"The purpose of this organization is to promote the heritage, culture and traditions of Italian-Americans through social, educational and recreational events. The organization shall also advance the educational development of Italian-American youth by generating and distributing funds for collegiate scholarships."
February Club Meeting
Our next meeting is Wednesday February 22nd at 6:30 PM at the Solon Community Center.
The monthly meetings are back to stay! We will hold them the last Wednesday of every month (except November and December) moving forward. Put it on your calendar.
Please note some important changes in start time and location for the meeting. We are back at the Community Center!! We will start at 6:30.
Pasta Dinner
Thursday March 23, 2023
Dinner Served at 6:00 PM
Dinner Proceeds Supports our Scholarship Program
Dinners include:
Salad, Rolls, Pasta, Meat Balls and Dessert
Cost: Adults $12.50
Children under 12 years $10.00
See the link below for paid registration. Limit 200 people, act fast.
Soft drinks and water provided
Election Season Begins
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday January 25th at 6:30 PM at the Solon Community Center. There is a lot going on including nominations for two Trustee positions.
We will also discuss upcoming events on a very busy calendar.
If you haven't paid your dues please bring your check for $75 to this month's meeting. Thank you!
Annual Dinner Dance. April 29th!
Our Annual Dinner Dance will be held April 29th at the Hilton Garden Inn. This is an important fundraiser for the Foundation. Scholarships are one of the most important things we do and this event helps fund those scholarships. The committee is already busy planning a truly memorable evening.
We are trying to increase the number of available prizes. One great prize is the Barrel of Booze. We are asking for your help by donating a good bottle of wine, or a bottle of liquor or even make a $20 donation to help defray our costs for this. You can bring your donation to next week's meeting.
We are also having a Pasta Dinner to raise money to support this event. Details below.
Cost for the Dinner Dance will be $175. Tickets should be available at the January meeting..
Scholarships
Solon Italian Club Foundation Scholarship Applications for sons/daughters of club members in good standing for non Solon High School seniors are now available. Applications can be requested from Bill Russo at brusso1202@aol.com. Applications are due back to Bill by 4 PM on March 9, 2023.
Those graduating seniors of Italian descent attending Solon High School need to obtain their applications from Solon High School and follow their deadlines.
The Fred D'Orazio Scholarship will be offered again. The children, or grandchildren, of Club members in good standing that are entering their first year of college, vocational school or graduate school are eligible to compete for this $1,000 award. Contact Jim D'Orazio at j.dorazio@csuohio.edu for details.
Sausage Making. March 25th.
Once again Don DeRoia will Chair this event. It will be held March 25th at the Rec Center. Do to increased costs the price has been raised to $40/person. This event always sells out so if you are interested talk to Don at next week's meeting.
Easter Egg Hunt
Once again Bob Yodice is taking the lead on this annual event. For over 30 years the Club has hosted an Egg Hunt for about 500 kids. It's a big deal and it's a big job. We need an army of volunteers to make this run smoothly. We need volunteers to help buy over 30,000 pieces of candy.
Another volunteer opportunity is the egg stuffing party (it really is a fun night) which will happen on March 31 from 6 to 8. This is a fun evening for the entire family. We need your help to fill eggs. Don't worry we'll feed you!.
The actual Egg Hunt will happen on April 8th at 10 AM. Volunteers need to be there by 9 AM. We could really use your help. Let Bob know if you can make it.
Buon Compleanno!
Best wishes to the following members who celebrate birthdays in the month of May:
2/1 Leonard Visconti
2/8 Lou Bellante
2/9 Lou Colarusso
2/11 Anthony D’Angelo
2/12 Larry DiBartolomeo
2/13 Matt Foglia
2/17 Anthony Tomasone
2/18 Antonino Geiallanza
2/20 Mark Bertolone
2/22 Richard Dinallo
2/24 Chris Stallano
2/25 Angelo Carcioppolo
2/25 Terry Dilisio
2/27 Dan Trinetti
Solon Times Prints Article Celebrating 50 Year Anniversary
Phil Carbone has been elected Man of the year for 2022.
Phil joined the Club in 2010. He has been an active member ever since serving as a Trustee for 3 years and is a regular member of the kitchen crew at monthly meetings. He has attended the Stag Raffle, the Dinner Dance, the Golf Outing, sausage making and has helped with egg stuffing. Phil says, “I enjoy the monthly meetings. It is a nice avenue to meet fellow Italians. The Club holds events throughout the year that bring members families together.”
Club Picnic
The Inaugural Solon Italian Club Family Picnic did not disappoint!
Thanks to all who came and enjoyed delicious food, delectable desserts, and tremendous company!
Election Results
Club elections were held in April.
Mike Frangiamore was elected Treasurer to replace Tom DiCarro.
Jim D’Orazio was elected Secretary to replace Dave Cosentino.
Angelo Carcioppolo and John Zito were elected Trustees to replace Jim D’Orazio and Jason Vespucci.
The Club would like to congratulate the winners and to thank Tom, Dave and Jason for all their hard work over the past 3 challenging years.
More Events Are Coming
Bocce. If the weather cooperates and the court survived the winter in good shape the season will begin the first week of May.
