Emerald Society of the Boston Police
Pride in our Heritage
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Posted by David Isberg on April 3, 2013
Please join us for our monthly meeting this Thursday, April 4th at 8:00pm. If you have any questions please email: president@bpdemeraldsociety.com
BPD squads 1 & 2 are off
Agenda
TBD
Posted by David Isberg on
Cáisc Shona Daoidh – Happy Easter to all,
I hope everyone had an enjoyable St. Patrick’s Day. I would like to start off by saying that I am honored to be your new president and look forward to the many events we will be having this year. I first must give a tremendous THANK YOU to last years President Sean McCarthy. Sean is a huge role model and true friend for me and someone that has been here for our members as a multiple past president. My Vice-President Liam Hawkins and I are looking forward to a fun and productive year and hope to keep up the tradition that Sean and the rest of the Past Presidents have set for us. Our focus for the upcoming year will be how we can better serve the membership and keep you aware of the benefits of being part of an Emerald Society and work on strengthening the brotherhood, locally and nationally. Also we would love to get more people to attend the monthly meetings and be involved in our Society. This Society is for you!! The National Conference is in Boston next year and it is a HUGE undertaking. This is a Society event and we need your help to make it happen.
March 9th was our annual banquet. Sgt Tim Horan led the color guard in with his bagpipes and the national anthem was sung once again by Officer John McNulty. This years Barney McGinniskin Officer of the Year Award was presented to Boston Housing Officers Pat Malloy and Jonathan O’Brien. Our Lifesaving Award was presented to Boston Police Officer Edward Norton. Our Man of the Year Award was presented to Boston Police Officer Daniel Adams. Our Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Boston Police Sgt {Ret} Frank Gill. Congratulations to all the awardees and thankyou for representing our Society in the streets of Boston the way that you do!
I look forward to next years banquet and hope to see more of you there.
Shamrock Shootout
On March 16th the 6th Annual Shamrock Shootout was held on Temple St in West Roxbury. There were over 500 kids played on 11 rinks this year for the kids. Each kid received a t-shirt, street hockey stick, food and a memory to last a lifetime. Congratulations are in order for Mike O’Brien and Mark Sanders and the entire neighborhood for making this event a staple for the community.
The Gathering
The “Boston Gathering Ireland” is a trip bank to Ireland being put on by Crystal travel and “The Lord Mayor of West Roxbury” Richie Gormley. This trip is a 9day/8 night tour of Ireland June 5th to June 14th. If interested please call Richie at 617-325-0100.
Birch St Fund
Please see attached flyer for information regarding the Birch St Fund.
Commissioners Cup
The 7th Annual Commissioners Cup Opening Night will be taking place on April 3rd at the Roche Center in West Roxbury. Superintendent William Evans will be dropping the ceremonial first puck at 7pm. All districts will be participating this night. After the conclusion of the games the Emerald Society will be hosting everyone where the Fenian Sons will be performing on stage. Also that night at the Hall The Boston Police Emerald Society Hockey Team will be conducting there $10,000 raffle. If interested in purchasing a raffle ticket please call Gerard McHale at 617-909-1624.This should be a great event for the hall and its members and I hope to see you there.
Emerald Society Hockey Team
The BPD Emerald Society Hockey Team will be traveling to Belfast July 27th to August 5th to participate in the World Police and Fire Games. The above fundraiser is helping them with the cost of going to this tournament. As our sponsored team we hope that our members fully support them!! They also are playing in The Ice-Stars for Wounded Warriors April 26th and 27th at Umass Mullins Center in Amherst. On April 28th they will be playing in the Bill Bostic Memorial Hockey Game at the Boch Ice Arena in Dedham.
Time for a Friend
Kenneth Kelly an active duty Boston Police Officer and member of our Society unexpectedly passed away recently. Please join us on April 20th at the Irish Social Club located at 119 Park St West Roxbury from 7pm to 12pm. Tickets are $20. Please contact Mark McKeown at 617-438-2964 to support this very worthy fundraiser. Tickets will also be available at the Emerald Society as well.
National Scholarship
If you have a child attending or about to attend a College or University,NCLEES Scholarship forms will be available at the April meeting. We have had 1 of our members win the last 2 years. It’s a great opportunity so don’t delay.
Email list
If you would like to receive the Newsletter as an email instead of through the mail please send me an email to emeraldboston@gmail.com with your email address. This will defray the cost of postage.
Functions
The hall is available for functions. Book as soon as you know when your function is as a lot of Christinings and Graduation parties are upcoming.
My Contact info
I can be reached at bosbull@aol.com and my cell phone # is 617-828-3822. If there is anything I can do to assist you at the hall please feel free to contact me.
