The Father Kelley Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will vote Nov. 9 on moving its monthly meetings to the second Monday of each month because of a motion made at the October meeting. Other highlights of the October meeting held at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus in Manassas included the announcement that 237 raffle tickets for a trip to Ireland were sold at the Manassas Fall Festival.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by the Division President Tom Masarick. Fifteen members were in attendance.
Recitation of the opening prayer & Pledge of Allegiance:
Our Father x
Hail Mary x
St. Michael the Archangel x
Glory Be x
Pledge of Allegiance x
Roll call of Officers for Fraternal Year 2021:
Position Name Present/Absent/Excused
President Tom Masarick P
Vice President Patrick Sullivan E
Chaplain Fr. Ed Guilloux E
Recording Secretary Brian Tumulty P
Financial Secretary Richard Aleksy P
Treasurer Richard Ring E
Standing Committee Pete Hawkins P
Marshall Mike Curry E
Sentinel Dan O’Leary P
Immediate Past President John Masarick P
Reading of minutes from previous meeting: Approved by voice vote.
President’s Report: Tom Masarick —
The Sept 18 Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade was excellent. It was very well attended and well organized. And our St. Patrick brings fun and humor to the job, representing us well. Thank you to Russ Keating and the parade marshals.
At the October 2 Manassas Fall Jubilee we had a booth the sell raffle tickets for a trip to Ireland. There are many people to thank, but let me start by thanking Vince Fitzpatrick for getting us the location, and also Pete Hawkins, Jerry Parsch, Pat Sullivan, Rick Ring, Jerry Lafferty, Mike Riley, Dan O’Leary and myself. I believe this was our best year in selling tickets.
I appointed a nominating committee, but Dan O’Leary has filed a grievance with the Standing Committee. So until that gets resolved, I’m asking them to keep doing what they’re doing. If you are a current officer, I encourage you to run again next year. If you are not a current officer and want to get involved, then throw your hat in the rings.
Now for my status. I’ve been blessed to work my way up the last seven year. I do not plan to run for a second term as is customary. I plan to focus on my duties at the Bishop J. Russell Flannery Assembling Faithful Navigator and other offices. This year, our division has been infected with repetitive bad behavior, anger management issues and disrespect for your president. I was not able to change the behavior after 10 months and I do not see it changing it if reelected. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over, and over again. And expecting different results.
I believe this is the best interest of the division and the best chance to have unity in our division. Let there be no mistake. I do have much love for the AOH at the local and state level.
Reading of communications and correspondence: Email about the state meeting on Nov. 6 followed by a Tower Degree.
Introduction on new candidates: None
Chaplain’s Report: No report
Report of the committee on the sick: Pete Hawkins reported on deaths of the grandfather of Chris Sozio and of brother Joe Cahill.
Cahill’s funeral Mass of Oct. 29 with burial following at Quantico.
Nov. 7 celebration of life for Ron Farra at the monastery in Bristow.
Pete has formed a grievance committee to address a grievance.
Report on the Standing Committee: Pete Hawkins –
Events/ calendar: report by Pete Hawkins:
The Manassas Fall Jubilee was held on a beautiful day. We sold 237 tickets for the trip to Ireland raffle. It was a very successful event.
A handful of beer tasting tickets were sold as well.
Dave Riley will cook corned beef and cabbage as well as soda bread for the 15Nov. Irish dinner. Dominic Preston has agreed to sing and play Irish music on his guitar. There are reservations for 21 people so far.
October 22 will be the beer tasting at the Old Town Sports Pub featuring five different Old Busthead beers. Profits will go to a donation to two military charities, Able Forces and TAPS.
Dan O’Leary also reported that military Bracelet sales are going good.
or 23 – Hunger project at the Food Lion on Liberia
NOVEMBER
6 – State AOH quarterly meeting and major degree at Murphy’s Irish Pub and a nearby school
6 – Veterans Day parade
7 – deceased members Mass and corporate communion at the 9:30 Sunday Mass with breakfast afterward
8 – officers monthly meeting at 7 pm in the club room
9 – monthly division meeting at 7:30 pm in the bingo hall
9 – shamrock degree
13 – road cleanup
DECEMBER
14 – division monthly meeting, officer elections and Christmas party
TBD – trip to Gettysburg
TBD – visit to the St. John Paul shrine
TBD – road cleanup
TBD – Tomb of the Unknowns
Bingo kitchen: We had one in October and the next one is Nov. 7.
