PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s Order Sons of Italy Lodge 2561 held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 21 at Angelo’s Restaurant, 94 North Beverwyck Road. Approximately fifty members were present for their monthly meeting of members.
Besides this being the lodge’s regular monthly meeting of members, Lodge 2561 was proud to welcome New Jersey State Order Sons of Italy President Ralph Capaccio and First Vice President Frank Gattuso. The State President and First Vice President were present to swear in the lodge’s officers and trustees.
The lodge’s officers and trustees are President: Joe Jannarone Jr.; First Vice-President: Louis Amato; Second Vice-President: Joe Plescia; Treasurer: Robert Iracane; Recording Secretary: Adam Gragnani; Sargent at Arms: Sean Clark; Trustees: Jamie Barberio; Dom Colasuonno; Frank Colasuonno; James Torsiello, Vinnie Ferrara; John Gangone and Joe Serrao.
Lodge 2561 was also humbled to once again have special guest at the meeting, Bella Rocco, a Parsippany High School student and daughter of member Ralph Rocco. Bella accepted a check on behalf of The Valerie Fund from Lodge President Joseph Jannarone Jr.
Bella graciously accepted the donation and told the members at the meeting that she was extremely proud to accept the donation on behalf the Valerie Fund because, she as a survivor knows first-hand the great work The Valerie Fund organization provides to the community.
The Order Sons of Italy in America® (OSIA) is the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States.
Founded in 1905 as a mutual aid society for the early Italian immigrants, today OSIA has hundreds of thousands of family members located in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, making it the leading service and advocacy organization for the nation’s estimated 26 million people of Italian descent.
Its missions include encouraging the study of Italian language and culture in American schools and universities; preserving Italian American traditions, culture, history and heritage; and promoting closer cultural relations between the United States and Italy.
The Morris County of the Order of Sons of Italy lodge 2561 is an affiliated member of the Order of the Sons of Italy In America Association.
The Lodge was founded as a non-profit organization which contributes thousands of dollars to worthwhile local charities and families and awards many scholarships to outstanding men and women.
The Grand Lodge of New Jersey promotes it’s Italian culture through many programs
- Establishing & promoting Italian Language and culture programs in public schools
- Sponsoring Italian American Awareness Day
- Participating in Columbus Day Parades and Activities
- To promote a positive image of Italian Americans
- To fight bias, bigotry & defamation which has plagued the Italian American Community for many years.
Social membership is provided for non-Italians who believe OSIA goals and wish to participate in its programs.
For more information about our club, contact our President Joe Jannarone Jr. at (973) 264-2999 or email by clicking here.
