VIRGINIA AOH NEWSLETTER
Spring, 2008
Next state meeting:
Saturday, April 5, 2008, at 10:00 am Sharp
St. Paul's Church
909 Rennie Ave, Richmond, VA
DIRECTIONS
Coming
from East of Richmond:
Take Interstate 64 (I-64) Exit 76-A for Chamberlayne Ave
Turn Right at Chamberlayne Ave/Chamberlayne Pkwy
Continue to follow Chamberlayne Ave (1.7 miles)
Turn Right at Rennie Ave.
Coming from North of Richmond:
Take Interstate 95 (I-95) Exit 82 for US-301/Chamberlayne Ave (Go 0.3 miles)
Merge on to Chamberlayne Rd/US-301- South (Go 2.7
miles)
Turn Left at Rennie Ave.
Coming from West of Richmond:
Take Interstate 64 (I-64) Exit 78 toward Boulevard (Go 0.3 miles)
Turn Left at N Blvd/VA-161 (0.1 miles)
Turn Right at Brookland Pkwy (0.8 miles)
Continue on W Brookland Park Blvd (0.2 miles)
Turn Left at Chamberlayne Ave/US-1 N/US-301 N (0.2 miles)
Turn Right at Rennie Ave.
This is the Spring, 2008, Virginia AOH
Newsletter, the third edition of our State Newsletter.
Too many officers are submitting claptrap for their contributions.
They are simply photocopying articles, speeches, definitions, proclamations,
etc. for their contributions. This is NOT acceptable and will no longer be
tolerated. An officer who respects his fellow Virginia AOH members AND respects
the integrity of this publication will take the time to compose an original
contribution. Fortunately many officers do have this respect and put great
effort into their contributions. In the future your photocopies shall only be
permitted if said copying represents a maximum of forty-five per cent (45%) of
your submission.
As always, if you have suggestions as to topics you would like to see covered,
please let me know. Also, please give me your feedback, good and
bad, about the Newsletter. We publish four times a year. I am
gratified by the increase in the number of submissions and the quality of the
original submissions.
THE LADS: A group of
Northern Virginia AOH members (All AOH members are welcome.) meets every
Wednesday, rain or shine, for lunch. The group usually meets at Kate’s Irish
pub & restaurant, Springfield, Virginia, at 12 Noon. Please call Mike
Tivnan (703)494-4779 or Joe Boyle (703)646-5576 to make sure the venue has not
changed as The Lads takes trips occasionally.
All Virginia AOH Newsletters are archived at http://www.aohvirginianewsletter.com
Ed
Moran, Editor
HOME:
(703) 820-2854
FAX:
(212) 214-0427
EMAIL:
kerryman@att.net
|
1.
CHAPLAIN 2.
PRESIDENT 3.
VICE-PRESIDENT 4.
SECRETARY 5.
TREASURER 6.
PAST
PRESIDENT 7.
PARLIAMENTARIAN 8.
INSURANCE
ADVISOR 9.
CHARITIES
AND MISSIONS 10.
ORGANIZER 11.
PRO-LIFE 12.
HISTORIAN 13.
CATHOLIC ACTION 14.
FREEDOM FOR ALL
IRELAND 15.
POLITICAL
EDUCATION 16.
IMMIGRATION 17.
BUY IRISH 18.
IRISH AWARENESS 19.
FINANCE 20.
HIBERNIAN OF
THE YEAR |
21.
NEWSLETTER
EDITOR/PUBLICITY 22.
CONVENTION
CHAIR 23.
WEBMASTER 24.
DEGREES AND
CEREMONIALS 25.
VETERANS
AFFAIRS 26.
FAIRFAX COUNTY
BOARD 27.
PRINCE WILLIAM
COUNTY BOARD 28.
COLONEL JOHN
FITZGERALD DIVISION (ARLINGTON) 29.
MSGR. BRADICAN
DIVISION (ANNANDALE) 30.
FATHER WILLIAM
CORBY DIVISION (FAIRFAX) 31.
LT. COLONEL
JOHN A. DOWD USMC
DIVISION (WOODBRIDGE) 32.
FATHER EDWIN
KELLEY DIVISION (MANASSAS) 33.
GEN. THOMAS
MEAGHER DIVISION (FREDERICKSBURG) 34.
COLONEL THOMAS
CUNNINGHAM, JR. DIVISION (ASHBURN) 35.
FATHER JOHN
MUNLEY DIVISION (WINCHESTER) 36.
MAJOR JAMES H.
DOOLEY DIVISION (RICHMOND) 37.
JOHN CARDINAL
O’CONNOR DIVISION (WILLIAMSBURG) 38.
ST. PATRICK
DIVISION (TIDEWATER) 39.
FATHER JOHN
LYNCH DIVISION (ROANOKE) |
1.
S T A T
E C H A P L A I N
Rev. George E. Zahn
St. Paul’s Church
909 Rennie Avenue
Richmond, VA 23227-4808
(804) 329-0473
Dear Hibernians,
We celebrate our Irish heritage this month with pride and
thanksgiving. For what, then, are we praying? We ask God through the
intercession of St. Patrick to grant us the fullness of life in Christ.
With the Lord Jesus' help, we must try to give witness to
our beliefs in everyday life. May the Risen Christ grant you and yours
peace now and always.
Sincerely,
Fr. George E. Zahn
2. S T A T E P R E S I D E N T
Pat
Naughton
(804)
360-2969
At my
last Division meeting one of the newer members asked, “What does it mean to be
Hibernian?” He had been asked this question by a lady and wasn’t quite sure how
to reply. Hibernia is the Latin word for Ireland. The spelling “Hibernia” was
likely influenced by the unrelated Latin word hibernus meaning "wintry." The Ancient Order of
Hibernians is part of the history of Ireland from 1331B.C. The men who formed
the Hibernian militia were defenders of the faith and fatherland.
What does it mean to be a
Hibernian in the 21st century? First and foremost we are men who treasurer the
Catholic faith. Even under persecution for their beliefs the Irish people never
gave up their Catholic faith. The Ancient Order of Hibernians has been the
protector of clergy and churches in Ireland and America. We are the oldest lay
organization in America.
Secondly, like our Hibernian
forefathers, we have a strong love for the Irish people and culture. The Order
helped Irish immigrants assimilate in America.
The AOH organized meeting halls, insurance programs, and cultural events
to foster an Irish culture in their new homeland. This St. Patrick’s season be proud of you
Order and invite others to become a part of this special organization.
The positions of Immigration,
Political Education, and Freedom for all Ireland are still open. I would like
to fill these positions with someone who will work for you to keep you informed
of issues in these areas. It is better to have a vacant spot than it is to have
a name without a worker behind it.
Please consider taking an active role in State Board and notify me.
I look forward to seeing many
of you during this St. Patrick’s season and the next state meeting. You don’t
have to be an officer to attend the State meeting. This is great opportunity to
meet other great Hibernians and learn a little bit.
In Friendship, Unity, and
Christian Charity,
Pat Naughton
3. V I C E—P R E S I D E N T
Rich
Aleksy
(703)
369-3189
Irish-American
Heritage Month, 2008, by the President of the United States
A Proclamation
Since
the earliest days of our Republic, Irish Americans have enriched
our culture with their faith, values, and hard work. During the month of
March, we celebrate the contributions of Americans who trace their ancestry
back
to Ireland's shores.
Many of the sons and daughters of Erin came to America fleeing famine and
poverty. They came with dreams of
opportunity, and they helped to build our
Democracy and advance the cause of Liberty.
Irish Americans in all walks
of life have made lasting contributions to our Nation, and we honor the service
of Irish Americans in America's Armed Forces.
Throughout our history, those
claiming Irish ancestry have helped shape and strengthen America, including
as signers of the Declaration of Independence and as Presidents of the United
States.
This
month, we celebrate the patriotic and proud people who originated from
the
Emerald Isle and who played a vital role in the story of this Nation of
Immigrants.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws
of
the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2008 as Irish-American
Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans
to observe this month by celebrating
the
contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day
of
February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirty-second.
