Highlights of the Meeting: Changes to the calendar including the addition of new events were discussed. Our participation in the National Convention in July, including our vote and expenses, were addressed. Participation in the Division picnic and the June Golf Tournament was encouraged. Improvements in recruiting were discussed.

The meeting was called to order at 7:31 PM. at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus Club Room on 9290 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	P
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 16) for the meeting had been achieved.

Minutes from the previous meeting, Mike Eggleston: The 11 April Minutes were distributed to all members and were posted to the Division website on 23 April. 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.

President’s Report:  Pat Sullivan discussed his President’s Report. Zoom meetings to discuss removal of the “Men Only” clause from the National Constitution are scheduled this week and a final Zoom meeting is scheduled next month in preparation for the July National Convention (13-17 July in Pittsburg). Brian Tumulty asked Pat how he would vote at the National Convention on the removal of the “Men Only” clause. Discussion followed and Pat indicated that he had not yet decided. See further discussion of the issue under New Business.

Propositions for Membership, Pete Hawkins: No new candidates were identified.

Reading of Communications and Correspondence: Mike Eggleston: No new Communications or Correspondence have been submitted.

Reports:

Golf Tournament, Vince Fitzpatrick. Since Vince was absent, Pat Sullivan discussed the 6 June Golf Tournament. We put out a flyer on this. Pat indicated that only eight people have signed up so far and everyone should encourage others to participate in the golf tournament. We want to get a maximum number in the Golf Tournament so we can raise money for our charities. Those who plan to attend should contact Vince (fitzman56@gmail.com) so he can get an idea of the number attending. There will be a dinner after the tournament.

Calendar Events/Special Reports, Pete Hawkins: Pete distributed an update to the Calendar of Events. There is an error on the calendar: the start time for the Golf Tournament is 8 AM, not 8 PM. He led the discussion on calendar events that follows:

The Father Kelley Division Annual Picnic is scheduled for this Saturday, 14 May. We’ll set up at 1:30 and we can stay until 7:00 PM. We put out a flyer on this. The location is the Pavilion on the Occoquan River at the end of Split Rail Drive. A map showing the location is provided on the flyer. AOH will provide beverages and burgers, etc., but bring appetizers and condiments.  If we have any bad weather the Pavilion is large enough to accommodate those who attend. There is a grassy area so you can bring lawn games. There is a road cleanup at Knight’s Hall Saturday morning at 8:00 AM before the picnic. Rick Ring is the lead on that.

Wine & Beer Tasting event is on 5 June. It is at the Winery at Sunshine Ridge. A flyer was put out on this. The J&A Duo will play there. Please RSVP to Bill Yochem by 26 May billyochem@verizon.net.

The McGraph-Morgan Feis will be deleted from the calendar.

Shamrock Degree The Shamrock Degree will be conducted in August and we’ll try do this at Holy Trinity.

Division Meetings: Since many people are on vacation in July, a motion was made to cancel the 11 July Father Kelley Division meeting, and it was seconded, and the members voted to approve the cancellation. The Officers Meeting (moved to 11 July) will be used to discuss actions and prepare for the National Convention (13-17 July). This means that receipts from the picnic and other items need to be addressed at the June 13 Division meeting since there is no July Division meeting.

Special Committees:

Catholic Action, Father Edouard Guilloux: No Report.

Charities and Missions, Greg Rebbert: Greg has the lead in developing a new cookbook. He is looking for a small cookbook that can be produced at low cost. Discussion indicated that we should be able to get several dollars of profit for each copy and bring money in for our charities.

Freedom for all Ireland, Dominic Preston: No Report.

Report on the Standing Committee/Grievance, Doug Morrison: No Report.

Historian, Mike Eggleston: Mike provided a report on The Irish Brigade at Gettysburg.

Hunger Project, Bart Emanuel: No Report.

Immigration, Rick Ring: Rick described the Title 42 Expulsion at the Border  issue.

Project St. Patrick, Rich Aleksy: No Report

Publicity/Webmaster, Brian Tumulty: No Report.

Report on the Sick/Visitation, Bill Yochem: No new Sick/Visitations, but Bill reminded all that Mike McManus had surgery to remove his left big toe.

  Strategic Planner, Mike Riley: Participation in the National call on considering a membership change to include women can be viewed as strategic. Membership stagnation is the reason for this current discussion. Yet our Division was lauded as having grown over the last several years. We should look at how to get more of our members engaged.

Mike Riley suggested that he put together a note that Pat Sullivan can send out to the members asking people to comment on this and have a dialogue at a future meeting. Pat indicated that this has been discussed at officer meetings. We should be seeking to increase membership in order to increase resources for social and business activities. The note Mike Riley proposes to send out to the division may help us do that.

          Veteran’s Affairs, Doug Morrison: Doug provide his report on Veteran’s Affairs.

Bills and Claims, Rich Aleksy:  Rich reported income of $1,128.47 from the Fish Fry and $9.00 from the 50/50 Raffle. One voucher (22-013) was submitted for the Ireland trip for $3,500. We still have four brothers whose dues are in arrears. This was discussed and it was noted that two of the four no longer wish to be Hibernians. JP McCusker made the point that if these two people wish to leave, we should accommodate them.

Report of the Treasurer, Rick Ring provided the Report of the Treasurer.

Unfinished business: None.

New Business: Brian Tumulty opened the discussion suggesting that at the June meeting we should take a vote on the “Men Only” clause and that he believes that we should allow women to join the AOH. It was agreed that a vote would be taken in June. It was noted that additional Zoom meetings will be conducted that provide more information about that “Men Only” clause before our June meeting. This will help us in our deliberations.

Reimbursement of delegates was discussed. State conventions are on odd years and National Conventions are on even years. The only thing in our by-laws is that the treasurer will set aside $2 per member for the state convention each year. The only thing looked at in the past was state registration fees, but National convention costs can be researched. It was proposed that the registration of $210 and room cost of $588 for four nights be paid for one delegate to the National Convention. The motion was seconded and discussion followed. Rich Aleksy pointed out that these expenses have not been reimbursed in the past. It was mentioned that since we made over a thousand dollars at the Fish Fry, we out to be able to reimburse some expenses. A compromise would be to reimburse the National registration fee, only. An alternative would be to carry the entire cost of $798 as a budget deficit. The members voted that reimbursement would be researched by the treasurer and that the reimbursement issue would be tabled until the June Division meeting.

Good of the order: Prayer requests: Chris Sozio asked for prayers for his dad who will undergo hip surgery.

Adjourned: The President closed the meeting with a prayer to St. Jude and for vocations. He cautioned the brothers against speaking of anything that transpired at this meeting. The President noted that the next Division Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 13 June. The President made a motion to adjourn. It was seconded and approved by those present. The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM.