Italian American Digest 7Italian American Digest FALL 2018 | Page 10

CLUB NEWS
PAGE 10
I talian A merican D igest
FALL 2018
Sons of Italy Plan Fall Fundraisers
by Linda Serio
The Sons of Italy are preparing
for a big fall—always our busiest
time of the year. We will once again
devote Columbus Day to “Back the
Badge,” an effort that began in the
aftermath of the 2016 killings of law
enforcement officers. We’ll offer food,
drink, giveaways and door prizes to
all officers who stop into Ranchland
Uniforms on October 8. We will have
our usual refreshment booth at the
Blessing of the Graves at St. Joseph
Cemetery for All Souls Day and are
planning a potluck for club members
on November 10—LSU game on TV
included! On November 11, we’ll
hold our annual Sausage, Cannoli
and Italian Cookie Sale, which is
always a sellout. Last year we added
Angelo Brocato’s seed cookies (Bis-
cotti Regina) to our fundraiser, and
we sold 100 pounds with requests for
more!
We were deeply saddened by
the unexpected passing of our club
chaplain, Monsignor Carson LaCaze.
He was well-loved throughout the di-
ocese of Shreveport, and particularly
by our club. Although he was not
Italian-American, Monsignor LaCaze
shared our love of life and laughter,
and faithfully participated in club
Boswell, Joseph and Mary Fertitta,
activities. Fr. Karl Daigle of St. Jude
Catholic Church is our new chaplain, Johnnie and Sue Estess, Dan and Judi
McGrew, Rich and Elaine Baki, Dr.
and we warmly welcome him to our
Mike Acurio, Courtney Batt, Mickey
group.
Vice President Joseph Fertitta and Fertitta, and Linda Serio.
The club will take on a new mis-
Board Member Joseph Fertitta Jr.
sion this year for our charitable giv-
are enabling us to have another big
ing. Many of us attend Holy Trinity
holiday raffle! Through their busi-
Catholic Church, and we have come
ness, C&L Supply, they are donating
a Haier 65-inch Class
4K Ultra HD Slim
TV! Last year’s TV
raffle proved very
lucrative for the club
treasury.
SOI members par-
ticipated in the annu-
al Think First Draw
Down, a nonprofit
that we regularly
support. We wore
our western garb and
enjoyed barbecue at
East Ridge Country
Club, with our tickets
and silent-auction
purchases supporting
Flo Gresens won $1,000 at the Think First Fundraiser
the prevention of
attended by Sons of Italy members.
head and spinal cord
injuries. We always
have a winner in the
Draw Down, and this year mem-
ber Flo Gresens won $1,000! Other
members in attendance were Val
Joseph Fertitta, Lisa Buzzanca Johnson, Robby Johnson, Linda Serio and
Mary Fertitta attend a recent Sons of Italy meeting at Ernest’s Orleans
Restaurant.
to know altar server and Eucharistic
Minister Chris Dixon. Chris is one of
many who wish to enter the seminary
(or other religious vocations) but are
held back by student loan debt. He is
now a member of the Laboure’ Soci-
ety, which seeks to “rescue vocations”
and raise the necessary funds. The
club will donate from our treasury,
augmented by personal donations
from members, in our effort to
send Chris to the seminary in
August. Information about the La-
boure’ Society is available at www.
labouresociety.com. Tax-deduct-
ible donations may be made in the
name of Chris Dixon.
Kathy Gugliuzza recently
went to San Diego to visit her
newborn granddaughter, toting a
“Picciridda” bib from Sicily. Most
of us have fond memories of being
called “picciriddi” by our Sicilian
grandparents!
For information about the
Sons of Italy Heritage Club, con-
tact President Anthony Gugliuzza
at [phone] or or Vice Presi-
dent Joseph Fertitta at (318) 458-
4675.