GRANDSONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

Minutes of May 6, 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, those that are ill, especially Frank Valentino, Steve (Lord) Loyacano and Jimmy D’Arrigo’s wife who is in the hospital and those in the services.

Sec. Poleri asked for a big hand for Mike Ardizone who recently served a 14 month-tour of duty with the Army in Afghanistan and Guantanamo, Cuba. He received a big hand. It was his second tour the first was in Iraq. Ardizone received the Globe Terrorist Expository Award and the ARCOM medal.

Poleri also pointed out that four of our brothers had been awarded medals for action in World War II. Angelo Gianone was awarded Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Medical Badge and Purple Heart; Carmine Marinelli earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Medical Badge and Purple Heart; Leo Matranga, Bronze Star and the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Cluster, and Sal Sportelli, the Silver Star. They also received other medals and accommodations.

The club welcomed back Vice Pres. Steve Loyacano, who fell down a flight of stairs while visiting in- laws in Wales and was hospitalized 10 weeks for a broken collarbone and five broken ribs. Loyacano thanked the members who sent cards and especially Leo Matranga, who called him on the phone while he was recuperating in Wales.

Jimmy D’Arrigo motioned to accept the April 15th minutes. Vito Giovannelli 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 April 15th meeting. Incomes from the Luncheon were $336 and non-eaters, $12 for a total of $348. Luncheon expenses were $324 and gratuity, $29 for a gain of $24. Other incomes were Dues, $35; 50/50, $42, and pin, $5. Other expenses were printing supplies, $84.38. The balance is $2483.50. Holzer motioned to accept. Carmine Marinelli seconded it. The motion carried.

Treas. di Milo said that he is planning the Man of the Year dinner and further details are forth coming.

Chairman Mike Policare of the Luncheon for Senior Shut-Ins Committee reported that they are planning this year’s luncheon roughly the same time as last year which was August 13. The committee also includes D’Arrigo, Matranga and John Murgo.

NEW BUSINESS: Pres. Raso spoke about his niece Janet Ianessa, who has been working with autistic children for the past 34 years, is being honored as the citizen of the year by Medford MA. for her dedication toward these children. Raso felt that since the club is involved with handicapped children by holding its annual Christmas Party, the club could issue a proclamation to his niece acknowledging her work with physical and mentally challenged children. Raso said his wife Karen will make up the proclamation and send to Medford in time to be presented at the upcoming award banquet. The club members unanimously gave their approval.

OLD BUSINESS: Holzer reported that he found a shirt place on the internet which would put the club’s logo on shirts for $10 a shirt but the order has to be more than $40. Ronnie La Barbera asked Holzer to hold off until the next meeting when he would bring a friend who is in that business and maybe get a better deal. La Barbera and Holzer said that they would get together on this. Holzer also said that he

needs the logo’s stencil. The original stencil went with its designer Roger Pisarra, a past member who now lives in Brazil. Vinny Corbo said that he could make a stencil from the logo on the club’s web site.

WAR REPORT: Policare asked Mike Ardizone to give an account of his war experiences. Ardizone started out with “everything you hear about the war is bull shit.” Ardizone, a platoon sergeant, said that we only hear the bad news. He said half his unit of 50 men went to Iraq and a friend of his, a specialist, was killed while delivering school supplies. The big picture of the Middle East is the picture we don’t get to see, he continued. “They are traveling around in Cadillacs, paying $1.00 for a gallon of gas.”

He said he doesn’t take sides politically, but he was critical of Pres. Bush because “we need a bigger force over there. We have 120,000 troops to secure the area the size of California.” He went “we can’t trust the Iraqis.” The good things, he explained, “are that Iraqis are being trained at high speed as police, schools are up, girls have rights, civilian life is going and we are doing a lot of good but none of it is shown to the world. The Iraqi police can’t stand the insurgents who are members of other ethnic groups.”

He continued on the fact that the public isn’t seeing the bigger picture. He said “that the government recently seized four suitcases of explosives heading for Los Angeles. Local gangs are funding terrorists through credit card fraud.” As far as United States being in Iraq he explained that “we’ll always be in Iraq because of countries like Iran and China. The majority of Iraqis shouldn’t be blamed. Eighty percent love us and 20 percent hate us. We made a mistake in 90-91 war.”

He also explained why the terrorists beheaded their enemies. “Once a person is beheaded Allah can’t recognize the person thereby Allah can’t gives him his heavenly rewards.”

Ardizone spent time in Guantanamo, Cuba during his most recent tour. He reported that the prisoners received quality care. “They have better quarters than the U.S. soldiers,” he explained. “Of course, when the international inspectors visited, the prisoners claimed they are being mistreated. One of the tricks that the prisoners do is to urinate on an item and then toss the item at a guard. It’s a no win situation. We can’t let them go they vowed to kill us. You can’t show any signs weakness. They won’t respect you.”

Mike Policare asked what can we as citizens do to support the troops. “Letters, phone calls, emails, cards, there are all kinds of programs,” Ardizone answered. Pres. Raso named Ardizone chairman of the committee to find something that the club could do.

Pres. Raso adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. on May 20th at Villa Sorrento

followed by the June 3rd meeting.

Submitted by Sec. Bill Poleri