MESSAGE FROM YOUR STATE PRESIDENT

Our official Grand Opening of our new building at 9300 Madison Avenue, Orangevale, CA has been done, was very successful and enjoyed by over one hundred (100) of our members!

Thank you to everyone who traveled from Redding, Los Angeles and in between to help us celebrate. A new era has begun! My Dad and many others from our past were instrumental in the building of our old San Francisco home and now the current administration and I are instrumental with obtaining our new home. It is a building to be very proud of as I was told over and over again as our members toured.

Linda DePalma was at the grand opening of our San Francisco home in 1957 and was also able to be here with us this time. I probably was also there at the opening but really do not remember! Good memory Linda.

Thanks to everyone who assisted in making the Open House so warm and inviting – it was truly a “family” affair. Champagne flowed like water!

Thank you Annette Porter for all the delicious cookies, doing some shopping and showing the women how to assembly the delicious charcuterie boards, and all the other delicacies we had.

TY Louie Lodi for the cannoli, Thank you Western Foundation CAO Mark Rossi and State Recording Secretary Lori Rossi for the setup of the tables, shopping for food, and the officers who helped take down the tables and the cleanup. Thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart for making it such a wonderful and beautiful event!

If you missed it and would like to visit someday, just stop by. We have also hired an Office manager and she will be working Monday to Thursday and would love to show you around. Alison Williams’ photo and resume is elsewhere in this issue. Welcome to our family Alison!

Pictures have been sent to our editor but anyone who has photos that have not been sent to Anna or me, please send them to us for the history book.

Plan now for our annual convention which will be held in Los Angeles the week of June 23, 2025. The 100 th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of California will be celebrated Friday evening June 27, 2025. Be sure to be there; it will be an auspicious event. Imagine 100 years! What an exciting year this has been. It will be held at the Sonesta Hotel at the Los Angeles airport. More information will be sent. Be sure your delegates list has been sent if you have not already done so.

I attended the corned beef dinner of the Sacramento Lodge where I was so proud to present 50 year pins to Past State President and Past First Lady John and Pam Tedesco. They are my hosts (when they are home!) when I travel to the Grand Lodge Building.

Happy Birthday was sung to Past State President Roy Vanoni led by Past State President Maria Fassio Pignati. Thank you Roy for celebrating your 91 st birthday with your OSDIA family. Your National Delegates are always working for you. We even took time out from our celebration to be on a mandatory zoom call. Thank you Mark Vaona for getting cameras on the computer.

Ciao for now.