1996

• Summer - Personal contacts develop partner city idea
• Fall - Founded as 501C3 non-profit corporation

1997

• March - Aiken Delegation visits Orvieto
• July - First exchange of Aiken high school students to Orvieto
• November - Orvieto Delegation visits Aiken
- Orvieto becomes Aiken's first Partner City
- Maestro Valentini debuts at USCA Etherredge Center
- Introduction of Orvieto Classico, a white wine "First Performance"

1998

• January - Arnold Gallery becomes Valentini exclusive USA representative
• March - Harness Race event held for PIF participants
• August - First exchange of Orvieto high school students to Aiken
• November - Orogami Jewelers exhibit at Floyd & Greene Jewelers
- Arrival of Orvieto Classico wine "Second Performance"
• December - Living Christmas Card exchange with Orvieto by teleconference, ATC

1999

• March - PIF booth at Steeplechase Races
- Harness Race event held for PIF participants
• June - Second exchange of Aiken high school students to Orvieto
- Shoalhaven, Australia becomes Aiken's second partner City
- First PIF tour to Orvieto
- Delivered textbooks to Orvieto schools
• August - PIF educational display at library
First booth at International Festival
• October - Maestro Valentini returns to USCA as Visiting Professor
- Developed website and email distribution list
• November - "Third Performance", Cabernet wine from Puglia
• December - Aiken Center for the Arts, joint reception for new Valentini exhibit
- Acquired old New Ellenton post office

2000

• January - First Medieval Banquets
- Drs. Claudio and Alba Bizzarri at USCA as Visiting Professors
- USCA first offerings of Italian Language for credit, Italian
Art History, Italian Archaeology, and Italian History
- City Hall creates permanent PIF display
• June - Cooking tour in Orvieto
- USCA students participate in archaeological dig at a newly discovered Etruscan site near Orvieto
• August - Second exchange of Orvieto high school students to Aiken
• September - Shoalhaven Pen Pals Program established
- Maestro Valentini returns to USCA as Visiting Professor and begins the Mega-work, Galassia, for the USCA Convocation Center
- Joint opening by Partner City artists, Valentini and Leslie Alexander, Aiken Center for the Arts
• October - First Business Exposition, brings Orvietan products to Aiken
• December - Wine Fundraiser - "Fourth Performance" Murgia Cabernet

2001

• April - First awarding of the Lou Piancone scholarship in the amount of $800 to Cynthia Faison
• May - Valentini exhibition at Piccolo Spoleto
• June - Valentini resumes work on Galassia at USCA
- Third exchange of 15 Aiken high school students to Orvieto

2002

• March - Claudio & Alba Bizzarri and Erika Bizzarri visit to Aiken
- Brent Cline and Jim Stewart & Family represent Aiken in Orvieto's Maratona di San Giuseppe. The race is 11 km through the City streets, hosted by the City who pays for room & board for runners & family
• April - Australian Wine & Food Fest at the home of Jane Page Thompson
• June - Visit by the Honorary Italian Consul to SC, Dr. Sergio Fedelini and wife Jane Fedelini
• July - Third exchange of 12 Orvietani students and 3 chaperones to Aiken
• October - "Fifth Performance" Murgia Cabernet, 1999 from Puglia Region, Southern Italy

2003

• March - Two Aiken runners, Gary Moore and Tam Masterson represent Aiken in Orvieto’s Maratona di San Giuseppe. This is the second year in a row that Aiken runners participate.
- Second awarding of the Lou Piancone scholarship in the amount of $800 to Jenny Taylor. Two $600 scholarships awarded from Sand River Woman’s Club to Angela Faison ($600), and Amber Stone ($600).
• May - Livio Orazio Valentini returns to Aiken to dedicate his Masterwork “Galassia" at USCA. Valentini is accompanied by his wife, Flora, daughter Silvia, and Orvieto’s Vice Mayor, Stefano Mocio.
- Rabold Gallery exhibition
• July - Seven Aiken area high school students travel to Orvieto for a two-week exchange in the homes of the Orvietani. Three of the students are PIF scholarship awardees as mentioned above.
• December - “Sixth Performance” annual wine fundraiser features two wines supplied by Jolene Norris of The Wine Cellar. The red and white wine each display a custom label featuring two Aiken artists in commemoration of the first ever art exhibit by Aiken artists in Orvieto, scheduled for March 2004.
Label: "Point of View" by Leslie Alexander -- Wine: Shiraz (red), 2002, from McWilliam's Hanwood Estate (est. 1877), SE Australia.
Label: "Untitled" by Al Beyer, USCA -- Wine: Pino & Toi (white), 2002, from Maculan Vineyard, Breganze, Veneto, Italy.

