GRANDSONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

Minutes of May 2, 2009 Meeting

Sgt.-at-Arms John Oliva called the meeting to order. Pres. Vinnie Corbo led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain Jimmy D’Arrigo led the group in prayer. Pres. Corbo called for a moment of silence for our deceased brothers, those that are ill, Frank Monteleone and Frank (Cheech) La Marca, and our servicemen.

Due to a long speaker program at the last meeting the session was tabled. Sec. Bill Poleri called for an acceptance of Apr. 4^th minutes. John Antonucci motioned to accept the minutes. Steve Toby seconded it. The motion passed. Poleri then called for acceptance of Apr. 18^th minutes. CarmineMarinelli motioned to accept Apr. 18^th minutes. Vin Raso 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 Apr. 4^th meeting. Members attending the luncheon were 26; Vitello’s Luncheon Tab, $364; 50/50 income, $37; Larry Ottina donated his 50/50 winnings,$38, back to the club, and Man-of-the-Year reservations, $210. Expenses: Postage, $55, and MOTY medal, $469.78. The balance is $5109.59. Oliva motioned to accept. D’Arrigo seconded it. The motion carried.

The treasurer then read the financial report for Apr. 18^th meeting. Members attending the luncheon were 49; Casa di Pizza’s Luncheon Tab, $686; 50/50 income, $50; Vin Dino donated his 50/50 winnings, $50 back to the club; Dues, $87.50, and Pins, $10. Expense: Postage, $35.50. The balance is $5277.69. Vito Giovannelli motioned to accept. Frank Foti seconded it. The motion passed.

di Milo urged members to get their MOTY dinner reservations in early. The dinner will be on June 28 at Maggiano’s, Woodland Hills, from 5 to 10 p.m. The price is $35 per person and a table for eight or ten can be reserved. Chairman John Murgo announced that June 10 is the dateline to make the reservations. Whatever numbers he has by then is what he is reserving. "I am not going to put the club in debt," he stressed.

OLD BUSINESS: Pres. Corbo summarized the fabulous meeting of Apr. 18. First: he thanked Brother Giovannelli, owner of Casa di Pizza where the meeting was held, "for his wonderful food, the ambiance and for being a wonderful host." Second: he acknowledged Vice Pres. Vinny Oliver for the great speaker program he presented, saying the speakers "elevated the status of the club." Third: he recognized Brother Frank DeSantis for the fine article he wrote about the program in the Italo-Americano newspaper and the great photo taken by Brother Dax Litto which accompanied the article.

The president reminded members that the Shut-In Seniors’ Luncheon is May 9 at St. Charles Church Hall, Moorpark and Lankershim and volunteers should contact Chairman D’Arrigo. What we need, Corbo explained, are members to sit with the guests, making them feel like family. He added that we might need drivers because we might not have buses to all locations. Chairman D’Arrigo said volunteers should be at the hall by 11 a.m.

Litto passed around a membership list with their emails on it, asking them to check them for accuracy.

OPEN DISCUSSION: In lieu of new business, Pres. Corbo opened the meeting to a discussion on the last meeting speakers, LA County D.A. Steve Cooley and Candidate for City Attorney Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich. Oliver started the discourse by saying Trutanich talks about what he’s going to do while his opponent, Jack Weiss, only criticizes. He added Weiss uses only negative advertisement and is a hack for the mayor.

Steve Toby, a sound technician for the city who sits in on many city council sessions, echoed Oliver. He added that City Councilman Weiss is rude to city employees and thought his constituents were beneath him. Toby also said he didn’t like the way the city won’t fight law suits just to avoid bad publicity, which Trutanich campaigns that he would fight these suits rather than pay them off.

Oliva said he is voting for Trutanich because he wants a change. Paul Pacheco said he liked "Nuch" opening remarks about being able to call friends "Dago" back in the old days.

A deep discussion about defending a known guilty man began when Larry Ottina asked Oliver, who is a defense attorney, why would a lawyer defend a man if he knew he was guilty. Oliver explained that a man has the right to legal counsel. There are many circumstances under which a person commits a crime and his case should be presented the best way possible for the court to decide fairly.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Brother Jim Tooey announced that The Tumor Humor Fund is hosting a fund-raiser on June 4 at 8:30 p.m. at Rusties on the Pier in Santa Monica. Tooey, who is the organization’s vice president, said that there will be door prizes and goodie bags and it’s "a nite of comedy, come one, come all."

Pres. Corbo adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be May 16^th at Vitello’s Restaurant at 11:30 a.m. followed by the June 6^th meeting. Submitted by Secretary Bill Poleri.

EXTRA: (Information that should have been brought up at the meeting.) Murgo who recently had surgery, received a phone call from our Australian Brother Carlo Pavia, who said he read about Murgo’s surgery in the minutes on the internet. Pavia wished Murgo the best.

Sec. Poleri also has been in contact with Pavia through the email. When the secretary asked Pavia if he would mind Poleri printing his letter in the minutes Pavia wrote "I do not mind if you post any thing to my American Brothers. After all, we are family."

Directory Addition:

Joseph V. Forte

221Calle Andrea

San Dimas CA 91773

(909) 305-4698 (H)

(909) 731-5033 (B)

sawmg42@msn.com