A Cara,

Well, June got off to a great start with our Golf Outing on Friday, June 2nd! I think Ray Birmingham, General Manager of the Links at Union Vale, must be right – He told us God was an Irishman and would see to it that we’d have no rain, and sure enough, it didn’t!! It rained everywhere else it seems, but not at the Links and what a wonderful day of golf and camaraderie it turned out to be. 116 golfers teed off and enjoyed their day tremendously. Our corporate sponsors, Liffey Van Lines, Conserve Electric, and Eastside Flooring, Out of Ireland, Global Excess Partners, Fitzpatricks and Galway Irish Crystal were extremely generous. The Links at Union Vale not only offered us a warm welcome and a professionally run event, but also took a couple of foursomes and donated gifts from their Pro Shop. We had over 25 hole sponsors and countless gifts donated by our members and friends of the IBO for our raffle. The lucky winner of the 50/50 received $700 and we sold hundreds of raffle tickets thanks to the generosity of all those in attendance. Our auction item, a trip for two to Ireland including accommodations, golf, and a car rental for a week went for a very generous $3,000 to Pat Burke – thanks Pat!

I want to thank Martin Dunne, Maeve O’Malley and Clare Bennett for their help and support in pulling this great day together. Additionally, it would not have been an easy day without the help of our volunteers, John Cronogue, Margaret Blake, Margot Regan, Ralph Mangini and Steve Bennett – we thank them so very much.

We encourage all of you golfers that could not play with us on June 2nd, pay a trip to the Links at Union Vale – you won’t be disappointed!! It is a wonderful course open to the public, and is the only Irish-owned course in the USA.

Our next meeting is THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7th at 6:30pm. For those of you that were not at our last meeting, we changed the date in support of the “Kruise for Kids” taking place the following Wednesday. Our Guest Speaker is Anne Marie Scanlon, Published Author / Magazine Writer / Actress / Comedienne. Our Member Profile is Jim Faulkner, long-time IBO member. We will also present the feedback report from January’s meeting, so we encourage you all to attend.

Please remember our Traditional Irish Breakfast Meeting hosted by Niall O’Leary at Fitzpatrick’s Hotel is on June 20th. This new format is receiving growing support and attendees are enjoying the opportunity of indulging in an Irish breakfast while networking and listening to entertaining guest speakers. Also on June 20th the NJ Networking Group will meet at Molly McGuire’s in Clark.

Details of all these events can be found at our web site at www.ibo-ny.com. We will be announcing shortly the plans for our summer event so check back frequently.

Reminder to all of you that our meetings are suspended for the months of July and August, resuming the second Wednesday in September.

I’d like to leave you with a final challenge and wish – the challenge: if each member invites a guest to our meetings and that guest becomes a member we can double our membership with ease. One of the great advantages to increasing our membership is that it enables the organization to expand its reach by offering a broad range of industries and a wealth of experience and knowledge. As the saying goes ‘There is strength in numbers’. The IBO grows stronger and is gaining greater recognition in the community. We have the support of the Irish Media, the Consulate, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, IDA, and Glucksman Ireland House, among many others. Past members of the IBO are rejoining and actively supporting the IBO because they appreciate our mission to support one another both professionally and personally.

Now, the wish: that each member of the IBO, when looking for business services, to look first to the other members of the IBO. It is through this approach that the Irish business community can only grow stronger, especially in these challenging times when so many of our own are returning to live in Ireland, most not of their own choosing but because of the immigration laws and growing restrictions. Our numbers are drastically reducing – we need to stand united as a community if we are to retain our cultural identity and heritage for our children and for future generations.

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

To see the May 2006 Message, please Click Here.

Slán agus beannacht leat
Attracta Lyndon
President