Meetings are usually held on the third Sunday of the Month at 3:00 p.m. at the Irish Center.

New Members welcome!

March 6, 2010

Dear Member,

The next meeting of the Donegal Association will be held on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 3:00 PM at the Irish Center. Installation of officers will take place during the March meeting. Many thanks to Art Burke for being our Judge of Elections. The following are the association’s officers for 2010/11.

President…………......Mary Crossan
Financial Secretary……..…Trudy Gallagher
1st Vice President…….Nora Campbell
Corresponding Secretary…..Emily Weideman
2nd Vice President……Carmel Boyce
Sick Steward…………...….Patricia Bainum
Treasurer……………..Brenda McDonald
Sergeant-at-Arms…………..John Durning
Recording Secretary….Meg Weideman
Chaplain ……………..Msrg. Joe McLoone

We will start our St. Patrick’s festivities by marching in the Springfield, Delaware County parade on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 (noon). All members are invited to march and please wear your green jackets. When we find out more information on the parade route, we will send an e-mail. We are happy to have Kiera McDonagh, the 2010 Mary from Dungloe, with us in the parade. Vince Gallagher and his band will keep us stepping lively.

The Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Sunday March 14th, 2010. There will be a trolley for Donegal members, leaving the Irish Center at 9:30 AM on the day of the parade. This year the trolley will not take us to Mass but will go directly to our starting position in the parade. We are in the fifth division and must be ready to step off promptly. Any member who is unable to walk the length of the parade is welcome to ride the trolley. Vince Gallagher along with vocalist Annmarie O’Riordan, from Co. Cork will provide the music for us to enjoy as we march. If you are not taking the trolley from the Irish Center, meet us at our starting point in the parade (North side of JFK Blvd., between 18th and 19th Sts.). We are asking all members and friends to walk in the parade and please wear your green jacket with a white shirt and black pants. There will be refreshments on the trolley for marchers after the parade. The trolley will take members back to the Irish Center where you can purchase dinner.

President Crossan thanks everyone who will participate in the parades. And also thanks the Finance Committee, who are finishing their year, for their time and deliberations on donation requests.

Congratulations to our member Sarah Conaghan on being selected by the Irish Echo and the Irish Consulate General of Ireland as one of the top 40 under 40 Irish Americans. Siobhan Lyons, Director of the Immigration Center, was also selected.

We extend our condolences to Peggy Kilgallen and her family on Jim’s death. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and hope to see everyone at the parade for a Great Day of fun and friendship.

Michelle Mack

Corresponding Secretary