Club Picnic. We are excited about this. Burgers, dogs, games with some of the nicest people we know. June 11th,2 PM at the Grantwood Pavillion.
Steak and Stogie. It's back! Looks like we'll have one in June and one in August.
Golf Outing. Our biggest fundraiser and a very well attended event (we expect a sellout). July 29th.
There is more to come but we wanted to see how things play out before we plan the second half of the year. (Of course, we'll have the Stag Raffle!).
Should be a fun year!
Easter Egg Hunt Success
The Solon Italian Club would like to thank the community for being extremely supportive of our Egg Hunt year after year. The 36th was no different! Special thanks to Bob Yodice for chairing the hunt once again!
Sausage Making
The club had the privilege of showing members from the Solon Blue Ribbon Adapted Recreation Program how to season, mix, stuff, and case ten pounds of ground pork butt and turn it into delicious Italian sausage! A great time had by all!
Meet Our Members
Meet club member Jim D’Orazio. Jim joined the Club in 2000 and has been an active member. Jim is currently a Trustee and he manages the Club’s communications. Jim has hosted a Steak and Stogie night and helped with many Club events. He enjoys playing in the Golf Outing every year and attending the Stag Raffle. And he heads a bocce team that’s going to make the playoffs someday. He says, “I really enjoy our events but my favorite might be attending the monthly meetings. It’s great to see everyone, the conversations are fun and the food is really good.” He says, “The Club is one of the best organizations I have ever joined. Great people that have become good friends. Great commitment to community with our scholarship program. I’m honored to be a member.”
Jim’s mother, Rosa, came to America in 1948 from Montenerodomo in Abruzzi. His father’s parents also came from there in 1894. Jim’s father, Fred, grew up in Little Italy and was a member of the ISDA and the Little Italy Retirees. Jim is retired from teaching marketing at Cleveland State. He has been married to Margaret for 43 years. They have three boys. Anthony and Maria live in Columbus. Mike and Callie live in South Euclid. Brian and Megan live in Minneapolis with their sons Remy and Aiden. Jim says, “I’m proud of my boys. They have grown to be good men. And I’m sure your grandkids are cute. They might be as cute as mine. But no kids are cuter than those little boys.” Apparently Jim is happy with those grandkids.
The Club wants to thank Jim for all he has done for the Club.
Where Are They Now?
We wondered how some of our past Scholarship winners were doing. Today we will feature Courtney Dunn.
Courtney Dunn will be graduating from OSU in December of 2021 with a BA in International Relations and a specialization in Security and Intelligence. She has taken on leadership roles where she had the opportunity to transform student life on campus as the Director of Student Advocacy for RHAC, a counsel helping over 14,000 on-campus students. She also was a Peer Leader for over 600 first-year students welcoming them to Ohio State. Courtney says, “I would like to graciously thank the Solon Italian Club for their generosity in providing me with a scholarship that helped me further my education. Thank you for your investment in me and for representing the pride that comes with our Italian Heritage. My best advice that comes from my Nonna: "Always be Kinder than You Feel." I believe kindness will take us further than most things.”
Columbus Day Parade
The Columbus Day Parade was held on October 11th. The Club was well represented and everyone had a great time. One of the best days of the year.
Bocce Season a Big Success
The playoffs were August 24th and they were exciting. Badda Bocce defeated Team DiCarro to win Tuesday night and Italia 76 defeated Slo Your Role to win Thursday night. Badda Bocce won the Championship by defeating Italia 76.
Congratulations to Tom Smith, Chris Stallano, Bill Sobonya, Vince Indriolo on being the 2021 Bocce Champions!
Welcome New Officers and Trustees
At the July General Meeting the Club proudly welcomed Brett Neff as our new President Sam Merolla as Vice President and two new trustees, Mark Bertolone and Dominic Lanteri.
President, Brett Neff. Brett has been an important Club member since he joined us. He has run the Solon Italian Club Foundation's biggest fundraiser, the Golf Outing, for a couple of years. He has already shown great leadership in these unusual times. We look forward to his leadership for the next three years.
Vice President, Sam Merolla. Sam attends almost every event and is the unofficial club photographer. He runs the Club's Facebook page and recently served as a Trustee. Sam is committed to improving communications among Club members.
Trustee, Mark Bertolone. A member since 2000 he runs the Stag Raffle and is the unquestioned best ticket seller in the Club.
Trustee, Dominic Lanteri. A member of the Sunshine Committee Dominic heads the Clambake Committee.
Congratulations to all the winners. We're sure they'll do a great job! The Club would also like to thank Past President, Mike Rhea for his efforts and leadership during his term. Thanks also to Past Vice President Joe DiNardo for his efforts. We appreciate the great job they did leading the Club.
Badda Bocce. 2021 Champions
Winners of the Man of the Year Award. Photo by Michael Steinberg
The D'Orazio all cleaned up.
The Boys with Grandma Rosie
Hey where's Donny
Great turnout of people readyto go.
The kitchen crew does have fun.
Upcoming Events:
We hope to see you all soon!
If you haven't paid yet please don't forget to bring your membership dues of $75 to next week's meeting. If you can't make the meeting just drop a check in the mail. You can send your check, made out for $75 to the Solon Italian Club, to:
