Agnes Pelous, who celebrated her 99th birthday in July, has been a member of the Roma Lodge in Tulare since 1964. As a member she has enjoyed celebrating the Italian culture with new friends and old friends whose family acquaintances go all the way back to the same village in Italy. Agnes has been active as the Roma Lodge vice president and mistress of ceremonies, as well as serving on the scholarship, ravioli dinner, and Farm Show committees. Roma Lodge members want to thank Agnes for her many years of membership and dedication to the lodge.

Roma Lodge members were saddened with the passing of member Florena (Dolly) Jean Kleinhans. Dolly, as she was affectionately known as, was a longtime member of the lodge and the Tulare community. For 23 years she participated at the California Antique Farm Equipment Show cooking on a woodstove and serving chicken and dumplings and homemade ice cream at Dolly’s Kitchen. Along with her husband, Cedric, they built a large barn on their property utilizing it for family gathering, holidays, weddings, and class reunions. Cedric and Dolly opened their farm to promote education to school children about the early 1900s. As a Licensed Vocational Nurse, she worked for Terrace Park Convalescent Hospital for 12 years and then Tulare District Hospital for 10 years. She will be missed

California has finally opened its doors. After months of staying at home, masking and social distancing, it was wonderful seeing all our lodge friends. Northern Solano Lodge #2534 is open for business once again.

Zoom meetings were required for January through April. Our first in person meeting was in May. It was great to see everyone again. Activities are picking up too. Our Out to Lunch coordinators, Kay Locatelli and Pam Boes, are busy planning new lunch locations for us to visit.

In May we visited Jelly Belly in Fairfield, June’s luncheon was at Pietros #2 in Vacaville and in July we enjoyed

The National Delegates will be voted on by a mailed secret ballot after Convention is over.

The Nominees are: Arlene Nunziati, Mark Vaona, Pauline Richmond and Maria Fassio-Pignati. We will vote for 3.

Marisa and Alan Miller, membership co-chairs, haven’t let COVID-19 stop them from discovering new members who want to join our Sons of Italy community. Meet two of Napa Lodges’ newest members!

Rex is a Senior Executve with Vision Service Plan. His partner, Otto, is engaged in property management with the Napa Women’s Club and supports COVID-19 vaccinaLon pop-up clinics in Santa Rosa, California. Rex served on the board for Sacramento Habitat for Humanity for nine years. Otto served in leadership with the Sacramento based Methodist Church, strategically

I know everyone is looking forward to getting back to the “new normal”, attending meetings, cooking dinners, fundraising and attending celebrations. A lot of things we all have missed over the last almost 18 months. Time is coming for this to happen, but we still have to be cautious.

We are in the midst of currently planning our “ZOOM” State Convention; this will be new for all of us so please be patient. The plan is to take care of business in morning then our National 1st Vice President has asked to speak to the convention delegates; afterwards we will have installation of the new officers. This will take everyone’s cooperation to achieve this but I have confidence in all of you.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s day celebration. For many this was the first time to see our families” safely”. The next celebration is Father’s day. Again please everyone be careful.

It is nice to see that many Lodges are slowly meeting