Freedom for All Ireland: Dominic Preston – no report because he is teaching a class
Historian: Mike Eggleston – Operation Motorman —
In one of the most bizarre incidents in military history the British army invaded its own country (Northern Ireland) on 31 July 1972. This was one of a string of incidents that followed the start of the Troubles in August 1969.
At that time the British Prime Minister sent troops into Northern Ireland in response to rioting that had gotten out of hand.
The purpose of Operation Motorman was to retake so-called “No-go” areas established by residents in Derry and Belfast. These were areas barricaded by Nationalist residents to prevent the entry of British troops and other government organizations. Some of these barricaded areas were impassable to British army vehicles. The operation was planned and when the Provisional IRA detonated bombs in Belfast, Operation Motorman was executed.
Four thousand extra troops and tanks were landed in Derry from the British amphibious landing ship HMS Fearless.
The British army knocked down barricades and moved into No-go areas within 24 hours. The moves were not opposed by the IRA. Civilians were killed and wounded by the British army during the operation. A group of Catholic boys who had gone to see the tanks were fired on by British troops concealed behind a fence. Daniel Hegarty, a 15-year-old was killed. And others were wounded. An unarmed Provisional IRA member was shot and wounded as he was climbing a tree. He bled to death in a British troop carrier while he waited for treatment. Investigations followed for nearly 50 years after the incident and a British soldier (called “Soldier B” to protect his identity) was charged with the murder of Daniel Hegarty in 2019. All charges against Soldier B were dropped last summer when a judge suppressed key prosecution evidence against him.
A Mural in Bogside, Derry shows a soldier knocking down a door commemorating Operation Motorman.
Immigration: Richard Ring – no report
Trip to Ireland – We are in good shape based on what happened at the Fall Festival, according to Greg Rebbert. Tom Masarick thanked Vince for securing the location.
JP McCusker arrived late and gave his report as well. There are 550 tickets undistributed, 357 in circulation and 99 sold, although he is expecting that number to increase this evening from the Fall Festival sales.
There are also three church sales dates coming up in January, February and March.
St Patrick’s Day Parade – Vince not here
Pro – Life: Mike McManus– absent
Political Education: Vince Fitzpatrick – not here
Veteran Affairs: Doug Morrison – not here once again
Strategic Planning: Mike Riley –
Webmaster: Brian Tumulty – no report
Hibernian Hunger Project: Bart Emanuel – not here; we have not done anything yet this year. Tom M. said we have to get going.
Charities: Rich Aleksy – There was a preliminary officers’ meeting last night and we will meet again Oct. 19. There are a couple of thousand dollars available for charities. We will probably report back at the next meeting
Project St. Patrick: Rich Aleksy —Keep the seminarians in your prayers.
Club Room: Mike Curry –no report
Medical Missionaries – JP McCusker said Medical Missionaries has a wine outing coming up in Leesburg.
Auditors Report: Vince Fitzpatrick – no report
Bills and Claims: Financial SecretaryRich Aleksy – One voucher for $3,500 from Caddie Tours for the trip from last year.
Receipts of the Meeting (Income): Financial Secretary Rich Aleksy –
$100 — Bingo kitchen
$245 – military bracelets
Total receipts of $345.
Report of the Treasurer: Richard Ring – He was not at the meeting. Rich Aleksy gave the report.
Starting balance for October = $22,007.22 of which $7,000 is to pay for the last two winners of the trip to Ireland.
Oct Deposits (income) = $345
October 2021 expense = $3,500.
Uncashed checks none
Unfinished business:
Motion by Brian Tumulty seconded by Dan O’Leary and Bill to vote on whether to change our bylaws to return all our meetings to the second Monday of each month. The vote will be at the November meeting. Brian said he hopes this vote will put the issue to rest.
John Masarick said he is heading the nominating committee with Dave Rile and Mike Eggleston. If you are an officer, we need to know if you want to return next year. We will report at the November meeting and recommend one candidate for each office.
New Business:
There will be another beer tasting on Jan 28, 2022, according to Dan O’Leary
Good of the order: Chris S. spoke about his grandfather’s funeral
John M asked for the repose of Joe Cahill’s soul
Adjourned at 8:16 pm
