January 2020

 

 

 

President’s Message

Brothers and Sisters,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! As we bid adieu to the last decade and embrace a new one, I am thankful for all of your continued support, hard work, and dedication to our lodge. Each and every one of you are part of our Buona Fortuna family. When I reflect on our lodge’s name, Buona Fortuna, I think of what it means: Good Luck. The credit for good luck is often given to random chance. We sometimes think of it as an event that occurs outside of our control. But when I think of our kind of Buona Fortuna, I think of all the interesting lives that intersect through our lodge. I think of all the different possibilities and directions that life can take and how we all are to be part of each others’ stories through Buona Fortuna. And that, I think, is an entirely different kind of “good luck.”

I wish you all joy, peace, and health in the upcoming year.

Fraternally,

Brooke Hardy
President
Buona Fortuna Lodge

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 9, 2019, at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish Center. Please bring a potluck dish to share and a non-perishable food or hygiene item for the Manna Food Pantry. A business meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m.

Yearly membership dues are $45 and must be paid by January 1.  Checks should be made out to Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835. You may also mail your check to Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835. P.O. Box 12351, Pensacola, FL 32591. Members who joined at Festa Italiana 2019 are paid through 2020.

At our January membership meeting, we will be nominating members for the Council and in February we will be electing new officers. It is important to be current on your dues payment so that you can participate in the election process. The election process is explained below in Lodge News.

Newsletter Ad subscriptions are now due for the year. The cost is $36.00. See below under Newsletter Ads for more information.

Council Meetings

Grand Lodge Quarterly Meeting

Deltona Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge – January 31-February 1, 2020 – 1270 Doyle Road, Deltona, FL 32725

Holiday Inn & Suites, 1330 Saxon Blvd., Orange City, FL 32763

The Grand Lodge’s website: https://osiaflorida.org/

Here is the link to the Grand Lodge’s Quarterly Newsletter. The January edition has a feature on Buona Fortuna.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n_TYFD56H3aEi406kuh2aguXTYPDjZ-n/view

Meeting Set Up/Clean Up Committee:

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

Charities

If you have a charity that you would like supported by Buona Fortuna, please contact the charity chairperson, John Mirra.

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.

Procedures for the Buona Fortuna Council election process:

At the January 9, 2020, General Membership Meeting the Lodge will nominate members to run for positions on the Council. At the February 13, 2020, General Membership Meeting, the membership will elect a new Council by voting with a printed ballot. Nominations will not be accepted in February.

In order to participate in the nomination process and run for office, members must have paid their dues for the 2020 year. if a member would like to be nominated for a position, the member must be present at the January meeting and another member must do the nominating. If a member cannot attend the January membership meeting then they should send an email to the election chair, Jovina Coughlin, stating they would accept a nomination. (jovinacoughlin@gmail.com)

The Council is composed of the President, Vice President, Immediate Past President (not an elected position), Orator, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary (not an elected position) Financial Secretary, Treasurer, (5 to 7) Trustees, Master and Mistress of Ceremony and Guard.

The offices of President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer are mandatory. To be elected President or Vice President, the candidate must have served at least one (1) full term as a member of the local lodge Council. Transferring members retain their eligibility and will be eligible to be elected President or Vice President, provided that they have served one (1) full term as a member on any ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA® Local Lodge Council. 

The term of office for local lodge officers is two (2) years. A local lodge officer may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms (4 years) in the same office. See below for a detailed account of the responsibilities of each Council office.

Social members cannot hold an elected office but can serve as members of a committee and as its chairperson. 

The Arbitration Commission is composed of five (5) regular lodge members known as commissioners, and five (5) alternate members known as alternate commissioners. They will hold office for a period of two (2) years and serve until their successors are elected and installed in the next biennial election.

The current Council Members remaining eligible to run in the 2020 election for the same office they currently hold are listed below: Even though a council member is eligible to run again, a nomination for that office will be required and other members may be nominated to oppose them on the ballot. 

If the office below is blank, it means that the current council member has termed out in that office or requested that they not be nominated again. Council members who have termed out in their current position are eligible to be nominated for another office on the Council.

Nominations will be accepted for the following positions:

President –  
Vice President – Patti Russo
Orator
Recording Secretary ~ Barbara Ferg
Financial Secretary –
Treasurer 
Trustees – Need 7 – Two Remain Eligible
Al Hargis
Ginny Barberi
Mistress of Ceremonies-
Master of Ceremonies – Andy Fricano
Guard – Shirley Cotita
Arbitration Commissioners – Need 5
Alternate Arbitration Commissioners – Need 5

Buona Fortuna Lodge Officers’ Job Descriptions

PRESIDENT
ART. 22. The President is the highest-ranking officer and the leader of the Local Lodge and as such:
(a) Calls and presides over all the meetings of the Council and of the assembly.
(b) Sees that the laws of the Local Lodge are observed and the deliberations of the Council and of the assembly are carried out.
(c) Sees that the laws of the Order are respected and observed, and the orders of the Supreme Lodge and of the Grand Lodge are obeyed.
(d) Controls the affairs of the Local Lodge and supervises the performance of duties by the other officers of the Council.
(e) Signs the minutes of the meetings of the assembly and all orders of payment, checks, correspondence and all documents of the Local Lodge.
(f) Appoints all committees of the Local Lodge, of which the President is an ex officio member.
(g) Refrains from making proposals at the meetings of the assembly; participate in discussions only to clarify the issues presented and votes only in case of a tie.
(h) After hearing the opinion of the Orator, the President rules upon controversies involving the application of the laws.
(i) When a disorder arises in the meeting of the assembly or of the Council, the President may silence or censure the member or members causing such disorder. If such members or members persist in causing disorder, the President may fine, silence or expel the member or members from the hall or suspend the meeting.

