NewMembershipBooklet

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

Membership Handbook

2008

PRESENTED BY THE

ORGANIZATION & EDUCATION COMMISSION

Franco Battista

Dorothy Berlandi

Stephen Cozzaglio, Chair

Eleanor Desautels

Robert Oliverio,

Liaison, Louis Floriani, Jr.

Letter from the President…

WELCOME...

As State President of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Order sons of Italy in America, I am honored that you are joining our ranks.

The Sons of Italy is a non-profited organization, which supports many charitable works including the March of Dimes, Alzheimer’s, works providing support for Cooley’s Anemia, Coaches vs. Cancer, Breast Cancer and the victims of natural disasters in and across the country, and many other worthwhile endeavors. The Sons of Italy also has a very long history of support of educational pursuits. The Order awards scholarships to young men and women graduating from high school and pursuing a college education. Scholarships are provided through the local, sate and nation level of the Order Sons of Italy. Under the auspices of the Benefit insurance Commission we offer Insurance policies and Child Protector Policies to the age of 25. Once you turn 25 you may convert the policy to whole life policy.

Not only does the Sons of Italy provide these valuable resources, it is also an organization that provides social enjoyment. There are many social events held throughout the year. Our membership is increasing all the time. Recently, the organization established a number of Junior Lodges throughout the state for young adults. These Junior Lodges are proving to be quite successful and are the future of our Order.

I am proud of the work that the Order Sons of Italy in America does and enjoy being a part of the organization. I believe that many others would also welcome the opportunity to be part of the Order and that is why I am welcoming you as a member and be proud of your Italian heritage, culture and to continue the good works of our forefathers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman of the Organization and Education Commission, Stephen Cozzaglio and his Commission for doing an outstanding job with this Commission and preparing this booklet of information for members.

Fraternally,

Florence Ferullo Kane

State President

Know Your Order Sons of Italy in America

The purposes of the Order are:

to enroll in its membership all persons of Italian birth or descent and all others as prescribed in Article 1 of the General Laws;

to promote national education and secure adequate laws for the benefit of its members by active participation in the political, social and civic life of our communities;

to encourage the dissemination of Italian culture in the United States and uphold the prestige of the people of Italian heritage in America;

To initiate and organize movements for patriotic and humanitarian purposes, thereby establishing a motto of “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.”

The emblem of the Order is the Golden Lion in a field of white. The official color of the Order is purple. The official language of the Order is both English and Italian.

The organic structure of the Order is based upon a lodge system. The basic unit is the Local Lodge often referred to as the filial lodge. The Local Lodge is composed of members.

The lodges of the Order are: the Local Lodge, the Grand Lodge, and the Supreme Lodge.

The jurisdiction of the Supreme Lodge extends over all Grand Lodges and Local Lodges. The Supreme Lodge, during the intervals between Supreme Conventions, functions through its Supreme Council duly elected at its Supreme Convention.

The Grand Lodge is the intermediate unit between the Supreme Lodge and the Local Lodges.

THE CREED OF THE ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

We believe in the Government of the United State of America as the Government of the people, by the

people, and for the people, and promise to obey and uphold its Constitution and Laws.

We believe in Government by orderly process and reject any doctrine that tends to subvert constituted

government and authority.

We believe in filial affection and respect for the Land of our Forefathers whose heritage is our highest

contribution to America’s progress.

We believe in the brotherhood of man and promise to assist our fellow members, to care for the orphans,

to extend our helping hand to the widows and to comfort those in distress.

We believe in equal rights and duties for all; in equality of opportunity in the enjoyment of the benefits of

human association extended to all without discrimination.

We believe in freedom of thought, conscience and education and stand for individual liberty in the

performance of duties and in the exercise of rights under the Constitution and laws of our Country and

State.

