History and Purpose

The Modenese Society (Societa Modenese di Mutuo Soccorso) was founded in 1906 at a house on McDaniels Avenue in Highland Park , Illinois .  The founders were a small group of 27 laborers from the Village of Pievepelago and its surrounding area.  This area is located in the Alpine Mountain Range in the province of Modena in the Region of Emilia Romagna. The Society was incorporated under the laws of Illinois in 1907. 

 The principal purposes were and still are to aid the members in case of sickness, to help a member’s family in case of his death, and to be united against all calamities of misfortune.  We are one of the oldest Mutual Aid Societies in the United States.

Besides assisting our members, the Modenese Society engages in many social activities and has been a sponsor of many civic causes.  We strongly support our Italian culture and heritage in our new homeland of America .

Today we boast 325 members mostly located in the affluent area of southeast Lake County , Illinois .  Our club is open to all men of Italian descent.  For those not interested in mutual aid benefits, we now offer social memberships.  We are proud to say that Luciano Pavarotti has been an Honorary Member of our Society for the past 20 years. (Mr. Pavarotti passed away in 2007)

History update since May 2006.

In March of 2007 a number of by-laws changes were submitted to the members for a vote. The members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the changes. These changes were needed to keep up with the reality of the current times.  This is a summary of some major by-laws changes.

OFFICERS TITLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
The number of officers was reduced from 21 to 8.  Each one of the 8 officers has specific responsibilities.

WOMEN MEMBERS.
The women can now join the Modenese on equal terms with the men. All restrictions were removed. The language now reads: The Society is open to all Italians descendent men and women.

SICK BENEFITS
The sick benefits were removed. The mortuary payout was kept and increased. The main purpose of the Modenese is to keep the Italian culture and traditions alive. The sick benefits,valuable as it was in the past, did not fit into todays needs.

OTHER CHANGES.
Since the last by-laws rules were printed a number of other by-laws were changed over the years, A new booklet is being prepared with all the changes included.

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE MODENESE SOCIETY

Carlo Carani 

Carlo Panerali

Egido Mocogni

Carlo Carani

Anthony Vanoni

Egido Mocogni

Edward Casettari

Gabriele Doretti 

Frank Parenti

Valerio Zagnioli

Cesare Zagnioli

Valerio Zagnioli

Amerigo Ladurini

Nello Ori

Secondo Natta

Marco Carani

Anthony Biagi

Steve Mocogni 

John Ori

Carlo Vanoni

Alberto Biondi 

Marco Carani

George Pieracci

Riccardo Pattarozzi

Carl A. Carani

Settimio Milani

Laurence Pasquesi

Carl A. Carani
1906 to 1919

1919 to 1920 

1920 to 1921

1922 to 1922 

1923 to 1924 

1925 to 1927

1928 to 1929

1929 to 1931

1931 to 1933

1933 to 1938 (Partial 1938) 

1938 to 1939 (Partial 1938)

1940 to 1942 

1943 to 1945

1945 to 1947 

1947 to 1948 

1949 to 1951

1951 to 1958

1958 to 1961 

1961 to 1964

1964 to 1969

1969 to 1970 (Partial 1970) 

1970 to 1971

1972 to 1974

1974 to 1979

1979 to 1980 

1980 to 2002  (Mr. Milani served 22 years)

2003 to 2005

2006 to present  

 

 

 


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