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Cherso is the capitol city of the
island of Cherso, in the province of Istria, situated in the
northern Adriatic Sea. In 1910, when the Society Chersina was
founded, the island was part of the Austrian Empire.
The Society Chersina was officially recognized
by the New York State authorities on June 1st, 1910. Soon after
the foundation of the Society, its body of laws was translated
from English to Italian. At that time, to become a member, you had
to be born in the city of Cherso and also part of the seafaring
trade. It was at this time that the word "Maritima"
(Maritime) was added to the title, making it the "Maritima
Society Chersina".
The migration of Chersini to the United States started in the
late 1800's. There were two major reasons for the people of Cherso
to leave their native land to look for a brighter future for them
and their families: a disease of the vine, "filosera",
devastated vineyards all over the island, destroying the
livelihood of many families; and the transition of sail powered
ships to the new motorized ships, which cost many mariners their
job.
On March 18, 1910, seven Chersini gathered in Astoria, New
York, with the hope of forming an organization that would provide
social benefits for themselves and other immigrants from Cherso.
Two months later, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Society
Chersina was signed in the office of Frank Motl, Jr., Notary
Public. The initial directors were Anton Castellan, Mike Duda,
Cosmo Petranich, Zaccaria Duncovich, Mick Tuftan, Stefano Bravdiza
and Elli Petranich.
In the 1930's, the Society Chersina financed the construction
of a house of mutual aid in Cherso. This building was the
headquarters for the sister society, and was used by both
residents of Cherso and American society members who had returned
to Cherso in their retirement years. However, after World War II,
it was dissolved and the authorities confiscated its properties.
At this time the Society Chersina in the United States
experienced a growth in membership with the coming of many
refugees from Cherso during and after the war.
The Society Chersina also had a chapter in Philadelphia, since
many Chersini worked in the Philadelphia shipyards. This chapter
lasted for more than 80 years, but folded in the early 1990's due
to a lack of membership.
The Society members, in the early 1900's, referred to
themselves as "sussaida." This name was the result of
attempt to pronounce "social aid," which, with a heavy
Italian accent, sounded like "sussaida" (and it is still
used today). The Society meetings were held in Astoria once a
month. The monthly dues for members were 1 dollar. These dues were
used to provide social benefits to members; they received one
dollar a day whenever they were unable to work, due to illness.
In the early 1960's, due to a decrease in the membership, there
arose a need for modification of the bylaws. In 1964, a few
principal changes were made: the word "Maritime" was
eliminated from the Society's title, and the word Benevolent was
added, making it the "Benevolent Society Chersina";
the criteria for membership was also changed. It was now open to
women, to persons from the entire island of Cherso, and to the
spouses of existing members. These changes went into effect under
the following committee of directors: Giovanni Fatutta, Giusto
Miss, Andrea Mocolo, Giacomo Petrani, Giusto Rigovich, Matteo
Sabini and Francesco Sablich, Sr.
In 1991 the society began a correspondence with the Francesco
Patrizio Association of the Chersina community. This organization
was founded in 1845 in Cherso, and re-founded in 1989 in Trieste,
Italy, due to the large community of Chersini living there. Quite
a few friendships have developed due to this correspondence. It
has also sparked many visits by Chersini from Italy to America and
vice versa. A special friendship was formed with the president of
the Francesco Patrizio Association, Archbishop Monsignor Vitale
Antonio Bommarco, a native of Cherso. At one of his visits to New
York, he became an honorary member of the Society Chersina.
Over the years, the Society Chersina has lived up to its
original goals of providing social aid. It has provided help to
many Chersini in America as well as to those in Cherso; it has
purchased medical equipment for individuals in need, supplied the
town of Cherso with needed medical supplies, and financed repairs
of churches in Cherso.
Though the original sick benefits were eliminated, a nominal
donation is still made to the family of the deceased member in
order to help with funeral expenses. The Society also holds two
burial plots at the Cemetery of Resurrection, in Pinelawn, New
York. To date, the following two members are buried there: Gasparo
Antonio Medarich and Nicola Sclamar.
Today, the Society holds many annual social events including
trips to Atlantic City, outings to the countryside, Society's
anniversary celebration, and St. Nicholas and Carnevale dinner
dances.
The latter events truly reflect the traditions of Cherso, while
reminding us of our childhood:
On the feast of St. Nicholas, the children of
Cherso placed their shoes on windowsills, in hopes that St. Nick
would fill them with treats such as oranges and dried figs. Our
St. Nicholas dinner-dance remembers this tradition as St. Nick
comes to them in a beautiful sleigh with a sack full of gifts (no
oranges and figs!) that he distributes to all the children
attending the event. This beautiful sleigh was hand constructed by
Antonio Coglievina, the current president of the Society Chersina.
Carnevale, the period of feasting and revelry
just before Lent, has a long tradition in Cherso. On "Martedi
Grasso" (Fat Tuesday) the people of Cherso made a life size
stuffed doll that represented all the excess of Carnevale. This
doll was then paraded through town ending in the town square.
There, Carnevale was "tried" for his sins. He was always
found guilty and was sentenced to death. Each year he was executed
in a different way: he (Carnevale) has been burned at the stake,
hanged by a tree, and he even died under the knife of a prominent
surgeon on the operating table (in the "piazza"). After
the execution of Carnevale, the women of the town, dressed in
black, walked through the streets crying (mourning his loss). The
townsfolk then all returned home to eat the last big meal
before the start of Lent. The Society Chersina mimics this
tradition as a few members carry a handmade Carnevale doll around
the dance floor at its annual Carnevale dinner dance.
During the Society's one hundred years of existence, membership dues have only increased to five dollars a month. Meetings are still held on the first Saturday of every month (excluding summer months), at the Bohemian Hall in Astoria.
The objective of today's Society Chersina is
to continue to preserve our culture, maintain our traditions,
unite our people, and pass our strong heritage and values on to
our children. One of the most important inheritances from our
forefathers is our beautiful dialect which should be used and
cherished so that it is not forgotten.
This long life of the Society, over 100 years, would not have
been possible without the good will of the founders, and the
tireless work of the committee of directors and the dedicated
members who collaborate energetically for the progression and the
future of the Society Chersina.
We would also like to remember the deceased members,
particularly Anthony Negovetti, secretary, and Giusto Rigovich,
president, both of whom were very dedicated to the Society and its
causes, and left us much too soon.
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