It has been three months since our last newsletter or division meeting, and I hope all are well and had a good Memorial Day weekend. Given the situation, we’ve gotten by on interim communications, but we thought it would be time to get out at least this interim version of a newsletter.
It has been a hard several months for our Division and for many in our area, but we hope and pray we are beyond the worst of it. While we have had our losses, most brothers and family who survived the coronavirus have now recovered. Many are now looking for a path to normalcy, and chances are, that is taking longer than anyone wants.
Left and right, our members have been stepping up, whether it be to get food to those stuck in quarantine or couldn’t shop for themselves, or just checking in on family, friends and neighbors. I’d especially like to thank a team of volunteers, working with Bill Young and a well-crafted cut of our roster, to make individual outreach, by email or phone, to a large portion of our membership.
Our Division 3 officers, along with Hibernian House officers and those division 3 members on the AOH County Board met virtually about a week ago to connect on current affairs, with a focus on how Division 3 could aid those in the greatest need. During the heart of the pandemic, we donated $650 of prepared meals to Good Samaritan, Nyack and Valley Hospitals for those ICU heroes who were taking care of our ill brothers and family members. Now, it was time to take care of those suffering the economic affects of the pandemic. We approved four separate donations of $500 to each of the American Legion Post 329 Relief Fund, and three local Catholic charity efforts (more details to come on that in near future).
The division may be taking in fewer charity dollars with the no golf outing, but we are still in a good financial position, and this is a time of incredible need. Even with the golf tournament canceled, on the day when the tournament would have occurred, Sean Walsh’s brother Jimmy donated 500 high quality surgical masks in the memory of Larry Cain for the use of those in need in the division and beyond. Shortly after that, Mike Lawler and Andy Nobel, grandson of longtime former Division 3 member Pat O’Leary donated another 500 masks in Pat’s name which we are now distributing through the other Rockland County AOH divisions. We thank Jimmy Walsh, Mike Lawler and Andy Nobel for their generous donations.
Another substantial accomplishment during the last several months was the successful completion of another scholarship campaign. We congratulate Kevin McNulty, Neil Cosgrove, Dermot Moore and the rest of the scholarship committee for conducting the process, including the written test –some tests taken under quarantine –under these most unusual conditions. Read the following articlewith details on our nine scholars. Good & Welfare –Please remember John Crilley, Larry Cronin and Gene Flood, all fighting various medical issues, in your prayers. Please also remember the eight members we have lost since March 15 –Jim Harding, Phil Sheridan, Larry Kaine, Dan O’Keefe, Rich Lenihan, John Gannon, Warren Hennessey and George Leahy. Also, note that last week was EMS week –our first responders and medical professionals deserve all the prayers we can muster. And finally, coming off Memorial Day,even with all going on, let’s not forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and us, and remember all still serving.
Yours in Friendship,Unity and Christian Charity,
Chuck Parnow