A Message from the State 1st Vice President

Can you believe it is June and our Convention will be at the end of the month? I’m looking forward to seeing many of you on Zoom. Although the Convention will be different this year, we plan to get work completed. If you have any questions on the Convention, don’t be afraid to ask. We will get the answer to you.

I know it has been a hard year for everyone, but we know that the need for donations has increased as the fundraising has decreased. Please, if you can see your way clear, donate to one of the charities or scholarships through the Grand Lodge at Convention.

I hope many of you sent emails to the New York City Mayor DeBlasio. It is a shame that an Italian American led the removal of the Columbus Day holiday in the New York City Schools. Chancellor Ross Porter, who is not of Italian descent could possibly be excused but there is no excuse for the Mayor.

We in the California Grand Lodge have a Columbus statue that was removed from its public spot in San Diego. Our Grand Lodge worked to get it gifted to the Fratellanza Garibaldina Lodge in San Diego. The Lodge would find a place, on private property, where it could be shared with others of Italian heritage. I hope when you are reading this that it was a successful endeavor. Thank you to President, Sal Denero, for bringing it to our attention so we could get the word to all the local Lodges as well as the National CSJ and the Conference of Presidents. We will not be ignored. We will speak with one voice if you allow us to do so.

When you bring issues to Tony Ricevuto, our CSJ Chair, you bring it to the Nation. We will all work together to resolve said issue. Don’t try to do it on your own. There is strength in numbers, and we have the numbers.

I hope you all have a safe summer, and we’ll get back to a form of normal come fall.

Till then
Fraternally
Barbara