Greetings from Petaluma!

I have been watching TV when I realized that today was the 20th and my article should have been sent in. I am hoping this article reaches the members of the Lodge. This coronavirus pandemic, having to stay in, has my days mixed up. I am surviving it with no problem, but I do forget dates and days.

I hope that all of you, my dear friends, are staying safe and are able to enjoy your families even tho we cannot give them hug or have them be close to us. I think that having our grandchildren communicate with us from a distance is the hardest.

I guess it will be quite awhile longer before we can hold a meeting and get together. Fathers Day will be over by the time you get this and probably the Fourth of July will be over as well. So I hope you

The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced Roma Lodge to cancel meetings in April, May and June, our 90th Anniversary celebration in April, our annual ravioli dinner in May, starting in 1934, scholarship night and attendance at the Grand Lodge Convention in June.

We do have some great news to share which is that our Roma Lodge Queen and Miss California, Gianna Benedetti has won the $5,000 Trinchero Perpetual Scholarship which is the highest scholastic award given by the Grand Lodge. She is ranked #1 in her graduating class with a 4.83 GPA and is headed to Cal Poly in the fall to major in Architectural Engineering.

As with a lot of things the pandemic has cancelled many graduation ceremonies across the country and Gianna will be deprived of walking across the stage with her classmates in celebration of an outstanding high school career. As Roma Lodge members we would like to share her accomplishments and dedicate this article in the IL Leone to her. To let others in the Grand Lodge, know a little more about Gianna we asked her to share some of her high school experiences.

Last Month: Not much to report, Lodge-wise … just keeping up with the COVID score and learning to sing “Happy Birthday” while I wash my hands. Have you figured out how to make a Quarantinni yet? The United Lodges of the Central San Joaquin Valley: Next Meeting will be June 14 of 2020 (Heaven allowing) in Clovis. Jennifer, at Andiamo’s, says they will take good care of us if they are allowed. If it happens, it will be at 11:30 to place your food order; call Carol Watson at 906-3721 to reserve your spot.

This Month, Monday, May 18, 2020, our meeting will most likely be cancelled, but stay tuned. It mostly depends

Greetings from Petaluma!

I woke up this morning to a sun filled room, looked out on my beautiful garden with all the red and yellow roses in bloom. The sun shining on the leaves looked like beautiful sparkling diamonds. What a great feeling to be alive and to enjoy God’s beautiful work in Mother Nature.

We are all living in such difficult times. We can not hug our family, our grandchildren, or friends. We are not

The Supreme Lodge is saddened to announce the passing of a valued and dedicated OSIA member, Frank J DeSantis, on April 25, 2020. Unable to attend meetings this past year due to COPD and declining heart function he leaves a generous legacy of student scholarships, many Italian cultural and heritage events and the permanent tribute to the Italian American community in Orange County, the Columbus Monument at Bowers Museum among other lasting and magnanimous achievements for the benefit of all interested. His passion for advancement and heritage legacy will be felt far into the future, as he wished! The Supreme Lodge Awarded him the prestigious Guglielmo Marconi Award, OSIA’s highest honor for his decades of commitment and service to OSIA and the Italian community. Bravo Frank!