FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,                                             

With the devastation from the earthquakes that took place in Italy this past month, our hearts, thoughts and prayers have gone out to all.  As always the Italian American community here in Rochester as well as throughout the US responded swiftly and generously.  Many donations were sent at a time when most of us are having our own economic problems.  Just about every Italian American organization has come up with various fundraising events.  At our last general membership meeting our members chose to donate lodge funds to the cause though our state and national foundations.  I know that several members also donated personally through OSIA or other organizations to which they belong.  This is a remarkable example of how we come together as a huge family in support of our brothers and sisters.

Earlier this month Sister Jennifer and I attended a leadership seminar in Farmingdale Long Island at the Columbus Lodge where State President Nancy DiFiore Quinn and members of the Grand Lodge appreciatively acknowledged our presence.  The Columbus Lodge members were gracious hosts and the program reinforced our desire to follow the goals and standards of our state and national lodges.  Emphasis was placed on the use of our by laws in planning our activities and the need for leadership from our members in the areas of membership and fundraising.  There was a discussion about the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum and their fundraising efforts for major renovations.  This brought to mind our own lodge’s willingness to support those charitable organizations like the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, Gift of Sight, Breast Cancer and others.

At the last general membership meeting, the members present voted in favor of raising our annual dues.  There was spirited discussion in favor and against it but in the end those present at the meeting supported the raise in order to assure that our lodge stays solvent and is able to do the things we want to do as well as support our Grand and Supreme Lodges.

Our own lodge member, Ed Maruggi has published a new book and on Friday May 8th in conjunction with the IACC and Barnes & Noble, there will be sÃ\eral e\Ãnts at B&N, some of which are fundraisers for the new library at the IACC where Ed is a director.  All our lodge members will receive flyers announcing the event and I hope you will support this cause.  The event reminds me of a statement I made when I first took over as interim president in September about how I hoped that we, as an organization of members, support our own members when they have something they wish to share with us. 

We will be utilizing both our website and our newsletter in this endeavor to support our members, many of whom have businesses and ventures related to the Italian American community and wish to share with us.  There will be some control of what we can publish but I think you will be pleased with this opportunity.  Anything you wish to have considered for the newsletter or website, please send it to Sister Jennifer Rubé.

Summer is near and our social events programs will soon be here.  Hopefully many of you will step forward to make these events successful either by helping or organizing or by participating in the events themselves. We’re looking forward to those already in the planning stages as well as any ideas you come up with for other activities.

                                                                      Fraternally,

                                                                      Brother Joe Rubé, president

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION – Please update your records!

The new address for lodge mail is: OSIA Vincent Lombardi Lodge #2270

                                                        c/o President Joseph A. Rubé, Jr. MD

                                                        71 Cohasset Drive

                                                        Rochester NY 14618   

                                                        Phone: 585-461-1181