DID YOU KNOW?
Festa della Repubblica,
commemorating the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946, is celebrated on June 2nd every year In Italy.
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NELA 2010 Highlights
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Cocktail reception before the 22nd Annual NELA Gala  | The
Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) held its 22nd annual National Education & Leadership
Awards (NELA) gala in Washington, D.C. on May 26. Over 900 guests were on hand to honor President Bill Clinton, Capt. Anthony Odierno (U.S. Army, Ret.), former
director of the U.S. Secret Service Lewis Merletti, and 11
young Italian Americans who received the SIF's national scholarships.
Click here to learn more about the 2010 NELA Gala
Here are a few photos from evening; more will be posted on osia.org in the upcoming weeks.
President
Bill Clinton receives the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public
Service from OSIA National President Joseph J. DiTrapani (left) and Sons
of Italy Foundation President Vincent Sarno (right).
President
of Italy, the Hon. Giorgio Napolitano, addresses the audience at the 2010 NELA Gala.
Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, presents the Special Award for Courage & Patriotism to his son, Capt. Anthony Odierno (U.S. Army, Ret.).
Lewis Merletti, Senior Vice President of the Cleveland Browns and former director of the U.S. Secret Service, receives the National Education & Leadership Award.
OSIA Grand Lodge of California State President Maria Fassio Pignati sings the National Anthems of the U.S. and Italy alongside the Metropolitan Police Department Ceremonial Honor Guard.
Music
Legend Quincy Jones, 2006 SIF Honoree for Excellence in Business Franco
Nuschese, and OSIA National Executive Director/CEO Dr. Philip Piccigallo
pose for a photo
during dinner.
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Sons of Italy's Leone D'Oro Wine is Launched!
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OSIA has launched its exclusive line of quality imported Italian
wines under the brand Leone D'Oro™ (Golden Lion). The red, white and
sparkling varietals from the Italian regions of Piemonte, Fruili and Le
Marche retail between $10 and $20 per bottle. They are available to purchase online and through select wholesale distributors, retailers and restaurants.
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OSIA National Day of Recognition
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OSIA Founder Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D.  | OSIA will
celebrate its 105th
anniversary by holding the OSIA National Day of Recognition on June 19, 2010. The National Day of Recognition will enable
each Grand and Subordinate lodge to honor and promote the organization and to
celebrate its founding.
All lodges are encouraged to spread the word
about OSIA and its National Day of Recognition, to organize their own
celebrations and to seek out local officials for public proclamations. More
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| Member Benefits Spotlight |
The value of OSIA membership
continues to grow with new perks being added! Check out this month's
special for all members:  This month only, OSIA Members
can get a Motorola Droid by
Verizon Wireless for only $19.99 at
the
OSIA Wireless
Center! Also get a
FREE phone case, and take advantage of an exclusive 10% discount off
your cart at checkout! Become an OSIA member and visit the Wireless Center for this and other great offers! Learn more about membership in OSIA and
see all the benefits and discounts available to members
in our Marketplace. |
Italian American Festival Directory
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 A free
directory of over 300 annual Italian American festivals in the United States is
now available. The Sons of Italy 2010
Italian Festival Directory lists 324
festivals in 37 states and the District of Columbia that are held between
February and December.
The directory supplies each festival's name, month it is held, city, state and contact information.
To
learn more and download a free copy of the festival directory, click here.
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A Cure is in Sight for Cooley's Anemia
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A CURE IS IN SIGHT is a new initiative from OSIA and the Cooley's Anemia Foundation
to find a cure for Cooley's anemia, the deadly blood disorder that affects
people of Italian descent.
A CURE IS IN SIGHT utilizes supermarkets, banks and other
high-traffic businesses to raise awareness of Cooley's anemia and to
help lodges raise funds for Cooley's anemia research.
Learn more
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Save AP Italian
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The
Sons of Italy has joined a coalition of organizations working to
preserve the Advanced Placement (AP) Program in Italian and has launched
a nationwide fund-raising campaign to help fund this important language
program.
Despite
its growing popularity in U.S. schools, the AP Program in Italian that
OSIA helped establish in 2005 is in danger of being eliminated for lack
of funds, according to the College Board which administers it. About $3
million are needed to save the program.
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| OSIA's Facebook Page and Blog | |
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