MESSAGE FROM YOUR STATE PRESIDENT

I hope that everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.  I did spending it with daughter Linda in Newberg, Oregon.  It was cold though! I had a great time. We did our normal November and Thanksgiving events – great as usual.  Love shopping up there as there is no sales tax!

Traveled to “cold” Chicago in the middle of November where Emilio Nunziati proposed to Brianna Galvan.  It was a beautiful and exciting celebration.  I am finally getting a “granddaughter”.  Congratulations Emilio and Bri!

I was a Cuccidati cookie judge for the C. Colombo Lodge Cuccidati contest along with Judges Joe Simoni, Louie Lodi, Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston and Allen Payton.   We had a great time selecting the three winners and getting to taste all the cookies!  Um Um Good! Congratulations to the three winners who will be named in another article in this newspaper.  There was a terrific turnout and many State Officers from the South, North and Central attended.

By the time you read this, the lodges should have had nominations and elections of new officers!  Be sure to send your new officer list to Recording Secretary Lori Rossi so that the Grand Lodge and the Il Leone will be updated.

Lynn, Lori, Mark and I checked out the hotel for next year; Senestra at the Los Angeles airport.  It is a great site for our convention.

I attended a very nice Italian Heritage Night in San Mateo chaired by Maria and Ugo Pignati.  Great dinner and a terrific turnout.  Congratulations to long time Columbia Lodge member Greg Menna who was one of the honorees.

I attended another successful Bocce tournament hosted by Columbia Lodge.  It was a fun day and congratulations to the lucky winners.  I was only a spectator but enjoyed a great BBQ and watching the games.

Thank you Vice President Louie Lodi for initiating my cousin into the Petaluma Lodge.  She is enjoying being a member and will be recruiting another member of the family!  Just ask – ladies and gentlemen – and you will be surprised when you receive more yesses than nooos.

Spent a few days at the Grand Lodge office emptying boxes!  We are slowing getting settled and will have the Open House in March!  I should be able to make another trip shortly but have been busy with having two successful cataract surgeries!  Better to see you ail!

I finally attended my first polenta dinner of the year sponsored by the Cornelia Vita Nuova Lodge.  It was a very successful event and congratulations to the lodge and all the hard workers.  I was so honored to present a certificate from the National Lodge for 75 years of membership to Stella Ricci.  Congratulations Stella.

We have quite a few photos of our winning Rose Parade entries.  Did you know that the Grand Lodge participated in several Rose Bowl parades and won many prizes?) If you were one of the State Queens on the floats and don’t have a photo, let me know and I will send you one.

Have you started your Christmas shopping? Time is short.

Well I think this is it for this month. The deadline seems to come faster and faster each month!

Remember to bring in that new member! Not too late! Happy Holidays.

Ciao.