President's Message
Cead Mile Failte! The AOH is the oldest Catholic Irish-American fraternal organization in America, dedicated to the principles of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity. The Milwaukee Division has raised over $250,000 in the past two decades for local charities and participates in many activities in support of Irish and Irish-American heritage and culture. Our Web site is designed to provide you with everything you need to know to take advantage of your Hibernian membership, as well as to help those who might be interested in joining. The Milwaukee Division is the premiere organization in Wisconsin for Catholic men of Irish heritage to contribute to the local community. Let us show you why being a Hibernian is truly a blessing!
Your prayers are requested for Ron Salmon, one of the charter members of the Milwaukee Division in 1986, who passed away last month. Ron was a loyal volunteer and reflected the qualities of selfless service that are an essential part of being a Hibernian. Those of us who were able to attend his funeral Mass noted the pride in which Ron held his membership in the AOH and, through our prayers and expressions of condolence, hope that we were able to provide some additional comfort to the Salmon family.
Going forward, our planning is ongoing for our two biggest events of the year, Irish Fest and the William Ryan Drew Spaghetti Dinner. The Division activities at Milwaukee Irish Fest, including the Cultural Area, the Hospitality Area for Hibernians from all over the country, and the Mass for Peace and Justice, are an important time for fellowship and recognition of the best parts of our Irish heritage. In early October, the Spaghetti Dinner raises thousands of dollars for local parochial schools that serve students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and are helping them to find hope and opportunity, but to do these things, we need sponsors to step up. Please contact me to discuss how you can help. Local businesses benefit from the high visibility of sponsoring the Hospitality Area at Irish Fest, overlooking the main gate and the Miller Lite Stage, as well as purchasing advertising in the Spaghetti Dinner book.Whether you can contribute a lot or only a little, we need your help. If you might be interested in joining, or contributing in one way or another, contact me or come to one of our meetings, because we would love to show you some real Irish hospitality and why the Milwaukee Division is for you!
Doug