George W. Bush
4. S E C R E T A R Y
Chuck
Curran
Brothers –
As we approach the April Quarterly State Meeting, I have still not received the
Form 9 and rosters from all Virginia Divisions. Please forward copies of
these to me as soon as possible either by e-mail to irl4fr@aol.com or by regular mail to 6537
Novak Woods Court, Burke, Virginia 22015. These documents will allow the
State Board to be in touch with the Divisions and their members on matters of
importance in a timely fashion. Your cooperation in this regard is
greatly appreciated!
A notice announcing the April 5, 2008, State Board Meeting to be held at St.
Paul’s Church Center in Richmond was recently sent out. Please come if
you can. This Meeting is open to all members of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians in good standing
The National Biennial
Convention of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc. will be held in
New Orleans, Louisiana from July 23-26, 2008. It is not too late to make
reservations. Please see the National AOH website at www.aoh.com. Come on down and join
the fun. I would ask all Divisions to advise me of the names of their
delegates that will be attending the Convention. Remember that our own
Brian Boru Major Degree Team will present the Tower Degree of the Order at the
Convention on July 24, 2008. Come support the team!
The Brian Boru Major Degree
Team will also present the Tower Degree of the Order on Sunday, April 20, 2008,
at Ascension Catholic Church on Lanham Severn Road. Candidates
should report at Noon. The Degree will be underway by 1:00 pm. This
is a great opportunity for those who have not yet taken our Major Degree.
In Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,
Chuck
Curran, State Secretary
5. T R E A S U R E R
Joe
McCarthy
(540)
888-3664
I
would like to have all Per Capita and Initiations paid up by our next meeting.
Liability Insurance will be coming on the heels of that.
$2
X members subject to per capita (line 16 of form 11)
$1.50
X number of members initiated in 2007
6. P A S T P R E S I D E N T
Dan
Brennan
(757)
471-7274
Brothers, I hope this finds all of you doing well.
Some brothers and their families are in need of prayers. I would like to report
that Father Ed Richardson, chaplain and Past President of St. Patrick Division
in Virginia Beach is in the hospital with pneumonia and is in need of prayers.
The latest report is that Father is slowly improving but that he has a long
road to full recovery.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, like many other
organizations, is getting older. We need to bring in new and younger members to
continue our works. This not only brings in younger members who can help in our
efforts to spread and encourage our Irish heritage but it also brings in new
ideas. To be an effective organization we need members and ideas. Ask your
friends who are Irish and Catholic to join us.
I hope all of you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day.
If there was a parade and your division marched I hope you were there. I hope
that all of you supported your Division if they had a function to honor St.
Patrick Be proud of your Irish heritage not only on our patron saints feast day
but each and every day of your life.
Just remember there are only two kinds of people: those who are Irish and those who wish they
were.
7. P A R L I A M E N T A R I A N
Arthur
Grimley
(703) 971-6831
Parliamentary procedure is the best
method designed to enable a group of any size to efficiently arrive at a
general conclusion on a number of questions. It is a process that allows
for the expression of every members opinion while maintaining order during
discussion.
We all have the basis in making a motion, i.e., "I move ---". What we
often forget is that old and new business is not a time to rise to chat about
something. There must be a motion with a
second before discussion can begin.
How about amending the motion! Not to
get to specific, amendments can be made to insert or add, to strike out, a
combination of the first two or to substitute.
There are primary amendments and secondary amendments. The primary amendment
must be germane to the main motion, i.e., it must have a direct bearing on the
subject matter of the motion which it proposes to modify. A secondary amendment
is an amendment to the primary amendment and must also be germane. One cannot
amend a question equivalent to a rejection of the original motion. This attempt
would be ruled out of order by the chair. We will talk more about types
of amendments in the future, but for now "That's all folks".
