MESSAGE FROM YOUR STATE PRESIDENT

I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas and that Santa Claus was good to you!

My holidays were great, I ate too much and partied a lot! Everyone was home for Christmas, and Santa was very good to the Nunziati’s!

Prior to Christmas I attended the yearly Christmas Party of the Joanne Coccia Lodge and had a marvelous time.  It was a beautiful event and everyone was so warm and friendly.  It was so nice to see many members that I had not seen in a long time.  There were close to one hundred people in attendance, and my hat is off to the wonderful member who organized everything, including the delicious buffet lunch.  One gentleman brought handmade beautiful Christmas gifts and donated them in a raffle! We were entertained by the Sparks Sisters, formally of the Virgilio Lodge in Vallejo, who put on a magnificent show for all of us.  They are both so talented.   Even “Dad” joined in for a few songs.  Do you remember when they entertained us at the convention?  They were good then but are even better now.  They sang Christmas songs, and many of the members joined in!  It was a very festive afternoon. It was so nice to see the Sparks family again and to meet the new additions, a husband and a fiancé!  I don’t know how President Paul Finazzo will match the entertainment for next year!

What an easy airport Ontario is to fly into and out of!

Paul gave me a tour of Fontana and even showed me where their old building used to be.  I never realized it was such a large city! Thanks, Paul – loved the tour!

Columbia Lodge also had a lovely Christmas luncheon which I also attended. Since that day was my birthday, I then went down to Levi Stadium with Lynn and Bill Murphy to watch my team! Thank you, everyone, for all your birthday wishes and especially to Steve Guthrie, who wished me a Rams win, which he got!!!! Ha ha. We just got wet!!!

I had my yearly lunch with kindergarten and 5th-grade friends – It is so wonderful to still have friends from all stages of my life.  I also had a lovely lunch with Juanita Santos, who used to work with me at the Grand Lodge, she sends regards to everyone!

Start the New Year by bringing in that new member you didn’t bring into your Lodge in 2024!

Be sure to invite me and your State Officers to the installation of your new officers for the next two years! We want to be there to celebrate everyone. Be sure to send the new officer information to State Recording Secretary Lori Rossi and the IL Leone.

Nominations and election of State Delegates are to be held in the month of February!  Run for delegate of your Lodge

All Lodges must adopt and implement the iMembersdb system by the end of January 2025.  To refresh your training or initiate your setup, contact Anna at imdb.ca.anna@gmail.com

FYI: From National:   All Grand and Filial Lodges are required to use the NEW OSDIA LOGO with no exceptions. Please ensure that you exhaust all existing merchandise or printed materials featuring the old logo first. We want to avoid any unnecessary financial burden on your Lodge by disposing of previously printed materials. All websites and digital content must also incorporate the new logo. To obtain the new logo files, including personalized logo options featuring your Lodge’s name, please contact Anthony at amassa@osia.org.

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you.

Ciao until next month.