Okay, what month is this? They keep running together, I am being very optimistic that we will once again, shortly, be able to meet in person. As we enter into the winter months, please everyone stay well and safe. Get you flu shots, and wear that mask. It’s almost second nature for all of us to have that mask when we leave the house, and have extras in the car now. Who would have thought…

We were able to conduct a Grand Council meeting on October 10th virtually. Thank you to all the officers and members who participated. I am still planning on meeting in person for the March Grand Council meeting, fingers and toes crossed.

As lodges begin to elect officers for the new term ahead please review the letter that sent out from our Judiciary Committee. Please send any questions or comments to myself or Al.

Some lodges in various counties have been getting together, practicing social distancing and keeping the quantity of people to a minimum. I have heard some lodges are doing takeout meals for their members and communities. Some are meeting outdoors with everyone bringing their own food & drink. And there are the lodges doing the Zoom meetings / dinners.

Congratulations to the new officers and those who made the choice to resume their position of office.

This month I have some highlights of Leadership information I received from SHARE “Catholic Daughters of the America” and feel that it is good information to share with new and returning lodge Officers.

How we present ourselves, how we treat others, how we think about other people can change the way we think and behave. Consider the following small steps that will provide personal growth and success as a leader.

1. THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN CHANGE IS YOURSELF! Fear exists only in your mind. Choose a positive sense of challenge. Dare to take on your dreams and challenges.

2. BUILD CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF BY BEING PREPARED. Past positive successes give the confidence to keep going forward. Look to the future to see the results. Learn from differences. Ask yourself if you have

What a year 2020 has been and is. My prayers are with all that have been affected by the fires, hurricanes and floods. I would again like to thank my brothers and sisters as well as the many lodges that reached out to me doing this difficult time with my health problems. I would like to assure you your prayers have helped. I’m well on my way to being healthy again.

Now for some Italian trivia.

November is truffle season in Italy,

I saw this cartoon on social media the other day and it seems ironic the COVID-19 pandemic has, in a way, taken the brunt out of Columbus Day celebrations by many local lodges. This issue of the ILeone would be full of pictures of our annual Columbus Day celebration with members enjoying a friendly bocce ball tournament, great food, dessert contest, raffle, and bounce house for the junior members. The pandemic did not allow for us to have an event this year and in view of the “Cancel Culture” occurring in the country it may have been a good thing.

With Christopher Columbus statues being graffitied or torn down across the country I joked Roma Lodge could find a slightly used one, like the one removed from the California Capitol, to donate to the International Agri-Center (IAC) park where we hold our annual celebration.

The good news is that we are all still here; more good news is that the seasonal flu vaccine is available across the valley; your own health care provider will be more than glad to “shoot” you to help you survive the season. The bad news is that Covid-19 vaccines are not yet available … as they say: pray for the cure.

The Fresno County Fairgrounds contains the Fresno County Historical Museum which hosts Italian American Heritage Project; as such, they are seeking stories of Italian immigration interest in our area. If you have photos or stories that you would like to submit, contact Olivia Gallegos at 251-5992, or Sandra West, Friends of the Fair, 1121 S. Chance Ave, Fresno, CA 93702, (559) 650-3247. Contribute according to your ability by contacting Sandra if you wish. They are also accepting names for plaques to memorialize your family in the Valley. (yes, we said this before, but get your family’s name engraved somewhere in the valley so that everyone knows we are here).

The place we love, Notre Dame Hall