February 2020 Colombo Club Newsletter

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President’s Message

Ciao, Ciao

Being an Oakland native, I have grown up with the Oakland Raiders. Now they have left us again. Well, not good, but now we can say “GO NINERS.” The first time the Raiders left Oakland, the 49ers went on a championship run. Looks like history is going to repeat itself with the Niners in the Super Bowl. The Colombo Club has grown up in Oakland as well and has stayed true to the town we grew up in.  All members need to remember the good old days to make sure our future days are developed with dignity and respect. Tutti i membri devono ricordare ai vecchi tempi, per assicurarsi che i nostri giorni futuri siano sviluppati con dignità e rispetto. I know that the memories and documents that sit in our Isabella Room would not be there if not for the tireless effort to find and preserve. Many thanks go out to John Penna who for many years has been our Club Historian. Rich Puppione has supported John in the quest to maintain our Club history.  Thank You John and Rich for keeping our history alive. You have all heard about the 100th Anniversary book that Rich encouraged the board to produce, and single handedly wrote and published. This book will be a sellout. The book will be out in June of this year. Already many orders for the book have been received. Make sure you get on the list by purchasing your copy in advance now. Personally, I would like to thank John and Rich again for this great effort in making this historic book possible. Personalmente, vorrei ringraziare ancora John e Rich per questo grande sforzo nel rendere possibile questo libro storico.

The crab and pasta in January were, as always, fantastic. I hope you have made your reservations for the Crab Feed on February 8th.  Another event in February that should not be missed is the men’s Baccala lunch on February 17th. This is a special Italian meal cooked by our great Italian cooks – the heroes of our Club since 1920.

Tickets for the 100th Anniversary August 22nd dinner are now on sale (limit 2 per member). These will sell out quickly so I would suggest using the reservation form here and jumping on this now.

I would like to thank the entire membership for following the Club’s dress code. The leaders of the Club have noticed that members are adhering to the dress code. This helps the Club’s image as a class act and again respects our elders. This also represents a learning experience for all soon-to-be-members. The children who come to our Christmas Party and family dinners are watching how we act and will model our actions in the future. Thank you for being a good role model to all of our youth. Our founders would be proud. Grazie per essere un buon modello per tutti i nostri giovani, i fondatori sarebbero orgogliosi.

The 100th year is special in many ways.  Take the time to grab a friend and come to the birthday dinners and all of our other events.  The Club grows with support.  When you’re having fun – Life is Good. This is something we always need to appreciate. We are a 100-year-old Club where still, to this day, absolute fun times can be had by all. Un club di 100 anni che ancora oggi premia il supporto con un momento assolutamente divertente che tutti hanno avuto.

Celebrare Cento Anni,
Nick Nicora, President, nnicora@comcast. net

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Colombo Club Auxiliary President’s Message

Happy New Year to everyone. My name is Sylvia Jesuit and I am the new Auxiliary President, of which I am honored.

January is well on its way with the joint C.C. Men and the C.C. Auxiliary Scholarship Crab Feeds, on January 11, 2020 and January 18, 2020.  Both events were very successful and helped benefit the Club’s scholarships.

On January 26, 2020, the Membership Committee invited new candidates and their sponsors to be interviewed to become members of the Auxiliary.

Save the date, the Auxiliary Valentine’s Dinner is February 20, 2020. This is always a beautiful event. Diane Proto, chair, has planned a delicious dinner, of antipasto, spring salad, chicken, red risotto and dessert. This event begins with no-host cocktails at 6 pm and dinner at 7 pm. For reservations, please call Yvonne Evans at (510) 531-2429. See the flyer here.

Looking ahead to March 19, 2020 we will  celebrate our annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner with corned beef and cabbage and all the trimmings.

The Auxiliary is looking forward to all of our upcoming dinners for 2020.  Our incentive monies help to benefit the charities we support.

As your new president, I look forward to seeing all of you at our next General Meeting on February 19, 2020.  I also look forward to a very successful and productive year. 

Felice anno nuovo,

Sylvia Jesuit, Colombo Club Auxiliary President

Grazie Mille to Our Incentive Donors

Thank you to All Bay Cities Towing Inc.;  Brignole & Ghiri Insurance;  Colombo Club; Grocery Outlet, Mark Rezente; RPM Mortgage, George Moody; Angelo Magurno;  Dan Foster; Fred Moehl; Bob Wheeler; Jerry Jennaro; Jim Bartha; Lonnie Chase and Tim Tomei.

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In Memoriam

Ronald D. Fleck

Member since 2006

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Sunshine Corner

Our condolences to the family of Ronald Fleck, who kept his Colombo Club membership active even though he moved to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Condolences are also sent to Roger Verducci and his family for the loss of their mother, Lucy Verducci. For many years the Verducci family attended the Club’s monthly family dinners. They always sat at Table H which held their group of 32.