Quote of the Month
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
JFK
May the blessings of Easter be on you
Beannachtaí Ná Cásca Oraibh
Posted by David Isberg on March 5, 2013
Its that time of the year – March, the season to celebrate the Irish heritage! Within the authority of the Executive Branch, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation each year since 1991, proclaiming the month of March as “Irish American Heritage Month”. President Obama who’s Irish roots go back to Moneygall in County Offaly has continued with this tradition. Massachusetts, having approximately 24% of our residents claiming Irish ancestry, also proclaims March as “Irish American Heritage Month”. In the U.S., there are 34.5 million residents who claimed Irish ancestry in 2011. This number was more than seven times the population of Ireland itself (4.68 million). Irish was the nation’s second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German. The contributions of the Irish and Irish Americans are found everywhere in American history and its important that we remember them in every month.
Thursday, March 7th is our next meeting, come on down and hear what is going on in your society. Merchandise will be available including the mini Boston Police badge pins with the shamrock on them and our logo pins. Bruins hockey will be on the HDTVs.
This Saturday, March 9th will be our Annual Banquet. It features the installation of the newly elected Board of Directors as well as our Awards ceremony. That night we will have Irish music by Sligo Road and a traditional boiled dinner. The night starts at 7:00 p.m. with a complementary cocktail hour.
This years Award recipients are:
“Barney McGinniskin” Officers of the Year Pat Malloy and Jonathan O’Brien
Man of the Year – Daniel “Dapper” Adams
Lifesaver Award – Edward Norton
Lifetime Achievement Award – Past President (ret.) Sgt. Frank Gill
Tickets are $40. and can be purchased from V.P. “Doc” Welby at 617-828-3822
On March 16th, the 6th Annual Shamrock Shootout takes place on Temple St. in West Roxbury. It has been an Emerald Society sponsored event since the beginning and is run by a host of Emerald Society members. Last year over 500 kids played street hockey on 11 “rinks” on the street adorned by Irish and American flags hanging on the telephone poles and green painted shamrocks serving as the face-off circles. Each kid gets a t-shirt, street hockey stick, food and a memory of a great day. Photographers and TV crews document the day for the nightly news and papers. Watch for it, and hopefully we can get a video posted on our web site.
Time is running out!
March 18th is the deadline for the Police Officer Exam for cities and towns, MBTA and State Troopers. The exam will take place on Saturday April 20th, 2013 at various locations across the state. The cost is $100. Visit: www.mass.gov/civilservice. for more info and the application to apply.
The Gathering
The “Boston Gathering Ireland” is a trip back to Erin being put on by Crystal Travel and The “Lord Mayor” Richie Gormley. It is a 9 day/8 night tour of the best that Ireland has to offer, taking place June 5th – 14th. With Richie involved, it will definitely be a can’t miss trip! You can pick up a brochure at the monthly meetings or call Richie at 617-325-0100.
2013 Dues & City of Boston Payroll Membership Dues Deduction forms
If you have not done it yet, at this months meeting, members can pay their dues and City of Boston employees who wish to have their yearly dues ($25.) taken out of their check once a year, can pick up the Payroll deduction form. Forms are also available for download at our website – www.emeraldboston.com This has been widely successful with the Boston Police Officers who signed up last year. This only has to be done once and we will only need to forward new employee deduction forms.
Birch St. Numbers
The Birch St. Fund was set up to provide for expenses with our building, unfortunately, the number of participants has severely dwindled over the years and efforts to boost participation have not been the response we need to keep going. A number of ideas have been discussed and a mailing will be going out to those with active numbers explaining the format for continuation.
Outgoing thoughts
I want to thank you all for an enjoyable year serving as your President, this will be my last newsletter. I promise to stay around to help the “Doc and Hawk show” in the upcoming years and get focused on the upcoming 2014 Emerald Society Conference. Without having to name everyone, a big thanks goes out to all that served on this years Eboard and to those of you who attend the monthly meetings, and Society events, also those who spend their time making the Hall and Society a better place!
One thing I’ve loved is being with our brother organizations at meetings and developing friendships. Boston is a popular place, and members of this Society help make it desireable. The Eboard spends a bit of time in contact with various requests. For instance, in the past weeks, we have sent a t-shirt to a New Zealand Police Officer of Irish heritage, made plans for an April visit to Boston from the NCLEES Financial Secretary Mike Roe, also a visit this summer to the Cape with St. Louis President Andy Hale, plans for an Irish Policeman (Garda) and his wife visiting, planning for St. Patrick’s Day visit from Rob Frazier of the Phoenix Emerald Society and provided VIP treatment to the family of an Metro London Emerald Society member in town for cancer treatments for their child. Doing these simple things further cements the brotherhood that is the Emerald Society.
