GRANDSONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

Minutes of November 20, 2004 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 and those in the services. Past Pres. Joe Picarella gave the prayer of thanks.

Chris Lanieri motioned to accept the minutes for Nov. 6. Larry Mascari seconded it. The motion carried. The club’s web sight is: http://leejpappas.com/goiia.htm (case sensitive, all lower case).

Sec. Bill Poleri reported that there are no meetings during the holidays leaving only one meeting left this year: Dec. 4. The first session for 2005 is on Jan. 15.

Treas. di Milo read the financial report. Incomes from Nov. 4th meeting were Luncheon, $299, and non-eaters, $30 for a total of $329. Luncheon expenses were $300 and gratuities $28, for a gain of $1. Other income was 50/50 winnings, $30; Carmine Marinelli’s donation to the Yule Party, $40, and Dues, $210. Balance is $3765.45. Picarella motioned to accept. Ronnie La Barbera seconded it. The motion carried.

The treasurer reminded all that the $35 DUES ARE NOW DUE and the dues go from October to October, not the last month a member paid them. Make Your Check Payable to G.O.I.I.A.

OLD BUSINESS: Treas. di Milo announced that Steve Loyacano and Ed Mazzarino each donated $50 toward the Christmas

Party for the Handicapped Children which will be on Dec. 18 at Villa Sorrento. di Milo explained the club gives $50 to four needy families who are attending the party. He said that the party is the only time some of these families get the chance to eat at a restaurant. He reminded anyone donating to make his check payable to G.O.I.I.A.

The only volunteers needed, di Milo explained, are social volunteers, guys who would talk and entertain the guests at their tables. Again, he stressed that we don’t need help serving the food and any members showing up looking for a free lunch isn’t going to get it. The treasurer said that one of our members, Mike Barrett, does face painting as a second job and if he can arrange it with his boss he will gladly do it for us.

NEW BUSINESS: Pres. Raso introduced Vice Pres. Loyacano who is working on a new project. Loyacano explained that he is arranging the Notre Dame’s fight song with words about G.O.I.I.A. and is in need of six non-professional singers. He wanted to make a recording. Raso, di Milo and Chicky Russo have already volunteered and anyone else interested is to see Loyacano. Raso said we might be able to get it on the Jay Leno Show, since he is half Italian. Loyacano said that isn’t possible since the Leno Show only uses professional performers. He said maybe, we could get Leno to use a recording of the song.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Past Pres. Joe Picarella will again treat everyone to lunch at the next meeting. He said this is in lieu of mailing Christmas cards.

HEALTH THREE MINUTES: Brother/Dr. Joe Turcillo held a few minutes of health talk by answering members’ questions. "Everybody is different when it comes to side effects cause by erection dysfunction drugs," Turcillo answered to the first question. A member who is losing his taste and feels it’s hereditary was told that it is a relative rare disease to which there isn’t a cause or cure. The three major factors behind heart problems are genes, smoking and high blood pressure. One’s triglycerides should be under 100 and cholesterol under 130 but one should check with his doctor since many families have a history of high cholesterol. He went into details about a study being done in Northern Italy where HDL and LDL are reversed. Turcillo said that there isn’t much that can be done about dementia and alzheimer and those with it don’t know they have it. He explained that the disease that affects one’s standard of living the most is arthritis because one with it lives a long time with some kind of crippling effect. The others will kill you.

Pres. Raso adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 4th at the Villa Sorrento, followed by the Jan. 15th meeting.

Submitted by Sec. Bill Poleri