January 2019

President’s Message

Brothers and Sisters,

I hope you all had wonderful holidays with your families and friends. In the near blink of an eye, we are already in 2019. It feels like just yesterday that 2018 arrived. I look forward to another year of success and growth with you all. We are sure to face challenges along the way, but we have always worked together to overcome them. I have full faith in us as a Lodge.

In a few weeks, I will be attending our quarterly meeting in Deltona. I look forward to sharing all we have accomplished with our brothers and sisters throughout the state.

President Brooke

Membership Information

General Membership Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, 140 W. Government St. Pensacola.

Our next General Membership Meeting is:

Thursday, January 10, 2019, at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish Center. A business meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a nonperishable food donation for the Manna Food Pantry,

At this meeting, the membership will nominate delegates to the Grand Lodge state conference. Attendance is important. Dues must be paid by this date to participate.

Newsletter ads are now due. See below under Newsletter Ads for additional information.

Council Meetings

Grand Lodge Quarterly Meetings

Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19, 2019, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotel, 1330 Saxon Blvd., Orange City, FL 32763, hosted by Deltona Lodge.

Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, 2019, Four Points Sheraton, 33 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, FL 33950, hosted by Port Charlotte Lodge.

2019 Grand Lodge State Convention, June 26-29, 2019, Doubletree by Hilton, 100 Fairway Drive, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441.

The Grand Lodge’s website: www.osiafl.org

Meeting Set Up/Clean Up Committee:

We need all the members attending a meeting to help clean up after the meeting. 

Charities

If you have a charity that you would like supported by Buona Fortuna, please contact Michele Ledoux.

Lodge Committees

The current list of committees is located on the Buona Fortuna Officers page on our website. Here is the link: 

https://soibuonafortuna.org/home/buona-fortuna-officers/

Buona Fortuna needs your participation. If you would like to join a committee, please contact President Hardy.

On December 1, 2018, Buona Fortuna held their annual Christmas party, The well-attended event was organized extremely well by Nancy Colalillo, Social Chair. For additional photos visit the photo album page on the website. Here is the link:

https://soibuonafortuna.org/home/6-christmas-parties/

What Members Need To Know About Electing Delegates To The State Convention

Grand Lodge State Convention
When: June 26-29, 2019
Where: Doubletree by Hilton, 100 Fairway Drive, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441.

Nominations
When: January 10, 2019, Buona Fortuna General Membership Meeting
Who can nominate – all members whose dues are up to date.

Who can be nominated to serve as a delegate or an alternate delegate:
Buona Fortuna members who have served one term on the council and their dues have been paid for 2019.
Note: if not enough members are available who served on the council, then members who have not been on the council may be considered.

Who can accept a nomination?

In order for a member to be eligible, the member must be present at the January meeting to accept the nomination or send a letter to the Lodge Nominations Chair stating that he or she will accept the nomination if nominated.

If you would like to be nominated as a delegate, let another member know, so that he/she can nominate you.
Alternate Delegates must be available to make arrangements to attend the convention a few days before the convention, in case a regular delegate cannot attend.

When is the Election?
The election will take place at the February General Membership meeting and paper ballots will be provided. Prior to voting in February the nominated candidates will introduce themselves and tell the membership a little about their activities in the lodge.

Expense Reimbursements For Delegates
The Buona Fortuna Lodge pays the $250 registration fee per person directly to the Grand Lodge.
Each delegate or married couple who are delegates receive $500 to pay for a hotel, food, and any additional costs. The reimbursement may not cover all the costs, which means that there may be out of pocket costs.

Each delegate must attend all the convention sessions. All receipts must be turned in, along with a report about what took place in the convention sessions from each elected delegate.

Our Italian American Heritage

How to Make Comparisons in Italian

If you would like to say ‘Florence is more beautiful than Venice’ or ‘Neapolitan pizza is better than Roman pizza’, then you will need to know how to use comparative adjectives in Italian.

