Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Wishing this message finds everyone well and staying safe as we slowly get back to family gatherings, going out to movies, restaurants and of course OSDIA social events and meetings.

Thank you to those Local lodges who are actively promoting membership drives, community awareness and planning events to celebrate Italian American Heritage month in October, which is officially designated by the State of Florida as “Italian American Heritage and Cultural” month.

Our Supreme lodge has a new slate of officers;  please go onto the OSIA.org site to see all updates and future plans.

The Central Gulf Coast lodge is planning a great venue for October including their 25th Anniversary, as many other lodges are also planning anniversary events, dinner parties and Columbus celebrations, which is wonderful to hear.

Our overall membership has remained fairly constant these last few months despite the pandemic, but we have realized an increase in membership overall.

Supreme continues to implement new membership ideas as we at the Grand Lodge are also looking at possible ways to assist lodges with membership ideas and publicity materials.

Our Grand Lodge of Florida Quarterly meeting this September will be held on the 17th & 18th at the Embassy Suites and at the La Nouva Sicilia Unita Lodge in Tampa.

We have a full agenda of business items to be discussed and input from all the Officers and Lodge Presidents is needed. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Quarterly meeting.

Please take a moment to remember all the innocent people and first responders who lost their lives on 9/11 and their families who were left without their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers.  Let us never forget or forgive Sept. 11th.

The Supreme in-person Convention originally scheduled for this coming October in Tampa has been cancelled due to concerns from some state presidents and Supreme Officers who do not want to go on commercial transportation to travel to Florida.

Our prayers go out to the people of New Orleans, LA, who were impacted by Hurricane Ida, a Cat 4 giant storm with wind gusts up to 160 mph. Millions were without utilities and basic services since August 29th.

God bless. We have a lot to be thankful for!
Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day!

Stammi bene

Tony Cianciotta