Roma Lodge #1573 Tulare, CA

Currently there are 47 of 58 counties in California that have qualified for limited reopening of non-essential businesses such as restaurants, barbershops, salons, bars and theaters as long as masks and social distancing are practiced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Roma Lodge is in the center of Tulare County which is one of the remaining counties which is still on lockdown.

Since the pandemic hit Tulare County in March, 15,270 people have been sickened and 253 people have died from COVID-19 complications, according to the health agency. In a promising sign, the county’s COVID-19 positivity rate is now 8.7%, slightly above the state’s recommended 8%.

Roma Lodge meets at the International Agri-Center social hall each month and now that facility is being used as a COVID testing facility. Since March, the lodge has had to cancel monthly meetings, 90th Anniversary Celebration, annual ravioli dinner fundraiser and junior member night. We just learned the World Ag Expo, where the lodge has had an Italian sausage food booth since it started over 50 years ago, has been canceled for February of 2021.

As local lodge presidents we are continually faced with the decision as to whether to resume lodge activities or not. We can all agree the three tenets of the Order are Liberty-Equality-Fraternity of which we all rely on fraternity in getting our membership together to carryon the Italian Culture. Several lodges have resorted to virtual meetings, drive-through fundraisers, raffles, social distance picnics and other activities to keep lodge members informed and active.

Fortunately, Roma Lodge can endure in the short-term without the ability to hold fundraisers and will resume lodge meetings and other activities when Tulare County is off the governors watch list.