We believe in the future progress and expansion of the Order Sons of Italy in America as the beneficial

agent of all Americans of Italian birth or descent for their recognition and welfare, and promise to contribute

to the moral, intellectual and material progress of our fellow members, and to support the program of the

Order and all its activities for the welfare of our Country, our Order and the Community in which we live.

The ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA consists of the filial (local) lodges, Grand Lodges, and the National Sons of Italy. There are over 700 filial lodges in the United States. It was founded in New York City by Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D., and five other Italian immigrants who came to the United States during the great Italian migration (1880-1923).

The OSIA National Office, located near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., is staffed by professionals in public affairs, program management, public relations and membership services. Through the National Office, OSIA and its two subsidiary organizations, the Sons of Italy Foundation and the Commission for Social Justice, work to preserve Italian culture in the United States and identify solutions to the problems and issues facing Italian Americans today. The National Office works on:

Public Affairs

•

Meeting with government leaders, White House officials, members of the U.S. Congress and senior

federal government officials on issues of concern to Italian Americans

•

Developing relationships with other ethnic and minority groups

•

Working with the Italian government and corporate leaders to strengthen cultural and business relations

between the United States and Italy

•

Public advocacy of worthwhile causes and legislation

•

National and international disaster relief efforts

Programs

Educational programs, including scholarships, the promotion of Italian language

•

Large-scale fundraising events Cultural research and programs

•

Programs for students and young professionals

•

Grant programs

•

Support of medical research and other causes

Communications

•

Working with the news media (U.S. mainstream, Italian and Italian American sources) Maintaining

contact with other Italian American organizations, advocacy groups and the general public

•

Publishing Italian American magazine

•

Producing "OSIA Nation" newsletter (for OSIA leaders)

•

Developing advertising, videos, brochures and other publications for OSIA

There are twenty (20) Grand Lodges in National OSIA. We are in the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which has jurisdication over Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Our Grand Lodge has seven (7) districts. Each filial lodge is part of a district which is part of the Grand Lodge.

The Grand Lodge has established fourteen (14) appointed Commissions: Charity, Junior Division, Magazine, Judiciary, Finance and Budget, Organization and Education, Public Relations, Italian Culture, Scholarship, Sports, Social Justice, State Deputy Membership and Retention, and Historical. The roles for each of these Commissions can be found in our Grand Lodge By-laws, Pages 18-26.

The Benefit Insurance Commission is an elected Commission and is a subsidiary organization that admimisters the Benefit Insurance Funds of the Grand Lodge.

The Grand Lodge also has the Charitable and Educational Trust which oversees our investments and monies within the Trust.

STRUCTURE OF FILIAL (LOCAL) LODGES

The structure of the Lodge is composed of the Council, Chairman of appointed Committees, and Delegates.

THE COUNCIL

The Council is the administrative and controlling body of the Lodge while the Assembly is not in session. The Council has the power to administer and control the affairs of the Lodge, but not the power to impose new assessments.

The Council shall not incur expenses other than those necessary for the administration of the regular affairs of the Lodge. In case of emergency, the Council by a majority vote thereof, may appropriate a sum of money, not to exceed $500.00 with which to meet expenses incidental to such emergency; and the appropriation so made shall be reported to the assembly at its next meeting.

The Council shall neither have the power to change or modify the laws of the Lodge.

The Council is composed of fifteen officers whose rank and precedence are established according to the following order: President, Vice-President, and Immediate Past President, Orator, Recording Secretary,

Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Five Trustees, one of whom will be elected as Chairman within thirty days following their installation, two Masters of Ceremonies, and a Guard. The members of the Council, with the exception of the Immediate Past President must be elected by the Lodge at its meetings during the month of March, and must be installed on or before May 15. If any officer of the Lodge, including the Immediate Past President, absents himself for three consecutive meetings of his Lodge, his position shall automatically be declared forfeited by the President, under “New Business” during the third meeting of such absence, except in such cases when such absence is caused by superior forces, independent of habitual occupation, and such reasons are accepted by the Lodge.

