This meeting included yet another time-consuming rehash of the ongoing debate over which night the division should meet. Historian Mike Eggleston was not recognized to deliver his report.
This document summarizes the monthly meeting of the Father Kelley Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians held on video via Zoom and in person at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus in Manassas.
14 members were in the hall and 1 were online for a total of 15 members which is 20% of 76 and qualifies as a quorum.
Meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by the Division Vice President Patrick Sullivan. President Tom Masarick arrived near the end of the meeting.
Recitation of the opening prayer & Pledge of Allegiance:
Our Father x
Hail Mary x
St. Michael the Archangel was omitted from the prayers.
Glory Be x
Pledge of Allegiance x
Roll call of Officers for Fraternal Year 2021:
Position Name Present/Absent/Excused
President Tom Masarick E
Vice President Patrick Sullivan P
Chaplain Fr. Ed Guilloux E
Recording Secretary Brian Tumulty P
Financial Secretary Richard Aleksy P
Treasurer Richard Ring P
Standing Committee Pete Hawkins P
Marshall Mike Curry P
Sentinel Dan O’Leary P
Immediate Past President John Masarick E
Reading of minutes from previous meeting: Approved unanimously the minutes from the May meeting.
Fix spelling of Father Kelley and Aleksy as chairman of the bylaws committee.
President’s Report:
Tom Masarick was not present to deliver the report, but he submitted this in advance of the meeting:
Today is election day in Virginia in support of the primaries and today I am serving as Precinct Chief in Prince William County. I have done this type of work for the past 20 plus years as do many Americans. I encourage all to vote and support the election process. If you don’t vote you get to live with others good and bad decisions. I appreciate our Vice President, Pat Sullivan filling in for me in my absence.
Road Clean-up: Once again, I’d like to thank Past President Rich Ring and his troops for our second road clean-up this year. Stonewall Road looks great thanks to Rick Ring, Pat Sullivan, Mike Curry, Pete Hawkins and Tom Masarick. This is a great project with visibility to the public.
AOH By-Laws: I would like to remind everyone that at our last meeting the Worthy Financial Secretary and By-Law Committee Chairman Rich Aleksy’s bylaws were passed and are to be reviewed and possibly amended in our September meeting. Our meeting this week is the second Tuesday of the month, as per the By-laws. In the past we meet on the second Monday or the Tuesday following the second Monday.
McGrath Feis: Please listen to Greg’s report. I encourage everyone to help and support us on our assignment (about 3 hours of cleaning up after the event on June 13th). I plan to be there and lend a hand.
Recruitment/Retention: Brothers I am working on bringing in some new members and I would appreciate if you would look around and invite some Catholic men of Irish descent, we need to continue to invite new members to support us with our activities.
Reading of communications and correspondence: call for the convention and a separate communication from the state president on the next state meeting on June 17
Introduction on new candidates: None to report.
Chaplain’s Report: No report
Report of the committee on the sick: Pete Hawkins said two cards were sent out last month to Ron Farrah on the death of his spouse, Joanna, and a second card for him also.
Report on the Standing Committee: Pete Hawkins — No Report
Events/ calendar: report by Pete Hawkins:
May – June:
Road Clean-up: 22 May (Rick R.)
AOH Bingo Kitchen: 06 June (Team 2) (Pete H.)
McGrath Feis: 12-13 June (Greg R.) We have been asked to clean up on Sunday night.
Division Picnic: 26 June around 2 pm at Pat Sullivan’s house; he plans on doing burgers, brats; he asked people to bring side dishes; 18 to 20 are already signed up (VP Pat. S.)
Quarterly State Meeting: 17 June 10 (via Zoom)
Military Museum Visit (John Masarick)
July:
10 July at 5:30 pm — Fr. Kelley Mass at All Saints (JP)
12 July — AOH Officers Meeting in the Clubroom (Tom M)
13 July — Division Meeting in the Knights Hall (Tom M)
Road Clean-up delayed until August 28 (Rick R.)
August:
7 August — Our Lady of Knock Mass & Corporate Communion (JP)
10 August — Division Meeting: August 10 (Tom M)
14 August – visits to St. John Paul Shrine (Tom M)
20-22 August — Bi-Annual State Convention in Richmond suburb of Glen Allen
28 August – Road cleanup (Rick R.)
TBD — Gettysburg Trip (Rick R.)
TBD – wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery (Brian T.)
TBD — Beer Tasting fundraiser (Dan O’Leary)
Freedom for All Ireland: Dominic Preston – no report
Historian: Mike Eggleston was in the Knights Hall, but he was not asked to deliver his report on the Battle for Bogside in Derry in August 1969
Immigration: Richard Ring –
My report is on an Irish woman once called the most dangerous woman in America.
