Ernie Rota
1924 - 2021

It is with great sadness for our lodge
as we said farewell to our beloved
member. Ernie lived his entire life in
Napa, a community he loved dearly.
He was an active member of the Napa
community, a life-long member of St.
John's Catholic Church, served as a
member of the City Council from
1966-1973, and actively participated
in our Napa lodge

I am overwhelmed with emotions from all the phone calls, emails, and texts from you, offering assistance with our Grand Lodge workings. As I have said before, we will all have to work together to get our Grand Lodge back to its former glory. Membership needs to be a priority. As a Grand Lodge or National Lodge, we can save Columbus Day, we can get Italian Language Seats in Universities, we can get respect for our wonderful culture, and we can make a better place for our Italian American children and grandchildren. We can raise large amounts of money for charities, both local and national.

After this pandemic, people are looking for places to get out and about; to have fun but contribute to worthy causes, to learn about their heritage. Reach out to them. Show them the fun you have at your Lodges and the worthy causes you help fund. Don’t wait for them to come to you. Go to them. Go to the Bocce courts, sponsor a sports team, get some PR out in the neighborhood. You know best where to go locally.

We had our first Executive Council meeting and am very pleased

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On June 26, 2021, we had our State Grand Lodge hybrid convention held at the Grand Lodge Hall in San Francisco, CA with all State Officers in attendance with some state delegates in person while others joined by zoom. State President John Costa opened the meeting and dedicated it to Past State and National President Frank J. De Santis, a very heartwarming gesture. We accomplished quite a bit of business in a short period of time. Two By-laws were presented, with a motion to approve. With some discussion the delegates moved to table the motion. The motion was passed. The delegates voted to table until next convention 2022. Our 2022 Convention will be held in Anaheim, CA on June 23 – 26, 2022. The budget and finances were reviewed and with the exception for a minor issue it was passed.

Installation of State Officers was held. Congratulations to the newly elected State Officers and a Heartfelt Thank you to the outgoing officers for their work and dedication the past two years.

There are three positions for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Vice President. Ballots will

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Louie Lodi, newly elected Vice President of the North. I have met many of you at our Annual Conventions, but for those that I have not, I have been a member of OSDIA since 2004 holding almost every Officer’s position in the Sacramento Lodge #1352. I served two posts as State Deputy and the last two years Membership Chair of the North.

Navigating through this Pandemic has been tough, but a famous fellow Italian brother Vince Lombardi once said,” when the going gets tough the tough get going.” Membership has dropped tremendously. Rebuilding our Lodges

As I am newly elected to the position of Vice President of the South I don’t have much to report on yet.
I am thankful to be elected and look forward to working with our new State President over the next two years.
If anyone has questions please fee free to contact me.

Thanks all.

Mark Vaona .