8. I N S U R A N C E A D V I S O R
Dave
Zerby
(540)
374-1982
I submitted paperwork for a quote the early part of
January. The request was sent to a good insurance company,
"Scottsdale Insurance," owned by Nationwide. They kept coming
back asking for more input. I finally received the quote on the 28th of
February. It was for $4,244.63. You could have pushed me over with
a feather. Approximately $2,200 more than last year! Needless to
say I got back on the horn and asked what’s going on? Well to make a long
story short, I was told this year was different. I did finally get a credit of 10% ($400.00)
which reduced the premium down to $3,820.17. I then e-mailed facts to Pat
Naughton , laid out the facts, and asked
for his ideas, telling him I would do whatever he said, but in the past I had
always just gone ahead and renewed the policy each year. I also said I
felt I could get the agency to kick in some help also, but it wasn't up to me
anymore to make that call. He said he trusted my judgment to do what
seemed best for the Virginia AOH. The Agency Principal agreed to give up 50%
of the commission. This amounted to approximately $190.00.
Therefore, the bill to the AOH is for $3,850.07. The credit is based on a
premium of $4,000.00, the rest being fees and taxes. I told Pat after he
said go ahead that I felt we would receive some flack at the April State
Meeting. The original premium was based on a charge of $5.00 per person
and counting the ladies with the men we have a figure of 800 bodies. This still
comes to $4.75 per person, however. The only thing that we could do is look for
a cheaper premium but in today's financial situation I just don't know; but if
anybody wants to take it upon himself to try or has a buddy in the insurance
business that wants to try, he has my blessing.
9. C H A R I T I E S A N D M I S S I O N S
NO
REPORT. (Chairman position open)
10. O R G A N I Z E R
Rich
Aleksy
(703)
369-3189
What is the Ancient
Order of Hibernians in America?
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a Catholic, Irish
American Fraternal Organization
founded
in New York City May 4, 1836. The Order
can trace its roots back to a parent
organization,
of the same name, which has existed in Ireland for over 300 Years.
Active
across the United States, the Order seeks to aid the newly arrived Irish, both
socially and politically. Many Divisions
and club facilities located throughout the U.S.
traditionally have been among the first to welcome new Irish Americans. Here, the Irish
culture, art, dance, music, and sports are fostered and preserved.
You may further seek admittance to the FINEST Irish Catholic Organization in
the
World - all we would ask is for you to live our motto of:
"Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity"
11.
P R O—L I F E
Larry
O'Brien
(703)
978-5651
Who Are Those Guys?
People in wheelchairs, on crutches, and others using prosthetic
devices, fragile individuals, young and old, showed up for the annual Pro-Life
Rally and March for Life on January 22. The Knights of Columbus, various
church and fraternal groups, and others all showed up in great numbers.
AOH members from various States reported to the rally and march, but
unfortunately AOH participation generally was disappointingly low in
numbers. Even more disappointing was that our Virginia organization had
two members show up--Brother Ed Moran and this scribe. Someone shouted
out during the march, “Where is the Virginia AOH?” Those words should
echo between now and our next annual march. If we as the AOH at next
year’s Pro Life Rally and March have a similar turnout, profound questions will
arise about how committed each of us is to Pro Life, as well as how committed
the AOH is to Pro Life. Whether we are motivated by Irish conscience or
Catholic guilt, words mean very little unless they are buttressed by
actions. If we as the AOH cannot stand up for aborted babies, what do we
represent? Christmas and St. Patrick Day parties? Remember the twin
questions: if not now, when? If not us, who?
