The scholarship drawing was held on September 8 and we are pleased to announce the following winners of the $500.00 Scholarship: Brendan Howard son of Jack Howard, Most Holy Redeemer; Peter Serb son of Joe Serb, NIU; Erik O’Carroll son of Joe O’Carroll, Guerin College Prep; Patrick Walsh son of Hank Walsh, St. Xavier U; Christopher Garrity son of Patrick Garrity; U of I at Chicago. We served Corned Beef and Cabbage and would like to thank Tom Cody, Rick Toolis, John Sullivan and all of the kitchen help as well as the Board of Directors who pitched in to help at the meeting.

The annual Dinner Dance was held on Friday September 27th at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. Our Irishman of the Year was Bill Ganier. Bill is well known in the Irish community and has been committed to public service for over 50 years. Our Police Officers of the year were Rick Trafton of the Joliet Police Dept. and Chicago Police Officers John Fitzgerald and Jonathon Shortall. The officer’s commitment to public safety continues as they serve their communities.

The Ocktober Fest was held on Oct 6th at the FOP hall due to the Columbus Day observance. We had live Irish Music provided by Finbar (Barry) Fagan. Brats, sausages and sauerkraut were on the menu. We would like to thank Rick Toolis, John Sullivan and all of the cooks who helped prepare the food for the meeting. I would also like to thank Board Members especially Mike Kane, Kevin Myron and Meg Flisk and all of the other Board Members who helped out with the meeting.

The November meeting was held on Monday the 3rd at Assumption Church. This is the annual turkey raffle and dinner. The food was outstanding and definitely a meal worth five times what we paid for it. We took in approximately $4200.00 in raffle tickets and put out $2295.00 in prizes, printing, postage and envelopes. This does not include the $2500.00 given out in scholarships at the September meeting. It is unfortunate that we only get about 25% of the turkey raffle tickets returned. If every member who was sent raffle tickets retuned half of the tickets that would be over $8000.00 in revenue and we would be able to increase the annual scholarship to ease the burden on some of the members. The organization is going to have to look for other means of revenue such as raising dues, charging more at the meetings or charging retired members and members who receive correspondence by mail only.

We a looking for volunteers to serve as department or Unit/Dist representatives. Representatives can serve on different watches in the districts and units. The reps will have their entrance fee waived for meetings that they attend. If you are interested please contact Marty Quill at 847-613-7047.

We received this information from Michael Summers who is retired Lieutenant from the Burbank PD and was an Emerald Society of Illinois P.O. of the Year and a National Police Officer of the Year in 2002.  He would like our help in promoting a book, the proceeds of which go to help fund the National Law Enforcement Memorial and features the story of Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard, an Irish Burbank Police Officer Killed on Thanksgiving morning 2004 by a hit & run driver while he was assisting a distressed motorist. His name shines brightly on the National Police Officer’s Wall in D.C., next to where the museum will be located. The book, titled “TRUE BLUE: TO PROTECT AND SERVE” created by the legendary Lieutenant Randy Sutton of the Las Vegas Metro P.D. is published by St. Martin’s Press and is currently on sale in most major book stores in the U.S. and Canada and also on almost every book selling web site. If the book is purchased through the Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Book Store more proceeds are generated. ALL of the proceeds go to the fund! Please check out the web site: WWW.TRUEBLUESTORIES.COM  for further information.  Thanks for your help and keep up the great work you do for all that wear the blue!!

Raymond Coffey our 1996 “Man of the Year” passed away in October from complications from Alzheimer’s. Ray worked for several news agencies including the Chicago Daily News, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times. Ray is survived by his wife, Holly, six daughters, Brigid, Erin, Ellen, Clare, Amy and Nancy; a son Brendan; twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The winners of our grand raffle were pulled at the dinner dance on Sept 27. Although the tickets sales were a bit disappointing with approximately only 240 out of 400 being sold. The results are as follows: The grand prize of $10,000 was ticket number 055, won by Bill Shemerdiak, who was a friend of a member. The first prize of $5,000 was ticket number 361 won by Member Tom Kelly a retired Chicago Police Officer. The second prize of $2,000 was ticket number 163 won by Larry Nowak, Ret. Sergeant from Arlington Heights and member. The third prize of $1,500 was ticket number 341 won by Mark Rado who is a friend of a member. The fourth and fifth prizes of $500 were ticket numbers 008 and 142 won by Deborah Trainor who is a member and a group of co-workers from the Chicago Police Graphic Arts section. Last but not least was Frank Nowak, brother of Larry Nowak.

Our Congratulations go out to the following members on the birth of their babies: ASA Brian Sexton (2005 “Justice Award” recipient) and wife Jennifer on the birth of their baby boy Brendan Terrence. Also to Patrick & Sonia Moriarty on the birth of their first American born son Padriag Joseph.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an organization which is mostly focused on promoting Gaelic games - traditional Irish sports, such as hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounder. The organization also promotes Irish music and dance, and the Irish Language. It is the largest and most popular organization in Ireland with some 800,000 members out of the island’s population of almost 6 million. Tom Sheehy is the Games Development Administrator with the Gaelic Athletic Association for the Chicago area and would like our help to promote Gaelic Games among our members’ children. Gaelic football and hurling are the national sports of Ireland. There are over 200 hundred kids that play Gaelic games in the Chicago land area. We hope to have Tom Sheehy at one of our future meeting. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call or email Tom. His phone is 773-329-6263 and e-mail is . (the underscore _ between t and sheehy must be inserted).

We would like to thank the following member who served on the Board of Directors of the band: Megan Alward, Mark Kelly and John Dyckman for their service. We would also like to congratulate John McDonald, Katherine Stone and Ken Januszyk who were recently elected to the Board. The band manager remains Jon Harmening. We would like to thank them for their hard work and commitment to the organization. To contact the band, please call 773-410-9779.