed all weekend, but most importantly, plan to be there to celebrate our heritage for the entire weekend!

For 2026, we are mailing out $200 in raffle tickets to all UNICAN’s for your support of our 50/50 raffle.  Our ask is for your to purchase or sell these tickets to drive up the value of our raffle during with weekend of the event.  Our winner will be selected on Sunday, and UNICAN’s are eligible to win!

May Scholarship Dinner — Our May dinner location is still being confirmed, but please mark your calendar for May 20th.  This dinner we invite all our scholarship winners and their families to join us in a celebration of their achievements.  It is your opportunity to meet and greet the winners up close, and to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Bring a potential member—The March and April monthly meetings are a great time to bring a potential member with you as your guest to dinner.  Our Chapter covers the dinner expense for all 1st time guests you have invited as a potential member.

Youth Members —Italian Americans age 18-25 are welcome and encouraged to join our chapter.  Our chapter covers the cost of your annual dues, and we also cover the cost of their meals at our monthly dinners.  If you would like to invite a potential youth member to be your guest, we would enjoy the opportunity to meet them.

A presto,

Michael A. Cucchiara