FEBRUARY 2009 NEWSLETTER
President’s Message
The Friends of Clonmel are ready to start a new year. I do not think that we can top last year, but we will still keep busy with our normal duties and functions. Our first event will be St. Patrick’s Day. We will be represented in the Parade and the Party afterward, both sponsored by the St. Patrick Society of Peoria. The party is a good time to renew your membership. Of course, you can also just mail your membership dues if that works better for you. We need and appreciate your support.
2010 Officers & Board of Directors
President Timothy Doyle
Vice President Jo Jordan
Secretary Patricia A. O’Connell
Treasurer Eileen D. O’Connell
Directors
Vic Burnett Jolene Doyle
Jim Hopkins Leo Jordan
Karen McClelland Bill Murphy
Betty Rohman Sharon Schleich
Gary Schmidt Terry Tate
Karen Robb
Annual Meeting Update
The 2009 Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the St. Thomas School Cafeteria. On behalf of the Board and the Membership, President Doyle thanked Leo & Jo Jordan for their untiring effort to make the Clonmel Band Trip such a memorable event for both the people of Peoria and the people of Clonmel.
The standing ovations that were given by the guests at the Glen Oak Pavilion, the West Peoria Parade, the River Plex, and Shea Stadium provided our Irish guests with memories, they will always treasure. The pictures, hugs, and tears as the three charter coaches pulled away from Kelleher’s parking lot on Tuesday July 7th was proof of a job well done by so many local supporters.
A brief discussion took place addressing ideas on how the Friends of Clonmel can continue to generate support to build new relationships and to sustain these relationships with the people of Clonmel.
The following persons were elected to serve two-year terms beginning in January 2010: President—Tim Doyle, Secretary—Patricia O’Connell, and Directors—Jim Hopkins, Karen McClelland, Bill Murphy, Gary Schmidt, & Terry Tate.
President Doyle, welcomed Bill Murphy as a new Director and thanked the other members for beginning another term on the Friends of Clonmel Board.
Various members commented on the good time shared by all at the Annual Fund Raiser held on October 24th. President Doyle thanked the Board members for the support they provide to host this event.
The Board approved a $200 donation to the Sacred Heart Sandwich Program. A thank-you letter was read from the “Spirit of Hope” concert committee for the $500 donation approved by the Board.
Light refreshments were provided following the close of the business meeting Erin Feis Planning
Mark your calendar to attend the 2010 Erin Feis being held August 27, 28, & 29 on the Peoria RiverFront. The Friends of Clonmel will host an information booth. Call Tim Doyle 309-682-7757 309-682-7757 if you can volunteer for a shift at the booth.
Slide Concert Scheduled
March 12, 2010
According to the Music Network, these performers from County Cork, Ireland, are “traditional musicians with attitude.” The St. Patrick Society of Peoria is beginning its 30th Anniversary Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day by hosting Slide in concert at the Gateway Building on the Peoria RiverFront on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 8:00 PM. In addition to their vocals, these performers play the following instruments: concertina, fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, piano, and flute.
You may purchase tickets for these action-filled performers who play both traditional and contemporary Irish music. Advance tickets are available up to Wednesday March 10th for $15 by calling John Martin at 309-692-8937 309-692-8937 or by mailing your check made payable to the St. Patrick Society to the St. Patrick Society, PO Box 117, Peoria, IL 61650. After March 10, 2010, the tickets are $18. Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets early. Doors open at 7:00 PM the night of the concert.
Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
You are invited to walk in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the Friends of Clonmel. We will have a decorated van with our Friends of Clonmel Banner. Just come to the corners of Monroe and Hancock Streets by 10:30 AM and tell the St. Patrick Society Block Captain that you want to walk with the Friends of Clonmel group. You will be directed to the Friends of Clonmel start area. Plan to stop by the Friends of Clonmel table at the Party also hosted by the St. Patrick Society at the Holiday Inn City Centre following the Parade.
