There are all kinds of songs and odes to summer; the joys, the fun, the pursuit of fireflies on a lovely evening, etc., etc! Nobody who lives in our desert wrote any of them! Perhaps some wrote songs or odes lamenting the lack thereof! But once again I’m writing to say that changes are coming. A sign of that is our doors open October 12! It signals the joy that our lovely falls are about to begin, and perhaps you’ll have the opportunity to play a round of golf without the danger of heat stroke. WHICH BRINGS ME TO A POINT!

Our third annual golf tournament is just over the horizon. Tee off is Monday, November 14, 2022. AND THAT MEANS

The United Lodges of Southern California met on Sunday, August 21st at the Centinela Valley Lodge hall. The member lodges attending Centinela Valley, Hacienda, Joanne Coccia, Pugliese and Renaissance. Unable to attend were the Anaheim and Dolly Sinatra Lodges.

The United Lodges welcomed the Renaissance Lodge who rejoined the group.

A lunch of various pizzas, salads and cake served prior to the meeting was enjoyed by those attending. After not meeting

The Joanne Coccia Lodge #2553 initiated three new members at our July 24th meeting, Patricia Hicks, Linda E. Wooten and Raul Morales.

At this meeting, Foundation Scholarship Chairman Emanuel Finazzo announced the names of recipients of the 2022 scholarships.

The Joanne Coccia Lodge Foundation is proud to announce the 2022 scholarship awards. Our Lodge is issuing two high school and five continuation scholarships of $2,000 each to deserving students.

The Veta M. Finazzo Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Leyla Strong. Leyla, a graduate of Jay M. Robinson High School in Concord, North Carolina with a 4.2 grade point average, will attend Guilford University in North Carolina and plans to be an athletic trainer. Her major

Our May 73rd Anniversary dinner was a terrific evening! We had a wonderful prime rib or chicken wellington dinner. The food was fantastic, as usual. Our caterer did another outstanding job. The members that helped put this event together created a beautifully decorated hall. Without each and every one of them, our events would not be as successful. We would like to thank each of the lodges and state officers that attended our anniversary: Anaheim Lodge, Dolly Sinatra Lodge, Joanne Coccia Lodge, La Costa Dei Fiori Lodge and Pugliese Lodge. The state officers that attended were: Western Foundation Trustee Joseph

Survival…
Like many Sons and Daughters of Italy lodges, Saddleback is struggling to retain and even gain members. To that end, we have been successful, and I thought I would give my opinions on why we are doing well. First of all, it is leadership. Our president and his council have been very effective in maintaining morale and loyalty through the pre-pandemic and pandemic period. Hank, especially, has encouraged ideas and has kept virtually all members of the lodge active by delegating the responsibility for activities, meeting programs and meals, and responding positively to member’s ideas. Secondly, we strive for monthly activities. There is so much to see and do around Orange County and beyond that our activities abound. We have done wine tasting, museum trips, outdoor picnics, outdoor movies, and train trips for example at affordable prices. As a result, we have a very cohesive group.

It is our plan to give the Grand Lodge