We again anxiously await the coming of what we have come to know as "The High Holy Days of the Emerald Society". This years Event Chairman is Director Larry Benner. Larry and his merry band of assistants have a fun filled day planned. We are returning to the beautiful confines of Local 399/Operating Engineer's Hall again for this years St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. The facility is 3 years old, beautiful inside, with 1st class amenities and room for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration that will again be second to none! The Hall is located at 2260 S. Grove St. (22nd & Canal). Grove St. is located 1 block northwest of Archer Ave. and Canal Street. There is free parking for 240 + vehicles and the area is in a central but very private location on the Chicago River with a great view of the city. The building has multiple restrooms with changing areas for those who want to do so. The main hall is equipped with state of the art audio and visual equipment which we will utilize throughout the event. Through much hard work and planning we have kept the entry prices the same as last year’s celebration: $30.00 for adults 21 and over, $10.00 for persons under 21 and children 12 and under are free. Officers are encouraged to march proudly in your department uniform, as it is one of the few times we are cheered as we walk the street! Members marching in uniform will be admitted to the celebration for $25.00. We will be serving a full corned beef and cabbage dinner with all the trimmings and hot dogs for the kids. Chicago Beverage will be delivering a continual supply of libations for your enjoyment. We also have a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza available at a rate of $109.00. This is an unbelievable rate that was offered to us. Contact the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza for further information and mention the Emerald Society. We will also have cabs available at the hall for hire.

This year we are honoring Chicago's first female Police Officer, Marie Connelly-Owens, who was also the first female Police Officer in the nation. And I am sure to no ones surprise, was of Irish descent. Former DEA Agent Rick Barrett discovered Ms. Connelly's amazing story while doing research on his families history with-in the Chicago Police Department. Marie Connelly, the daughter of Irish immigrants became a sworn member of the CPD in 1891 and quickly rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant. She specialized in enforcing child labor laws and education laws. Detective Sergeant Connelly-Owens retired from the job in 1923 after 32 years of service. She received a pension that amounted to $1,000.00 per year. When I came on the job in 1985, I represented one of the 7 percent of women assigned to the Chicago Police Department. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Marie Connelly-Owens for being the pioneer for all women seeking a career in Law Enforcement. I also hope as the first female President of an Emerald Society in the nation, other women of Irish decent will follow in my footsteps and ensure our accomplishments and those of our sister Marie never be forgotten. It is the mission of the Emerald Society of Illinois to keep those traditions vibrant and see that they are passed on from generation to generation. I can see our members are doing a great job of that and I am confident we will remain the largest ethnic organization in Law Enforcement, with the most loyal of members throughout the state.

I am asking that all Emerald Society Members & Police Officers of Irish ancestry march along with the fiercely proud and powerful sounds of the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society/Chicago Police Department (the best pipe-band you will ever hear or march with!) and the Float the Emerald Society is having in the Parade to honor Detective Sergeant Marie Connelly-Owens on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Buses will take marchers from the Hall to the parade route beginning at 10:00AM and back again, where a post Parade celebration will begin, with beverages, food, music by Barry "FinBarr" Fagan and Band and a show stopping performance by the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society/Chicago Police Department, who are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye and make you as proud as you can be to be Irish!

The Emerald Society Commissary will be available along with a new E.S. membership and re-newal membership table. The Pipes and Drums of the Emerald Society Commissary & the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Commissary will be on hand, along with a table of our favorite group of friends from the best banking institution available to Police Officers and their families (and Bank of choice of the Emerald Society of Illinois), The Chicago Patrolman's Federal Credit Union! Dave Dunham, the Credit Unions Chief Marketing Officer is a familiar face at all of our events and we look forward each year to ensuring all members of the Emerald Society of Illinois know the wonderful benefits the Patrolman's Credit Union has to offer.

An ATM machine is available in the Hall and the Emerald Society will accept credit cards for any and all purchases / memberships / renewals, on Parade Day!

Go mbeannai Dra duit,

(May God Bless You)

Debbie O'Connor-Dimaggio

President

This year has again enjoyed another successful Chili-Cook-Off. Our three winners proudly shared a sample of their winning recipes with all and hopefully will put their winnings towards next years batch of chili and some bigger pots, as no one can seem to get enough of the prize winning entries! Thanks to each and every person who took the time to cook up their favorite chili creation and share it with all. We look forward to next years cook-off and some new and exciting entries added to the running. Larry Benner, Patrick Moriarty, Joe Donnelly, and Brian Towey cooked up a pot full of great chili along with some hot dogs for the pleasure of all guest at the meeting. Thanks guys!!!

The February traveling meeting was again at the Irish American Heritage Center on Thursday, Feb. 12th. Dominick Kearns was the Chairman of this meeting and saw to it that a good time was had by all. Patrick M. secured Mary O'Connor's talents from Unforgettable Edibles and a delicious pasta dinner was enjoyed by all. Barry "FinBarr" Fagan entertained all our members and the IAHC rolled out the welcome mat to the Emerald Society with drink specials in the 5th Province.

