Newsletter /Minutes

Meeting was called to order by Secretary  DeFabo followed by prayers, principles and the Pledge of Allegiance.

 Officers in Attendance: Annie DeFabo, Clem Guarlotti, Laura Valerio, Gloria Urbani, Richard Urbani, Rizzi DeFabo Minutes from the previous meeting were approved

 

Communications:

  • Michelle Toohey @ WCCC informed us of a conversational Italian course she is teaching. She will send more info. We will get that information out to members once we receive it.
  • Italian Day at the Pirates’ Game – We received a flyer regarding this event. Dianna Ficco offered to put together a bus trip for this event.
    • NEW SINCE THE MEETING:
      • Italian Day @ Pirates’ Game is Sunday, June 22nd. We have reserved 40 seats for this Pirates vs Blue Jays game.
      • We have a bus from Groomes Tours picking us up at the PET SMArt/ Giant Eagle parking lot @ Hempfield Square. The bus leaves at 11:30 SHARP. Please arrive early!
      • Tickets will be distributed on the bus.
      • Game tickets, bus & early admission to the riverwalk: $35.00/ person
      • Authentic cuisine, entertainment & music by WE THREE @ the riverwalk
      • Reserve your space ASAP by calling Dianna Ficco, 724-837-6612
      • Make checks payable to OSIA #2831 – mail payment to P.O. Box 287 Crabtree 15624
  • Gregory Pasquale Ciminera
    • Gregory is the new Executive Director for the Grand Lodge of PA. He sent a letter introducing himself. Copies of this letter are available upon request.
  • Fellow member Pam DeMezza wrote to suggest Dr. Guy Nicoletti as a speaker for one of our meetings. We will work to schedule something with him for one of our fall meetings.
  • Angelo and Pam DeMEzza wrote expressing their wish to be on the Scholarship Committee

 

Reports of Officers and Committee Chairs:

 

  • Our Lady of Mt Carmel Festival & Procession
    • The festival runs Thurs. July 17 – Sunday July 20th
    • There will be a candlelight procession Thursday evening
    • Our lodge will march together behind our banner in the procession/ battery salute immediately following the 10:00 am mass on Sunday morning. If you received a brown button/ribbon last year, please wear it.
    • There will be an Art Show and competition during this year’s festival. For more information on how you can take part, please contact Laura Valerio at 724-836-7300
    • The festival committee is making efforts to expand the activities, as well as the community/heritage aspects of the festival. Anyone interested in taking part/helping out, please call Fran Branthoover at 724-836-6521
  • Family Pool Party & Picnic
    • Is scheduled for Monday June 30th from 7:15 – 9:15 at Veterans’ Memorial Pool at Lynch Field, Greensburg
    • The lodge is paying for the pool/ lifeguard rental
    • $5/ person will help us provide picnic food, drinks & snacks
    • Please RSVP right away – there is still space available
    • Guests are welcome.
  • Hunger Garden
    • Our teens are trying to plan a day to help a the Hunger Garden in Pittsburgh. The garden was late in getting started due to the terrible weather we had. I am waiting for an update from the folks who rune the garden to see when they need help. Once we have that info, we will plan a trip to help out. All members, young and old alike, are encouraged to join us for this day of meaningful community service and fun.
  • Potential Fall Activities
    • Kids Tour of St Vincent Gristmill and Basilica/ Bake St Vincent Bread
      • Since the meeting: Toni Walter has set up a tour for us for September 20th . Mark your calendars!
      • We will send out more detailed info as we finalize our plans.
    • Wine & Lemoncello Making
      • This activity was suggested at our Anniversary Party. The idea was well received when brought up at this meeting
      • Lou Scifo – Please contact Annie so we can plan this event. Thanks!
    • Italian Evenings for Kids &/or Adults
      • We would love to hear your ideas!

 

Current Membership

            There was a request by fellow member, Joe Volpe, for a report on our current membership status and history.

            We currently hav e251 active members.

            Our acquisition of new members has generally balanced the number of members we have had leave the lodge.

President DeFabo commented that during last year’s convention, numerous lodges spoke to the fact that maintaining membership levels is the biggest challenge that most lodges face. The fact that we are able to maintain our umbers at this point is a positive point.

            We all need to continue to spread the word about our lodge, the OSIA organization, and need to work together to help our lodge grow.

 

Other Business:

  • Member Nick Mirolli presented several ideas for several trips our members might be interested in taking part in.
    • The first is a trip that is already scheduled and will definitely be happening. The trip visits Paris and Normandy. See the information attached to this message.
    • The second trip is one we asked Nick to look into. He brought us 2 possibilities. One would have us travel by bus to visit New York’s Little Italy, see a Broadway show, tour the city, dine at Vincent’s Italian Restaurant as well as Tavern on the Green, etc. The other option would have us visit Toronto’s Little Italy, the CN Tower, a live theater show, take a guided city tour, a harbour cruise and time to gamble at Casino Niagara. See full details in attachment.
    • The dates shown on these proposals is not yet set. Discussion during the meeting suggested that we might like to look at scheduling such a trip at a different time.
    • We need to know if you are interested in such a trip, which trip option our members would prefer and when would be a good time to schedule such a trip for our members – Please take a minute to drop Annie an e-mail to let us know what you think. We also are interested in other ideas you might have for these trips.
  • The Holiday Dinner Dance
    • By the time our next meeting rolls around, the dinner dance will be fast-approaching. Please watch for reservation forms which will be forthcoming and make your reservations right away. Clem will, for a short time, hold tables for those who attended last year, but will then assign tables on a first some, first served basis.
    • The Dance will be on Friday, December 5th at Mt. View Inn. Entertainment by “We Three”

Fellow member, Charles D’Angelo, has agreed to work as a resource person for our lodge. He will be working with Clentin Martin to expand our list of links on our website. He will also begin looking at collecting video, music, genealogic and other resources for our members’ use.

 

 

There are no meetings scheduled for June, July or August. Our next meeting will be in September. We will send details as we get closer to that date.

Please watch your mail for updates and other new events that may become available during the summer.