News from Roma Lodge # 1573

Pictured above is a partial group of Roma Lodge members who organized, conducted our Italian food booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, February 13-15th.  Yes, we know the organization has been changed to the Sons and Daughters of Italy, however, until the sign we placed on our building at the show over 20 years ago is still good and we are not going to change it until it needs to be redone.  The World Ag Expo was started at the Tulare Fair Grounds in 1968 and moved to the International Agri-Center in 1982 and has grown to 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space.  Roma Lodge is one of the only organizations that has been at the show from the very beginning.

For the past 11 years Michael DePaoli, Maci DePaoli-Daramy and Melissa-DePaoli-Watkins have served as co-chairs for the booth.  This effort takes countless hours in preparation, organizing and conducting the booth each year. This year was our best year, and the food booth has become our major fundraiser for the year.

More importantly it promotes the Italian Culture to the more than 100,000 visitors from all over the world.  Our booth proudly displays our Italian culture in memory of those Italian immigrants who started the lodge back in 1930.

(l-r) Kate Watkins, Wessel Pitigliano and Giulia Watkins paint signage for the booth.  Roma Lodge has 60 junior members, which will be our foundation for the future.  These young members were actively involved in the operation of the booth, waiting on customers, preparing food, and taking an active part in the farm show.  They are the future and will remember these activities that will keep them engaged for the future of the lodge.

Joyce Hofstee, Karen DeGroot and Joann Beecher prepare lunch for our members the Sunday before the show when the lodge makes the sauce for pasta lunches, cuts onions for sausage sandwiches and holds a brief meeting and enjoys a great meal.