The Backstory

CIAO was initially founded in 2008 as a Cleveland Chapter of POINT (Pursuing Our Italian Names Together), a national organization dedicated to Italian genealogy. The first meeting was held at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland in January 2008. Our group was the 29th local chapter of POINT and over the next few years our membership grew, largely through word of mouth.

In 2013, the founders of POINT retired, and the organization was disbanded. At that time, our local Cleveland group transitioned to CIAO (Cleveland Italian Ancestry Organization). Our mission is devoted exclusively to Italian Genealogy and related topics among Italian Americans in Northeast Ohio and surrounding areas. 

Here and Now

Today, our group meets in person on alternate months at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Independence Branch. Meetings begin with a brief business update including announcements about upcoming genealogy activities in the Greater Cleveland area, member news, and a treasurer’s report. This is usually followed by a guest speaker focusing on an aspect of genealogy research. Periodically, our members and their significant others meet for dinner at a local Italian restaurant and convene in the summer for a potluck feast.

CIAO Officers

President Tom Cirincione
Vice President John Vallillo
Secretary Connie Sancetta
Treasurer Linda Erlenbach
Social Media Chair Eva Chiro
Programming Chair Stacie Murry
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster Margaret Grande Bierman