20 Cypress Ave., Saint Cloud, FL 34769, US
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Here we are at our seventh month of this pandemic, some area of the State are in the third phase of relaxing restrictions and many businesses are starting to open up to the public. Some Lodges are meeting again in group gatherings, still practicing social distancing with safety masks, soon hopefully we will all be adjusting to a new normal with more focus on our families health.
On the 19th of September we held our third quarterly meeting this year via Zoom. A lot of us never using this media platform have managed to adapt and use it to keep in touch with family, friends and the Sons and Daughters of Italy lodges and I commend everyone for learning and participating.
The Quarterly meeting lasted a little over 2 hour including the Foundation meeting; the meeting went well everyone followed protocol and business was conducted smoothly. We opened the Zoom site a half hour before the meeting start for members to share greetings then proceeded on at 1 pm with the Grand Lodge meeting agenda. We talked about damages from Hurricane Sally and that Brother Mark DeNunzio’s home sustained exterior damage and was without power and utilities for a few days.
1st VP Brother Nick Cantore gave report on the Lodge presidents meeting he hosted and the Region Trustee meeting that he and Carolyn IPP hosted. Both zoom meetings went very well, thank you both.
Brothers Greg Bianchini and Greg Esposito brought us up to date on their activities addressing (CSJ) Commission on Social Justice here in our state and responding to issues across the country. Great job!
The Foundation meeting agenda covered our investments, financial reports, charity reports and how Lodges that are able can still give their charity donations via US mail directly to Tom Papsodero.
We then had a discussion on membership and Nina Maurer gave a cookbook I report.
Grand lodge meeting reconvened after the Foundation meeting and continued with the agenda. Information on OSDIA Facebook live interviews, Floridian newsletter input, the calendar program and a discussion on the National Website especially the members section that has many discounts and benefits available to you. Please go to it! It’s for you!
The next scheduled quarterly meeting will be January 8th & 9th, 2021 in Melbourne, FL; further information will be posted on the Website.
The 2nd quarterly meeting for 2021 will be at the Hilton Orlando in Altamonte Springs and then the State Convention in June at the Embassy Suites Buena Vista South Kissimmee. June 23 -26, 2021.
The Supreme Plenary session scheduled for February 2021 in Charleston, South Carolina, has been cancelled and all monthly Supreme National meetings with State Presidents will continue to be held on Zoom.
October is officially Italian Heritage and Cultural month in the State of Florida and of course it also has the Christopher Columbus’ Holiday. Let’s celebrate both in your lodges and in your community anyway you can.
Thanksgiving is approaching fast and Christmas is right around the corner. There’re only 85 shopping days left as I write this. On-line here we come.
I hope everyone is staying safe, wearing their masks and keeping their distance and we’ll get through this mess soon.
Best regards to all our members and extended families.
Tony Cianciotta, State President
Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
(407) 892-4266