Here is a quick re-cap of the above information;

Saturday, March 12th, Local 399, Operating Engineer's Hall, 2260 S. Grove St., (located 1 block northwest of Archer Avenue and Canal Street) Marchers will meet at 399 Hall to board buses at 1000 hours. Post parade celebration will begin when the first busload of marchers returns to the Hall.
(ends at 6pm) Corned beef dinner with all the trimmings and beverages included in the ticket cost... Ticket Cost: Uniformed Marchers - $25.00

Non-Uniformed Marchers - $30.00. Party open to Emerald Society Members & their Guests. Performance by the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society/Chicago Police Department. Live IRISH Music provided by Barry "Fin Bar" Fagan and Band. ATM machine in venue and credit cards accepted for all purchases, (entry, commissary & membership). Parking is free in a large secure, gated parking lot with-in the venue. Lets see all in uniform marching together proudly as Irish Brothers and Sisters in Law Enforcement along with our families and friends!!!

This is a link to our Poster/Celebration Details Page.

Our April meeting will be held in the south-side Irish stronghold neighborhood of Mt. Greenwood! Hinky Dinks Pub, located at 3248 W. 111th St., (1 block west of Kedzie) on Monday, April 7th, at 7:00pm. The owner of Hinky Dinks is hosting a private party for the Emerald Society, along with a pig-roast with all of the trimmings, and $2.00 domestic bottles. We hope to see all of our "south-side members" in attendance for this fun filled evening and also to show our north-side members what the south-side is all about.....fun, fun, fun!!! The Chairman of the evening's festivities is Emerald Society Director Tom Dudzik. Tom has pulled at all of the stops to ensure a good time will be had by all attendees.

The May meeting will be back at our home-base, Assumption Church, Monday, May 9th. Director Lynn Casey is working hard to put together a night of fun for the kids along with our Entertainment Coordinator and favorite of our wee ones, Kathie Flannery. Kathie has been delighting the Emerald Society "Wee Folks" for years with fun games, goody bags and prizes at all of our events that revolve around the kids. Lynn and Kathie will make sure every child goes home with a piece of sports gear, and one lucky boy and girl will win a gift certificate from Target to purchase a new bike. Food and beverages and ice cream for all will be on hand too!

Monday, June 6th will be the Emerald Society's Annual Rib-Fest and Awards Night. As always the chefs and the ribs at the best in Chicago! This is one of our biggest meetings of the year, held at the F.O.P. Hall, 1412 W. Washington Blvd., 7:00pm. We also honor Police Officers who have performed outstanding acts of heroism (an everyday occurrence in my book) at this meeting. Besides the great food and cold libations, the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society usually bring down the house with a set or two and the music of the Larkin Brothers fills the Hall. We are looking forward to a great evening of good friends, food, Irish tunes, and recognizing our unsung hero's as we welcome in the summer months. Our Sergeant-at-Arms Dominick Kearns & our newest Director Brian Towey are Chair & Co-Chair of this most favorite evening for the Emerald Society and its Members.

On June 10-21 a group of lucky travelers will be led by our Entertainment Coordinator Kathie Flannery on yet another one of Kathie's well planned excursions across the pond. The itinerary is chocked full of exciting sights and experiences within Ireland. Kathie has organized multiple trips to the Old Sod, and all have been met with great success by those who traveled with her. We wish you all safe travels and "home safe again to all". And yes, we wish we were all going with! Enjoy!!

On Monday, July 11th, past Emerald Society President and eternal golf-outing Chairman, Patrick Moriarty will again put together a top-notch, fun filled day of great golf, (well, good golf) food, icy cold beverages, golf shirts and goodie bags, lunch on the turn, a "hole in one" contest, 5 course dinner, open bar and a room full of raffle prizes at Carriage Greens Country Club in Darien, IL. I do not have any other info at this time, but Patrick will be taking reservations for foursomes from today forward. Contact Patrick at (847) 772-0709 as soon as possible as this Golf Outing sells out quickly! We so enjoy seeing all of our regular Arnold Palmer's that come out each year. We heard the group from the Chicago Patrolman's Credit Union is on the PGA Tour. We hope they will make time to join us this year. Its all of our familiar faces that support the golf outing year after year that makes it the success it is. We look forward to adding some new faces to that family this year too!

Saturday, August 6th will be the Annual Picnic, at Palos Park Picnic Preserve, Grove #1 located in the Sag Valley Division of the Forest Preserve District. Music, cold beverages, hot dogs, burgers, chips, corn on the cob and anything else you want to bring and share will be served. Games & prizes for the kids and adults will be on hand. Bean Bag Tournament, volleyball etc.... provided. Entry is $10.00 per person or $20.00 per car-full. All members are encouraged to support this good old fashioned Family Picnic. Map to location will be linked to the web-page in the very near future. Picnic Chairman is Bob Shoup. Bob is working to create a day of R&R for all members to sit back, enjoy the day and all of the amenities provided by the Emerald Society!

LINK TO POSTER FOR ADDITIONAL INFO

Friday, September 23rd, 2011, Emerald Society Dinner Dance at Gaelic Park. More info to follow in upcoming Newsletter.

LATEST INFORMATION IN IMPORTANT NOTICES (Click here to go there now)

Monday, October 17th, FOP Hall, 1412 W. Washington Blvd., 7:00pm. More info to follow in upcoming Newsletter.

Assumption Church, Monday, November 10th. More info to follow in upcoming Newsletter.

Assumption Church, December 12th. More info to follow in upcoming Newsletter.

The web-page is updated frequently. Please visit on a regular basis as we will post any and all changes to our calendar A.S.A.P.

I would like to thank the Board of the Emerald Society for all they continue to do each and every day to ensure the Emerald Society remains the biggest and best ethnic organization in Law Enforcement! Go Irish!!

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