2004

• February - Two retiring high school exchange leaders/chaperones, Merilyn Smith and Lynn Pope are recognized for leadership role in the student exchange with Orvieto from 1997 to 2003. Two new exchange leaders/chaperones, Ann Steeper and Patrick O’Neill are appointed.
- Talitha Watson, PIF’s first exchange student from Australia arrives and is introduced at the PIF Annual Meeting held at Linda’s Bistro
• March - Two Aiken artists (Leslie Alexander and Al Beyer) exhibit their art in Orvieto in a joint Exhibit (Incontro Nell’ Arte - Aiken in Orvieto) with Livio Orazio Valentini at the Chiostro di San Giovanni. Outgoing Orvieto Mayor, Stefano Cimicchi, is presented with certificate of appreciation and hand-made quilt Aiken flag.
• April - Orvieto high school student summer 2004 exchange to Aiken is canceled due to insufficient number of Orvieto students signing up for the exchange. The Aiken student exchange to Orvieto in summer 2005 is expected to occur.
• May - Shelly Schmidt accepts invitation from the City of Orvieto and travels to Orvieto to exhibit Aiken “Horseplay” and equestrian photography at the Palio dell’Oca in Orvieto.
• June - Stefano Mocio, Orvieto’s vice mayor, is elected mayor.
• October - “Seventh Performance” Annual Wine Fundraiser is launched for 2004-2005. Its theme is “Celebrating Horseplay” and features 31 different labels, each depicting a “Horseplay” horse by various Aiken Artists. The red wine is a 2003 Chianti from DaVinci Vineyards in Vinci, Tuscany, Italy. The white is a 2002 Pinot Grigio from Stella Vineyard in Umbria, Italy. The labels are artistically photographed and designed by Shelly Schmidt.
• November - on 11/7, a reception is held at the Jackson Gallery on Park Avenue to introduce the Horseplay wines to the public, and to honor the artists who painted the horses. Each artist is recognized and invited to autograph their label. Proceeds from the Horseplay wine will support international student exchange programs for Aiken youth of high school age.

2005

• January - Wine Fundraiser, “Celebrating Horseplay” (Seventh Performance) is concluded as the most successful fundraiser to date.
- Three students are selected as scholarship recipients for the outbound high school exchange to Orvieto, July 12 – 24. The scholarship winners are: Marisol Slater, Silver Bluff High ($1,000) (Sand River Woman’s Club Scholarship); Casey Stanberry, Aiken High ($900); and Megan Boyleston, Williston-Elko High ($600).
• February - Annual Meeting and Dinner is held at Newberry Hall for 100 members and guests, at a cost of $45 per person. Guest Chef, Jeffrey Viviano, is flown down from Mount Holyoke College MA, to prepare a gourmet Italian meal featuring ossobuco, porcini risotto, and three wines. Mal McKibben is invited to speak on each wine (Zefiro Prosecco, Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 2001, and Nivole Moscato D’Asti). Viviano holds a cooking demonstration the following day, which is attended by 16 people.
• March - Members’ reception is held at Legends (Highland Grill) at the Aiken CC.
- Italy’s Consul General, Gianfranco Colognato, from Miami visits Aiken accompanied by Sergio Fedelini, Honorary Consul to SC. On the following day, they meet with Governor Sanford, in Columbia.
• July - Ten Aiken Area students, accompanied by two chaperones (Pat O’Neill – Aiken High, and Ann Steeper –South Aiken High) travel to Orvieto, Italy for a two week home exchange (7/12-24). The students and teachers are housed with Orvieto families. (See Aiken Standard article on 7/21/2005)
• September - The Eighth Performance wine fundraiser for 2005-06 is initiated with the selection of two Italian wines; the red is Vitiano Rosso 2003 from Falesco vineyards in Montefiascone Umbria. The white is TiAmo Pinot Grigio 2004. Both wines feature an artistic label, specially designed for PIF by Shelly Schmidt, that celebrates Aiken’s special role as host of the USPA Gold Cup.
• November - An event is held to introduce the Eighth Performance wines to the public. The event is held at 405 Hayne Avenue at Pendleton. Proceeds from the Polo wine will support international student exchange programs for Aiken youth of high school age.

