Cincy Chic: What is the Order Sons of Italy in America OSIA?
OSIA President, Ronald A. Panioto: We are the largest and longest-established national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States.

It was established in 1905 as a mutual aid society for the early Italian immigrants, but today OSIA has more than 600,000 members and supporters and a network of more than 700 chapters coast to coast, making it the leading service and advocacy organization for the nation's estimated 26 million people of Italian descent.

The local chapter, Cincinnatus Lodge #1191, started with only 30 people and now we're almost at 200!

Cincy Chic: What does the OSIA do as an organization?
Panioto: Our three principles are: liberty, equality and fraternity. We want freedom of assembly, speech and opportunity. So, we get together on the third Tuesday of the month at Sacred Heart Parish (2733 Massachusetts Ave.). We eat a lot and argue about insignificant things, like all good Italians do. We also have a personal Italian Tutor, Pietro Cassinadri, who provides free Italian lessons. This helps us keep alive the traditions of our ancestors. We also give two $5,000 scholarships each year, which fosters interest for OSIA in the new generations.

Cincy Chic: Since it's called the "Sons of Italy," I'm assuming your organization is all male. Correct?
Panioto: Actually, no. OSIA began as a male-only organization, but times have changed. Today women are welcome and encouraged to become members. In fact, a quarter of our membeship is female!

Cincy Chic: Does the OSIA ever partner with any other organizations?
Panioto: Yes, a bunch of us Italian guys usually get a table at the annual "Friendly Sons of St. Patrick" dinner. We show up in a limo wearing tuxes, black shades and our Italian sashes. That's always funny. We're also very involved with the City of Newport's annual Italianfest. Mark your calendar for June 11, 12, 13 and 14! We'll have hand-made cannolis for you!

Cincy Chic: What's your ancestry?
Panioto: My parents were born in Sicily. At 15-years-old, my dad and his two brothers came to the U.S. with their father. A little later, my grandfather asked my grandmother to come over and they grew roots.

Cincy Chic: Have you been to Italy?
Panioto: Not yet. I had my plane tickets purchased and an entire trip planned, but a loved one fell ill which kept me here in the states. I do want to get there very soon.

Cincy Chic: Does the OSIA makes you feel like you have a "little Italy" here in Cincinnati?
Panioto: No question about it. I've been president of OSIA for 18 years now and it's gotten me very much engrained in the Italian culture. The food, the people, the language, the mannerisms.

In fact, it's such a powerful thing for me, I manage many projects in the Tri-State to help more people experience OSIA. For example, I coordinate the Spaghetti Dinner, which has been going on for almost 100 years here locally. Our past dinner we had a couple weeks ago was the biggest one yet! It's a fundraiser for Sacred Heart Church. I don't know the exact total of what we raised this year, but I know it's always equivalent to a good annual salary. We used to do the dinners once a year, but they got so successful that Father Mario asked us to do them twice a year. So, that's what we're doing now.

We start with 600 gallons of sauce, 800 pounds of spaghetti, 25,000 meatballs and 220,000 raviolis. We start serving at 11 a.m. and run out around 5:30 p.m. People will wait several hours - meaning that they get there at 6 a.m. sometimes - to be first in line!

Cincy Chic: What's your favorite thing about Cincinnati?
Panioto: The people. I get to meet a lot of people with OSIA and my job (Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court Judge), which are both very people-oriented. I've just met the best people. People who are incomparable to anywhere else I've ever been. I love that I can still walk around downtown, walk in and get my shoes shined and get a good home-made Italian meal by people who know me by name.

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographer: Amy Storer-Scalia
Model: Ronald A. Panioto

Amy Storer-Scalia
		About the author:
		Amy Storer-Scalia, a Cincinnati native and current Ft. Thomas resident, is the editor in chief and publisher of Cincy Chic. Send her an e-mail at astorer@cincychic.com.
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Last update: 22-04-2009 17:38

Published in : Magazine Items, Social