20 Cypress Ave., Saint Cloud, FL 34769, US
August 2020 President’s Message
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I hope that everyone is doing well and protecting themselves from this pandemic which impacted our way of life and our direct contact with family and friends.
Due to the heightened health concern it was decided that our scheduled September 18th-19th Quarterly meeting at the Embassy Suites Orlando/Kissimmee be Cancelled. In lieu of this live in person meeting we will hold another Zoom platform meeting on the 19th of September. All officers, lodge presidents and committee chairs will be sent an invite to the zoom meeting.
Our 2nd VP Nick Cantore conducted a Trustee’s meeting along with lodge State Deputies who were also invited. Discussion about alternate Qrtly meeting, updated membership application, State Deputy responsibilities and a Q&A session.
A presidents meeting will be conducted on Zoom prior to the quarterly zoom meeting invites will be sent out along with the meeting agendas and committee reports.
I am very disappointed that we cannot have a face to face meeting again.
My first term of office started off with many plans to present and to be put into action, but now 13 months later with 6 months being home bound, I did have the opportunity to do a few but not all, I’m hoping that this pandemic will be eradicated soon so positive work and membership growth can proceed on track.
I’ve attended 13 National Conference Zoom meetings, the National Convention in Aug ’19, and a plenary meeting in Feb ’20. We have updated information on the master National membership list after each quarter and also the Floridian Mailing list.
We’ve been through hurricane Dorian in Sept ’19 and recently Isaias.
With the State Orator Mark and I have revised the FND trust agreements and Appendix, updated the Grand Lodge By-law amendments we set up a successful Investment committee to research the best use of our stagnant Foundation funds and have invested wisely, we hold weekly meetings to monitor investment changes, to date the committee has increased Foundation holdings by approximately 16%.
Our (CSJ) Commission Social Justice committee chaired by Brothers Greg Bianchini and Greg Esposito has been addressing many Italian Defamation and Columbus statue issues both here in Florida and also supporting the Supreme CSJ in other states.
Five Italian American Groups have united to fight against Columbus attacks, false history, and the vandalism and the removal of historic statues.
The five Organizations are: Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), Columbus Citizens Foundation (CCF), the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), and the (UNICO) National.
Fraternally,
Tony Cianciotta, President
OSIA Grand Lodge of Florida