Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) is making history with its dramatic growth. Hundreds of delegates gathered in Buffalo, N.Y. at ISDA’s Biennial Convention last week, and were the first to hear the news:

National President Basil Russo unveiled plans for three lodges — one in New York City and two in New Jersey — that will become new cornerstones of Italian-American influence on the nation’s East Coast. The NYC lodge will be headed by John Viola, the former President and COO of the National Italian American Foundation in Washington D.C. The lodge’s Vice President, Dolores Alfieri, is Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Director of Italian American Affairs for the State of New York.