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts of the Order Sons of Italy in America

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts exercises jurisdiction over all lodges and members of the Order within the confines of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the states of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.

The Grand Lodge is composed of the following entities:

Representatives of Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts called State

Delegates;

All members of the State Council, called State Officers;

All the past State Presidents;

All members of the Benefit Insurance Commission;

Presidents or Chairmen of all Permanent Commissions;

Chairman of the Charitable and Education Trust.

Legislative power belongs exclusively to the Grand Lodge in Session.

The Grand Lodge meets in ordinary and extraordinary sessions. Every meeting is called a convention. The Grand Lodge meets in ordinary session once a year. The Grand Lodge meets in extraordinary session whenever it is called by a deliberation of the State Council and passed by an absolute majority vote, or upon the request of an absolute majority of the members of the Grand Lodge.

Four (4) Major Financial Accounts for Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

Grand Lodge General Funds:

Checking Account

Petty Cash

Savings Account

Grand Lodge Activities Fund

Checking Account

General Fund is responsible for the operating activity of the Sons. Membership dues are collected from the lodges which pay for magazine publication expenses, salaries and other overhead.

OSIA Trust of 1985 – Involves our ownership of our building.

Benefit Insurance Commission

a. The term of Office of all elected officers and elected Commissioners will be a four (4) year term.

The terms of office are staggered so that the President, Secretary and one (1) commissioner

be elected. The elected officers and elected Commissioners shall serve no longer than one four

(4) year term. The remaining Commissioners, four (4) to be appointed as follows: two (2) by the

State President and two (2) by the President of the Benefit Commission.

b. The four (4) appointed Commissioners shall be approved by the State Council and shall serve no

longer than two (2) two-year terms. The appointed Commissioners should have backgrounds in

the fields of insurance investment and law, compatible to the insurance industry. They will have

all the right as defined by M.L. ART. 2 paragraph (d).

4. Charitable and Educational Trust

The Trust is comprised of 11 trustees: President and Vice President by virtue of their office. Nine

trustees appointed by the State President with the approval of the State Council. C & E is

responsible for the management of our investment portfolio

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE FOR OUR LODGES

By Anthony Julian, Re-issued copy of October 1998

Our Order consists of thousands of men and women from every walk of life, young and old, who have associated themselves together to achieve purposes common to all. It is governed on the principle that when differences of opinion arise the will expressed by the majority is binding upon all members. When the will of the majority on any question within the scope of the organization has been determined, and that will does not violate any superior law, and every member, either personally or by his elected representative has had a reasonable opportunity to vote on the question, then the will of the majority should be carried out by all the members, including those who did not vote with the majority.

This is how every well-ordered society functions. Where there is a clash of opinion, therefore, the decision is made by the majority. In order to discover the will of the majority on a given question without wasting time, without confusion, and with a minimum of friction, rules known as rules of parliamentary procedure have been evolved. Any one man or group of men did not make these rules. They have grown out of the experience of countless deliberative assemblies, great and small, extending from nearly a thousand years ago to this day.

It is not possible within the space of this booklet to cover more than the elements of these rules. It is felt that those who preside at our Lodge meetings, and members generally, ought to become more familiar with the elementary rules of procedure and should follow them. It must be borne in mind that they should be applied at all times with tact and understanding.

Let us start by stating some simple but important general rules:

One question, and only one, can be under consideration at any one time.

Only one person may have the floor at any one time.

No member may speak unless the Chair first recognizes him. There are these important exceptions

to this rule:

When you rise on a point of privilege;

When you rise on a point of order, or on a point of parliamentary inquiry, or for

information;

When appealing the ruling of the Chair;

When you rise to object to the consideration of a question;

In making a motion for reconsideration.

No member while speaking may be interrupted by another member. To this rule there are these

important exceptions. as

a. When you rise on a point of privilege;

b. When you rise on a point or order, or on a point of parliamentary inquiry, or for information;

c. When appealing the ruling of the Chair;

d. When you rise to object to the consideration of a question;

e. In making a motion for reconsideration.

