GRANDSONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

Minutes of May 3, 2003 Meeting

Sgt.-at-Arms Greg Holzer called the meeting to order and President Joe Picarella led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. A moment of silence followed for our deceased and ailing brothers and those in the services.

Vinny Oliver motioned to accept the minutes for April 19. Carmine Marinelli seconded it. The motion carried. Later, Sec. Bill Poleri found an error: The 50/50 winnings were $30 not $3. The web sight is: http://leejpappas.com/goiia.htm (case sensitive, all lower case).

Treas. di Milo read the financial report. Incomes from April 19th meeting were: Luncheon, $286, and non-eaters, $10 for a total of $296. Luncheon expenses were $300 and gratuities, $5 for a loss of $9. Other incomes were: 50/50 winnings, $35; Flag pins, $2, and Posters, $100. Expense was postage, $46. Balance is $4091.06. Jimmy D'Arrigo motioned to accept. Joey Dorando seconded it. The motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS - Poleri passed out copies of a thank you note from Tonia Caruso, which expressed her gratitude to the club for its presence as a group at Tony Caruso's funeral services. Treas. di Milo read a thank you letter from St. John Hospital for the club's $50 donation in memory of Caruso to its' Nurses Fund and a note from Dona Hale for the club's wonderful showing. The latter note was sent to the club in care of Joey Dorando. Poleri also passed out corrected Mass cards.

Pres. Picarella wanted members to feel free to keep the 50/50 winnings and not to be urged in donating it to the club. He doesn't want the practice to become a habit. Treas. di Milo said that it is just a joke when the winner is teased in donating the money. The president said some members feel intimidated in returning the winnings and therefore they don't buy tickets. Leo Matranga said that the only reason why members started to donate their winnings was because at the time the club had no budget.

OLD BUSINESS - Vice President Steve Loyacano read the letter to Tonia Caruso he and Pres. Picarella collaborated on expressing the club's feeling especially since no members got up and spoke at the funeral services. The letter described the sorrow the membership felt in losing brother Tony, how Tony sat at the head of the table, how we followed him in prayer and how we honor him my keeping his chair empty.

John Murgo questioned the paragraph blaming our reluctance in not speaking because the priest did not indicate for anyone to step forward. Later Bob Nicolette motioned to remove the paragraph about the priest as too negative. Oliver seconded it. The motion carried.

A very heated debate took place when Murgo objected to honoring Caruso by keeping his chair empty because he felt that Caruso wouldn't want us to do it and he also asked what do we do when someone else dies? Carlo Mancini also felt Caruso wouldn't like it. Jerry Amoroso motioned that we honor Anthony Caruso by keeping his chair empty. Larry Mascari seconded it. Pres. Picarella and Veep Loyacano led those in favor of the motion. Picarella said Tony was a hero to him every since he was a child and was one of our leaders here - "we can do this for him." Loyacano argued that Caruso epitomized the group. Joe D'Amore, soon to be a member, said you have to believe what he wanted is what you want. The motion was called and the vote was 24 to 2 for the motion.

Picarella adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. on May 17 at the Villa Sorrento, followed by the June 7th meeting.

Submitted by Sec. Bill Poleri