Newsletter:                                                                                                                                                     AMICI D' ITALIA VOCE                                                                                                              February, vol. 3, issue 2   Brothers and sisters, the pollen in the air is bringing hint of spring to us even though our winter has been very mild. Perhaps this is why we live here in Florida instead of Philadelphia, Kansas City or Cleveland. We must be wary though. Old man winter can still throw us a curve.     We've started a new year with a few questions concerning our leadership, but we are on our way to resolving those issues. We will collect our annual dues at our monthly meeting. Our dues remain at fifty dollars for the year. Any member who finds it difficult to manage this amount, please contact Tim at 904-642-7768. Our dinner at the February 22nd meeting (note the alert) will be provided by one of our newest member, Annette. We will have sausage and peppers with rolls and, of course, a fabulous salad by the “salad master” himself Frank Pupura.   ***ALERT*** Our monthly general meeting will take place on Saturday Feb. 22nd 6:30pm, at the Five Star Veterans Center. Not on our normal meeting date of Feb. 15th. Please make note of the change in the meeting date.   Happy Birthday We have no member birthdays in February, but there are many famous people born in February. Langston Hughes (Feb. 1), one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance; Laura Ingalls Wilder (Feb. 7), author of the Little House books, both born in February. Others include George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the man who brought light the world, Thomas Alva Edison. In Italy, the scientific giant Galileo Galilei, known as the Father of observational astronomy, physics and the scientific method was born in born in Pisa on Feb. 15, 1564. Galileo provided us with knowledge of the fundamental structure of the solar system. Allesandro Volta, Italian physicist and pioneer of electricity was born in Como on Feb. 18, 1745. We recognized his many achievements by naming a unit of electrical power, the volt, after this genius. Happy birthday to all of those who contributed so much to humanity.   Elections Candidates nominated for executive board positions will be up for election at our February meeting. The current nominations include President: Mark Gregorio, Vice President: Hank Pelz, Recording Secretary: Cheryl Callavini, Treasurer: Annette Guarino, Financial Secretary: Dominic Sorrentino, Orator: Gloria Wnorowski, Guard: Frank Purpura, Mistress of Ceremony: Julie Franciskato, Trustees: Donna Auger, Maria Gregorio, Mary Wright, Joe Pecorrella, and Joan Pickett.                                                  2020 OSDIA Calendars   Back by popular demand, the OSDIA State Lodge calendars have arrived! They are only fifty dollars each and good for the entire year. Your official calendar number is tied to the evening Florida Lotto Pick-3. If your calendar number matches the evening Pick 3 draw, you are richer by fifty dollars or more. Your calendar will tell you how much you win on any given day. Your money is automatically sent to you in the mail. One win and your calendar has paid for itself. Quite a bargain.     The Good of the Order I've been informed of the passing of William Tabone, aged 101. William was a member in good standing in the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America for most of his life. He was an active lodge member while residing in central Florida and a founding member of our lodge, Amici d' Italia Lodge 2791. He is survived by his widow Rosalie Tabone. Please remember William in your prayers. Also, remember in your prayers Bob Santare, Kay Winter and Christine Braddock's brother.       Restaurant Night Restaurant night will be will be at EJ's Bisto and Pizza, 9119 Merrill Road #17 Jacksonville 32225 on Thursday Feb. 27th at 6:30pm. We've been to EJ's before, so most all of us know where the restaurant is and how good the food is.