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

The forthcoming is news on the Grand Lodge Council Virtual Meeting held on March 20, 2021.

The meeting started at 11:00 am. Roll Call of Officers, Pledge of Allegiance, and the Invocation was given. A reading and approval of the minutes for Saturday, October 10, 2020 Grand Council meeting. proceeded.

Reports were given by each of the state Officers after the meeting was closed the meeting of the Western Foundation was opened. Reading and approval of the minutes for Saturday, October 10, 2020 proceeded. The Western Foundation Committee Chairperson reports were given.

The Western Foundation Meeting was closed and then the Grand Lodge Committee Chairpersons Reports were continued.

In brief, (not in order) the following items were discussed. There was Concern over declining memberships. The Order has dropped to 3,300 members with the closing of five lodges during the past year. There will be

GREETINGS! HAPPY APRIL 2021!

I hope the student that had the eligibility requirements applied for the OSDIA’s National scholarships offered. OSDIA has awarded over $61 million in scholarships to date! In past years, Sons of Italy Foundation has offered 10 to 12 merit-based scholarships and National Leadership Grants, ranging from $4,000, to 25,000 in a Nationwide competition. These figures and the numbers of scholarships may vary according to funding each year.

If you follow Facebook, each Wednesday at 4:00pm PT you can listen/watch the “OSDIA Interviews Live”. Wednesday 03/04/2021 Season 3 featured

Thank you to the Lodges that can pay partial or full dues for their members for the 2021 year. A wonderful way to show their appreciation.

Volumes have been written about love. We all know the famous passages and adages from “Love conquers all” to “all you need, is love” and many more.

Together, we reach out in countless ways. I want to encourage OSDIA members to grow and thrive despite this unfortunate pandemic. We can do this if we keep our current members and invite others to share our mission. Be open to change and entice younger members.

Love is the center of everything we do. Love in the difficulties, love in joy. It is easy to get wrapped up in life’s frustrations and become discouraged. Your every act should be done with love in building OSDIA membership.

As we continue in this time of Coronavirus;

Dear brothers and sisters in OSDIA, in these days, our world seems rife with division, envy, and hatred. Patience, compassion, understanding seem scarce, and when they do appear, seem too often overwhelmed with knee-jerk negativity to have much impact.

As I have written in my past articles, I have focused on building Membership, offering constructive ideas, and setting specific goals. As we all know, building membership requires constant solutions and implementation