Club News

A Message From Our President

On behalf of the outgoing 2024 Board members and also the 2025 Board, thank you for being here today. I want to thank the Board for their support this past year and I would like to especially thank Joe Vella for his dedication and for all the work he has done as Treasurer for the past 27 years and his tireless commitment to the Club.

This year, for the first time, after 95 years, we have an all-woman Board of Directors! This is a far cry from when the women could not even join the Club.

I believe that most of you know who I am...a first-generation San Francisco born Maltese American with English as my second language! Anyone who knows me, friends, family, acquaintances, Maltese or not, quickly learn how very proud I am to be Maltese. I am so blessed to be able to call both San Francisco and Għawdex home. My all-time favorite view is still Mgarr Harbor, as the ferry approaches Gozo and I know that I am home again. I may have not been born there, but my heart is always there.

There were many important anniversaries in 2024 which celebrated Malta’s history but, for us on a more personal level, the 95th Anniversary of the Club was the most significant. At our celebration in November, we heard stories and reminisced about the old days. The past Presidents of the Club gave us some interesting insight as to what was happening during their leadership. It was a beautiful evening that was enjoyed by everyone.

Although we lost many members that were dear to us this past year, I am happy that we were able to welcome 37 new members. As of the end of 2024, we have a total of 285 members. It is wonderful that we do have so many members but we need more of you to become more active by attending meetings and functions and by volunteering. If we are to continue to thrive as a Club and a community, we need your involvement.

As I begin my fourth year as President, I want to thank all of you for your encouragement and support. I am pleased that so many of you seem to be more comfortable approaching me with concerns, suggestions, opinions and also occasions of welcomed praise. I want to stress how key communication is. What is said amongst yourselves is not always factual or is never presented to the Board members so that we can discuss and make a decision. We may not always be able to please everyone but I can promise you that we will listen to what you have to say. With all of us working together, the Club will continue to be a place that welcomes all of us.

Grazzi hafna! Viva Malta u Għawdex!

Message from the Honorary Consul General of Malta, Louis Vella

Greetings dear friends of the Maltese American Social Club and the Maltese Community in California. Another wonderful group of members attended the monthly meeting in February. The number of members in any organization is crucially important but it is equally important that members try to attend membership meetings and functions to the best of their ability.

It is most appropriate that during the month of February that has just passed, we talk a little bit about the feast of St. Paul of the Shipwreck. In Malta this is one of the most popular and ceremonial of all festas. It is celebrated in a big way in Valletta and among those attending usually we find, the president and prime minister of Malta and many cabinet members. Also, in attendance there are usually many members of the highest courts and other dignitaries. The festa Mass is celebrated every year by the archbishop of Malta. Our church dedicated to St. Paul of the Shipwreck located on Jamestown in San Francisco is without a doubt, a Maltese church dedicated to the patron Saint of the islands of Malta. The procession with the historic statue of St. Paul and the celebrations in the streets of Valletta, this year took place a day later because of inclement weather. The City of Valletta was totally en fe’te in a major way. It is written that in the year AD 60 St. Paul together with 274 men sailing from Crete to Rome on board a large wooden ship, were caught in a violent storm. After 14 days battling the seas, the ship ran aground in Malta. And according to historical accounts Malta became a Christian country because of this unplanned but yet historic visit by the apostle Paul. Malta is still a Christian country to this day, almost 2,000 years later.

Please see this month's newsletter for more of my message.

Always remember that, it is not what we take but what we give that make us rich.