Cellini Lodge #2206 is a social and philanthropic organization. Founded in September 1968, Cellini is part of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA). We are headquartered in New Hyde Park, New York and have a membership of over 350 men and women.
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December 2018 Cari Fratelli e Sorelle di Cellini, To the 80 or so new members that have joined over the last 2 years, I hope you are enjoying what we offer and I suggest you keep active; fear not to speak up for information say, if you want to work on a committee or are ready to become an officer. Think of coming to our Christmas Party on 12/21 – this is a great social event and a way for you to get to know other members. To all other members, thank you for your continued membership: whether you just get the Italian American magazine, Golden Lion and our newsletter because you can’t make meetings or you: work at the Feast, volunteer for charitable events, come to the Dinner Dance, come to all the meetings, run events or are Officers – you are all members in your different ways and I hope you remain.
Nominations! If you are interested you must make your intention known no later than our general meeting on December 3. I have again appointed IPP Alfonso as Chair of the Nominating Committee; please make sure you inform him or ask him any questions. Emails have been sent and procedures are also in this newsletter; all positions are opened and I welcome you newer members that meet the time requirements and are willing and able to dedicate your time – this will engender a diversity of ideas and prevent a centralization of groupthink.
November (11/3) started with a luncheon at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum (GMM) – our own Joseph Sciame is CEO. Graced with our National President, Vera Ferrara Girolami from California we then had a group tour of the museum and its famous brick walkway. Anyone can purchase a brick; Cellini donates for deceased members. If you have never been to the GMM, it is worth the trip. I was at Temple Emanuel on 11/16 for an Interfaith Thanksgiving service that had wonderful diverse entertainment; thanks to those members that attended. On 11/18 I proxied for Trustee Larry Werther (recuperating from knee surgery) as sponsor for Richard Nicolello who received the Ambasciatore Award from the Italian American Museum. A great event with 10 honorees including, Joseph DiTrapani (Per Sempre lodge) our Sons of Italy Foundation® President. On 11/24 I attended the New Hyde Park Boy Scout Troop 298 Court of Honor for 3 new Eagle Scouts (Chris Joseph, Connor Garvin and Michael Sokol). If you know them congratulate them as I learned the demanding dedication needed to attain this level. Troop 298 invaluably helps us with keeping our Discovers’ monument neat and lending themselves for the physical work at the set-up/break-down of our annual Feast. We cancelled the Thanksgiving social because the chef, Principal Trustee Jim Prinzevalli,is recuperating from a medical procedure – he promises to do something special next year. Coming in December is the Children’s Christmas Party on 12/9 (you have until 12/3 to rsvp) and our Adult Christmas Party as stated earlier is 12/21. January 11, 2019 will be Pasta Night (see fliers inside this issue for full information). Save the date! – April 5, 2019 is our Annual Scholarship Dinner Dance; this and the Feast are the two paramount events that we urge all to attend.
Don’t forget the $30 Grand Lodge lottery calendar; buy by next meeting or let Juliette Milazzo or me know that you are interested. Emails have been sent out on how it works. Great as gifts and stocking stuffers.
The winter solstice is Friday, December 21 at 5:23 pm, welcome winter – be kind to us.
Last month at the general meeting I missed mentioning a member, and grandfather of scholarship awardee Harrison, Antonio Russo who is recuperating from hernia surgery. Please wish him well, and to all those (we had a lot the last couple months) that have been ill or needed operations, I hope that the Christmas season and New Year bring much peace and health. And let us keep in mind those less fortunate as we did at the November general meeting where Cellini members selflessly donated over 20 bags of food items that went to Notre Dame Social Ministry; thank you to Joan Marchiselli for spearheading this drive.
Quando l’amico chiede, non v’è domani. – When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow. God Bless you and your family, God Bless our ancestors and heritage and God Bless America! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Mark A. Ventimiglia Cellini Lodge #2206 – President 2017-19
As I am finishing this month’s message on August 20, I am saddened by the news of the Italian bridge tragedy on Tuesday, August 14. Reading articles and seeing pictures, it is amazing that more didn’t perish when an almost 700-foot section of the bridge fell 150 feet to the area below. That that this bridge was known to be ‘in trouble’ is disconcerting. As of 8/19, at least 43 people have died, many more injured and at least 600 families displaced in the aftermath of the Morandi Bridge collapse in Genoa. Please pray for the families of our friends/family in Italy during this trying time.
On a happier note, September 29 is the actual date of our 50th golden anniversary. Happy Birthday Cellini! I am sure a lot have seen the lodge grow and go through good and tough times, especially brother Joe Sciame who is the only active member from 1968.
As I write, the Feast hasn’t yet taken place, just the start of the setup, but it will be over when you receive this newsletter. I hope with all the hard work it will be called a success – I will report on the Feast at the general meeting and in the October newsletter.
On August 9, I hosted, at Marcus Christ Hall in New Hyde Park, the ceremonial crowning of the new Nassau County (District II of the Grand Lodge of NY) King and Queen: Connie Mulé and Alexander Marchiselli of Cellini Lodge. Cellini members and respective grandmothers, Connie Ciccione and Joan Marchiselli were ecstatic along with their families. We are doubly proud of the King and Queen as they represent both Cellini Lodge and District II.
The autumnal equinox is the astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. This year it occurs at 9:54 pm on September 22. It will already be September 23 in Italy, a special day this year, as Francesco Forgione (Padre Pio) will be remembered and celebrated. The Capuchin friar died 50 years ago on 9/23 (six days before our Cellini Lodge opened its doors) of a heart attack at age 81 in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. Today he is venerated as a saint of the Catholic church.
Never forget 9-11; 17 years later and I think solemnly about all of us; and friends and relatives hurt, disheartened or gone: the changes hate can bring.
The Feast “thank you” will be on September 21 at Clinton Martin Park and our critique will be at the Jericho Turnpike office on Monday, September 24.
Answer to August newsletter question: Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician, physicist, biologist and philosopher, who discovered animal electricity. He is the pioneer in bioelectromagnetics. His studies were a great influence on author Mary Shelley and perhaps her not completely fictitious Frankenstein. His name lives on in the word galvanize – ‘shock into action’.
Quando l’amico chiede, non v’è domani. – When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow.
God Bless you and your family, God Bless our ancestors and heritage and God Bless America! Always Forward,
Mark A. Ventimiglia Cellini Lodge #2206 – President 2017-19
In Errata In August message, last name Capazzo should have been Capasso for Phyllis Capasso. Also in August message, last name Hghes should have been Hughes for Val Hughes. |
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