In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, according to L. Brent Bozell in The Washington
Times, 10-28-07, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America performed a
record 264,943 abortions, reported a profit of $55.8 million, and received a
record high in taxpayer funding of $305.3 million. The profit, in this
writer’s opinion, incidentally, is literally blood money. Bozell noted
that Planned Parenthood elected to build the largest abortion clinic in the
country at Aurora, IL, but it lied by omission. It applied for permits by
listing the owner as “Gemini Office Development,” not as Planned
Parenthood. With the cover of ABC News, the reporter Barbara Pinto said
the blame should not be cast on Planned Parenthood but on Aurora’s officials
for being dimwitted, and added the clinic’s neighbors wished pro-lifers would
stop protesting: “I just wish they’d go home. I’m tired of seeing
signs.” In Johnson County, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, District
Attorney Phil Kline filed 107 charges against Planned Parenthood, charging that
its clinic in Overland Park performed unlawful late-term abortions. The
23 felony counts allege that Planned Parenthood submitted false “pregnancy
termination reports” to a court on 8-21-07, in response to a subpoena. As
Bozell reported, ABC’s Emily Friedman suggested Mr. Kline was either an
agenda-driven prosecutor operating outside the law or one of the best friends
the anti-abortion rights movement has ever had. Friedman demonized Kline
and lionized Dr. George Tiller, the champion of hideous third-trimester
abortions. Women received abortions at Dr. Tiller’s clinics when they
were at 22 weeks’ gestation or later, from 2003-2008. Fortunately, a
Kansas judge ruled on January 30, 2008, that the abortion facility must turn
over hundreds of medical records to a grand jury.
If this does not make one’s blood boil and make us want to join our pro-life
movement, I do not know what will. Think about the repulsive pictures of
butchered babies and how we as AOH members can positively channel energy and
disgust into attracting and retaining members by involving ourselves
considerably more in the pro-life movement. Conversely, consider how you
appear to prospective new members by being passive toward the pro-life
movement. This does not even take into account the compelling and graphic
depictions of the various stages of fetuses—human life—that were barbarically
removed from their mothers’ wombs.
It is not just the Pro-Life March. We also meet as a pro-life group,
generally the last Saturday of each month at 8 AM at the Pro-Life Mass at St.
Rita’s. This is immediately followed by praying the complete rosary (all
20 mysteries) near an abortion facility on Duke Street. If you have any
questions, need directions, or can offer input about pro-life activities that
you are involved in, call or email me (home 703-978-5651 or obrienclu@cox.net ). So far I have
received no input from members about pro-life activities.
The recurring question in various forms is what impact does it have on
prospective members, especially younger ones, whose time is already stretched
to the breaking point by family obligations? How do we stop the Planned
Parenthood killing machine—264,843 abortions, the adverse physical and
psychological effect on aborting mothers and fathers, and the path of destruction
abortion creates? The answer for now is to stop one abortion at a
time. With our help, the help of brother Hibernians, and others we bring
into the Pro-Life movement, we can make a difference. Status quo is not
an option. We remember the scenes in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid,” when Redford and Newman continuously ask each other, “Who are those
guys?” When the question is raised in the future—who are those AOH
pro-life guys who are not just talking, but are active? We should be
those guys.
Saint Rita's Catholic Church is at:
3815
Russell Road
Alexandria VA
(703)836-1640
Schedule of
Pro-Life Number of
Virginia Hibernians
Masses at
Saint Rita's in
Attendance
1.)Saturday, 22 September,
2007 2
2.)Saturday, 27 October,
2007
2
3.)Saturday, 24 November,
2007
2
4.)Saturday, 22 December,
2007
2
5.)Saturday, 26 January,
2008
2
6.)Saturday, 23 February,
2008
2
7.)Saturday, 29 March,
2008
? Will you be there?
8.)Saturday, 26 April,
2008 ? Will you be there?
9.)Saturday, 24 May,
2008 ? Will you be there?
10.)Saturday, 28 June,
2008
? Will you be there?
11.)Saturday, 26 July,
2008
? Will you be there?
12.)Saturday, 23 August, 2008 ? Will you be there?
13.)Saturday, 27 September, 200
?
Will you be there?
14.)Saturday, 25 October, 2008
?
Will you be there?
15.)Saturday, 22 November,
2008 ? Will you be there?
16.)Saturday, 27 December,
2008 ?
Will you be there?
12.H I S T O R I A N
Bruce Denault
(540) 446-9123
|
Biographies
of our namesakes continue with the biography of Colonel Thomas J. Cunningham,
the patron of Virginia’s largest Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernian. |
|
Col. Thomas J. Cunningham |
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