11 April 2022 Minutes
Highlights of the Meeting: The 7 May AOH State Meeting/Tower Degree ceremony were discussed. Changes to the calendar including the addition of new events were discussed. A new member, Tim Hourigan was admitted to the Father Kelley Division. A series of National AOH zoom conferences are being conducted to discuss removal of the “Men’s Only Clause” of the National Constitution.
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 p.m. at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus Club Room on Stonewall Road in Manassas by President Pat Sullivan.
Recitation of the opening prayer & Pledge of Allegiance:
Our Father x
Pledge of Allegiance x
Roll call of Officers for Fraternal Year 2022 (Present, Absent or Excused):
| President: | Patrick Sullivan | P |
| Vice President: | Daniel O’Leary | E |
| Treasurer: | Richard Ring | P |
| Chaplain: | Father Edouard Guilloux | E |
| Financial Secretary: | Richard Aleksy | P |
| Recording Secretary: | Michael Eggleston | P |
| Standing Committee: | Douglas Morrison | E |
| Marshall: | Gregory Murray | E |
| Sentinel: | Gregory Gibbons | P |
| Past President: | Tom Masarick | P |
After the roll call it was determined that a quorum (minimum of 15) for the meeting had been achieved.
Minutes from previous meeting, Mike Eggleston: The 15 March minutes were distributed to all members and were posted to the Division website on 28 March. No Changes have been proposed. A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded and the members voted to approve the Minutes as posted on the Division website.
Presidents Report: Pat Sullivan discussed the State AOH meeting in Leesburg on 7 May: This will include the Tower Degree Exemplification. We have three people signed up for this and may have others. Also, removal of the “Men’s Only Clause” of the National Constitution will be discussed. In preparation for this, zoom sessions will be conducted. One was today and another will be conducted, Wednesday. We will discuss this further under New Business. Feedback from our division membership on this would be most welcome. Send me an email.
Propositions for Membership, Pete Hawkins: Pete identified Tim Hourigan as a new candidate for membership. Tim was a previous member of another division.
Introduction of new candidates: A motion was made, seconded and all present voted unanimously to admit Tim Hourigan. President Pat Sullivan welcomed the candidate, administered the oath and accomplished the installation of Tim.
Reading of Communications and Correspondence: Mike Eggleston: Doug Morrison participated in a ceremony presenting a check for $600 to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).
Reports:
Final Report, Trip to Ireland, JP McCusker. JP reported that we sold a total of 999 tickets for the trip.
Golf Tournament, Vince Fitzpatrick. Golf Tournament announcement has been distributed. Vince indicated that we have a contract for the tournament for 6 June at the Prince William County Club Golf Course. Entrance fee is $100. Vince will need assistance with the tournament. Helpers are needed for the first hour, hour and a half and are then free to go. Vince has sent out invitations to other divisions.
Fish Fry, Pete Hawkins. Pete reported that we took in $1,701 gross with a profit of $1,128
Calendar Events/Special Reports, Pete Hawkins: Pete distributed an update to the Calendar of Events. The calendar is on our web site. He led the discussion on calendar events that follows.
The division Picnic was scheduled for 7 May, but this conflicted with the Virginia State AOH Quarterly Meeting which is also scheduled for the 7th. The date of the picnic was moved to 14 May. We need to get a pavilion; Lake Ridge is nice. A host is needed for the picnic and Pete will put out an email on this.
Road Cleanup is scheduled for 14 May at 8:00 AM. Rick Ring has the lead.
Wine tasting is on 5 June. Bill Yochem has the lead. Location is the Sunset Ridge Farm, 2-5 PM.
Special Committees:
Catholic Action, Father Edouard Guilloux: No Report.
Charities and Missions, Greg Rebbert: Greg will be the lead for our Division Cookbook. This is a fund-raiser. Greg will pull details together and bring recommendations back to the division.
Freedom for all Ireland, Dominic Preston: In the Republic of Ireland stores will be closed on Good Friday and reopened on Saturday. This is a big travel weekend and a big family thing with dinners among family members. Demographics have changed. In the European Union free movement among countries means that population has changed. We now have Ukrainians, Mexicans and other nationalities residing in the Republic and that increases the Catholic population.
Report on the Standing Committee/Grievance, Doug Morrison: No Report.
Historian, Mike Eggleston: Mike provided a report on the Bishop Cretin and the AOH.
Hunger Project, Bart Emanuel: No Report.
Immigration, Rick Ring: Rick described Ukrainian Immigration since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Project St. Patrick, Rich Aleksy: No report, but continue to keep the seminarians in your prayers.
Publicity/Webmaster, Brian Tumulty: No Report.
Shamrock Degree: No Report.
Report on the Sick/Visitation, Bill Yochem: Mike McManus had surgery to remove his left big toe. A get-well card was sent.
Strategic Planner, Mike Riley: No Report.
Veteran’s Affairs, Doug Morrison: Pat Sullivan presented Doug’s report on Veteran’s Affairs and discussed Doug’s comments on Irish immigrants fighting for the US in the Korean War.
Bills and Claims, Rich Aleksy: We had no vouchers. Rich summarized income: Dues, $25; Initiation fee, $10; Decals, $15 and Ireland Trip, $70 for a total of $120. We have four Brothers in arrears for dues and this is being worked.
Report of the Treasurer, Rick Ring provided the Report of the Treasurer.
Unfinished business: Rich Alesky mentioned that a bill is expected from Mike Riley for his trip.
New Business: National AOH is having Zoom Conferences to discuss the removal of the “Men’s Only Clause” of the National Constitution. Issues need discussion. Should the Ladies Auxiliary be merged with divisions or should it remain separate and allow women to join the AOH Divisions? AOH membership is on the decline so would allowing women to join boost membership or would it decline further? (A subsequent zoom conference concluded that we should not be driven by the concern for dropping membership or lawsuits, but rather, bringing women into the division would enrich our AOH organization.) This is nothing new. Other organizations have gone through this and have made this change. Send your thoughts on this to Pat Sullivan.
Good of the order: Prayer requests:
Mike McManus is having surgery to remove his left big toe.
Joe Martin is having surgery for cancer.
Greg Rebbert’s cousin, Michael Baldwin has cancer that has reoccurred and he is undergoing more radiation.
Chris Sozio asked for prayers for a safe trip for his friend traveling to Taiwan.
Adjourned: The President closed the meeting with prayers for vocations and cautioned the brothers against speaking of anything that transpired at this meeting. The President noted that the next Division Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 9 May. The President made a motion to adjourn. It was seconded and approved by those present. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.