Friends of Clonmel
Nonprofit Corporation
The Friends of Clonmel is an approved Section 501c3 organization that is exempt from Federal Income Tax as a Public Charity. The Friends of Clonmel is registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Illinois. Contributions made to the Friends of Clonmel are deductible under the federal income tax code. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the Friends Clonmel in honor of or in memory of someone who cherished his/her Irish heritage. Your contribution should be made payable to the Friends of Clonmel and mailed to Eileen O’Connell, Treasurer, 3924 N. Monroe Avenue, Peoria Heights, IL 61616.
Kudos and Welcome
The Friends of Clonmel Board sends special kudos to Dorothy Kendall and Bill Hughes for their service to the organization. Dorothy Kendall completed her term of service to the Board December 31, 2009. Bill Hughes resigned from the board. President Doyle will appoint a new board member to complete the one-year unexpired term open on the Board.
The Friends of Clonmel Board welcomes Bill Murphy as he begins his new term of office. Bill Murphy has supported the Friends of Clonmel activities and events since the organization was started.
Clonmel Band Information
You can learn more about the Clonmel Band (Banna Chluain Meala) by going to their website: www.bcmyouthband.ie. You may even see yourself in some of the pictures they have posted on their picture galleries. “Music Makes Friends. Friends Make Music.”
Membership Information
The membership year for the Friends of Clonmel is January 1 through December 31. Please renew your 2010 membership by completing the form provided below. The membership fee structure for the Friends of Clonmel is as follows:
Individual Membership $10 per year
Individual Lifetime Membership $100 one time payment
Corporation, Organization, or
Cultural Group $50 per year
Membership Form
Name:_________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________
Number Street
________________________________________________________________
City State Zip
Phone:_____________________________________
E-Mail:______________________________________
Membership Type: Please check your membership type.
____ Individual $10
____ Individual Lifetime $100
____ Corporation, Organization, $50
or Cultural Group
Return this form and your check made payable to Friends of Clonmel to:
Eileen D. O’Connell
3924 N. Monroe Avenue
Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Our membership is the well we go to when we need help in our endeavors. You have supported us by serving as host families, sponsors, and willing workers, when we have needed you to support our activities. Please ask your friends and extended families to join the Friends of Clonmel so we can continue to grow and become involved in more ways to strengthen our Sister City relationship with Clonmel, Ireland.
As the year progresses, we will have information booths at the Erin Feis in August on the Peoria RiverFront and at the World Fest in September at the Peoria Civic Center. Both agendas allow us to expose our group and its purpose to hundreds of people. Even though we have been around for 12 years now, there are many who are unaware of our efforts to promote friendship and exchanges between the people of Peoria and the people of Clonmel.
In the fall, we have our Annual Fund Raiser. This event is always a fun time and raises the dollars and support to allow us to sponsor our activities. Our Annual Meeting is held in November each year. All members are welcome at the Annual Meeting where you have both voice and vote.
These are our annual events, but others always seem to come along, so sign up now and receive the information first hand through our newsletter. The Friends of Clonmel website, www.friendsofclonmel.org, is also very informative, so I encourage you to check it out.
In the years since the Friends of Clonmel was started, we have gotten to know many of the people of Clonmel. Promoting friendship and exchanging cultural experiences is what we are all about. In July, The Doyle Tour of Ireland will spend 11 days in Ireland. The special agenda for this tour allows three (3) nights in Clonmel. This tour is not an official tour with a specific reason for going, but rather it provides time to visit with friends. For those of you who have struck up a friendship with people from Clonmel, or perhaps you have been a host family and formed a special bond with people from Clonmel, this tour is perfect for you. You will have time to visit and build new memories. If you are interested in more information on The Doyle Tour of Ireland, give me a call at 309-682-7757 309-682-7757 or call Betty Rohman at the Harp & Thistle Imports Limited 309-688-5668 309-688-5668 . Help us to further the strong friendship bond between the people of Peoria and the people of Clonmel.
Tim Doyle, President