Comparatives can express maggioranza (majority) and minoranza (minority), for example:

Roma è più grande di Milano – Roma is bigger than Milan (comparativo di maggioranza)

Torino è più piccola di Napoli – Turin is smaller than Naples (comparativo di minoranza)

The grammar rule is:

più / meno + adjective + di / che -The choice of whether to use ‘di’ or ‘che’ can prove a difficult one to students of Italian. Here are some examples using both:

Di 

Il ristorante è più formale della pizzeria – A restaurant is more formal than a pizzeria

Al supermercato la birra costa meno del vino – At the supermarket, beer costs less than wine

Che

È più facile leggere che parlare in Italian – It is easier to read than speak Italian

La vita è meno cara a Milano che a Palermo – Life is cheaper in Milan than in Palermo

Here are some rules which will help you to choose whether to use ‘di’ or ‘che’ in your comparisons.

Che

You use ‘che’ when comparing two:

• Adjectives

Il sugo è più salato che piccante – The sauce is more salty than spicy

• Infinitives

Ballare è più energetico che camminare – Dancing is more energetic than walking

• Prepositions

Mi sono divertito di più alla festa che al matrimonio – I had more fun at the party than at the wedding

You also use ‘che’ when comparing one noun using two adjectives:

Il libro è più interessante che commovente – The book is more interesting than touching

Mario è più intelligente che studioso – Mario is more intelligent than hardworking

Di

You use ‘di’ when comparing two:

• Separate nouns

Cristina è più forte di Silvia – Cristina is stronger than Silvia

• Pronouns

Tu vai in Italia più di me – You go to Italy more than me

You also use ‘di’ when:

• It is followed by a number

Quella chiesa ha più di 200 anni – That church is more than 200 years old

• Using the words “più/meno di quanto + verb” or “più/meno di quel che + verb”

Il biglietto costa meno di quanto pensassi – The ticket costs less than I thought

Mi piace studiare l’italiano più di quel che mi aspetassi – I like studying Italian more than I expected

Comparatives of maggioranza and minoranza can also be strengthened or weakened by using an adverb such as molto, poco, troppo, un po’:

Verona è un po’ più grande di Padova – Verona is a bit bigger than Padua

La Sicilia è molto meno fredda della Lombardia – Sicily is much less cold than Lombardy

• Uguaglianza

Comparative adjectives can also express uguaglianza (equality), for example:

Siena è così bella come Parma – Siena is as beautiful as Parma

Viaggiare in barca è tanto divertente quanto viaggiare in aereo – Travelling by boat is as fun as traveling by plane

The grammar rule is:

tanto / così (although you can omit this first part) + adjective + quanto / come

• Special comparatives

There are some irregular comparatives, here are the most common:

buono / migliore – good / better

cattivo / peggiore – bad / worse

grande / maggiore – big / bigger

piccolo / minore – small / smaller

Questo vino è peggiore dell’altro – This wine is worse than the other one

Il tuo italiano è migliore del mio – Your Italian is better than mine

Preserving Italian American Folklore

In the Italian American community, where traditions are a fundamental part of a rich cultural heritage, folklore has particular importance. The Italian Folk Art Federation of America was founded to bring together and preserve these traditions. The organization was founded in 1979 as an outgrowth of an Italian Folk Art Project initiated in 1977 at the Nationalities Service Center (NSC) of Philadelphia. The organization was created to preserve and foster interest in all Italian folk arts; to research Italian folklore, traditions, costumes, dances, songs, instruments, etc.; to act as a center for gathering, storing and disseminating the information; and to bring together Italian folk performing groups and other interested individuals. IFAFA is a registered non-profit and organized with a volunteer executive team and board of directors.