Thanks to my wife Donna, son Sean Jr, daughter Kelly, and our twins Bridget & Maeve for their understanding and sacrifice while I served again.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!
President Sean M. McCarthy, ESBPD
Upcoming Events
March 7th Monthly Membership Meeting
March 9th Annual Awards & Installation Banquet
March 16th Shamrock Shootout
March 17th Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 18th Police Exam Deadline
March 24th – 31st World Irish Dance Championships Boston
Posted by David Isberg on February 5, 2013
Greetings,
The month of February brings us a few dates that hold a bit of Irish in them. Valentine’s Day – The Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street in Dublin City claims to hold the remains of St Valentine. The Carmelites are a small community in the monastery attached to Whitefriar Street Church. Saint Valentine’s remain were given to the Carmelites in 1835 by Pope Gregory XVI. Of course the Irish have developed their own symbol of love, friendship and loyalty in the claddagh. Also this month we celebrate Presidents Day and the 22 Presidents that posses or claim Irish ancestry including President Obama with roots in Co. Offaly.
At this Thursday’s monthly membership meeting, we will have elections for the new 2013 Officers Executive Board. Last month nominations took place, and unfortunately a few Boston Police Officer spots had no takers. Current VP Robert “Doc” Welby ran unopposed for President and will be your new President. Dick Forrester will be returning once again as your Secretary after being unopposed also. There was interest in the Vice President spot, but was left blank along with the Treasurer position. Sgt Det. Tim Horan took an Active member (Boston Police) slot, but others went unfilled. Running for the Associate positions were Tom Curran and Jack Sheridan, both returning to the Board. Honorary positions were filled by long time board member Patricia Brooks Shea and newcomer Michael O’Brien. We will be seeking to fill all open spots at the meeting and in time for the Banquet.
Annual Awards Banquet
Our Annual Banquet and Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday March 9th. That night we will have Irish music by Sligo Road, traditional boiled dinner and installation of our new Officers. Our Award recipients this year will be:
“Barney McGinniskin” Officers of the Year Pat Molloy and John O’Brien
Man of the Year – Daniel Adams
Lifesaver Award – Edward Norton
Lifetime Achievement Award – Past President (ret.) Sgt. Frank Gill
See Eboard members for tickets to this great event!
City of Boston Payroll Membership Dues Deduction forms
At the upcoming February 7th and March 7th Meetings, City of Boston employees who wish to have their yearly dues ($25.) taken out of their check once a year, can pick up the Payroll deduction form. Forms are also available for download at our website – www.emeraldboston.com This has been widely successful with the Boston Police Officers who signed up last year. This only has to be done once and we will only need to forward new employee deduction forms.
Happy anniversary!
The Boston Police VFW Post will be celebrating its 90th Anniversary on February 23, 2013 at Lombardo’s in Randolph starting at noon. Tickets are $30. The Police Post held many of our monthly meetings and functions when our Society was in its infancy, prior to the purchase of our current address.
Keep the tradition alive!
The Police Officer Exam for cities and towns, MBTA and State Troopers has been announced. It will take place on Saturday April 20th, 2013 at various locations across the state. The deadline to register is March 18th. The cost is $100. Visit: www.mass.gov/civilservice. for more info and the application to apply.
The Gathering
Anyone looking to head across the pond, the “Boston Gathering Ireland” is a trip back to Erin being put on by Crystal Travel and The “Lord Mayor” Richie Gormley. It is a 9 day/8 night tour of the best that Ireland has to offer, taking place June 5th – 14th. With Richie involved, it will definitely be a can’t miss trip! Brochures will be available at the monthly meetings.
Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne – World Irish Dancing Championships
This year the 2013 World Championships of Irish Dancing will be held at the Hynes Convention Center and the Sheraton Hotel in Boston from Sunday March 24th – Sunday the 31st. We have heard that the price for Massachusetts residents is $25. with a Mass License and it is very expensive without. If you plan on attending this impressive event, one should check the cost as it gets closer.
Ceili at the Comber
Warming up for St. Patrick’s Day? There will be a fundraiser on February 16th at the Beachcomber in Quincy to benefit Cops for Kids with Cancer. The first of 8 great local Irish bands start at 4 p.m. and the last ends around midnight.
Upcoming Events
February 7 – Monthly Meeting & Elections
February 14 – Valentine’s Day
February 16 – Ceili at the Comber Fundraiser
February 18 – Presidents Day
February 23 – Police Post 90th anniversary
Posted by David Isberg on January 1, 2013
Happy New Year to you and your family! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and that in light of some of the recent tragic national events, the Holidays have made each one of us appreciate what we have even more.
