I saw this cartoon on social media the other day and it seems ironic the COVID-19 pandemic has, in a way, taken the brunt out of Columbus Day celebrations by many local lodges. This issue of the ILeone would be full of pictures of our annual Columbus Day celebration with members enjoying a friendly bocce ball tournament, great food, dessert contest, raffle, and bounce house for the junior members. The pandemic did not allow for us to have an event this year and in view of the “Cancel Culture” occurring in the country it may have been a good thing.

With Christopher Columbus statues being graffitied or torn down across the country I joked Roma Lodge could find a slightly used one, like the one removed from the California Capitol, to donate to the International Agri-Center (IAC) park where we hold our annual celebration.

The good news is that we are all still here; more good news is that the seasonal flu vaccine is available across the valley; your own health care provider will be more than glad to “shoot” you to help you survive the season. The bad news is that Covid-19 vaccines are not yet available … as they say: pray for the cure.

The Fresno County Fairgrounds contains the Fresno County Historical Museum which hosts Italian American Heritage Project; as such, they are seeking stories of Italian immigration interest in our area. If you have photos or stories that you would like to submit, contact Olivia Gallegos at 251-5992, or Sandra West, Friends of the Fair, 1121 S. Chance Ave, Fresno, CA 93702, (559) 650-3247. Contribute according to your ability by contacting Sandra if you wish. They are also accepting names for plaques to memorialize your family in the Valley. (yes, we said this before, but get your family’s name engraved somewhere in the valley so that everyone knows we are here).

The place we love, Notre Dame Hall

Hello members. It is now November, and this pandemic has certainly changed the face of how Order has worked this year. Since it is my job to submit a yearly report to my members, and we still aren’t meeting, I will do it here. I am a bad news first President, so here is the bad news:

1. Our Lodge has not met in person since the pandemic took a foothold in March 2020.
2. We have no revenue from our 98th Anniversary Fundraiser that was cancelled.
3. We have no revenue from the KISS Country/MEGA 97.9 Summer Concert series that was cancelled.
4. Many of our members were unable to work and could not pay their dues.
5. The Grand Lodge has sent suggested recommendations on how to proceed with an election during the covid 19 pandemic. Our Lodge has decided to continue with the same Officers for the 2021/2022 term. This is bad news, because we have several open offices that need to be filled. I have asked many times for our members to step into these roles, but they remain open. When we start to have meetings in person again, I hope this will change.
6. State and National still demand the full per capita dues amounts.

Hope all of you are doing well and staying safe. It seems to be getting harder each month that goes by. I am missing my Sisters and Brothers and all our interaction at meetings and social events.

I was fortunate to sit in on the National Membership Zoom meeting set up for California. I appreciate all of our Lodge Presidents and members that joined us. I think one of the best takeaways for me was being able to get ideas and communicate with Officers and members across the country. Once this time passed, we could see and speak with a National or Grand Lodge President, or hear a speaker from anywhere at our meetings using this tool. It would allow people who are not well or on a business trip or visiting out of state to still be a part of our meetings. How great would that be?

I also sat in on several Lodge meetings and Board meetings on Zoom.

Hello All, I am praying everyone continues to stay healthy and safe. It is hard to believe we are near the end of the 3rd quarter of 2020. Time is certainly flying by! I miss everyone and cannot wait until we can safely meet again.

By now I am sure all the lodges have received a copy of approved Local Lodge Covid-19 Election guidance from the Judiciary Committee sent from the Grand Lodge. Please take the time to read applicable Laws. Also follow the suggested procedures under Covid-19. Those of you members which have never served as a lodge officer, please consider stepping up, your lodge needs you!

Monday, August 31st I participated in the Town Hall Style Zoom Meeting between California Lodge members and OSDIA National Membership Commission. I was much impressed with the information that was presented and pleased on how many members participated in the meeting. The question often asked “What does National do for us” was well answered. For our Lodges. important information is available on the National website.