Since last edition of the Il Leone, First Gent, Ken, and I have attended Lodge meetings at Gold Country #2705 and Northern Solano #2534. While there we initiated new members. There is nothing we like better than to assist with new members becoming Sisters and Brothers.

I spent a few days at the Grand Lodge building where State Recording Secretary Lori Rossi and I interviewed for a new office administrative person. We hired Ervin Siax and both of us feel he will be a good

What a wonderful day First Gent, Ken and I had at the Western Foundation’s Golf Outing. It was sponsored by the Vincenzo Bellini Lodge #2519, in Chico. This Lodge worked tirelessly to prepare this event. President Michael Colletti Smith along with more members than I can name put on a wonderful, profitable event. Thank you all. And, by the way, some of our skilled golfers are a little upset with your Grand Lodge President as I won the “Frozen Meatball Putt”! As I don’t golf no one including myself saw that coming! If you get the opportunity to tune into https://www.actionnewsnow.com/content/news/Chico-Sons-and-Daughters-of-Italy-hosts-annual-charity-golf-classic-575505741.html, you can see this actually happen!

I attended the virtual National Convention this weekend

The smoke seems to have cleared for most of us. I hope your skies are clear. Since I last wrote you, there have been several Zoom calls with National. All were interesting but one was very interesting. All the National Committee Chairs were on this Zoom. Our National President Robert Bianchi told us what he expected in the way of action and reporting. He also told us to feel free to reach out to other committee chairs for assistance with activities.

I was impressed with this idea of sharing assistance with each other. We certainly can do this on a Grand Lodge or Local Lodge level. If our committee has a project they are working on and find themselves in need of help from a technology or membership committee, they should feel free to reach out. The best chance we have for continued success is

I hope you are all staying cool and smoke free. Ken and I have missed many Reno Aces games because of the unhealthy air. We are hoping to get to the rest before the season is over.

Ken and I visited the Gold Country Lodge #2705 to celebrate their 25th Anniversary, with President Jim Silveira, First Lady Barbara and so many of their officers and members. The food and company were wonderful.

I want to remind everyone that, as President, I would like

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