 |
The foghorn
blows!
Conference attendees depart for the Cobh Heritage Centre on the Irish Navy
vessel, The LE Emer |
Conference
2005
Last years's Ireland Funds Conference in Cork was a terrific success
and attracted over 150 supporters from around the World, particularly,
from The United States.
The Conference was an opportunity to reflect
on the recent past of the Funds and to
set plans for the future. In addition to
Committee and Board meetings there was
a "Vision" day in the Glucksman
Gallery in University College Cork (UCC)
at which many Directors outlined their
thoughts for the future direction of the
Funds.
Kip
Condron emphasized the continued importance of
the challenge given to every American Ireland Fund
Board Director, and outlined different ways in
which Directors can play a key role:
- Understand, support
and promote the case for
- giving to The Ireland
Funds
- Support and participate
in local events
- Participate in the
Annual Fund
- Give to the Endowment
Fund
- Help get one major
gift annually (25k +)
- Host an outreach
event annually
- Provide three key
referrals and introductions
- Lead a group to
Ireland in next three years
- Actively serve on
a committee
- Attend minimum number
of Board meetings/events
Over
the last twelve months Kip has been leading
an exhaustive analysis of the ‘business model’ of
The American Ireland Fund. In particular this
has focused on the overdependence of the AIF
on a key number of events and individuals and
the challenge of finding greater financial
sustainability.
A
number of initiatives had already been taken
with the establishment of an Endowment Fund
and the intro duction of an annual Director’s
fee which have resulted in contributions of
over $1 million.
A second objective to
building sustainability is to increase the amount
of unrestricted funds available to fund the annual
grant round which, because of the above initiatives,
was 50% up on 2004.
There were also discussions
on the plans to develop Regional Advisory Boards
within the U.S. which would offer the opportunity
for increased involvement in the activities of
the AIF and encourage greater participation. |
There was also the opportunity to listen to an array
of guest speakers representing various projects currently
being funded by the Funds.
Other highlights of the weekend were the AWB Vincent
American Ireland Fund Literary Award which was presented
to William Trevor at a magnificent dinner in UCC which
was a night of great speeches and wonderful music.
2005 Literary
Award:: Photos and Report >
On another evening the WineGeese Society of The Ireland
Funds launched a book outlining the definitive history
of the WineGeese around the world which was preceded
the night before with a dinner in Kinsale's famed Blue
Haven Restaurant.
The Conference also visited Cobh, courtesy of the Irish
Navy, aboard the L.E.Emer, and toured the Heritage Museum
there which was funded by The Ireland Funds.
In addition there was golf at Old Head, a special mass
in the Honan Chapel in UCC and a VIP 'dine - around'
in beautiful locations around Cork. The Conference was
blessed with spectacular weather which allowed everybody
to see Cork at its best in this, its year as European
City of Culture.
Photo
index:
2. Dr. Phil Williams
3. Jack O'Mahony, Cindy O'Mahony, Ted Johnson
4. Loretta Brennan Glucksman, John Fitzpatrick, Bridget Hester
5. Dan and Mary Mulvihill
6. Charles 'Chuck' Reagan
7. Dick Phelps
8. Dick Phelps and Dennis Whelan
9. All aboard the L.E. Emer
10. Loretta Brennan Glucksman with one of the crew mates.
11. The group on the L.E. Emer
12. Guests enjoying the view from the L.E. Emer
13. Claudia Mirkin with crew member
14. Mike Corboy, Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Larry Powell
15. Kieran McLoughlin and Kingsley Aikins
16. Irish navy sailors with The Ireland Funds flag
17. Ted Murphy
18. Christopher 'Kip' and Peggy Condron
19. Howard Kessler, Bart Grenier, Lesley King, Lyle Howland, Jack
Manning
20. Tom Quick and Kieran McLoughlin
21. Michele Kessler, Pepper and Michael Jackson, Dianna Ecklestone
22. Joe Corcoran and Susie Corcoran
23. Bart Murphy, Guest and Bob McDonough
24. Sheila O'Malley and Loretta Brennan Glucksman
25. Jackie Higgins, Sheila O'Malley, Pat Rooney, Maryon Davies
Lewis, Christine Daly and Peggy Condron
26. Pat and Dan Rooney, Loretta Brennan Glucksman
27. Kingsley Aikins, Bill Walsh and Kip Condron
28. Professor Gerry Wrixon
29. Hayfield Manor Hotel
30. Loretta Brennan Glucksman and William Trevor
31. Bill Vincent
32. Pauline Ryan points to her visit to Fettercairn in the gallery
33. Bridget Hester, Tommy Gallagher and Margaret Hayhurst
34. Tom McCarthy
35. Craig and Maureen Sullivan with a plaque that reads "This
portrait of Donal O'Sullivan Beare, a chieftain of the O'Sullivans
and leader of the renowned march to Leitrim 1602-3 was conserved
and reframed through the kind generosity of Mr. Craig O'Sullivan,
USA" |
| Schedule of Events 2005 |
Saturday
18 June
• Afternoon - Golf at Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links
• Evening - Welcome Dinner at Old Head Links
Sunday 19 June
• Morning - AIF Committee meetings in Cobh
• Afternoon - Lunch in Cobh followed by tour of Cobh Heritage Center
• Evening - WineGeese Book Launch Reception at Hayfield Manor followed
by dinner.
Monday 20 June
• Morning - 'Ireland, The Funds, and the Future' at the Glucksman Gallery
at University College Cork
• Evening - Closing Dinner at The Aula Maxima UCC and presentation of The
AWB Vincent Literary Award |
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