With this message, I urge you to consider purchasing or renewing your membership to the Italian American Bocce Club. The Club has a rich history here in greater New Orleans and we need your help more than ever to keep this important piece of our cultural fabric alive.
As this new fiscal year for the Club arrives, we face our greatest challenge to remain open and providing the community with a great place to play the ancient sport of bocce. This is no idle threat or exaggeration - unless we raise enough money through our membership dues and league fees, our next couple of leagues will be our last.
Although we are in dire straights, we believe that we can continue to grow our membership and leagues. We have been fortunate to welcome many new friends over the past few months who have participated in our Spring Leagues and Open Bocce Nights. However, we need your help to get through this challenging time and to give us a chance to build the Club back up.
Dues for this year remain at $150 - quite the bargain!!! With your club membership, you will receive discounted league fees (currently $85 for non-league members, $50 for new non-league members, and $40 for members), discounted rental rates for the Club, and hopefully some special member events throughout the year.
Even if you are not a bocce fanatic, I ask you to consider purchasing a membership to help keep the Club alive - you will know that you are doing your part in preserving our New Orleans...and Italian...heritage and history.
If you would like to purchase a membership, you can drop off or mail check to the Club (address below). You can make your check out to: "Italian American Bocce Club".
Please do not allow this to be the last year that the doors are open at the Italian American Bocce Club.
My best and many thanks,
T.J. Stranova
President - Italian American Bocce Club
Important Membership Message
2340 Severn Avenue
Metairie, LA 70001
nolabocce@gmail.com
"New Orleans' largest indoor bocce facility"
Upcoming Open Bocce Nights (7pm - 10pm)
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Come join us at the Italian American Bocce Club for our Open Bocce Nights!
It is always just $5 for the entire night ($3 for members). So come learn the game, practice your skills, or play against some expert competitors! All levels and experience welcome!!! Beverages available for a suggested donation.
Hope to see you at the Club!!
We have set up a "GoFundMe" page to help us with critical infrastructure repairs that we must make to continue through 2017 and beyond (please see message below). Even a little bit helps!!! All you need to do is click on the following link to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/italian-american-bocce-club-repairs.
Thanks so much!
The Italian American Bocce Club of Greater New Orleans has promoted both the wonderful game of bocce and the celebration of Italian American culture since 1971. We are currently located at 2340 Severn Avenue in Metairie, where we operate an indoor facility with three full-sized bocce courts, poker room, kitchen, bar area, and banquet space for 75+ people.
Like many older cultural and community clubs,weare struggling to stay alive in the era of social media, virtual friends, and a reduced connection to culture, community, and history. Of course, Hurricane Katrina also hurt - decimating our membership rolls and scattering the Italian families that helped build the Club. However, we are fighting hard to survive...and having some success at it too...but we need some help from the community to make sure the Italian American Bocce Club is not added to the dreaded post-Katrina "Ain't Dere No More" list.
While we have started to attract new members across both age and cultural lines, we are in desperate need of funds to make long-needed (and basic) repairs to the facility. For example, we are currently using a couple dozen pickle buckets to prevent flooding and water damage from each rainstorm. Basic roof repairs have been estimated at a minimum of $10,000 - which we cannot afford on our own. Also, we have had to shut down during the summer months, as two out of our three air conditioning units no longer work and we can no longer keep the bocce areas cool. Repairs on the units and duct work are over $8,000. Additionally, there are many more minor repairs that need to be accomplished as well...so any and all donations are needed and appreciated!
At present time, we draw just enough money to pay our utility bills, insurance, and property taxes. To continue on in the future, we must make these needed repairs to the facility to keep attracting people to the Club so that we can continue to keep this unique cultural icon alive...because once the Italian American Bocce Club is gone, the New Orleans area will never see anything like this again!
Please consider supporting this important part of the cultural fabric of the greater New Orleans area!
Winter League Sign-Ups
We are now taking sign-ups for our Wednesday Winter League which will begin on January 30th. All skill levels are welcome (especially beginners). We will create balanced teams based on experience, so single players can join on their own.
The league will play through the end of April. Costs are $40 for members, $50 for first-time non-members, and $85 for non-members.
If you are interested in playing, please come to one of our Open Bocce Nights or send an email to nolabocce@gmail.com
Bocce Club AT YOUR
Event!!!
Photos By: MAYPhotography
PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO THE ITALIAN AMERICAN BOCCE CLUB - WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SURVIVE!
Italian American Bocce Club
of Greater New Orleans
Upcoming
Events
Yes!
We can take Bocce Club on the Road!!!
Set up outdoor bocce courts at your next event!!!
For $100 per hour per court (minimum two hours) we will set up bocce courts and officiate games for you!
Extra charges apply for events outside the greater New Orleans area.
Bocce Club available
for rental!!!
Yes!
Your dreams have come true!!!
Have your next birthday, romantic anniversary, or even your wedding at the Italian American Bocce Club!!!
(We also book regular events too - so have your next office party or organization event here at the Club!!!)
We offer sit-down seating for 75+ in our banquet area, a full kitchen, bar, and of course three full-sized bocce courts
Facility Rental Rates
NON-MEMBERS
$400 for four hours
Plus a refundable $100 cleaning fee - which will be returned if Club is left broom-clean, with trash removed, and tables wiped down
MEMBERS
$200 for four hours
Plus a refundable $100 cleaning fee - which will be returned if Club is left broom-clean, with trash removed, and tables wiped down
The rates include full use of the club, the courts and equipment, a satellite TV, ice machine, and refrigeration. A beer cooler is available upon request. The rental rate is for a 4 hour maximum, which includes setup time. Anything over 4 hours will be charged at $100 per hour payable at the end of the event.
A friendly member of the Bocce Club will be also be on site to show you how to play, organize games, officiate, or just tell you about the bocce lifestyle!!!
Other
Information
Italian American Bocce Club. All Rights Reserved.
Webmaster: T.J. Stranova