National
  The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) was founded on June 22, 1905 at 203 Grand Street in New York City (Door way is shown below). An Italian immigrant, Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro (right), and five compatriots: pharmacist Ludovico Ferrari, attorney Antonio Marzullo, sculptor Giuseppe Carlino, and barbers Pietro Viscardi and Robert Merlo,
created the organization to unite men and women of Italian heritage under one banner. Their purpose was to preserve and disseminate the rich cultural heritage and culture of Italy. They also felt a need to promote and advance their progress everywhere within the framework of American society. When OSIA was founded, it took its name from"L’Ordine Figli d’Italia in America," which is Italian for "The Order Children of Italy in America ". In America, the name was converted to its present masculine form ("Order Sons of Italy in America"), and has been preserved as such for name recognition, and legacy purposes.
 OSIA has provided a community in which both men and women of Italian descent have preserved and nurtured their Italian culture, heritage, and language. It continues to thrive, meeting the initial objectives of its founders through a wide variety of community, cultural, social, charitable, educational, patriotic, and civic activities. As OSIA approaches it’s 107th year of service, it has grown into the largest, and most demographically diverse organization on the North American continent. Men and women share equal status within OSIA, as do individuals of all professions and ages. • Established as a mutual aid society for the early Italian immigrants, today OSIA has more than 600,000 members and supporters and a network of more than 700 Lodges coast to coast, 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 of America and the Republic of Italy. • The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) is a private, 501 (c) (3) philanthropic institution, established by OSIA on August 24, 1959. To date, the SIF has given more than $100 million to scholarships, medical research, cultural preservation, disaster relief, and other projects.  • The Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) is the 501 (c) (3) anti-defamation arm of OSIA. The CSJ is committed to fighting racism, prejudice, and the stereotyping of all races, religions and cultures. • The national headquarters is at 219 E St., NE, Washington, D.C. 20002. Phone: 202-547-2900, Fax: 202-546-8168, near Capitol Hill, and the various congressional office buildings.  New York State The Grand Lodge of New York was the first OSIA Grand Lodge formed on January 10, 1911. The Executive Office of the NYSOSIA Grand Lodge is located at 2101 Bellmore Avenue in Bellmore, Nassau County, New York 11710. Telephone; 516-785-4623, Toll Free; 1-800-322-6742, Fax: 516-221-6742. There are 78 local NY chapters, located from the far reaches of northern New York to the eastern tip of Long Island. Family membership is over fifty thousand representing a broad cross section of the Italian American community in the Empire State. The New York Chapter of the CSJ was founded on October 12, 1980. It is the 501 (c) (3) anti-defamation are of the NYS Grand Lodge. Obtain more information by visiting its web site.  The 100th Anniversary of the NYS Grand Lodge was Celebrated at the 18th Annual Winter Charity Ball held on Friday, January 28, 2011 at the Chateau Briand, Carle Place. Honored were: State President Salvatore A. Lanzilotta, Thomas & Claudette Valenti, and the NYS Past Grand Venerables/Presidents. As an honoree, Brother Zuzolo made a poster for the Journal depicting all the Past Grand Venerables/State Presidents from January 10, 1911 to the present. It is displayed above. He also make an OSIA Tree listing the present Lodges of the NYS Grand Lodge. It is displayed below.   The New York Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc. was formed on October 14, 1982. The 501 (c) 3 corporation was organized to raise money and donate to various recognized charities; to initiate scholarships for deserving students, and to initiate and donate to educational programs that will foster an awareness of Italian language, heritage and culture. For over 30 years, the NY Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc. has distributed millions of dollars to various charities, and to its very prestigious Foundation Scholarship program.
There is also a link to Conductor Arturo Toscanini's Web Site: www.toscaninionline.com |
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