Marisa and Alan Miller, membership co-chairs, haven’t let COVID-19 stop them from discovering new members who want to join our Sons of Italy community. Meet two of Napa Lodges’ newest members!

Rex is a Senior Executve with Vision Service Plan. His partner, Otto, is engaged in property management with the Napa Women’s Club and supports COVID-19 vaccinaLon pop-up clinics in Santa Rosa, California. Rex served on the board for Sacramento Habitat for Humanity for nine years. Otto served in leadership with the Sacramento based Methodist Church, strategically

I know everyone is looking forward to getting back to the “new normal”, attending meetings, cooking dinners, fundraising and attending celebrations. A lot of things we all have missed over the last almost 18 months. Time is coming for this to happen, but we still have to be cautious.

We are in the midst of currently planning our “ZOOM” State Convention; this will be new for all of us so please be patient. The plan is to take care of business in morning then our National 1st Vice President has asked to speak to the convention delegates; afterwards we will have installation of the new officers. This will take everyone’s cooperation to achieve this but I have confidence in all of you.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s day celebration. For many this was the first time to see our families” safely”. The next celebration is Father’s day. Again please everyone be careful.

It is nice to see that many Lodges are slowly meeting

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

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in OSDIA,

We survived 2020 – perhaps not without illness, suffering and loss, and perhaps not as we had planned. But survive it we did and with a willingness to continue being on this earth with the hope that we will serve one another humbly with Fraternalism.

This month, June 2021 will be the end of my two-year term as your State 2nd Vice President. It has been a challenging two years keeping in touch and communicating with the Lodges. I want to thank the Lodges for their support and keeping me informed of their lodge activities. I am honored and so humbled to be able to share this portion of my life and the influence it has had on my personal involvement in OSDIA. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to serve as a State Officer of OSDIA.

June is also the month for State Convention. The convention may not be exactly as we had in the past. Pandemic regulations have required a virtual meeting. Members gathering to listen to good speakers and sharing the joy of Fun Night, this year will not happen. But the business necessary for a state convention can and will be done. Dedicated members willing to take the challenge

Sisters and Brothers:

Here we are in June of 2021 already. But, If you look ahead, we are slowly winning this fight against the pandemic.. More and more people are getting the vaccine and one day this virus will go the way of Small Pox, TB, Measles, Shingles and Polio etc. Let’s push for that.

The governor says he wants to do away with the color tier system by mid June which just might advance us a little bit faster to being able to meet and greet by August, I hope. I know all of you are so tired of not being able to see your fellow sisters and brothers.

I will miss the ‘in person’ convention this year as I do enjoy seeing all the members from all over our area. The convention will be virtual but that is not the same. I would much rather see and hug every one in person but not this year.

I have no idea where the 2022 convention will be