VICE PRESIDENT
ART. 23. The Vice President is the second-ranking officer of the Local Lodge. As such, the Vice President assists the President and takes the President’s place when the President is absent or unable to act. In the absence of the President, the Vice President performs the duties and exercises the prerogatives of the President to the same extent and with like power which the President would have, if present.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT (not an elected position),
ART. 24. The office of Immediate Past President shall be given to the member who has served one complete term as President of the Local Lodge immediately preceding the incumbent. If on account of death, disqualification, resignation or removal, the office of Immediate Past President becomes vacant, the office shall be filled from the preceding former Presidents. In case there is no preceding former Presidents, the office of the Immediate Past President shall be filled by electing such officer from among the members of the Local Lodge who have served a full term as officers of such Local Lodge. The Immediate Past President assumes the office of President whenever the President and the Vice President are unable to act or are absent from the meeting of the Council or of the assembly, and performs the duties as directed by the President to the same extent and with like powers as the President if present.

ORATOR
ART. 25. The Orator gives opinions concerning the application and interpretation of the laws of the Order and sees that the laws of the Order are observed and properly applied. In matters which relate to the administration of the affairs of the Local Lodge, the Orator is subordinate to the President. In matters relating to the exercise of Judicial Power, the Orator is subordinate to the State or National Orator. The Orator, either on the Orator’s own initiative or upon complaint being made to the Orator, shall have the power to prefer written charges against a member who has violated the laws of the Order.

RECORDING SECRETARY
ART. 26. The Recording Secretary is the custodian of the archives and the keeper of the seal of the Local Lodge. The Recording Secretary’s duties are:
(a) To take and record the minutes of the meetings of the Council and of the assembly and to present the minutes at the next meeting. Maintain attendance records for the Council.
(b) To be the sole officer through whom a member may communicate with the Grand Council.
(c) To act as the clerk of the Local Lodge Arbitration Commission when such Commission is in session, except in case the Recording Secretary is an interested party.
(d) Within ten days after receipt, to forward to the State Recording Secretary all appeals referred or presented to the Recording Secretary by members because of administrative irregularities. The appeals when forwarded shall be accompanied by a report of the views expressed by the Council. (e) To carry out all orders which the Recording Secretary may receive, in matters pertaining to the office, from the President or from the higher ranking officers of the Order.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY
ART. 27. The Financial Secretary is the collector and accountant of the Local Lodge. The Financial Secretary’s duties are:
(a) To collect dues and assessments and issuing receipts.
(b) To write orders of payment, affixing the Financial Secretary’s signature thereon, together with that of the President.
(c) To present orders of payment to the Treasurer, who issues the checks.
(d) To make up and keep up to date financial records, particularly those entrusted to the Financial Secretary by the Grand Lodge or Supreme Lodge. Those financial records are the ledger, the journal book, the financial statements, and the orders of payments.
(e) To notify by mail those members who are in default with the payment of dues and assessments.
(f) To announce members in default with the payment of dues and assessments to the assembly. (g) To communicate, at the end of each meeting of the assembly, the total collections and disbursements made on the day of the meeting.
(h) To make a quarterly financial report, audited and signed by no less than three trustees. Send a copy to the State Financial Secretary.
(i) To make payment of the Capita Tax, computed on the basis of the number of members listed on the membership roll at the end of each quarter, not later than January 15th, April 15th, July 15th, and October 15th of each year.
(j) To carry out all orders which the Financial Secretary may receive, in matters affecting the office, from the President and from higher-ranking officers of the Order.

TREASURER
ART. 28. The Treasurer is the custodian of the funds of the Local Lodge. The Treasurer’s duties are:
(a) To receive at the end of each meeting all money collected by the Financial Secretary and to issue proper receipts.
(b) To record in and keep up to date the Cash Book of the Local Lodge. The Treasurer shall register monthly income and disbursements of the Local Lodge.
(c) Not later than three days after each meeting, to deposit in previously designated banks the funds received by the Treasurer in accounts opened in the name of the Local Lodge.
(d) To issue and sign checks upon the receipt of the proper order of payment. Consign with the Financial Secretary for delivery to the payee.
(e) To withdraw funds from savings accounts opened in the name of the Local Lodge; provided the withdrawal slip also bears the signature of the President and the Financial Secretary.
(f) To carry out such orders which the Treasurer may receive, in matters pertaining to the office, from the President or from the higher ranking officers of the Order.

