September 2020 Colombo Club Newsletter

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Colombo Club birthday postcards mailed by the Club to members in 2020 may be exchanged for a free birthday or family dinner after the Club reopens.

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September Birthday Dinners

The Club will be closed again this month because of the COVID-19 virus restrictions on mass gatherings. We will inform members via email when we are given directive from state officials that it is safe for the Club to reopen.

Would You Like to Cook for the Club?

Join our team of chefs! Call Tony Tedeschi for more information: (510) 653-9716 Ext. 353.

President’s Message

Ciao, Ciao

Our grand 100th anniversary month of August 2020 may not have had all the celebrations we were planning to have, but now we can look forward to celebrating our 100 + 1 anniversary in 2021.  Even though there is not really anything new to report in September, we still have some activities happening at the Club.  I would like to thank all the individuals who have helped the Club by purchasing merchandise from the website and attending our three book and merchandise sales in August. Many of you came to help the Club financially by purchasing merchandise, wine and our 100th anniversary history book.  We have sold many of the 100th anniversary books, and I must say what a nice book it is.  Rich Puppione, Thank You so much, you have captured the true meaning of the Colombo Club in this book.  Rich Puppione, Grazie mille, hai catturato il vero significato del Colombo Club in questo libro.  If you have not purchased yours yet, it is a wonderful look back at our club’s history and shows what a special place the Colombo Club is.  Those three sales days in August were so successful that we will be offering you the chance to come to the Club again on Wednesday, October 7, Saturday, October 17 or Thursday, October 29. The Club will be open on these three days in October from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (see the flyer in this newsletter.)

With really nothing else to do, I was able to venture out on an RV trip to some of the best national parks in the world.  Four weeks driving around with my wife Joanmarie.  One thing is for sure this pandemic has helped set a new norm.  We have had more family time, true quality family time than the rush world before was allowing.  Maybe we will all look back and appreciate the reset.  Abbiamo avuto più tempo in famiglia, tempo di vera qualità in famiglia poi il mondo di corsa prima stava permettendo. Forse ci guarderemo tutti indietro e apprezzeremo il reset.

The board will be meeting on Sept 15th. We will discuss where we are at financially, and options we have in front of us to help the Club spring back to life. I know everyone is excited about coming back to normal, but for now we have to wait and see.  So che tutti sono entusiasti di tornare alla normalità, ma per ora dobbiamo aspettare e vedere.

In the meantime, please keep going to the website and purchase merchandise and wear the Colombo Club logo proudly.  The face masks, hats, shirts, license plate frames, and history book, etc., are all items that will help bring needed cash flow to the Club.

Hope you’re all well.  Spero che il tuo tutto bene.

Celebrare Cento Anni,

Nick Nicora, President
nnicora@comcast. net

Colombo Club Auxiliary President’s Message

It has been quite a summer. First of all, the never-ending virus. The uncertainty of being able to make any kind of plans. Once you find friends who feel safe enough to even tempt social distancing, then to find a place to social distance. Really? A virtual baby shower, a wedding by Zoom and a funeral where you cannot share your grief with those mourning.  Now, I have a friend going in for surgery who cannot have any emotional support. She will be dropped off by herself, and with a phone call, she will be picked up. No hugs, kisses or hand holding.

We have lost so much.  No longer can we take so many things for granted.  We can’t just assume that restaurants we love will be open.  We can’t go to church to worship with our fellow parishioners.  Then I thought, we haven’t been together for meetings since February.  We haven’t shared dinners together also since February.  I remember a number of times that I had to talk myself into going to an Auxiliary dinner because I didn’t necessarily like the menu.  Now, I will truly enjoy a meeting together, sharing a Spuntino with new members and sharing a wonderful Italian meal no matter the menu.

