Dear Brothers and Sisters,

2021 is flying by; it’s hard to believe we may see cooler weather in the next month or two and the holidays are just around the corner.

We just completed our third-quarter Grand Lodge and Florida Foundation meeting held in Tampa at the Embassy Suites Westshore on Friday and at the LaNuova Sicilia Unita Lodge on Saturday. Al Greco President of the lodge, and their lodge members served Cuban sandwiches, fruit cocktail and spumoni ice cream for dessert. Dinner consisted of bruschetta, sausage, peppers & onions and also Lasagna, wine and Angela’s delicious baked with love cookies, coffee and cannoli.

At the Friday Officers Council meeting we discussed the June State Convention and the in-person National Convention, it was scheduled for October 13-16, 2021 in Tampa and it has been canceled. It will now be held Oct 15 & 16 on Zoom. The NELA Gala was also held on zoom. The Guglielmo-Marconi award was presented to Actor Gary Sinise.

The Garibaldi- Meucci Museum is holding a super raffle drawing in November. There was an update on the Venice tower project which is expected to be dedicated by the end of this year at the Garibaldi- Meucci Museum in Staten Island.

Our past State Orator Dr. Mark DeNunzio was elected to the position of National 4th Vice President and Carolyn Cianciotta our immediate Past President was elected as our National Florida Trustee. Congratulations to both.

The Officer Training and Education program is back on track after taking a Covid hiatus. Training will be by Officer Positions, the first will be for all local lodge Financial Officers. Details and invites will be sent.

Saturday’s Grand Lodge Meeting in Session covered all reports from Officers, Trustees and activities from each individual lodge President. Ways and means is doing very well for us, sales are up.

Appointment of committees for 2021-2023 was announced and I believe these committees will prove to be a great asset.

The Florida Foundation meeting covered our Investments, scholarships, FAU Italian studies program and our Delaware annuity that recently matured and will be reallocated by the investment committee for a better return.

During the morning session we took a temporary break to present to Wendy Johnson, the Sr. Director for the American Cancer Society Southwest Region, a donation check in the amount of $10,000.00. 

This money was raised and donated by all of you, our Local Lodge Members. Thank you all for your generosity over the last 2+ years. These donations continue to help many people suffering from this terrible disease in so many ways, without your contributions and mail-in donations this couldn’t happen.

Thank you to President Al Greco and all his volunteers for their hospitality and welcoming us into their beautiful lodge. 

A few members spoke in welfare of the Order. Brother Nick Cantore said the closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned.

Get ready for a busy three months. Coming up soon is Columbus Day a National Holiday, Halloween a dentist’s holiday, Thanksgiving Holiday a day of Thanks, family get-togethers and Macy’s parade, Christmas Eve and Day followed by a marathon of Italian food traditions and then we bring in the New Year with family and friends.

Stay safe and healthy.  

See you at the next Quarterly February 4th& 5th 2022 in Melbourne.

Fraternally yours,

Tony Cianciotta

Grand Lodge President