All speaking must be addressed to the Chair only.

There is no exception to this rule.

7. All speaking must be confined to the matter under consideration.

8. Under our rules, no member has a right to speak more than five minutes on the question. The only

exception to this rule is when a member is reporting for a committee.

No member may speak a second time on the same question until all other members who desire to

speak on the question have been heard.

10. Under our rules, a member reporting for a committee has the right to speak last on a question

growing out of his report.

11. It is never permitted to any speaker to indulge in personalities, or to use offensive or vulgar language.

A speaker may not refer to another member by name.

12. When the presiding officer raps his gavel to restore order or to recall the speaker to the question, the

speaker must stop talking until the presiding officer indicates that he may proceed.

The physical arrangements at the meeting place are important aids to orderly and dignified procedure. Please refer to the Ritual for the proper hall arrangements.

The presiding officer is the leader of the members in meeting assembled.

1. He must be scrupulously fair and courteous to all members.

2. He is the arbiter of all questions of order and privilege raised by the members.

3. He maintains order in the assembly and applies the rules impartially and tactfully.

4. He aids member in formulating the motions they may wish to submit to the assembly.

5. He stands when he states the motion or puts a motion to vote, or passes upon a question of order or

privilege. No motion is properly before the meeting until the Chair has stated it.

6. He is attentive to the discussion.

7. He may not speak for or against any question unless he first turns the chair over to the next officer in

line. Having taken part in the debate he does not resume the chair until the question has been voted on.

But he may give a factual explanation of the question for the guidance of the members.

8. He may not make motions while president.

9. Under our rules, he may vote at elections or in case of a tie vote.

10. After hearing the opinion of the Orator, he decides all question of law. His decision is subject to an

appeal to higher authority as provided in our laws.

11. On a point of order, he may deprive a member of the floor or caution or censure him or even order him to

leave the hall. This power he uses carefully and with restraint, but when clearly necessary he uses it

with firmness.

12. He may declare a recess or, in cases of emergency, dissolve the meeting.

13. He has the right to expect that the members will observe the rules of procedure. Without the cooperation

of the members in this respect, it would be impossible to conduct an orderly meeting.

Under our special rules the presence of ten (10) members constitutes a quorum. In order that business may be transacted legally a quorum must always be present. A member may rise, and after being recognized, suggest the absence of a quorum. Upon failure to obtain a quorum there can be no business transacted except to take steps to obtain one, and to take up such matters as the time to adjourn, or to take a recess, or adjourn.

After the meeting has been properly opened, the roll of officers, the records of the preceding regular and special meetings read, corrected, if need be, and approved, and communications read, the transaction of the business of the Lodge is properly before the meeting. Business should be transacted with expedition but not in a hurry. Matters to be acted on by the Lodge must be presented in the form of motions, resolutions or orders. A motion is a proposition. It should be clearly stated and must cover some matter that falls within the scope of the purposes of the Order. The Lodge may consider only one main motion, resolution or order at a time. While the main motion is pending, only matters that are subsidiary or incidental to the main motion or matters that are of a privileged character may be presented to the meeting.

VOTING

Our special rules provide that all motions, including even the motion to close debate, are decided by a majority vote. Our rules also require that a vote be taken by a show of hands unless a motion is previously made and carried to vote by ballot or roll call. After a vote has been taken by a show of hands and a member doubts the vote and requests that the vote be verified by a roll call, then the vote will be so verified if at least four other members join in the request. Elections are regularly held by secret ballot. A motion to vote by ballot or roll call is not debatable. Since the judgment of the assembly is expressed by vote, it is a serious breach of order while a vote is being taken for any person to try to influence a member's vote. Where our own laws are silent, the rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order have been adopted as binding.

To find more info go to State web site at www.osiama.org, scroll down the page and click on Organizational and Educational link.