February 2020

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Message

Brothers and Sisters,

Writing this final President’s Message to you all is bittersweet. I have been so honored and humbled by your entrusting me to lead Buona Fortuna for the last two years. It has been a joy to watch the lodge grow and evolve during my tenure, and I am so proud of all the hard work you all have poured into our group to ensure its continued success. I have learned so much from you all while also learning a lot about myself.

When I first joined Buona Fortuna nearly 10 years ago, I thought I would learn a bit about my Italian heritage. What I did not expect was that I would gain an entire family of people with some of the most interesting stories I have ever heard. I did not expect to gain the friendship of a bunch of “aunts,” “uncles,” and “grandparents” that would impart on me their time-tested wisdom and, occasionally, some tough love. And now to be completing my first term as President of the lodge, well, it feels a bit like a dream. I think to myself, “How did I get here?”

Truth be told, there is so much more I wanted to accomplish during my tenure as President. I feel there is still much more I could accomplish had I chosen to run and had the honor of being elected again. But, life has its way of letting you know when it is time to step back, and I chose to honor that instinct. Although I will no longer be your President in a few weeks, I’m not going anywhere. I’m still going to be a member, and I look forward to helping support the next leaders of Buona Fortuna.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It has been a privilege to serve you.

With Love,

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, February 13, 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 were due by January1.  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 February membership meeting, 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. 

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

 

2nd Quarter Meeting: April 24-25, 2020

The Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs, 350 South-North Lake Blvd. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

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

Here is the link to the Grand Lodge’s Quarterly Newsletter. The current 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.

All Buona Fortuna Members Are Invited

The installation of the new council officers is an important occasion in our lodge and we invite all members to attend the installation and share in a celebratory luncheon. Please make every effort to attend and show your support for our new council.

Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 1:00 P.M

Franco’s Italian Restaurant, 523 E. Gregory St., Pensacola, FL 32502

Luncheon Choices:

1. Vegetarian Manicotti
2. Chicken Parmesan
3. Broiled Seafood Platter (flounder, shrimp, oysters, scallops and stuffed crab)
4. Lasagna with Meat Sauce

The menu includes salad, bread, side pasta, and nonalcoholic drinks.

 Celebration Cake will be provided by the lodge.

Members – no cost. Guests: $14:00.

Please email me at jovinacoughlin@gmail.com with the exact number attending, the names of those attending and each person’s luncheon choice by February 15.

When you arrive at the luncheon, you will need to check in with me and pick up a ticket for your lunch choice that you will give the waitress when she takes your order.

Jovina Coughlin/Election Chair

Buona Fortuna Book Club

My Brilliant Friend (A Buona Fortuna Book Club Selection)
The second season of the Italian RAI and HBO TV series based on Elena Ferrante’s bestselling “Neapolitan Novels,” was unveiled recently in Italy where the highly anticipated show will start airing on RAI in February. The second season will launch on RAI on February 10, after a 3-day event release in Italian movie theaters. The show will air in the U.S. on HBO in March.

The next book club meeting is on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at O’Brien’s Bistro -10:30 AM. The book selection is Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea – by Sara Alexander. If you would like to participate please email Jovina Coughlin (jovinacoughlin@gmail.com).

         Our Italian American Heritage

Italian Valentine’s Day Facts

Valentine’s Day is synonymous with love and Italians traditionally have been considered to be lovers. Known in Italy as “La Festa Degli Innamorati,” Valentine’s Day is celebrated only between lovers and sweethearts. So it is no surprise that Valentine’s Day is a big deal.

The history of Valentine’s day is also based in Italy. This special day had its origin in the Roman Empire as a holiday in the spring to celebrate the Queen of Roman gods and goddesses. The ancient Romans also considered this queen named, Juno, to be the goddess Queen of Women and Marriage.

Another legend related to the origin of Valentine’s Day refers to St. Valentine who was an Italian priest who defied the Roman Emperor’s order banning marriage between lovers during wartime and Valentine secretly married them. Once this was discovered, he was put to death on February 14 but years later he was named a saint by Pope Gelasius.

To celebrate this lovers’ holiday, Italians give each other flowers, plan romantic dinners and present each other with chocolates, much like in the United States. The renowned Italian chocolate maker, Perugina, celebrates this day by making a special edition of the Baci chocolate candies with a shiny red wrapper and a sweet red cherry and liquid center rather than the traditional hazelnut one. These chocolates are always a favorite and inside the foil wrapper, there is a “love note” with a romantic phrase.

Florence and Venice are traditionally considered to be two of the most romantic places in Italy but Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, celebrates Valentine’s Day with a four-day celebration of events designated “Verona in Love.” In the center of Piazza Dei Signori, a giant red heart is painted on the street and illuminated heart-shaped lanterns are placed throughout the city center. Free concerts with romantic themes take place in Piazza Dei Signori and there is a contest for the most beautiful letter written to Juliet. To attract lovers and sweethearts to spend a weekend in Verona, many of the local hotels offer deals and the restaurants feature specially priced menus. That’s Amore!

How To Say It In Italian

Buon San Valentino, Amore Mio (Happy Valentine’s Day, My Love)

Con te ogni giorno e San Valentino…Grazie Amore (Every day with you is St. Valentine’s Day…Thank you, Love)

San Valentino e solo un nuovo pretesto per dirti quanto sempre ti amo! (Valentine’s Day is only a new excuse to tell you how much I always love you!)

Amo te oggi e sempre. Buon San Valentino (I love you today and forever. Happy Valentine’s Day)

Il giorno migliore per festeggiare il mio immense amore per te! Buon San Valentino (The best day to celebrate my immense love for you! Happy Valentine’s Day)

Grazie Amore per rendere speciali i giorni della mia vita. Buon San Valentino (Thank you, My Love, for making the days of my life special. Happy Valentine’s Day)

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
• Joyce Bollenbacher

Birthdays

Kathy Ahlen
Carla Boham
Thomas Cacciatore
Bill (William) De Mattia
Edward Johnson
Megan Flake
Fernando Guedez
Mia Gundy
Anthony Miceli
Lisa Moody
Lisa Nolan
Sabrina Shaw
Justine Ward

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