2024 Roma Lodge Italian Festival by Amplified Wisconsin

History of roma Lod ge

In the early 1900s, Italians in Racine established two distinct communities, North Side and Lakeside. The North Side Italians lived near the foundries where most of the men worked. The area was bounded on the north by High Street and south by Prospect Street, and on the east by Milwaukee Street and on the west by Carlisle Avenue. The Lakeside neighborhood was located between the south city limits (21st Street) and Case South Works, Lake Michigan on the east side and the Northwestern railroad tracks on the west. These Italian neighborhoods became communities within the city of Racine. They were almost self-contained units, where a family could find nearly all the necessities and amenities of life. These first Italian immigrants, although unskilled, uneducated, and struggling in the New World, prospered largely by the sweat of their brows. Other Italians became small business owners of barbershops, restaurants, and grocery stores.

In 1907, North Side Italians formed a mutual aid society, which later became affiliated with the national organization, the Order Sons of Italy in America. In 1923, a permanent Roma Lodge building was opened at 1300 North Memorial Drive. In 1917, the Lakeside Italians established Roma Hall.

Both the Roma Lodge and Roma Hall, as mutual aid societies, helped Italian immigrants find jobs and housing, paid sick and death benefits, provided instruction in English language and civics. They also helped preserve Italian customs, language, literature, and culture. As populations in Racine shifted and relocated, membership in Roma Hall declined. However, the Roma Lodge continued to grow and expand.

In 1979, the Roma Lodge began holding an annual Italian Festival to showcase Italian customs, food, and heritage

within the Racine community. The Festival also served as a prime fundraiser for the Lodge, and its plan for future growth and expansion. The festivals proved to be great successes. The Racine community recognized the Italian Festival as an event that offered good food and entertainment for the entire family at reasonable prices.

With the growth in membership, functions and activities, the Lodge was outgrowing the site on Memorial Drive. Plans for a new Lodge building at a new location were developed. In the late summer of 1987, the Roma Lodge moved to its present facility at 7130 Spring Street. Continued growth in the Lodge led to several additions to the original building, including a new Members Lounge and Dining Room, Hall of History, expanded and remodeled in-door bocce courts, additional storage facilities, and the remodeling of what is now the Vittoria Colonna Hall.

Today, Roma Lodge is one of the most successful fraternal organizations in Southeast Wisconsin. Members reside throughout Racine County and neighboring communities in Kenosha and Milwaukee counties. The Lodge continues to provide a center for Italian-Americans to gather and foster Italian-American culture through social, cultural, and entertainment events, scholarships, and gifts to local charities. But most importantly, the Lodge membership continues to take pride in its Italian heritage and the Italian immigrants who strived so hard to find a place for themselves and their children in the United States.

m ission and PurPose

Members of Roma Lodge share a deep appreciation of their Italian heritage and the continuing contributions of Italian-Americans to life in the United States. The Lodge is dedicated to its motto, “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.” It strives to enroll in its membership all men of Italian birth, descent, or lineage, regardless of religious faith or political affiliation. The Roma Lodge By-Laws detail the purposes of the Lodge. Some of these include:

• Foster a pride in, and awareness of Italian culture through lectures, conferences, study groups, tours, and classes

• Foster a fraternal relationship among its members, a commitment to the goals of the organization, and a feeling of pride in the value of the Lodge

• Carry on human relations activities on a charitable basis for the purpose of showing the community the positive force of Italian-American citizens

• Plan, promote, and carry out charitable, educational, and cultural activities which will best serve the welfare of Americans of Italian descent and the community at large

• Promote civic education among its members with the use of speakers, presentations, and other events

• Keep alive a spiritual attachment to the traditions and beliefs of our Italian ancestors

2024 OFFICERS

President - Frank Bisotti

Vice President - John Pisanello

Parliamentarian - Jeff DeMatthew

Recording Secretary - Jon Morelli

Membership Secretary - Pat Tierney

Treasurer - Pat Diem

Past President - Dave Chiapete

2024 DIRECTORS

Carmelo Bruno, Mike Garbo

Greg Pierangeli, Bill Pucci, Steve Rawlinko, Guy Schetter

Dave Silvani, Keith Stannis

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

On behalf of the Roma Lodge members, Board of Directors, and the Festival Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Racine and all surrounding communities for past and continued support of our annual Italian Festival. The members of Roma Lodge are excited and proud to present a wonderful festival once again to the community. This year, the festival will once again be held on the Roma Lodge grounds. Because of your support and that of all the volunteers that work at our festival, Roma Lodge has now donated over $375,000 to local health care facilities and community organizations!

I would like to thank Roma Lodge Festival Chair Patrick Diem and the Festival Committee for their year-round work in continuing to ensure that our Festival lives up to the standard that the Racine and surrounding communities deserve. They continue to find new ways each year to make the festival special and affordable for all to enjoy.

This is the final year of my term as Roma Lodge President, and I have been proud and honored to serve such a wonderful organization. Many things have changed over the 45 years that I have been a member, but one thing remains constant, Roma Lodge has over 350 hardworking and resolute members who contribute not only to our festival weekend but to so many events and functions that we hold year-round at Roma Lodge. Thank you to each and every one of you. We are extremely proud of our Italian heritage and that we continue to make significant contributions to the community.

The weekend will consist of our delicious Italian food and great music, but what so many love most is simply the camaraderie! We look forward to another spectacular Italian Festival weekend.

Ciao! Frank L. Bisotti President

Family Values. Community Commitment.

As an independent, privately-held company for over 50 years, we care passionately about helping our communities thrive. And while our financial services are constantly evolving to better meet your needs, one thing we’ve never changed is our commitment to building a future for Wisconsin we can all be proud of. From our family to yours, thank you for the opportunity to support the Roma Lodge’s Italian Fest in Racine.

45th Annual Italian Festival

Friday, July 26th , 4:00pm-Midnight

Saturday, July 27t h , Noon-Midnight • Free admission prior to 3:00 pm Sunday, July 28t h 10:30am Mass, Noon – 5:00pm, Raffle Drawing at 3:30 pm Free admission

2024

Gate Admission: $5.00

• Advance Admission: $4.00

Children 12 and under free with adult Festival at Roma Lodge - 7130 Spring St. Mt. Pleasant, WI

Advanced Admission Tickets Available at: Roma Lodge 7130 Spring St | 262-886-3610 Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm

Thank you to all the volunteers, members, adver tisers, vendors, sponsors, friends, guests, and patrons of the Roma Lodge Italian Festival. Your suppor t continues to make our festival a success!