What I have realized is not to take anything for granted. We should be excited to attend meetings that help us celebrate our Italian heritage. Meetings that develop new ideas to expand our Club and bring new members and help us raise funds for our charities.  We should celebrate our Italian friends and think of new ways to enjoy spending time together. We should be proud of being part of the 100-year history of the Colombo Club.  So, I feel we should all look to the future and be active with new ideas to promote our Auxiliary.  When needed, we should volunteer and serve.  

Our 100-year history is just that – history, but this year will bring change that we could never have imagined. So, let us embrace positive change. Let’s appreciate our heritage and history and come out stronger. Let’s not leave our future for other people to create, but let’s be right there to help advance our Club.

I, for one, cannot wait until we all meet again under healthy, happy circumstances.

Love knows no limits and true friendships last a lifetime. May the history of the Colombo Club and the Auxiliary last another 100 years strong as we go with true friendships.

Dio ti benedica e ti peotegga.

Sylvia Jesuit, Colombo Club Auxiliary President

Sunshine Corner

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.  

Club Store Open from 10 am – 3 pm

• Wednesday, October 7 
• Saturday, October 17 
• Thursday, October 29

Tables will be set up in the Club Room. Social distancing and masks will be required. Please make purchases by credit card or exact cash. The ATM machine will be available. 

Money raised from the sale on these days is being used to offset the monthly expense that the Club is experiencing during the shutdown.  Since there is a limited supply of books, they will be sold on a first come first served basis.

Refunds for 2020 August Anniversary Reservations

Our thanks to the members who sent reservations for the two August 2020 Anniversaray galas.

The Reservations Committee will be contacting you via email with the option of refunding your payment or transferring your prepaid reservation to the two August galas in 2021.

The Club appreciates your patience and support of these events. If you have questions, please contact us at colomboclub2021anniversary@gmail.com.

Message from the House Commttee Chairman

Greetings Members, 

At this time I would like to thank Rich Puppione for the tremendous 100-year history book!  We had three great days of delivering the book to our members along with sales of wardrobe and wine. We are planning to do this again October 7, 17 and 29. I want to also thank Cyril Bonanno, Tony Ballestero, Don Ceremello and Joe Ianora for helping Rich on wardrobe sales.

I have had requests from those who want to volunteer for work parties when we reopen the Club.  As soon as we hear something from the state, county, and the city of Oakland we will be contacting you. Until then please stay safe and guard your family and friends from this pandemic. 

Thank you,  

Anthony E. Tedeschi
House Committee Chairman

Our Cultural Heritage

Regional Flags of Italy

by Rich Puppione, Club Historian

When you walk into the club ballroom you are welcomed by the colorful regional flags of Italy.  In each of the next 20 newsletters, we will be highlighting each of these regions.  Since all of the Colombo Club charter members came from the Piemonte region of Italy, I have decided to start there.

Piemonte

The region sits at the foot of the Alps and is dotted with small provincial towns and hills with pastures and vineyards. The heart of this region is Torino (Turin), with beautiful baroque buildings, cobblestone streets, shady arcades and elegant cafes.  Turin was the cradle of the unification of Italy, home of the Savoy dynasty, where the dukes of Piemonte and the first kings of united Italy came from.  The south of Piemonte is a popular tourist destination for lovers of good wine and cuisine: wine from the region near the city of Asti, white truffles from the city of Alba, hazelnuts from Cortemilia, gorgonzola cheese from Novara and fungi from the Val di Susa. This area is also the cradle of vermouth and salt Breadsticks (grissini). In the north are world-class Alps ski resorts, which include Courmayeur and a National Park called Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso. 

The region is full of historic castles and palaces alternating with great vineyards.  Lago Maggiore, Lago d’Orta and Lago di Viverone are sought after tourist destinations in Piemonte region, while in the west, on the border with France, are wildlife mountain valleys which are ideal for hiking.  There are eight different golf courses in the region. Piemonte is also known for beautiful fine art, impressive architecture and one of the best Egyptian museums in the world. The region is also the home of Italy’s most successful soccer team – Juventus FC.

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