Robert Flaherty

Bill Powers

Robert Loughery

John Hyland

MARCH 2008

It's hard to believe that we are into the second month of 2008. The last three months have
been very busy in District #1.

I had the honor of attending the installations of all divisions in the District. They were
very well attended by other divisions and a good time was had by all. As brothers, we need
to show support for each other.

On Dec. 8th I opened the meeting of the Capital District Council at the Watervliet division
hall.
After our regular meeting there was a seminar. The things covered were an overview of all
AOH National forms and how to complete them, recruiting and motivating existing members,
and information on state grants and programs. The seminar was well attended and many
divisions were represented. The seminar was conducted jointly by AOH National Secretary Tom
McNabb, AOH National Director Martin Kelly, NYS President Matt Nelligan and NYS Organizer
Liam McNabb. Also attending was NYS Publicity Chairman Brian Nelligan, NYS Deputy
Organizer Warren Scullin and myself, District #1 Director Robert Flaherty.

There were two state fundraisers at the Capital District Irish American Center. On Dec 14th
the Hair of the Dog performed and proceeds went to the FFAI Christmas Appeal and the
Hibernian Hunger project. On Feb. 1st Hair of the Dog and Greenwich Meantime performed with
all proceeds going to the Irish Heritage Museum and Project St. Patrick. They were both a
great success and a great time was had by all. Our hats are off to the organizers.

On Feb. 22nd Black 47 was at the Capital District Irish American Center. This was a
fundraiser held to benefit the Capital District Council.

Also on Feb. 1st; the Schenectady JFK Division Hall hosted the naturalization of citizens;
we finally had on Irish born person become a US Citizen.

On April 5th Auburn will be hosting the NYS AOH bowling tournament. If you are putting a
team together contact Pat Burns NYS Sports chairman at 315-252-0990. On April 6th the
Schenectady Degree team will be giving the Major Degrees in Syracuse. Also at the
Schenectady Hall, on Saturday, April 26th, there will be a state fundraiser for AOH members
going down to the National Convention. The tickets will be $20.00 at the door and there
will be several different local acts performing.

Bill Powers

The Western New York Irish are getting ready for the High Holy Day of March 17th. They will
start off with the Guinness Toast at the Buffalo Irish Center. AOH Div. 1 will be serving
the food. The next function that is noteworthy is the Wolf Tone’s concert to aid the Belfast
Relief Program, Feb. 25th at the Buffalo Irish Center.

As other divisions are getting ready for their parades and parties we wish them luck. The
Rochester parade is March 15th. The Buffalo parade is March 16th. The Niagara Falls party is
March 17th. Watch for plans for Lockport and Olean. (Sorry, I don’t have them at this
time)

Lawrence Shine, an AOH member and a James Joyce expert, presented a program on the James
Joyce Poetry/ Rare Book collection at the University of Buffalo. The collection is the most
comprehensive collection of Joyce in the world. It includes 11,000 pages of manuscript of
“Ulysses”. Shine hopes to make this a major attraction for scholars around the world.

Save June 16th for the Bloomsday Celebration in Buffalo. District 2 has applied for a grant
to advertise in our Diocesan paper that covers all of our divisions except Rochester.
 

For the past District report's, go to the HOME page and click on the newsletter.

Robert Loughery

District #3 is doing well. I was able to attend most of the installations; Matt and Brian
Nelligan and Ed Wallace were also in attendance and did the installing of the officers.
District 3 and I would like to congratulate Matt and his wife on the birth of their second
child.

Utica Division is growing. They gained four new members this month. They are working on
their “Irish Breakfast” which will take place on March 2nd from 9 till 12 with a hooly from
12 till 4. This is to benefit Project Children. For more information contact Nicholas Durr
at 315-793-3527.

Syracuse Division had a great attendance at their installation and Christmas dinner. I
attended one of their monthly meetings and watched as they swore in young new members. It is
great to see these young guys joining the AOH. Syracuse will be hosting the “Higher Degrees”
on Apr 6th, the time and place TBA. If you need the Higher Degrees this is your chance if
you live in central and “up” state New York for more in-formation contact Dan Case at
315-638-2285.

Auburn is doing great. They just gained six new members. They are busy now, during Lent,
with their Fish Dinners on Friday. Auburn will be hosting the Men’s AOH bowling tournament
on April 5 .A good time for all. There is more information on it in the Sports column from
Pat Burns.

Watertown Div is moving along. They are preparing for Water-town’s North Country Goes Green
Irish Festival on March 14 to 16 at the State Office building. They run a booth raffling off
a basket of Irish products and they run the coat check for the festival.

Fulton Division is preparing for their St. Patrick’s Day Party held on Sunday March 16th
from 2 till 7PM, for more information call Dan Mahaney at 315-564-5658. They are working on
their Dick McCann Scholarship in which they award two $250 scholarships to
local high school students. They are also planning to do their “Trip to Ireland Raffle” for
two.

Oswego is doing well. I was able to attend their installation. Their clubhouse is doing well
and is in a beautiful locale on the golf course. Like all the other divisions they are
getting ready for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

For the past District report's, go to the HOME page and click on the newsletter.

John Hyland

During the first quarter of this year, I have visited the three county boards and numerous
divisions within my district. I am finding it increasingly difficult to at-tend Division
meetings due to the fact that many are scheduled on the same nights.

Congratulations are in order to Brother Tommy Smyth, Division 4 New York County on being
chosen as the Grand Marshall of the 247th St. Patrick's Day parade on Fifth Avenue in New
York City. We would also like to congratulate James O'Farrell, Division 4 Bronx and Michael
Prunty, Division 4 New York County as being selected as aides to the Grand Mar-shall.

Division 1 Yonkers, Westchester County, has recently completed negotiations on a permanent
basis for two rooms at the Tara Circle. Eventually this will become their permanent home.
Job well done!

Division 12 New York County, I am pleased to report, is currently in the process of
reorganizing. I have also had the pleasure of installing their officers.

The Bronx County board is in the process of preparing for their annual Mass for the Unborn
to be held at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Westchester County, on Sunday, May 18th at
approximately 2PM in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. Reverend Brian McCarthy, Bronx County
Chaplain will celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Following there will be a short
procession to the statue of Rachel Crying for Her Children where a decade of the rosary will
be said and flowers placed. ALL ARE WELCOME.
I would like to wish all of our brothers and their families a Happy St. Patrick's Day.

For the past District report's, go to the HOME page and click on the newsletter.