All regions of Italy are represented in the organization. Folk Art is important! Folk art provides a connection to history for descendants of Italians and introduces the folk arts to contemporary audiences. Members research dance or song and how they can vary from region to region, or even within a region. There are members that make lace and mosaics, for example, which are arts found all over Italy. People watching the dance groups are often amazed to see that folk dancing isn’t just the tarantella. Members research and teach Italian waltzes, mazurkas, and regional tarantellas.

Recently at their annual conference, a session was taught by a member about a folk song that exists in 3 distinct versions, within the same region. But through dialect and distance, the words and theme change just ever so slightly to alter the storytelling.

The membership ranges from school age children to senior citizens. There are many children’s dancing groups. They came to this not just from their parents and grandparents, but also through their friends. A fundamental characteristic of folk art is its accessibility. It’s not constrained by borders or age.

The group’s membership is based all over the United States. They are not concentrated in just one region. Members live on the East Coast, the West Coast, the Midwest, and the South. Many members are part of dance or singing groups, and/or also have memberships in other Italian focused organizations. IFAFA is about sharing knowledge and forging new relationships. 

A group close to Buona Fortuna is the Tarantella Dancers of St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, FL (http://www.iasosp.org/iasosp_tarantella_dancers.html ). 

Founder, Elba Farabegoli Gurzau, wrote a book on Italian regional dress called “Folk Dances, Customs, and Costumes of Italy”. To this day, it’s still used as an English language resource for individuals looking to make an authentic costume.

The next National Conference will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 2019. Visit the IFAFA website for additional information.

Tradizione Vivente, the Italian Dance Group of Milwaukee, WI, performing at the Festa Italiana Parade in Milwaukee:

Buona Fortuna 2835 Lodge Officers

Guard Shirley Cotita

Mistress of Ceremonies Dawn Wilson

Master of Ceremonies Andy Fricano

Past Presidents Gene Valentino, Mark De Nunzio, Pete Resedean

Herald  Tod Wilson

Public Relations/Webmaster/Newsletter Editor: Jovina Coughlin

Lodge Chaplain  Giovanni Mirra

Lodge Photographers: Al Lombardi/Shirley Cotita

State & National Officers

Lodge Contact Information:

Sons & Daughters of Italy in America – Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835. P.O. Box 12351, Pensacola, FL 32591

Webmaster/Editor – Jovina Coughlin – jovinacoughlin@gmail.com

Website Address: https://soibuonafortuna.org/

Buona Fortuna Email System

Our email address is buona-fortuna@googlegroups.com

Visit Us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sonsofitalybuonafortuna 

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BuonaFortunaSon

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/buona.f/

Remember Those Who Are Ill

• Rita Somma
• Vera Fricano
• David De Nadal
• Martha Nash

January Birthdays

Carey Bennett
Elaine Ciardello
John Coughlin
Marianne Cufone
Barbara Ferg-Carter
Vera Fricano
Frank Patti, Jr.

Italian Cookbook For Sale

Preserving Our Italian Heritage. Cost per book $15.00. Great gift for Birthdays, Weddings, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter and Christmas. 

Grand Lodge 2018 Calendar For Sale

Calendars are available to purchase and cost $50. The calendar program is part of the Cash Three-Evening Florida Lottery Program. Prizes range from $100.00 to Special Holiday prizes for up to $1000.00.  You may purchase a calendar at the General Membership Meeting. Checks should be made out to the Grand Lodge of Florida.

Newsletter Article Deadline

The newsletter is published monthly on the first day of the month. The deadline to submit information is the 30th or 31st day of the previous month. Submit all information to Editor:  jovinacoughlin@gmail.com

Newsletter Ads

Members’ Personal Ads for Selling Consumer Goods cost $3.00 per month. Business Ads cost $36.00 for 12 months and are payable each January. Email a copy of your business card information or your personal ad information and a photo of the item you are selling to jovinacoughlin@gmail.com. Please make the check payable to Buona Fortuna Lodge and mail it to Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835. P.O. Box 12351, Pensacola, FL 32591.

Community Business Ads