For those of you that do not know me, my name is Louie Lodi, newly elected Vice President of the North. I have met many of you at our Annual Conventions, but for those that I have not, I have been a member of OSDIA since 2004 holding almost every Officer’s position in the Sacramento Lodge #1352. I served two posts as State Deputy and the last two years Membership Chair of the North.

Navigating through this Pandemic has been tough, but a famous fellow Italian brother Vince Lombardi once said,” when the going gets tough the tough get going.” Membership has dropped tremendously. Rebuilding our Lodges

As I am newly elected to the position of Vice President of the South I don’t have much to report on yet.
I am thankful to be elected and look forward to working with our new State President over the next two years.
If anyone has questions please fee free to contact me.

Thanks all.

Mark Vaona .

ATTENTION ALL SDOIA MEMBERS !
Remember that our Ambassador of Happiness, Louise is now gone from us and we will drink a toast to her. Remember what she always said - Be kind to someone today and that kindness will return back to you in many ways...Stay well and please join us August 8th...

Sixteen months ago, March 2020, we had our last SDOIA meeting of the Cesare Battisti Lodge in Petaluma. As we look ahead to this coming August 8th, a Sunday at 2PM in the afternoon, we will be having our first post pandemic meeting and early dinner at our new location in Rohnert Park, just a hop north of Petaluma. We are meeting at 5099 Snyder Lane in the Club House of the Rancho Grande

July or August should be the magic month for us to again get together at Notre Dame Hall, although we have not yet heard from them as to if or when they will open their doors to us. Keep tuned for info.

In Italy, the Naples Bay and the area surrounding it sits on a giant caldera that rivals the size of Yellowstone Park in North America. The magma chamber that sits beneath the bay causes the landmass

In preparation to writing this article I reread the last column I wrote for IL LEONE, with our collected hopes that the Lodge would reopen in October 2020. Didn’t happen! Not close! Now finally, with the advent of vaccinations and precautions, I think we can breathe a little easier, and try to pick up where we left off. Our President Joe LaPorta and I recently had lunch, and he told me of the wonderful plans, and you’ll be happy to hear them! Getting to this point wasn’t easy Joe said, as he had to wade through a myriad of issues and regulations from the State of California, the city of Palm Springs and liquor board. All with their own directives and issues. Joe further regaled me with stories of keeping our Lodge maintenance up, and stories of encounters with those that wanted to make the grounds and Lodge their new home!

The doors are set to swing open this coming October 13th 2021, and there to herald your arrival will be Joe and Lori, at the front desk, checking your name of the list, Renee and her kitchen crew masterfully preparing dinner, and our ever charismatic Frank Di Salvo strumming a few chords on his guitar and greeting all! Saw Lori Harvey the other evening and she said she has her list of names out to start calling you for reservations and a cheerful word.

In other words we’re all enthusiastic to start a new season of our Lodge. We have a fantastic Lodge, amazing entertainers