I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday celebration, with families. We are getting closer to a normal lifestyle. But do we remember what normal is? I for one am more than ever thankful for family. Being happy with what you have. Enjoy spending time with your family. Slowing down and taking the time to smell the roses.

We as a social organization are slowly making our ways back to having in person meetings and some simple fundraising events. Please listen to your county officials and follow the guidelines, this way we can socialize once again.

As I mentioned last month our State Convention will be done by “Zoom” this year. The date of our Convention will be

Communication! I can’t think of anything more important to our Grand Lodge and Filial Lodges. Without communication of real facts no one knows what is happening. We need to go to the Grand Lodge if there are questions about the Grand Lodge activities. We need to go to our Local Lodge Presidents if we want real information about the Local Lodges.

I am asking all our members to reach out to their Grand Lodge Officers if they have questions. We don’t have all the answers, but we can get them to you. You don’t have to be a Lodge Officer to contact the Grand Lodge or Officers. As members, we at the Grand Lodge are elected by you, and are happy to share information. All our contact information is here in the Il Leone.

Is your Lodge meeting in person yet? I hope all our Lodges are working on this. It can be outside, weather permitting, or inside i

The forthcoming is news on the Grand Lodge Council Virtual Meeting held on March 20, 2021.

The meeting started at 11:00 am. Roll Call of Officers, Pledge of Allegiance, and the Invocation was given. A reading and approval of the minutes for Saturday, October 10, 2020 Grand Council meeting. proceeded.

Reports were given by each of the state Officers after the meeting was closed the meeting of the Western Foundation was opened. Reading and approval of the minutes for Saturday, October 10, 2020 proceeded. The Western Foundation Committee Chairperson reports were given.

The Western Foundation Meeting was closed and then the Grand Lodge Committee Chairpersons Reports were continued.

In brief, (not in order) the following items were discussed. There was Concern over declining memberships. The Order has dropped to 3,300 members with the closing of five lodges during the past year. There will be

Happy Mother’s day to all the mothers. I trust everyone is well. Here’s a fun quiz for your enjoyment. Answers are at the bottom, don’t cheat.

1. What Italian composer penned the major work.......

Hard to believe four months of 2021 have passed us by with things starting to return to normal. Our county (Solano) is close to achieving the state mandated Orange designation which will allow us to meet with some restrictions. We are working on the necessary protocols so we will be ready when we get the OK to meet. On April 15th we held our zoom lodge meeting with 22 members in and a special guest, the Grand Lodge President John Costa in attendance. Mark Rossi, our Immediate Past President led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, the invocation was presented by our Chaplain Dominic DiFabio and we opened the meeting just like the “old times”.

In May have scheduled our first “Out to Lunch” gathering since March 2020. Each month members would get together at different restaurants for an enjoyable lunch and a chance to spend time with our brothers and sisters. With the help of Rory and Laure DeVincenzi-Nichols

Sisters and Brothers. Here we are still holding our own against this virus. By now, most people have been able to get their vaccinations or have appointments to get theirs. This is the way to end this virus. Please wear you mask when out and about, These actions put us on the right track. Spring has sprung (again) and I got three veggies planted this year. Far less than normal but all I really want this year.

I am hoping that we will be able to have our monthly dinner meetings starting again by August. The California Governor says he wants the state opened up by mid June. We shall see what happens in the next few weeks. I must admit I am hesitant about that early date.

Our new meeting place is waiting for us. This hall holds 140 people and has an additional eight big tables outside under