Dear Members,

August 1 Members Meeting. We are very grateful to those members who came out to our August 1 members meeting. We covered important financials and the Irish Center’s positive accomplishments this year. We discussed that it would take involvement of more members to rejuvenate YOUR Center. The audit has confirmed that OUR Center operated at a substantial loss in 2018 because fewer members took advantage of the bar restaurant and banquet facilities we offered. Because members have expressed interest in the Centers daily operations, I am happy to share more details in the bulletin and at our meetings.

At the August 7th UICC Board meeting, the Board reviewed members’ comments at the August 1 meeting and plans for OUR Center going forward. Based on this, for the September 25th member’s meeting the Board plans to provide an agenda on our website 3 days in advance, provide UICC committee reports to the membership, board member nominations and present the Auditor’s report. We also are working on a Youth Advisory Committee application and program.

On August 4th, we had our volunteer clean up day. Board members Josephine Brogan, Michael Barnacle, Shannon Durkan and her lovely mom Mary, and myself were joined by Mark and Molly Burke, Redmond Lyons, Carmelle Reiser and Maureen Murphy. A BIG thank you to all!! Closets and the galley way adjacent to the restaurant were cleaned. We found the binder with all the recipes- hopefully one day we could have Irish bread baking in our ovens once again. We still have many more places in the building that need to be organized. Please stay tuned for our next volunteer clean up day at YOUR Center.

On August 14, Valerie McGrew submitted a grant to the Gellert Foundation on behalf of the Library. We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that they will honor our application. Decision in December.

The UICC sent out a membership charitable donation letter on August 14th. Please consider donating generously to YOUR Center.

Make your Legacy an Irish one for generations to enjoy! The UICC will hold a Planned Giving Seminar on Thursday November 14. A panel discussion by CPAs and estate planning attorneys will discuss opportunities for charitable giving to the UICC and the tax benefits – IRA Required Minimum distributions, donations of stocks, and inclusion of the UICC in your will & trust. Complimentary appetizers and beverages at 6pm. Panel discussion 6:30pm to 8pm. Mark your calendar.

On August 10th, we had an amazing SEISIUN, an evening filled with fiddle, tin whistles, bagpipes, and bodhrans. I was only planning on staying for a quick visit and left three hours later. There are talks about making this a once a month event and if so I do hope you will all come out- it is music for the soul. We also had the GAA All Ireland games showing on our new screen in the Saint Patrick’s room.

For the next several months we have Irish Supper Club dinners planned. The one in August 23rd had beef and salmon. We are planning on corn beef on September 20th and something yummy in October- call the Center if you would like to meet with friends and family and eat dinner at the center, just like the good ole days! Call YOUR Center for the menu and make your reservation.

We are working on our Strategic plan– this is a big part of our future.We hope to have a draft plan for the October Members meeting. We will then need members that want to be a part of the committee to move the plan along things along.

There is no other place like OUR Center and we all need to continue to stand by it. YOUR Center has begun an exciting new chapter and we need you to be a part of our growth. So, please book your next gathering, celebrations or events at the UICC, provide a charitable donation, renew your membership dues at just $13/month or buy a membership for someone who has everything.

YOUR Center cannot continue to thrive without you! We NEED YOU! Call the Center today to volunteer. We could use help answering the phones, cleaning out areas of the Center, being a part of planning committees for upcoming events, being a part of the strategic plan. So put down this bulletin and take action.

”Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller
“It takes two flints to make a fire.” — Louisa May Alcott

Kindly,
Anne Cassidy Carew, President