GRANDSONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA
Minutes of March 7, 2009 Meeting
Sgt.-at-Arms John Oliva called the meeting to order and Pres. Vinnie Corbo led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. Past President Vinny Raso filling in for the absent Chaplain Jimmy D’Arrigo, led the group in the prayer. Pres. Corbo conducted a moment of silence for our deceased and ill brothers; our servicemen, and D’Arrigo’s wife and Mauro Sardi’s grandson who are gravely ill.
Sec. Bill Poleri reported that Casa de Pizza’s correct address is on the corner of San Fernando Mission and Woodley St. and not Wooley. Ronnie La Berbera motioned to accept the corrected minutes. Oliva seconded it. The motion passed. The club’s web site is www.goiia.com (case sensitive, all lower case).
Treas. Tony di Milo read the financial report for the Feb. 21st meeting. Members attending the luncheon were 29; Vitello’s Luncheon Tab, $406. Incomes were 50/50, $35; Carmine Marinelli donataed $30 50/50 winnings to the dues fund; Man-of-the-Year reservations, $455; misc. donation, $140, and Dues, $17.50. James Giallo motioned to accept. Steve Toby seconded it. The motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS: Pres. Corbo thanked Jim Tooey for donating photos he had taken at the Children’s Christmas party. Corbo explained at the last meeting that we didn’t have any good photos of the party, and asked members if they had taken any pictures to donate copies. He said that Tooey saved the day by donating his DVD shots. If anyone else has photos, the club would like to have copies, he added, the more the better.
Pres. Corbo announced that a copy of the photo taken by the Italo-Americano newspaper of the club members is hanging in the lobby of the restaurant. The article on the club turned out well, Corbo added.
The president also reminded everyone that the club is still selling its "Cooking and Cursing" DVD to raise money for its charities.
Man-of-the-Year Dinner Chairman John Murgo urged everyone to get their reservations in early since there is seating for only 125 people. It will be on Sunday, June 28 at Maggiano’s, Woodland Hills, from 5 to10 p.m. The price will be $35 per person and a table for eight or ten can be reserved. Giallo asked about entertainment. Raso said there would be some. Raso and his wife, Karen, always perform at club’s events.
Vito Giovannelli thanked the members who recently attended the "An Evening In Italy With Tony Galla" at his newly expanded Casa de Pizza in Granada Hills. Corbo praised the concert. He also reminded all that the club would hold its April 18th meeting there. The restaurant at 16161 San Fernando Mission Blvd. (Corner of Woodley St.) Giovannelli said he would have a varied menu with cannoli.
Pres. Corbo reported that once we get an updated list of members the club can go ahead with ordering special name tags.
NEW BUSINESS:
Sec. Poleri brought up the shut-in seniors’ luncheon. He believed that Chairman D’Arrigo has made a reservation for March 28th and nothing has been done about it. Pres. Corbo said that if that is so we wouldn’t be able to do anything now and he will check with D’Arrigo before the next meeting.
The question of one’s Italian background came up and Pres. Corbo informed the club that there’s a genealogy booth at the San Gennaro’s Festival that can be helpful.
Sgt.-at-Arms Oliva suggested we tone down our language. There are customers eating in the other rooms, he said. Murgo added that this is our home, our only home and we don’t have any other place to go.
Treas. di Milo reported that he received a phone call from a woman in Orange County asking if her 17-year-old
son can join. di Milo wanted to know how to answer her. Does she have to accompany him to the meeting since he is under 18, he asked?
Oliva’s suggestion and di Milo’s question brought on a long discussion about the club’s rules, protocol and language.
Murgo said he once belonged to the Lions Club and saw what happened to it when it admitted women. "We have to be careful for not having women," he warned. Corbo said we are a private club with our own rules. Giallo pointed out that our language is funneled down the hall to the other rooms. Oliva said we should just tone the language down. Corbo asked, "don’t we believe in the first amendment?" He continued "we can’t be censored - men should be men – say what we like."
Leo Matranga said that we lost members because of the language – "when we started, we didn’t use those words." Corbo said we didn’t use the words at this meeting. Oliva jumped in with "we can’t use a gag on members." La Berbera asked if Tony (di Milo) can tell the woman to allow the kid to come. Jim Valentine added with or without a legal guardian? The discussion stayed on the question of members’ language. Murgo pointed out the club is on an upward trend and we are not a church, you will hear curses. Mike An’gileo remarked that his grandfather was soft spoken and we could tone it down. Murgo replied with that was a different period. Corbo said some of the members being criticized are contributors in time and effort to the club activities. Vice Pres. Oliver said "just to tone it down." Giovannelli said we should think before we speak. Vin Manfre said we are all of different generations but are a club of brothers. "We must calm it down," he added.
Carmine Marinelli returned to the question of a 17-year-old needing an adult to attend meetings. It was pointed out that when an underage person did attend a meeting he was with a responsible adult. An example is VP Oliver’s son, Nick Oliver who only came to the meetings with his father. Nick has been a member for a few years and is now away at college. Mauro Sardi motioned that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult in order to attend a meeting. Paul Pacheco seconded it. Murgo amended it to read accompanied by an adult relative. Sardi and Pacheco accepted the amendment. The motion passed.
Carmine Marinelli donated $35 of his 50/50 winnings to the club’s dues fund.
Pres Corbo adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be Mar. 21st at Vitello’s Restaurant at 11:30 a.m. when Writer/Author Joan Del Monte will address the club about her third book. Ms. Del Monte is the widow of one of the club’s earlier members, Bob Del Monte, who died Mar. 31, 2001. The following meeting will be on April 4th.
Submitted by Secretary Bill Poleri.
Directory Update:
Vito B. Campanelli
4919 Serrania Ave.
Woodland Hills CA 91364
(818) 346-7080
elpeggy@aol.com
Vincent Dino’s email:
Vjdino@yahoo.com
Jerald J. Tassone, Jr.
850 East Desert Inn Rd., Apt. 701
Las Vegas NV 89109
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