GRANDSONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

Minutes of June 3, 2006 Meeting

Sgt.-at-Arms Greg Holzer called the meeting to order. Pres. Vinny Raso led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. A moment of silence followed for our deceased brothers and those that are ill.

Sec. Poleri introduced the club’s first president, Loren Farmer, who was visiting from New Orleans.

Jimmy D’Arrigo motioned to accept the May 20th minutes. Vinny Oliver seconded it. The motion carried. The club’s web site is now: www.goiia.com (case sensitive, all lower case). Poleri reminded that there would be no meeting the first Saturday of July due to the Fourth of July Holiday.

Treas. di Milo read the financial report for the May 20th meeting. Incomes from the Luncheon were $300 and non-eaters, $6 for a total of $306. Luncheon expenses were $303 and gratuity, $26 for a gain of $3. Other incomes were 50/50, $38, and Frank Lonardo’s 50/50 winning of $39. The balance is $2529.50. John Murgo motioned to accept. Mike An’gileo seconded the motion.

di Milo announced that there will only be one more meeting at the Villa Sorrento. The place has been sold and will become a Caribbean Restaurant. He asked members to watch their mail for their post cards and to read then to learn where future meetings will be located.

The Treasurer also received two phone calls asking who was Frank Valentino. He urged members to wear their name tags and mix with each other so you get to know each other. He reported that the club received an anonymous donation of $100 in Frank Valentino’s name.

Murgo thanked all those who attended Valentino’s wake and funeral. Vice Pres. Steve Loyacano spoke on Valentino’s concern for club members. Loyacano told of when he was in a Wales hospital recovering from a fall when he received a phone from the States. “It was Frank asking how I was doing,” Loyacano said, “he was a model of a person.”

Pres. Raso told of how Valentino brought him into the club and later nominated him for president. “Frank loved this club,” he said. The president told of how Frank used to spend six months a year in New Hampshire and used to play with Raso’s musical group. “He would play the drums, helping us out without any recognition. He’ll be sorely miss.”

OLD BUSINESS: Chairman of the Luncheon for Senior Shut-Ins Mike Policare said that the luncheon will be on Sept. 9 instead of July 15 as was first announced.

NEW BUSINESS: Greg Holzer suggested that we have a dinner for the widows of the club, adding that we tend to forget them. He said we could include the wives and girlfriends. Sec. Poleri felt that the idea was good but we have the man-of-the-year dinner, the senior shut-ins luncheon and the picnic coming up in the next several months and that we probably wouldn’t be able to hold a widow’s dinner until after the first of the year. Policare motioned that we invite the widows to the upcoming Man-of-the-Year Dinner. Frank Pacelli seconded it. The motion carried.

Past Pres. Loren Farmer said a few words. “When I left a decade ago, and this is no reflection on Treas. di Milo, there was a balance of more than $3000, what happened, diminishing returns?” He then reflected on some wonderful presidents the club had. “Gino Dentie, a man of sophistication, agile of mind and did great birdcalls: Gary D’Allessandro, was extra ordinary bringing a new height of speaking material; and his favorite John Murgo was as close to a Mussolini as you can get. My grandfather loved Mussolini and that love was transferred to me.”

Leo Matranga donated his $38 50/50 winnings back to the club.

Pres. Raso adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. on June 17th at Villa Sorrento followed by the July 15th meeting at God Only Knows Where.

Submitted by Sec. Bill Poleri