Highlights include a unanimous vote to go back to meeting on the second Monday of each month beginning in December and the nomination of officers for 2022 who will be voted on Dec. 13. We also will have a potluck party at that meeting and accept coat donations that will go to Medical Missionaries.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by the Division at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus on Stonewall Road in Manassas by President Tom Masarick. There were 21 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 P
Standing Committee Pete Hawkins P
Marshall Mike Curry E
Sentinel Dan O’Leary E
Immediate Past President John Masarick P
Reading of minutes from previous meeting: Approved after an unsuccessful vote to amend.
President’s Report: Tom Masarick —
AOH recent accomplishments:
- Beer Tasting: On October 22nd we had another Beer Tasting fund raiser at Old Towne Sports Pub. The event was well attended; the beer from Ole Bust Head was good – – so congratulations to Pat and Dan.
- Irish Dinner with Irish Music: On October 15th we had our Irish Dinner with Irish music there were about 25 attendees. I want to thank Dave and Sue Riley for cooking the meal and for Dominic Preston for providing the entertainment. I hope this is repeated every year.
- Two Memorial Services for two AOH Brothers:
- William Joseph Cahill – Joe’s wife Sandy requested the chalice ceremony with honor guards at Joe casket. His viewing was only during the day so they could get ready for cremation.
- Fr. Lee performed the rite of Christian burial.
- RJ Burns blew the boatswain pipe in honor of Joe arriving and departing the Church.
- SKs Color Guard honored Joe arriving and departing the Church.
- The Navy performed service at Quantico – with SKs Color Guard standing at attention in the pouring rain.
- I have asked Pete Hawkins to organize an AOH Memorial service.
- Ron Farra – Memorial service was performed at the Benedictine Sisters Columbarium in Bristow; Va. Ron’s family wanted the Benedictine Sisters to sing as we walked to his grave site. Jerry Laffey played the bagpipes. Thanks to Pete Hawkins for coordinating AOH’s involvement.
- William Joseph Cahill – Joe’s wife Sandy requested the chalice ceremony with honor guards at Joe casket. His viewing was only during the day so they could get ready for cremation.
- State Meeting November 6th – Alexandria Va.
- Brian Kiernan has replaced Jay McCarthy as State President.
- State President Brian encouraged the Divisions to recite Irish history.
- Irish History: The Ancient order of Hibernians America’s oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization founded concurrently in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania and New York City in May 1836. The Order can trace its roots back to a series of similar societies that existed in Ireland for more than 300 Years. Today the AOH exists in America, Canada, Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland, however, while the organizations share a common thread, the American AOH is a separate and much larger organization.
Reading of communications and correspondence: none
Introduction on new candidates: Gregory Gibbons of Manassas accepted unanimously as a new member. He then entered from the hallway and took to oath.
Chaplain’s Report: No report
Report of the committee on the sick: Pete Hawkins reported on the funeral Mass for Joe Cahill at All Saints and the memorial service for Ron Fara at the monastery.
Report on the Standing Committee: Pete Hawkins reported on the grievance that had been filed by Dan O’Leary and the determination that it had no standing. In addition, it should have been filed with the secretary.
Events/ calendar: report by Pete Hawkins:
NOVEMBER
TBD – 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
Bingo kitchen: no report
Freedom for All Ireland: Dominic Preston – not present
Historian: Mike Eggleston – Bloody Sunday —
On the afternoon of 27 August 1979, a British Army convoy was on the move in County Down, Northern Ireland near the border with the Republic of Ireland. At nearly the same time Louis Mountbatten a member of the British royal family was preparing to go fishing. He and members of his family boarded the fishing boat Shadow V near his summer home, Classiebawn Castle, in County Sligo, Ireland.
As the convoy passed Narrow Water Castle the Provisional IRA detonated a large roadside bomb that destroyed the last lorry in the convoy instantly killing six members of 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. Two unarmed civilians heard the explosion in the Republic and approached the border to get a better view. British survivors reacted by firing across the border into Ireland. One of the two civilians was killed and the other was wounded. The convoy survivors radioed a request for assistance and a reaction force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel David Blair was quickly dispatched. As the reaction force arrived at the scene a second bomb was detonated killing 12 more British troops including Blair. While this was going on, Mountbatten left with his party, and they were only a few hundred yards from shore when the Provisional IRA detonated a bomb planted onboard. This killed Mountbatten and three other people on the Shadow V.