Nice to see so many people at our last meeting. It doubled as our Christmas Party – Holiday Cash Giveaway and a number of people in house walked away winners. The Hall and Christmas tree looked very festive, thanks to the decorating touch of Stacie Adams. A bit of Christmas music, an Italian spread from Comella’s, turkey stuffers and finger sandwiches, great Irish bread made by Bill Ledbetter, cookies from Dick Hennessey and some well deserved refreshments added to the excitement of the drawing. A big thanks to Liam Hawkins, Tommy Curran & Rory O’Connor and the Committee for pulling this fundraiser together. A thanks to all those who bought tickets and those who helped in selling the tickets. Especially the guys who gave that big selling push in the final two weeks. A number of people who had multiple tickets freed up a few more and that allowed a few more people to get in on their chance at winning. In the end, the demand for tickets was so great that if we had 50 more tickets, we could have sold them too! Next year, get yours early so you don’t lose out.
Also at the meeting, members were asked to sign a Christmas Card for Nathan Norman, a 6 year old in Virginia suffering from terminal brain cancer. His wish was to have Christmas cards sent to him from first responders. Thanks to our Secretary BHPD Sgt. Dick Forrester for setting up the card & signing. We were also able to sent some Emerald Society and Boston Police Challenge coins with members Lt. Marty Brooks and his brother Sgt. Paul Brooks and others in an entourage of first responder vehicles to Virginia.
Reverend Ray reported that between the last two meetings, our members donated over $400. for the Veterans Brotherhood Holiday Meal Program!
The City of Boston Elderly Commission’s “Memoir Project” has concluded its final meeting at our Hall. The stories that were written by the seniors who participated in the past eight weeks have been turned over for editing. The final product will result in a book on residents reflections of living in the Roslindale area. The Emerald Society will be thanked in this book for the use of the Hall as a meeting place.
As we usher in the new year, know that the ball dropped in TImes Square is made of Waterford Crystal, a product made in Waterford City, Ireland since 1783.
This year, Ireland is hosting “The Gathering”, calling on those with Irish heritage to come for a visit. Over 70 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry. The Gathering Ireland 2013 provides the perfect excuse to reach out to those who have moved away, their relatives, friends and descendants, and invite them home. Communities throughout Ireland will showcase and share the very best of Irish culture, tradition, business, sport, fighting spirit and the uniquely Irish sense of fun. It will kick off in spectacular style at the New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin.
Speaking of Ireland, The Emerald Society of the Boston Police Hockey Team has been invited to return to the World Police and Fire Olympics to be held in Belfast from July 25th – August 9th. The Team were Silver medalists in the last Olympics, held in New York in 2011. Be a great time to visit, huh?
At the January 3rd Monthly Membership Meeting, there will be nominations of Officers for the 2013 year. The voting will take place at the February meeting and the installation of Officers will be in March. The next two years are of great importance to those on the Eboard. 2013 marks our 40th anniversary and 2014 will be the return of the National Emerald Society Fall Meeting to Boston. I encourage you to seek one of the positions and partake in the direction and running of your Society.
Positions that are available include President, Vice President & Treasurer (1 year position and have to be an “Active” member). The Secretary (1 year position – Active or Associate member with 2 years on Board of Directors) as well as positions for Active, Associate and Honorary members.
Stacie Adams who has been running the hall, bartending, booking, cleaning, decorating and more, has given us her notice. She has been with us for a number of years, juggling the responsibilities of the Hall, a job at the Hospital and her Family. She will be hard to replace and we wish her the best! We will be looking for someone to fill her shoes after the January Eboard meeting.
The Boston Police Gaelic Column will be hosting “OPERATION: BANDS OF BROTHERS” on Saturday January 19, 2013 starting at 5:30 at the Irish Social Club in West Roxbury. A number of musical groups and of course the Bagpipes will be there. This will be an event to raise money for members of The NYPD Pipes and Drums whose homes were damaged and destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
The Boston Police VFW Post will be celebrating its 90th Anniversary on February 23, 2013at Lombardo’s in Randolph starting at noon. Tickets are $30. The Police Post was one of our first meeting spots before the purchase of our current address on Birch St.
At the January, February and March Meetings, City of Boston employees who wish to have their yearly dues taken out of their check once a year, can pick up the Payroll deduction form. This has been widely successful with the Boston Police Officers who signed up last year. This only has to be done once and we will only need to forward new employee deduction forms.
Also for sale at the meetings will be the Emerald Society lapel pins as well as the popular Boston Police Badge pins in silver and in gold with a shamrock on them. Come down and get yours before they are gone!
Saturday March 9th is the set for the Annual Banquet. That night we will have Irish music, traditional boiled dinner, installation of our new Officers and awards for the Man of the Year, Officer(s) of the Year and more.
Slan, Sean M. McCarthy, President ESBPD
Next meeting January 3rd @ 8 p.m. (BPD Squads 6 & 1 are off)
