12 December 2022 Minutes
Father Kelley Division, Ancient Order of Hibernians
Highlights of the Meeting: Father Kelley Division election of officers for 2023 was accomplished. Division activities in 2022 were reviewed. The schedule of activities in 2023 was reviewed. Planned fund raising events were discussed. The division Christmas dinner followed the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus Club Room, 9290 Stonewall Road in Manassas by President Pat Sullivan.
Recitation of the Opening Prayer & Pledge of Allegiance: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen. In the name of St. Patrick, the Glorious Apostle of Ireland, I open this meeting and beseech our Heavenly Father to watch over us and protect us. May He grant us that peace and harmony will always prevail among us, and that Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity will inspire all our deliberations, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
- Hail Mary x
- Pledge of Allegiance x
The President introduced Father Daniel Reuwer, our Father Kelley Division Chaplain.
Roll call of Officers for Fraternal Year 2022 (Present, Absent or Excused):
| President: | Patrick Sullivan | P |
| Vice President: | Daniel O’Leary | P |
| Chaplain: | Father Daniel Reuwer | P |
| Recording Secretary: | Michael Eggleston | P |
| Financial Secretary: | Richard Aleksy | P |
| Treasurer: | Richard Ring | P |
| Standing Committee: | Douglas Morrison | P |
| Marshall: | Greg Murray | P |
| Sentinel: | Greg Gibbons | P |
| Past President: | Tom Masarick | P |
Minutes from previous meeting. Mike Eggleston: The 14 November 2022 Minutes were distributed to all members and were posted to the division website on 1 December. No changes have been received A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made, seconded and the members voted to approve the minutes as posted on the Division website.
President’s Report. Pat Sullivan: Some accomplishments over the past year:
- Installation of officers and Past President’s Diner
- Another successful Veteran’s Beer Tasting in February
- Velocity Dance at the Hilton Center
- The St. Patrick’s Day drawing of our trip to Ireland raffle was won by our own Organizer, Pete Hawkins
- Again, participated in the Gaelic Mass held by the Fitzgerald Division at St. Thomas Moore Cathedral
- A very successful Fish Fry
- Shamrock Degree and 4 members also received their Tower Degree
- Our First Father Kelley Division Sponsored Golf Tournament headed by Past President Vince Fitzpatrick.
- Several Road Cleanups were accomplished: We need someone to take over road cleanups from Rick Ring who is leaving.
- Our worthy VP and myself participate in the National Convention
- Two division breakfasts
- Veteran’s Day Parade
- Father Kelley and Deceased member’s mass
- Half-way to St. Patrick’s Day kickoff at the Pub
- Fall Jubilee which was a great time and we sold many of the Ireland Raffle tickets
- Our first-time participation in the Downs Syndrome Buddy Walk
- We even got some press time in the Hibernian Digest
- Not including the Hibernian Project food drive, we gave out $5000.00 to our charities and $1200.00 to the Veterans.
- Started our new fundraising project with the Irish Cookbooks where we are already in the black.
- We have a new Chaplain, Father Daniel Reuwer
- And let us not forget the loss of Brother Mike McManus may his soul rest in peace forever.
Not a bad Year!
Propositions for Membership. Pete Hawkins: No new propositions for membership.
Communications & Correspondence. Mike Eggleston: We received three thank you notes. A letter was received from the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bethany for 1282 pounds of food that we collected. We also received a thank you letter from Eric Latcheran for our donation to the Downs Syndrome Buddy Walk. Finally, the Irish Cultural Center of Virginia thanked us for our $500 donation.
Cookbook Status. Mike Eggleston: We received 226 copies of the cookbook from the Morris Publishing Company
Sold 88
On Consignment: 74
Remaining 64.
I have copies with me for those who want them.
Calendar Events/Special Reports. Pete Hawkins distributed the 2023 Calendar. Discussion followed:
Future calendars that use Knights Hall for the location will simply state Knights Hall rather than specifying a room location.
For Raffle ticket sales: we need two volunteers at each door.
The 14 January installation of officers will be held in the chapel after the 5:30 PM Mass at All Saints.
The date of 28 January for the Virginia State AOH quarterly meeting will probably change. Rich Aleksy will confirm date with AOH State.