No members of the Provisional IRA were killed or wounded in these attacks. Two were arrested but later released since there was insufficient evidence of their involvement. The Provisional IRA stated that the attacks were in retaliation for 13 unarmed civilians killed by the Parachute Regiment in Derry, an attack in 1972 called Bloody Sunday. Graffiti quickly appeared in Republican areas: “13 gone and not forgotten. We got 18 and Mountbatten.”
Immigration: Richard Ring –
ARRANMORE, the idyllic island 5km off the coast of Co. Donegal, is looking for new residents to boost its population.
Its population has dropped to just 469 people by 2019 and the island had written open letters to the people of the United States and Australia, urging them to relocate there.
They’re being offered the chance to swap the hustle and bustle of big cities for the calm and beauty of Arranmore.
The island has undergone huge technological advancement and has become the recipient of Ireland’s very first offshore digital hub.
Not only are they offering new residents the chance of a delightful place to retire to, the community is trying to make the island a more attractive place for families and businesspeople who work remotely.
Ireland’s very first offshore digital hub
Arranmore now boasts of internet speeds that rival Dublin, London and New York City.
They list graphic designers, games developers, photographers, and app developers as just some of the professionals who have made successful careers while working on the island.
In their letter to the U.S., they said: “Your commute, no matter where you are, will only ever be five minutes. You’ll have the best diving in Ireland on your doorstep and seafood to rival the tastiest New England chowder.
“There are fewer people here than would fit in a couple of Amtrak carriages, but enough musicians and good Irish whiskey to keep the party going well into the night,” the letter continued.
The island is just five miles by three miles wide and is smattered with rocky cliffs, stretched beaches and sea caves.
Historically, traditional industries like farming and fishing have dominated the island, but they’re not enough to keep young people from leaving.
As a result, the population has been dropping rapidly for 30 years and the island is in danger of losing its structure.
The island is twinned with Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. In the 1800s, families evicted from Arranmore relocated to Beaver Island and most of the residents who live there today can trace their roots back to the Irish island.
It’s hoped that with the advent of high-speed internet, which has changed the professional landscape of the island, and by reaching out to the likes of America and Australia for residents, Arranmore can attract enough people to not only keep the island’s population up, but also to transform it into one of Ireland’s most attractive places to live.
Update:
“Due to recent media coverage in 2019, Arranmore have been overwhelmed with the level of interest in the island and becoming part of the community. They have received many requests and are updating their systems to cope.”
Trip to Ireland – as of tonight 336 tickets have been sold
There are also three church sales dates coming up in January, February and March.
St Patrick’s Day Parade – Vince – the Halfway to St Patrick’s Day Parade was well attended and everyone had a great time
Pro – Life: Mike McManus– absent
Political Education: Vince Fitzpatrick – no report
Veteran Affairs: Doug Morrison – In 2022 a new veterans’ care facility is opening in Vint Hill. This nursing home facility will have 128 beds. ( https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/veterans-care-centers/puller-veterans-care-center ). Another new proposed veterans’ facility recently broke ground in Fredericksburg, Va.
The Tomb of the Unknown opened in 1921; Afghanistan is the first war without anyone missing in action.
Strategic Planning: Mike Riley –
The plan that was presented earlier this year has accomplished some things. It has established how do we measure our success and how many people attended an event. Riley recommends that in the next year that we look at our strengths and weaknesses. We should come prepared in January for this discussion.
Webmaster: Brian Tumulty – no report
Hibernian Hunger Project: Bart Emanuel – not here – Tom said Bart is now looking at using Giant for a food drive.
Charities: Rich Aleksy –
AOH 2021 End Year Charity/ Donations:
Medical Missionaries (Dr. Irwin) $450.00
Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic
$ 450.00
AOH Project St. Patrick $450.00
American Cancer Society – Relay for Life
$ 450.00
House of Mercy $ 450.00
The Irish Cultural Center of Virginia, Inc.
