Greetings Brothers,
Happy New Year!
The new year is off to a great start and promises to be an exciting year for the Virginia State Board and the AOH in Virginia.
COMMITMENTS: Friendship & Unity
- We have a brand new AOH Division in Virginia for the first time in many years!
On January 9th I had the honor to preside at the formation for the new Fauquier County Division 01, in Warrenton, VA.
I was joined by our VSB Organizer Bill Halpin, PSP, Jay McCarthy, PSP, and Patrick Sullivan, VSB Treasurer, as we conducted an initiation and installation ceremony for 18 new brothers and division officers.
Welcome Aboard and Congratulations to President Dennis Mac Minn and our new brothers from Fauquier County.
- Our next State Quarterly meeting will be hosted by the Father Edwin Kelley Division in Manassas, VA on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
Location: Bishop Russell Hall, 9290 Stonewall Rd Manassas, VA 20110
Time: 9: 00 AM Joint AOH/LAOH Prayer & Meeting
9: 20 AM AOH Virginia State Board Business Meeting
11:30 AM Joint Luncheon
Division Presidents and Committee Chairs are reminded to submit your reports to the VSB Secretary in a timely manner.
Send reports to: Edwin.hanson@gmail.com
- A Major Degree of the Order is scheduled after the conclusion of the Virginia State Board Meeting on January 27th.
Candidates for the Major Degree should be present to register at 12:00 NOON. The Degree is expected to conclude by 3:00 PM.
Please encourage all AOH members in need of the Major Degree to register and be there!
Major Degree registration is now available on our website at:
FORMS DUE:
FORM 9’s: Presidents and Financial Secretaries are reminded to please update and submit your Form 9’s ASAP, even if you did not hold new elections.
These forms should be completed electronically. Please check your Division rosters on-line and make sure all information is complete, especially e-mail addresses.
Form 11’s with National Per Capita payments ($16 per member) are due by February 15.
Per capita payment is for 2023 based on the number of division members on the last day of 2023.
If post marked after February 15, 2024, the per capita payment rises to $20 per member so get them in on time.
Virginia State Per Capita payments are also due.
The Virginia State per Capita due from 2023 REMAINS AT $2.00 PER MEMBER.
(State per Capita for 2024 will increase to $5.00 to be collected in February of 2025.)
Send copies of Form 11’s to VSB Treasurer Patrick Sullivan with State payments.
Patrick A. Sullivan, 10106 Oxford Court, Nokesville, VA 20181
All other year end forms are due: https://aoh.com/official-aoh-forms/
1. Charity forms
2. Hibernian Hunger … Reporting is crucial. It is what the National AOH grants to divisions are based on.
OPPORTUNITIES: Christian Charity
- The 2024 Religious Freedom Procession –Fredericksburg, VA Sunday, January 14, 2024
Visit AOH Virginia website for more info: https://aohvirginia.org/2024/01/06/religious-freedom-procession-2024/
- MARCH FOR LIFE – Friday, September 19th Washington, DC
Join your Hibernian Brothers for this most worthy cause.
9 – 11 am AOH Breakfast at Irish Channel Restaurant (500 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001). Hot breakfast buffet, cost per person is $35. Cash and credit cards accepted.
11:30 Hibernian Mass – DC State Chaplain Father Fields has arranged this time block at St. Mary Mother of God Church across the street from the Irish Channel.
12:30 March (Meet @ 7th Street & Constitution Ave).
Post-Parade Hibernian Fellowship Gatherings can be found near the end of the parade route at the Dubliner.
- Saint Thomas More Cathedral —His Excellency Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, has asked for AOH Virginia assistance in funding a statue of St. Patrick which will be placed in an Irish stained glass window section of the Cathedral. The Bishop is requesting financial support from the AOH, LAOH, as well as from individual donors for this project.
Please consider a donation to this worthy cause
Faith Direct – One-time gifts…click on this link
In the note, be sure to indicate it is for the St. Patrick Statue and Window—from AOH.
- National AOH Freedom For All Ireland Christmas campaign…. it is not too late to donate!
Our AOH National delegation will be in Ireland distributing funds in February 2024 !
- Links to all other Hibernian Charities and information about the St. Patrick’s Ambassador Program for young Hibernians can be found on the National website at :
FINALLY …. Registration for the AOH/LAOH National Convention, to be held in Orlando, FL August 7—11, 2024, is now available.
All Hibernians in good standing are encouraged to attend and participate. Virginia delegate information for all Divisions will be discussed at a later date.
Registration link: https://orlandoirish2024.com/home-1
Thank you brothers to all who have made it this far—I know this was a long one for the start of what promises to be a busy and productive year for AOH Virginia!
Division Presidents please pass the above information on to your division members.
Remember….We Stand Stronger Together !
In Our Motto,
Bob
Capt. Robert A. Fay
President, AOH Virginia State Board
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America
“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”
…George Bernard Shaw