2006

• February - Annual Meeting and Dinner is held at Newberry Hall for 100 members and guests, at a cost of $55 per person for members and $65 for non-members. Guest Chef, Jeffrey Viviano, flies down from Mount Holyoke College MA, to prepare a gourmet Italian meal featuring beef carpaccio, herb-crusted sea bass, a mascarpone cheese cake and three wines. The wines are Gavi di Gavi (white), Verdicchio (white), and Brachetto (sparkling red dessert).
• July - Ten Orvieto students, accompanied by one chaperone (Miriam) arrive from Orvieto, Italy on 7/19 for a two-week home exchange (7/19-31). The students and Miriam are housed with Aiken families. (See Aiken Standard articles on 7/23, 26 and 31, /2006).
• August - A delegation from the closed Russian city of Seversk in Siberia arrives in Aiken for a one-week visit. (See Aiken Standard articles on 7/11, 8/18, 8/19). The delegation is headed by Vice Gov. of the Tomsk Region, Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn. Other delegates include: Sergey Tochilin, Head of City Administration of Seversk; Mikhail Murashkin, Vice Mayor of Seversk; Andrey Nikolayev, Deputy Director for Staff of the Siberian Group of Chemical Enterprises; Alexander Ageyev, Head of Small Business Development, City of Seversk; and Eugenia Valeeva, Senior Lecturer at Seversk State Technological Academy.
• October - Two Medieval Banquets are held in a tent at Newberry Hall on 12th and 14th. Two cooks, Iva Barbabella and Enzo Barbetti, are flown from Orvieto, to head up the cooking effort. The cost is $80 per person. The USCA Drama Department provides entertainment and wait staff. The “royalty” for the events are Fred and Lee Cavanaugh (12th), and Dr. Tom Hallmand and Susan Hallman (14th). Attendance is 60 on 12th, and 80 and 14th.
• November -The Ninth Performance wine fundraiser for 2006-07 is initiated with the selection of two Italian wines; the red is Vitiano Rosso Umbria 2004 from Falesco vineyards in Montecchio. The white is Orvieto Classico 2005, from La Carraia, also in Umbria. Both wines feature artistic labels, specially designed for PIF by Southside Gallery, that celebrate Aiken’s Golf Courses.
- A meeting between Orvieto Mayor Stefano Mocio and George Custodi is held in Orvieto and agreement is reached that the two cities should plan a 10th anniversary celebration of the Partnership, in 2007, with an exchange of small delegations and some festive event. Serena Ubaldini is charged by Mocio to work with PIF to develop the details.
• December - The Ninth Performance wine fundraiser for 2006-07 is “kicked off” with an event held at Southside Gallery on 12/19/06.

2007

• February -Annual Meeting and Dinner is held at Newberry Hall on 2/17, for 100 members and guests, at a cost of $60 per person with members receiving first registration. Guest Chef, Jeffrey Viviano, flies from Mount Holyoke College MA, to prepare a gourmet Italian meal featuring beef filet, risotto and tuna, panna cotta dessert and three wines. The wines are Barbera Del Piemonte (red), Montepulciano (red), and Passito di Pantelleria (white, sweet).
- Four out of ten high school students are awarded a total of $4,000 in scholarships to travel to Orvieto during the summer, 2007. The students and scholarship amounts are:

$1200 each - Sarah Nell Lader and Natalie Conant
$  700- Erin Abernathy
$  500- Emily Fox
$  400- Krystin Sanito
• May - An event is held on 5/17-19 at the former Amanda’s restaurant on Laurens, to make available for viewing and sale, the remaining Valentini prints and posters. The event also features PIF wines, is well attended and draws a lot if interest from the community. Approximately 20 prints and posters are sold for an income in excess of $5,000.
- Also on 5/17, the last class on Ancient Rome, taught by Dr. Walt Kubilius, is held at USCA. The class began on April 12, for a total of 5 sessions, and was well attended with over 25 enrollees.
• July - Ten high school students travel to Orvieto for the annual student exchange. The students are as follows:
Erin Abernathy, a senior at South Aiken High School; Natalie Ann Conant, a junior at South Aiken High School; Emily Flora, a sophomore at Aiken High School; Emily Fox, a junior at South Aiken High School; Christy Kyle, a junior at South Aiken High School; Sarah Nell Lader, a sophomore at Aiken High School; John Low, a junior at South Aiken High School; Krystin Sanito; a sophomore at South Aiken High School; Katie Scherpenberg, a sophomore at South Aiken High School; and Mark Taylor, a sophomore at South Aiken High School.
• November - On November 10th three Orvietans arrive in Aiken to join us in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Partnership. They are Dr. Stefano Mocio, Mayor of Orvieto; Evasio Gialletti, President of the Orvieto City Council, and Erika Bizzarri, interpreter and original founding member (living in Orvieto). They depart on November 14th after spending three full days of event-filled activities which included several receptions, visits to USCA, Aiken Tech, City Hall, The Chamber of Commerce, the Old Aiken Market and Friendship Baptist Church in downtown. The visit was culminated by a Dinner of Thanksgiving cooked and served at St. Thaddeus by Rich Viviano’s culinary team on Tuesday evening 11/13.

The visit was such a success that it resulted in Aiken being invited to be the featured city at the Orvieto Con Gusto (A taste of Orvieto) Fest in October 2008. Aiken and PIF will prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for the Italians and participate in other festival activities.

2008

• January - On the morning of the 7th, George Custodi is interviewed by Italian radio-television (RAI International), by telephone, along with Orvieto mayor Stefano Mocio. The broadcast, which highlights Orvieto, is beamed to RAI audiences world-wide.
• February - The Annual meeting and dinner is held at Houndslake Country Club on Saturday the 16th for 76 members and guests. The cost is $65 per person for dinner and three wines (Prosecco, Dolcetto D’Alba and Nivole Moscato D’Asti) are featured. Over thirty items are raffled. The SC Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers and his wife, Blanche are honored guests. (See Aiken Standard article on Monday Feb. 11th). The main course is rack of lamb and Portobello mushrooms.