Her name was Mary Harris Jones who also was called the mother of all agitators.
Born in Cork City, Ireland on May 1, 1837, she fled Ireland with her family to Canada to escape the Great Hunger.
In 1861, she married George Jones, an iron molder and union organizer in Memphis, Tennessee. They had four children, but she lost all four and her husband in 1867 to the yellow fever epidemic.
The now widowed Mrs. Jones moved to Chicago, where she worked as a dressmaker until her dress shop was destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871.
After this second heartbreak and setback, this courageous Irish lady took a job as an organizer for the Knights of Labor and United Mine Workers Union in 1897.
Her success in organizing mine workers and their families was phenomenal.
This petite, white haired, grandmotherly looking lady was a radical labor organizer. When she was called the grandmother of all age agitators by a local politician, she replied, “I hope to live long enough to be the great grandmother of all agitators.”
She also organized strikers’ wives, because she felt if the wife didn’t share the husband’s beliefs, he wouldn’t stay committed for long. In 1902, she was arrested for ignoring in West Virginia for ignoring an injunction banning meetings by striking miners. The district attorney said at a trial there sits the most dangerous woman in America. She snaps her finger and 20,000 workers lay down. According to Clarence Darrow, she was one of the most forceful and picturesque figures of the American labor movement.
Famous quote: “My address is on the sole of my shoes. It travels with me.”
Rick also told several other stories about Mother Jones, including the children’s crusade she led with a march from Philadelphia to President Teddy Roosevelt’s summer home at Oyster Bay Long Island. The march took several weeks and in every town along the way, Mother Jones was ready with the speech telling the public that she was on her way to let the president hear the wail of the children who were being exploited in the workplace.
Teddy Roosevelt refused to see her, but she got her publicity.
Child labor laws soon followed.
Trip to Ireland: It is unknown whether the winner from last year will be taking the trip this year.
St Patrick’s Day Parade and Halfway to Patrick’s Day: Vince Fitzpatrick said the halfway to St. Patrick’s Day parade is scheduled for Sept. 18
Pro – Life: Mike McManus– absent — no report
Political Education: Vince Fitzpatrick
Veteran Affairs: Doug Morrison– absent – no report
Strategic Planning: Mike Riley –no report
Webmaster: Brian Tumulty – no report
Hibernian Hunger Project: Bart Emanuel – absent — no report
Charities: Rich Aleksy the division should be notified if there are new charities proposed like we were about Biking for Babies.
Project St. Patrick: Rich Aleksy
Club Room: Tom Masarick — absent
Auditors Report: Vince Fitzpatrick – the auditors meeting is scheduled
Bills and Claims: Financial SecretaryRich Aleksy
$55.55 for a replacement charter
$32.30 for road cleanup
Receipts of the Meeting (Income): Financial Secretary Rich Aleksy
none
Report of the Treasurer: Richard Ring
Starting balance for May 2021 = $22,405.85
April 2021 Deposits (income) = $82.00 bingo kitchen
April 2021 expense = $200.00
Ending monthly balance for May 2021 = $22,487.85
Uncashed checks none
Bank register is reconciled.
Updated June 1, 2021
Unfinished business:
Rich Aleksy said we approved the bylaws at our last meeting but there were some items we will look at in September involving the date, clergy and proxy voting.
He will have printed of the bylaws at the next meeting.
Aleksy encouraged us to have a meeting in July and not cancel.
New Business:
Mike Curry said the Knights have a schedule for the AOH to work the bingo kitchen first Sunday of every month; Rich Aleksy said it is a way to bring in regular income.
Rick Ring said we get $1,200 a year; It four hours for several members; it’s about the time commitment.
Dan O’Leary said we would be better doing one fundraiser.
Pete said it is a social event.
Rich Aleksy made a motion and Brian seconded it to continue the bingo kitchen.
Pete said you can run it with a team of three.
8 to 5 passed to continue bingo kitchen until December.
Next was a discussion on the date of the meetings and the bylaws.
Tom Masarick, a late arrival to the meeting, said he has reserved the big room through September.
Rich Aleksy made a motion to meet in July that was seconded by Tom Masarick.
Vote was 7 to 7 on meeting in July. The tie vote means the division will hold a July meeting as previously scheduled.
Dan O’Leary talked about brotherhood and said the division has lost track of its motto. Dan said this has been a disappointing year in his eyes.
Good of the order:
Tom Masarick for prayers for Joe Cahill
End at 8:33 pm
