The pandemic has created a “new normal” if you will, as long held traditions or activities have been modified, done with a different approach, or simply canceled and may never return. For over 80 years Roma Lodge held its annual charity fundraiser an annual ravioli dinner. In the 1950’s it was the social event of the year for the small town of Tulare where over 1,250 people attended for a homemade dinner of ravioli, chicken and spaghetti. Attendees enjoyed an evening of great food, dancing to a live band and wine came with the meal for the low, low price of $3 per person. Now, some 70 years later,

Columbia Lodge has been meeting in person since February of last year. We now meet at the PIASC and then we all stay for lunch. It is so nice to mingle with our sisters and brothers and it is a great arrangement.

Our State President Barbara Wisniewski joined us at the November Thanksgiving meeting. She was able to install a new officer and initiate new members. We all enjoyed a nice Turkey dinner and delicious pumpkin pie!

The San Mateo firemen also joined us and we presented them with lots of Toys for Tots. We really outdid ourselves this year even

SAVE THE DATE!

We are celebrating our 100th Anniversary on September 17th, 2022. Please save this date. We are coordinating with Grand Council and State President Barbara Fumosa Wisniewski to reduce travel. We will be sending more details in the coming months, but for now, please reserve this date to join us in our celebration. This is a very big accomplishment, not just for Colombo-Stella, but for all of Sons and Daughters of Italy. Our Lodge got the sad news that member LeRoy Scolari had passed away in January. LeRoy has always lived in Lompoc, but was a member of Colombo-Stella exclusively. In March, he would have been a member for 70 years!! I would call LeRoy every few months to let him know what was happening with our Lodge. The calls would always last for more than an hour,

“Meet & Potatoes”

Roma Lodge is in the San Joaquin Valley, the richest agriculture region in the world. Most of our charter members were farmers or dairymen who immigrated from Italy in the late 1890’s and formed the lodge over 90 years ago in 1930. Although, we do not grow a lot of potatoes in our area I was struck by an article in a local agriculture publication announcing the annual “Meet and Potato” conference of growers and exhibitors in Anaheim. They have over 2,000 attendees each year at the convention center with exhibits, breakout sessions and a lot of activities for everyone to learn about potatoes and enjoy.

You may be asking yourself

Happy 2022. It has been quite awhile since I have written an article. We, the Mother Lodge, are entering our 100th year. Our Lodge was founded in September of 1922, and since we are the first and oldest Italian fraternal organization in all of California, this is a very big deal. Some of you may remember the time our Lodge nearly folded, twice. We had some very lean times, but we rebounded.

We are planning to have a huge celebration in September and I need everyone to help. There are 100 years of memories, pictures and documents that are in our members archives. I am asking everyone to look into their picture albums, their clippings and send me any highlights you think I should have. I plan to make a special video of the people that have been instrumental in Colombo-Stella’s 100 years.

I need to start this project early, so please check asap. I will give more details of our event as it gets closer. I am trying to coordinate