Roma Madre Lodge, offically known as Loggia Roma Madre No. 1342 Order of the Sons of Italy in America, was founded on 24 November 1924 by a charter from the Supreme Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in America.

The first meeting of our lodge took place on 30 November 1924 at Miner's Hall (over what used to be Brotan's) on Desmond St., in Sayre. The meeting opened at 2pm and was presided by our first president, Guiseppe Iannuzi. Present at this meeting were officers of La Loggia Umberto N. 750, Susquehanna, PA, Sons of Italy which were helpful in forming the Sayre, PA Lodge. Also in attendance were officers of Cristoforo Columbo and the Duca della Abruzzi Lodges of Elmira, NY.

The main speaker at the meeting was Cavalier Guiseppe DiSilvestri, Grand Venerable. He explained the laws and rules that govern Order Sons of Italy in America to those in attendance.

Later on, meetings were held in the Eighmey Hall on Desmond Street, site of the former Widmann's Drugs.

In 1947 the Lodge purchased a private home at the corner of Hayden & Desmond Streets. This was renovated into a new lodge and social section where members could meet in their own hall and enjoy recreational and fraternal activities and work on one of the many charitable programs carried on by the club.

In 1951, Judge Eugene Allesandroni of Philadelphia, Grand Venerable, of Pennsylvania visited our Sayre Lodge.

In November 1974, the Roma Madre Lodge celebrated it's 50th Anniversary. The event was held at Brennan's Paddock in Waverly, NY with a huge banquet and dance. The living founders of the lodge were honored. Main speaker for the affair was Judge Frank J. Montemuro, Jr., Grand Venerable for the State of Pennsylvania.

In 1983, the Sayre Lodge had a need to acquire more space and to modernize its facility. Ground was broken and the present building (pictured below) was constructed. Solid financial management and much hard work by the membership allowed for the retirement of the debt within seven years and when the lodge celebrated its 65th Anniversary in 1994, a celebration of the Burning of the Mortgage was held.

Capital: Rome

Population: 57,679,825 (July 2001 est.)

Government Type: Republic

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Geopolitical Borders:
Italy is comprised of 20 unique regions (further divided into provinces), each with its own cuisine, climate, customs and traditions.

National Holiday: Republic Day, June 2 (1946)

Languages Spoken:
Italian (official)
German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region)
French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region)
Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

Executive Branch:
Chief of state: President Giorgio Napolitano (since May 15, 2006)
Head of government: Prime Minister Romano Prodi (since May 9, 2006)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president
Elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term; prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by Parliament

Border Countries:
Austria
France
Holy See (Vatican City)
San Marino
Slovenia
Switzerland

Principal Industries:
tourism
machinery
iron and steel
chemicals
food processing
textiles
motor vehicles
clothing, footwear
ceramics

Some information courtesy of the CIA World Fact Book 2001.