If you know of a member who is ill or passed away, please let Gordon Bowman, Sunshine Chair know. Call him at (925) 449-5549.  

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2020 Golden Member

Congratulations to Anthony Ferreira for 50 years of Club membership and for being the Club’s newest Golden Member. Anthony joined the Club in November,1970 and now joins 23 other Golden Members: Ed Arri, Joseph Brignole, Bruno Buti, Billy Castell, Aldo Del Soldato, Donald Dickson, Anthony Ferreira, Ray Foppiano, Michelan Gasparro, Al Gavello, Albert Giordano, Rocco Giordano Jr., Joseph Guerrero, Angelo Magurno, Frank Mazzie, Raymond Michardi, Frank Negherbon, Frank Pappalardo, John Penna, Henry Persoglio, John Revelli, Frank Russo, Ronald Scalise and Victor Tufo.

ON SALE NOW! 100-Year Gala Anniversary Dinner & Dance Tickets 

It’s not too early to make your reservations for one or both of the special 100th Anniversary Gala dinner & dance events happening in August, the Club’s Anniversary month. (The reservation form is included here.) See Cultural Heritage Article in this newsletter for more information. 

Mark April 25th on Your Calendar for Opera  Night!

America’s Beloved Tenor, DANIEL RODRIGUEZ and international soprano sensation, MARLA KAVANAUGH will perform at the Club’s Opera Night on Saturday, April 25th. *Flyer detailing this event (including the Prepaid form)  will be sent to Club members via email soon. Dinner menu and prepaid reservation form will be included in the March mailed newsletter.  

2020 Dues are Due

The 2020 dues billing notices were mailed to all members in early December. If you have a question or did not receive your bill, please email us at colomboclubcorrsecretary@gmail.com or call the Club’s message line at (510) 653-9716, ext. 354.  Thank you.

New Reservation Deadines for Family Dinners

The deadline to make reservations for all family dinners will be the Monday before the dinner to allow time to order the food.

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Scholarship Applications are Due March 15, 2020

Colombo Club/ Colombo Club Auxiliary 2020 Scholarship 

Applicant Requirements: :

• Must be the child or grandchild of a current member of the Colombo Club or Colombo Club Auxiliary.
• Must provide all the attachments indicated herein on or before March 15, 2020.
• Must be a high school senior who is graduating from a high school accredited by the  Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Scholarship applications are available at the Colombo Club bar in the Club Room. Any questions, contact Rich Puppione at richpupp46@gmail.com.

Download the Lobster Feed Reservation form here.

Our Cultural Heritage and Our Club Today

by Rich Puppione, Colombo Club Co-Historian

The Month of February in Colombo Club History

On Sunday Febuary 14, 1937, the club held a Pignatta Night. John Bologna donated 25 gallons of his homemade wine and Henry Maccario donated the flowers.

In the minutes of February 1952, “After realizing that the club has been confronted with a dilemma such as who is or is not entitled to use or amuse himself or herself with the billiard table, and after a considerable amount of discussion, the assembly passed a resolution that the cue and billiard balls should be left in the custody of the bar tender and any member of the club presenting his membership card to the bartender is entitled to obtain the cue and billiard balls and amuse himself and his guest. They are responsible for any damage, obliteration or dissipation that may be done to the billiard table. However, such a rule only applies when gathering of people other than regular members of the club are present in the locals of the club.”

In February 1952 a board proposal to sponsor a banquet and other amorous gathering among married members of the Colombo Club and Colombo Club Auxiliary under the title of “Ball and Chain Dance” did not meet with the approval of the assembly.

February 1952 the club began the practice of giving members membership cards.

On February 12, 1959 the club hosted a reunion for the 1948 Pacific Coast Champion Oakland Oaks baseball team to a sold-out crowd. The team was managed by Casey Stengel and featured the “nine old men.”

In February 2008, the club held a Crab Feed, chaired by Dave and John Nardi, with the incentive raffle monies going directly to help fund building projects at the club.

On February 13, 2010, the club held a sold out auction and dinner to assist the Fratellanza Club with its ongoing financial issues.

YOU WILL WANT TO BE IN THE ROOM WHEN THESE TWO EVENTS HAPPEN!

August 22:

100 Year Gala Members’ Anniversary Dinner and Dance
Tickets on sale now for $50/person first-come first-served.
Limit: two tickets per member

August 29:

100 Year Gala “Members & Invited Guests” Anniversary Dinner/Dance
Tickets on sale now – $50/members and $60/guests first come, first served. 

Use the reservation form here to reserve your spot today!  Both events are limited to the first 500 reservations

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