ATTENTION ALL SDOIA MEMBERS ! Remember that our Ambassador of Happiness, Louise is now gone from us and we will drink a toast to her. Remember what she always said - Be kind to someone today and that kindness will return back to you in many ways...Stay well and please join us August 8th...
Sixteen months ago, March 2020, we had our last SDOIA meeting of the Cesare Battisti Lodge in Petaluma. As we look ahead to this coming August 8th, a Sunday at 2PM in the afternoon, we will be having our first post pandemic meeting and early dinner at our new location in Rohnert Park, just a hop north of Petaluma. We are meeting at 5099 Snyder Lane in the Club House of the Rancho Grande
July or August should be the magic month for us to again get together at Notre Dame Hall, although we have not yet heard from them as to if or when they will open their doors to us. Keep tuned for info.
In Italy, the Naples Bay and the area surrounding it sits on a giant caldera that rivals the size of Yellowstone Park in North America. The magma chamber that sits beneath the bay causes the landmass
In preparation to writing this article I reread the last column I wrote for IL LEONE, with our collected hopes that the Lodge would reopen in October 2020. Didn’t happen! Not close! Now finally, with the advent of vaccinations and precautions, I think we can breathe a little easier, and try to pick up where we left off. Our President Joe LaPorta and I recently had lunch, and he told me of the wonderful plans, and you’ll be happy to hear them! Getting to this point wasn’t easy Joe said, as he had to wade through a myriad of issues and regulations from the State of California, the city of Palm Springs and liquor board. All with their own directives and issues. Joe further regaled me with stories of keeping our Lodge maintenance up, and stories of encounters with those that wanted to make the grounds and Lodge their new home!
The doors are set to swing open this coming October 13th 2021, and there to herald your arrival will be Joe and Lori, at the front desk, checking your name of the list, Renee and her kitchen crew masterfully preparing dinner, and our ever charismatic Frank Di Salvo strumming a few chords on his guitar and greeting all! Saw Lori Harvey the other evening and she said she has her list of names out to start calling you for reservations and a cheerful word.
In other words we’re all enthusiastic to start a new season of our Lodge. We have a fantastic Lodge, amazing entertainers
PONDERING THE PAST An Italian Pilgrimage
My second visit to Italy was in 2002, 40 years after my first visit...yes, things changed ...my cousin Rino said, “in 40 years Italy has caught up with the rest of the world”. My journey this time took me to Lourdes. My nephew attended the school “la Nostra Famiglia”in San Vito. They dispensed special permission for me to tag along. We met at the train station, and boarded a Cuccette..(a sleeper train)...our trip to Lourdes France would be a 15 hour train ride. The train was so long they had to leave at 2 different intervals. Our pilgrimage had over 1000 Italians. One side note...I sat by a lady and showed her some photos my dad had taken on my first trip to Italy...in 1961...she looked through the photos and pointed to a lady she said was her aunt. (go figure) Our group was assigned 3 ”little sister”
Well, it finally happened.
After 16 months of picnics, and outside activities, Saddleback Valley Lodge # 2566 has moved back home, (the Norman Murray Center). We just had the most enjoyable meeting with over 50 Members and friends coming back to enjoy a great Greek meal and lots of fun and conversation. We also had a very active game of Bingo with tons of white elephant gifts. It was wonderful to see and talk with so many of our members. Quite a few did not participate in the picnics due to health concerns, (understandable). We are currently meeting on Wednesday nights
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Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Grand Lodge of California P. O. Box 2467 Fairfield, CA 94533 Phone: (415) 586-1316 Fax:(415) 586-4786