Castro Valley has many valuable and well-known organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis, Soroptomist, Loyal Order of the Moose and more, all of which contribute to making this a great community. But one little-known but very active club in our community is the Buon Tempo Italian American Club. Probably most of our residents don't even know it exists.
Buon Tempo (Italian for "Good Time") is a social-welfare organization that not only exists for the benefit of its members but supports local charities, participates in community events, and, over time, has awarded thousands of dollars of scholarships to deserving high school students. It is the southern-most Italian club in Alameda County and is convenient to San Leandro, Fremont, Pleasanton, Hayward, Union City, Newark, and even San Ramon, Dublin, and Livermore.
It is a small club (less than 200 members) that is currently in its 54th year of operation. Membership is open to men of Italian descent and non-Italian men who are interested in promoting and preserving the Italian culture. Men with close relatives of Italian descent such as a wife, mother-in-law, or father-in-law may also qualify for membership.
Headquartered at the Castro Valley Moose Lodge, its activities include two dinners each month (one for the entire family and one for members only), an annual picnic, bocce and bocce tournaments, a rodeo parade entry, and, as mentioned above, awarding scholarships and supporting local charities. The club is also a member of the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce.
While it is primarily a men's club, ladies and children are included in many of its activities. The monthly family dinner invites everyone (sometimes the women even prepare the excellent meals), scholarships are given to students of both genders, bocce sessions and tournaments are open to all, as is the annual picnic, and their annual entry in the rodeo parade.
The favorite charity that Buon Temp Club supports is the
George Mark Children's House in San Leandro. This is a home for terminally ill children and a respite for their caregivers. Each year the club hosts a benefit bocce tournament from which all entry fees and donations go directly to the George Mark House. In addition, the club puts on a yearly pasta feed, again with all the money going to this charity.
Memberships to this club are currently open. Please visit their website at www.buontempoclub.org. to learn more about this organization.
