November 16, 2009

To:  All State Officers, Local Lodge Presidents, Past State Presidents and Members of the VA OSIA Foundation

From: Mary Louise Smith, State Recording Secretary

Subject: Quarterly Grand Council Meeting

The Grand Council will meet at 11:00 AM on December 6, 2009 at the Giuseppe Verdi Lodge in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

The State Presidents' Cabinet will meet at 10:00 AM and the Virginia OSIA Foundation will meet at 10:30 AM (Note change in time) on December 6,2009 at the Giuseppe Verdi Lodge.

Attendance at these meetings is essential and members of the Grand Council are required to be present. To be excused from a meeting you must contact President Marie Siebeking personally in writing, by phone at (757) 481-4030 or by e-mail at marie_siebeking1@verizon.net by December 1, 2009 Lodge Presidents are urged to attend personally or to insure that their lodge is represented at both the Cabinet meeting and the Grand Council Meeting. (Note: Official lodge representation for the" Merit Point Contest" requires that the person be a member of the lodge and not an officer or trustee of the Grand Lodge.)

The Giuseppe Verdi Lodge will prepare and serve lunch for all members of the Grand Council. If a member is unable to attend this meeting, he/she must notify the Giuseppe Verdi Lodge by calling Lynwood Sykes at (804) 288-4998 and leave a message on his answering machine to that effect, or send him an e-mail at Lsykes@stewart.com. If a member of the Council misses the meeting and does not notify the Giuseppe Verdi Lodge he/she will be charged the cost for the lunch. The cost for the luncheon, including wine is $15 per person. Lunch will be served at 1:00 p.m.

Please submit your President’s report and the Committee Chairman’s report to me by e-mail at, MLSmith912@comcast.net , in Word format in order to be part of our permanent records. If not technically possible, written or typed (preferred) copies are appreciated. This is very important in order to have an accurate record in the minutes.