UNICO National had its
beginning on October 10th , 1922 when a group of fifteen motivated
men led Dr Anthony P. Vastola met in Waterbury,
Connecticut. They responded to his leadership and chartered his
dream of creating a service group of men of Italian heritage who would perform
charitable, educational and patriotic deeds for the assistance and
benefit of their fellowmen and country.
The name UNICO was chosen for the organization
because of its appropriateness. UNICO
means “unique” in Italian. The group would be the
only one of its kind as it would encourage all Italian-Americans to greater
civic mindedness. It would ask its members to make sacrifices, not
for personal gain, but for service to others. Later, the letters in
UNICO were to represent Unity, Neighborliness,
Integrity, Charity and Opportunity
to serve others
.With steadfastness and devotion, in 1925, the second chapter
of UNICO was formed in Torrington, Connecticut.. During the next several
years, the inspiration of the UNICO goals reached out to other Connecticut
cities culminating in the Connecticut Secretary of State granting an
official charter on July 12th, 1933.
The first UNICO Chapter to be established
outside of the state of
Connecticut was in Trenton, New Jersey. The Trenton, New
Jersey Chapter was founded by Dr. Joseph Pantelone who had become friends
with Dr. Vastola while serving as an intern at the Waterbury Hospital in
Waterbury, Connecticut.
The goals and purpose of UNICO continued
to meet a need of the Italian community. With
a number of Chapters in existence, Dr. Pantelone suggested a plan to associate
the independent chapters of UNICO into a group known as the National UNICO
CLUBS. These talented and committed clubs held their first national
convention in 1930 in New York City. Dr. Vastola was selected Honorary
President of the first National election.
|