The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin held its 48th Biennium State Convention on June 15 at the Edward Hotel Chicago in Rosemont.
Grand lodge officers elected at the convention for the biennium 2019-2021 are Paul Loparco, president; Frank Schiro, first vice president; James LasCola, orator; Anna DeLuca, recording secretary; Maria Mancini, financial secretary; Carl Busateri, treasurer; Joseph Dentice, historian; and the Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., chaplain.
Grand lodge trustees are Margurite Rowley, Giacomo Mancini, Elia Kress, Carol Hatley, Gino Montalbano and Joseph Santoro.
Delegates to the convention were members elected by Lodge Chicago Heights, Lodge Americo Vespucci, Lodge Filippo Mazzei, Lodge Leone d’Oro and Lodge Southwest.
Immediate Past Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli was elected president of the Illinois Sons of Italy Foundation.
The National Biennium was held in San Antonio, Texas. Delegates attending from the local grand lodge were Richard Della Croce, fifth national vice president, along with Loparco and Marsalli.
OSIA supports Alzheimer’s Research, Cooley’s Anemia and the Doug J. Flutie Foundation for Autism. (www.osia.org)