First, there was an error on last month’s article, unfortunately my December 2019 article was printed, and that is why you see references to 2020. So I will now post my December 2020 article followed by my January 2021 article. Sorry for the confusion.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your immediate family. This has been a difficult year to say the least, with all the counties in California going in the wrong direction we need to now more than ever, take care of ourselves and listen to our elected officials to beat this pandemic. We may not agree with some of their policies or politics but we have to work together to beat this!!

It was nice to see some lodges able to meet socially distancing themselves. I was excited to see some lodges with their drive thru dinners, even though we are not meeting or gathering it is nice to see some faces even though

With the beginning of a new year, I am raring to get back to my Sons and Daughters of Italy family.

Your Vice-Presidents are still sending emails to your Lodge Presidents telling them what other Lodges are doing during this time. I think the best way to keep you all engaged is through communication. Without communication we are all disconnected from our Order. I love the way some of our Lodge Presidents are posting on social media interesting facts from Italy or information on our Order. I know of several Lodges that have increased members during this time by reaching out to friends that may be interested. Remember the words of our Membership Chair of the North, Louie Lodi, “JUST ASK”. That holds true even during a pandemic. If you are speaking with someone who is not a member, remember why you joined and share. We will be back together soon to share the fraternity

Praying all your families were blessed with the Love and the Peace that is Christmas and Wishing you all the wonders and joy of the season throughout the New Year! Peace and happiness to all people of good will.

I hope you find this article informative and helpful in building a strong lodge through membership in the New Year!

Get started in 2021 – you have been given the brain, heart, and courage, to continue to build membership in your lodge. Let us use our brains

TO: STATE OFFICERS, PAST STATE PRESIDENTS, LODGE PRESIDENTS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
FROM: LORI ROSSI
STATE RECORDING SECRETARY

I am deeply saddened to inform you of the death of Past State President Arturo Ibleto. Brother Arturo passed away at the age of 94, on Tuesday, November 24, at his home in Cotati and was surrounded by his family and friends. He had recently been hospitalized.

Arturo was born on October 2, 1926 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and grew up in the Liguria region in the northwestern part of Italy. He was 22 years

Seasons greetings….past is our Christmas not like any other....but did you find yourself happy and content? Somehow being isolated I found a peace in simplicity. Probably you have been reading more books and watching more movies? Hopefully writing letters to family and friends....or perhaps calling on the telephone?

OH! How could I forget to mention, baking!

More loaves of bread have been baked during this time than many years previous.

And such delicious no knead dutch oven sourdough

The Roma Lodge January article for the Il Leone normally would be filled with pictures of our annual Christmas party featuring a delicious ham and yam dinner, talent by our junior members, homemade pies for dessert made by members and a visit from Santa Claus. Each of our junior members would receive a Christmas stocking filled with candy and toys and everyone would have a great time.

Unfortunately, the year of 2020 has been anything but normal. We had a successful drive through polenta/stew dinner for over 125 of our members in November and scheduled a similar event for our annual holiday get-together. Unfortunately, just two days before the event the governor declared a shutdown for Tulare County and we had to notify over 110 members, who had RSVP to attend the event, we were forced to cancel it.

In 2020 we had also scheduled our 90th anniversary celebration for which we had a couple of local carpenters build a display case