As we come to the end of another challenging year, I want to thank the members who continue to support the Club. We implemented Covid protocols and those members and guests who have come to events have been very supportive of this decision.

I want to thank Chris Brady, Financial Secretary, who is stepping away as Financial Secretary after three years to spend time with his family. Chris has done outstanding work in providing the Board with financial updates, paying the bills and monthly payroll. All the best Chris, thank you from the Board and the members of the Club. I want to welcome Gregory Motta who will be taking his place.

I would also like to thank Rich Puppione who has been working on membership and has brought in over 100 new members. Thank you Rich!

For 2022, dues will remain the same at $180 per year. This is just $15 per month to belong to the largest Italian Club west of the Mississippi. Your dues support the daily operations and ongoing costs to keep the Club going.

Notifications will be sent out shortly and you will now be able to pay online. If you are having financial difficulties paying your upcoming dues, please let me know. We will work out a payment plan and keep it confidential. We do not want to lose you as a member!

We all have been impacted by the Covid pandemic and increased costs of every day living. The cost of food, wages, and utilities continues to rise. Because of these factors the Board has made the decision to increase dinner prices effective January 2022. Member prices will increase from $22 to $25 and dinner prices for guests will increase from $28 to $30. That is still a great bargain for all that we serve.

Thank you for your understanding. You will also see price increases at the bar. These prices will be minimal but still an outstanding bargain.

It is my pleasure to wish John Tandi, our Head Cook, a happy 90th birthday.

We are still in desperate need of cooks and help in the kitchen. If you have interest please let Tony Tedeschi know. You can contact him at lbmtony@yahoo.com or (510) 377-4994 We are willing to train so let us know if you might have an interest. Currently we are having only one dinner per month. One of the main reasons is the shortage of help in the kitchen. We are also in need of wait staff. If you have interest please contact Mike Pandolfo (510) 933-4168.

We are moving forward and planning events for the coming year. We are finalizing dates for crab feeds. One of the key factors is going to be the price of crab. Two of the three vendors we have used in the past, are now out of business. Once the price is settled we can determine if we can move forward.

Lastly, we are one of the few clubs that have remained open during the pandemic and I want to thank those club members who have given of their time freely to make this happen. If you want to get involved, please let me know.