Dear Brothers,

Looking forward to our meeting on Tuesday, October 8 at 7 pm at St. Michael’s. 

We’ll be presenting our Slate of Officers for the 2025 Fraternal Year.  It’s not too late to let us know if you’d like to be an Officer in 2025.  We need a Vice President and Recording Secretary.  Please let Immediate Past President Mike Smith know if interested in serving. You certainly won’t be left out on your own…there are many Dooley brothers by your side who will be able to assist those new to a role.  The Officers will be voted on at the November meeting and installed at the December meeting.  Please contact:

Mike Smith mike@rvawm.com

We should have some new members to install.  We’ll also be praying and learning about our Irish History from Brian Hegarty.  Also, we’ll have pizza and drinks and socializing after the meeting. 

CALLING ALL MEMBERS WHO NEED THEIR TOWER/MAJOR DEGREE:

The Major Degree will be offered on Saturday, October 19 at 12 pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Lunch and registration ($25 fee paid there) are at 12 pm.  Degree starts at 1 pm.  Plan to be there until 4 pm (maybe 3 pm).  Entrance is at the lower-level side door of the Church.  This is a great opportunity to take the Degree being offered in Richmond.  We need at least 16 people to be able to hold the Degree at St. Mary’s.  To sign up please go to Sign Up Sheets – AOH Virginia State Board  https://aohvirginia.org.  Also, you’re welcome to attend the State AOH Quarterly Meeting at St. Mary’s that starts at 9:30 am on October 19 at St. Mary’s.

Gael of the Year – the Officers and Past Presidents will be considering nominations for Gael of the Year for 2024.  Please consider nominating someone who has served the AOH/Community well in the past year.  Please email nominations to Dan Caffrey at kkcaffrey@hotmail.com.

Thanks to all of those who attended or assisted with the following events since our last meeting in September:

• September 15, 2024, Sunday from 4:30 to 7 pm – Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day at Rare Olde Times.  Our AOH Brother, Jim Guy, will be performing along with others.  Great time was had by those who attended. 

• October 6, 2024, Sunday– Commemorate Commodore Barry Day Picnic (9/13/1803- date of death) at 1 pm at St. Michael Catholic Church. Family  Picnic.  Thanks to Mike Corcoran for providing the food and to Pat McGowan and Dan McLaughlin for the beverages.

Following are our upcoming events for the remainder of the year:

• AOH Golfing – we have up to 12 of us on average play 9 holes every Thursday afternoon (4:30 pm) at Sycamore through the end of October and every Sunday afternoon (2 pm) at Hanover Golf Club through the winter weather permitting.  Please let me know if you’d like to join us.  Email Dan Caffrey at kkcaffrey@hotmail.com.
• October 8, 2024, Tuesday at 7 pm – AOH Meeting at St. Michael’s Church.
• October 16, 2024, Saturday at 9:30 am – AOH State Quarterly Meeting at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd, Henrico, VA 23229.  Entrance is at the lower-level side door of the Church.  Doors open and breakfast at 8:30 am; Meeting at 9:30 am and Lunch at 12 pm.
• October 16, 2024, Saturday at 12 pm – Major Degree at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd, Henrico, VA 23229.  Entrance is at the lower-level side door of the Church.  12 pm – Lunch and Registration; 1 pm – Degree.  Please sign-up.
• Richmond Highland Games at Dorey Park was CANCELLED this year.
• November 12, 2024, Tuesday at 7 pm – AOH Meeting at St. Michael’s Church.
• December 10, 2024, Tuesday at 7 pm – AOH Meeting/Officer Installation for 2025 Officers by a State AOH Officer at St. Michael’s Church (family event).
• December 15, 2024, Sunday at 1 pm at St. Michael’s Catholic Church – Family Christmas Party. (Chair Mike Muldowney).

A reminder to try and recruit new AOH members (Irish Catholic men who’ve received their First Communion, been Confirmed and are in harmony with the teachings of the Faith).  Invite them to attend our meeting (they can be installed at the meeting), or invite them to attend one of our events, i.e., Christmas Party.

Reminder to bring cash to each meeting for our 50/50 raffle (50% to our Vocations Fund) and donations to the Pregnancy Resource Center. 

Hope you can attend our October meeting. 

In Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,

Big Dan Caffrey