Seattles SPSCA Hero's

SEATTLE'S SPSCA HEROS

When Daniela Borghesi from Perugia was visiting for the Alviero Moretti Foundation ceramics donation to the city of Seattle, plus the Italian Film Festival, she shared with me that Seattle is the most energetic sister city with Perguia that has an active group of volunteers making the association what it is. It is a place where Italians and non-Italians can share the love of Italy and all things Italian. We have music performances, film festivals, Italian conversation tables, cultural and art exchanges - not to mention we gather for food (of course, it's Italy for goodness sake)!

I am proud of our association (Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association) and all that they do for our community. And I am most proud of our leaders and volunteers who work tirelessly to make this a successful organization that serves the communities of two cities. Though I cannot name all the members who contribute (there are just too many), I would like to share some things about ta few members whose work makes this group what it is.

Donna James

Donna James

It is not easy for many people to get to know Donna. This is because she is always working and doing so many things she cannot stay in one place long enough for you to find everything out. Most of the times I have seen Donna at an event, she has a clipboard in hand and documents pertaining to the event (most likely the document is prepared by her). She is the detail person. She organizes people, times, arrivals, meetings, money, paperwork and the list goes on.

Donna does not just sit on our board and work hard for SPSCA, she also sits on the board for the prestigious Cornish Colege of the Performing Arts in Seattle.  Her time is valuable and yet she spends hour after hour with plans, documents, research, phone calls and the like. As well as there is time to spend with her family and friends.

She might be married to the president of our organization, but she is certainly riding on no ones coat tails. I respect and appreciate all she does and ask you all to tell her the thing you have always meant to say or didn't know you should which is "Thank You"!

Alan Veigel


Alan is the vice-president of our organization here in Seattle. He is a kind, intelligent man who is very dependable. This of course makes him one of the backbones that we count on. He does so much behind the scenes work that no one knows about.

I would imagine that Alan is responsible for many of the things that others take for granted. He must put on many hats depending on what the situation demands. Thankfully he is part of a team. His wife Laura Parma-Veigel is as important as he is. If she herself is not a part of a specific event you, can guarantee that she was  supporting all that her partner, teammate, and husband was doing. They do the jobs of more than two people and are irreplaceable.

Mike James

The president of our Seattle organization is a wonderful man with a vision that he is constantly striving for. We could not be more fortunate to have such a capable man leading us as we build relationships across the world. His driving force keeps our Facebook page updated, our website moving forward, and our events publicized. He MC's when necessary, makes speeches, writes press releases, and like the others, the list goes on.

Mike James recieves an award for SPSCA

Mike James has the energy of a young man and keeps himself busier than most could handle, whether his age or mine. With a plethora of knowledge from many years as a TV news journalist, his skills at communication are extraordinarily perfect for his position. He is our front man and he is good at it. Whomever he passes the torch to better be ready. Few can fill his shoes, but then again who would even set themselves up for that kind of failure.

Too many unsung heros and too many volunteers that I cannot even write about them all. I just hope you see that these people are worth thanking and receiving your respect. Remember next time you see them to tell them that very thing....."thank you"!