TRUSTEES
ART. 29. The Trustees supervise the affairs of the Local Lodge and are members of the Council. Their duties are:
(a) To examine and audit the books kept by the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer of the Local Lodge.
(b) To examine and audit the quarterly report of the Financial Secretary, certifying as to its correctness by affixing their signatures on the reports. No less than three Trustees’ signatures in addition to that of the Financial Secretary are needed.
(c) To perform such additional duties, in matters pertaining to their office, as directed by the President.

MASTERS AND/OR MISTRESSES OF CEREMONIES
ART. 30. The Masters and/or Mistresses of Ceremonies are officers of the Local Lodge who participate in ceremonial activities during the course of the meetings of the assembly of the Local Lodge.

GUARD
ART. 31. The Guard is the doorkeeper of the Local Lodge. The Guard’s duty is to exclude strangers from the meetings of the assembly and to admit members and guests.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY (not an elected position),

To make up and keep up to date the email roll of the Local Lodge. To care for correspondence and write letters or emails as directed by the President or Recording Secretary. Prepare meeting agendas with the President, write and send notices for meetings.

LOCAL LODGE ARBITRATION COMMISSION
ART. 33. The Local Lodge Arbitration Commission is the judicial branch of the Local Lodge. The Local Lodge Arbitration Commission is composed of five (5) regular members, known as Commissioners, and five alternate members, known as Alternate Commissioners. The members shall meet immediately following their installation and elect a President from their membership, who shall be known as President of the Local Lodge Arbitration Commission. The President shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Commission and shall preside at all meetings.

Local Lodges holding biennial elections shall elect their Arbitration Commission members for a period of two (2) years and shall serve until their successors are elected and installed. Whenever a vacancy occurs among the Commissioners, it shall be filled by the Alternate Commissioner who received the highest number of votes during the election of the Alternate Commissioners.

The Local Lodge Arbitration Commission shall act as a commission of jurisdiction: (a) To hear complaints filed by the Local Lodge Orator against members and Officers (except the President) of the Local Lodge. (b) To hear complaints filed by members of the Local Lodge against members and Officers (except the President) of the Local Lodge.

         Our Italian American Heritage

Want to bring yourself some luck in this new year? Do it the Italian way.

In the past, Italians throw old pots, pans, clothes, appliances, even furniture out the window to banish past bad luck. Really! It’s meant to symbolize “letting go” of past unhappiness to prepare yourself for the future. Although most Italians have abandoned the tradition, do watch your head on the streets of Naples on New Year’s Eve!

Another tradition is to fire up the Christmas log on the last day of the year. Turns out, evil spirits don’t like fire! Afterward, according to tradition, families would use the ashes as charms to protect the house from damage.

Red underwear brings luck. This goes for men and women. So that explains why you see all the red underwear hanging in the shop windows at this time of year!

Sausage and lentils are popular foods in Italy and the New Year meals are all about symbolizing abundance. In Piedmont, rice represents coins—so traditional dinner is a white wine risotto. Elsewhere in Italy, lots of dishes feature lentils (which symbolize wealth) and raisins (for good luck). One particularly popular dish is lentils served with cotechino, a big pork sausage that’s boiled over low heat for about four hours before serving. Although the cotechino from Modena is an IGP (legally-protected) product, it’s also traditional to Lombardy, Molise, Trentino and the Veneto. You might also see a sausage that comes in a hollowed-out pig’s trotter. When sliced, the pieces look like coins… so this too is meant to give wealth in the new year!

To ensure a sweet new year, ancient Romans gave each other jars of dates and figs in honey, along with a bay branch for good fortune.

Fireworks and lots of noise also “scare” the bad spirits away. So, of course, expect lots of fireworks. Practically every city and many of Italy’s towns put on a dazzling display.

To many in Italy, it’s not the New Year unless a game of tombola is played, a game just like bingo. The game of tombola was born in Naples in the 18th century as a way to reduce the amount of gambling that the general populous engaged in. Gambling was legal in the Regno di Napoli at the time, but the Church frowned on it. Since declaring gambling to be illegal wasn’t going to go over well (it was a significant source of income for the Kingdom), a deal was struck between Charles, the Bourbon King of Naples and the Dominican Friars. During the Christmas season, there would be no gambling. As a remedy to this, the Neapolitans came up with a game that they could play in private – a game of chance, rather than skill and tombola was born. Just another case of Italian ingenuity and creativity!

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
• Larry Fordham
• Barbara Ferg
• Mary Resedean
• Joyce Bollenbacher

Birthdays

Carey Bennett
Elaine Ciardello
John Coughlin
Marianne Cufone
Pamela Davey
Barbara Ferg-Carter
Diana Fordham
Vera Fricano
Helga Hascher
Erica Jorgenson
Frank Patti, Jr.
Carmen Zampini

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 2019 Calendar For Sale

Calendars are available to purchase the 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 for $50.

Newsletter Article Deadline

The newsletter is published monthly on the first day of the month. The deadline to submit information is the 30th 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