$ 450.00
Tragedy Assistance Program Survivors
$ 450.00
Boyle School of Irish Dance $ 225.00
McGrath School of Irish Dance $ 225.00
TOTAL $ 4,050.00
Riley motion seconded by Doug Morrison
Unanimous vote.
Rich Aleksy added that we haven’t forgotten about food pantries
Project St. Patrick: Rich Aleksy — It is one of the charities we are donating to.
Club Room: Mike Curry –no report
Medical Missionaries – JP McCusker
Auditors Report: Vince Fitzpatrick – no report
Bills and Claims: Financial SecretaryRich Aleksy –
JP made a motion to reimburse Tom M. for the Irish dinner of $350; approved unanimously
21-019 Tom Masarick for the Irish dinner $191.12
21-020 Dave Riley for the Irish dinner $159.30
21-021 Rich Aleksy for Medical Missionaries $102.00
21-022 Manassas Anchor Club $500.00
21-023 Charitable donations for various organizations $4,050.00
21-033 Rick Ring for receipt book $29.65
Receipts of the Meeting (Income): Financial Secretary Rich Aleksy –
$100 — bingo kitchen
$40 — donation
$140 — military bracelets
$761.81 — beer tasting
$3,281 — Ireland trip raffle
$24 — dues
$10 — initiation fee
Total — $4,361.81
Report of the Treasurer: Richard Ring – Starting balance for October = $22,007.22
October income $345
October expenses $3,500.
Ending monthly balance for October 2021 = $18.852.22
Closing bank register balance $18,852.22
Date updated 4 November 2021 Rick Ring
Bank register is reconciled.
Unfinished business:
At our November meeting there was a motion by Brian Tumulty and seconded by Dan O’Leary and Bill to change our bylaws to return all our meetings to the second Monday of each month.
Tom Masarick said he moved the meeting to Tuesday earlier this year so as to get a better room for our meetings, but that ended when the grand knight recently reserved the Knights’ Hall for the scouts on Tuesdays.
Pat Sullivan said he has two proxies.
However, the proxies were unnecessary because the motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.
The second item of unfinished business involved the nominating committee, which is headed by John Masarick along with Dave Riley and Mike Eggleston.
John said Mike Eggleston stepped down because he is running for one of the offices.
Tom M. said he looks forward to working with the team next year.
JP proposed that members bring coats for donations to the next meeting. Dr. Irwin will take them.
Pat Sullivan said the beer tasting did well and made $761. It will be divided to the two organizations for a total of $839. when the $450 charity donations are included.
We also are selling bracelets nicely.
New Business:
The nominating committee presented its recommendation for candidates to serve as officers of the division in 2022.
The committee was chaired by immediate past president John Masarick along with David Riley and Vince Fitzpatrick.
Patrick Sullivan, our current vice president, was recommended to serve as president.
Daniel O’Leary, our current sentinel, was recommended to serve as vice president.
Michael Eggleston, our current historian, was recommended to serve as recording secretary.
Richard Aleksy was recommended to serve another term as financial secretary.
Richard Ring was recommended t serve another term as treasurer.
Douglas Morrison was recommended to serve as chair of the standing committee.
Greg Murray was recommended to serve as the marshal.
There was no recommendation for sentinel during the meeting, but a few minutes after we adjourned John Masarick added the name of Gregory Gibbons as a nomination. Gibbons had been unanimously approved for membership during the meeting.
The vote will be held at our December meeting.
Other new business:
Pete Hawkins presented the memorial service that has been adapted from a Marine ceremony by the Cunningham Division.
Tom M proposed a potluck for our December meeting
Good of the order:
JP requested prayers for Tom Hogan, a past state deputy
Chris thanked the AOH for support in the passing of his grandfather.
Brother Ed Kennedy was 94 when he recently passed away. His funeral Mass will be Monday
Agnes Aleksy broke her femur and was taken to Reston Hospital where surgery was successful on Oct. 28. She may come home on Sunday.
Prayers also were requested for the families of Joe Cahill, Ron Fara and Dan Hawkins, the brother of Pete Hawkins
Adjourned at 8:51 pm