Tuesday, 14 March has been scheduled for our division meeting so we can attend the Gaelic Mass, but this is a tentative date for our meeting and requires approval.
Vince Fitzpatrick will take the lead from Dan O’Leary for the 3 February Beer Tasting Fund raiser for TAPS and ABLE Forces.
The date/location of the Shamrock Degree in March may be rescheduled.
Special Committees:
Chaplain’s Reflection. Father Daniel Reuwer. Thanks for attending Masses as a group. It sets a fine example and thanks also for keeping us all informed of division activities via email. I expect that in the coming year I will be able to engage more in division activities.
Charities and Missions. Greg Rebbert: No Report.
Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI). Dominic Preston. Last May the Nationalists won the elections in Northern Ireland but the Loyalists do not want to form a government. Refugees continue to arrive in Ireland including those from Ukraine. Ireland has reached the point where there is no more room for refugees. Dominic also noted that he has been diagnosed with cancer and asks for our prayers.
Report on the Standing Committee/Grievance. Doug Morrison: No Report.
Historian. Mike Eggleston provided his report on the Father Watters.
Hunger Project. Bart Emanuel: No Report.
Immigration. Rick Ring: No Report.
Political Education Chair (PEC). Vince Fitzpatrick: No Report.
Project St. Patrick. Rich Aleksy asked that we keep seminarians in our prayers:
Pro-Life. VACANT.
Publicity/Webmaster. Brian Tumulty: we have submitted an article to the National Hibernian Digest about our work supporting the Medical Missionaries.
Report on the Sick/Visitation. Bill Yochem: No Report.
Strategic Planner. Mike Riley: No Report.
Veterans Affairs. Doug Morrison: Doug provided his Veterans Report.
Bills and Claims. Rich Aleksy:
Income:
Cookbooks, $1,095.00
Magnets, $25.00
Bracelets, $5.00
Total: 1,125.00
Voucher 22-038 Name Badges, $80.15
Report of the Treasurer. Rick Ring: Rick provided his Treasurer’s Report. There was one change: since the report was published the Downs Syndrome check has been cashed.
Unfinished business. None.
New Business.
Officer Elections: JP McCusker identified the slate candidates for Father Kelley Division Officers for 2023. The slate includes Pat Sullivan, President; Greg Gibbons, Vice President; Mike Eggleston, Recording Secretary; Rich Aleksy, Financial Secretary; Brian Tumulty, Treasurer; Doug Morrison, Standing Committee; Gregg Rebbert, Marshall and Paul Hannan, Sentinel. The members present voted in the affirmative to accept the slate of officers proposed by the nominating committee.
Good and Welfare of the Order.
Mike Eggleston asked for prayers for Dave Plum and his wife Phyllis. Dave is Mike’s high school classmate a former Navy seal and retired college professor. Both he and his wife are seriously ill.
Chris Sozio asked that we keep his father who had surgery in our prayers. Chris also asked for prayers for other relatives who are ill.
Doug Morrison requested prayers for his brother-in-law and sister who are ill.
Bart Emanuel’s brother-in-law, David Goodrich was injured in an auto accident and prayers are request for his recovery.
Hugh Brien asked for prayers for his brother John O’Brien who had a stroke. John is 94 years of age.
Pat Sullivan is having knee surgery in January followed by other later surgeries. He asked for our prayers.
Rich Aleksy is also scheduled for surgery and asked for our prayers.
We should also remember Dominic Preston in our prayers and hope for his speedy recovery.
Adjournment. The president made a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved by vote of those present.
Father Daniel Reuwer provided the Closing Prayer. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And in the name of St. Patrick, the Glorious Apostle of Ireland, I declare this meeting closed. Grant, O Lord, who makes the minds of the faithful to be of one will, that we, thy people may love what Thou has commanded, and desire what Thou has promised, and that amid the changes of the world our hearts may ever love and obey Thee, through Christ Our Lord, Amen. For our deceased Brothers:
- Our Father
- 3 Hail Mary’s
- Glory Be
- 3 more Hail Mary’s for vocations
Adjourned. The President 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 January 2023. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16PM.
After the meeting the President’s Drawing for a bottle of Irish whiskey was accomplished. Vince Fitzpatrick won the bottle. The division Christmas Dinner followed the meeting.
