Friday, June 20, 2008

Irish Fair

Hello Emeralds!

Just some info for the Irish Fair this weekend! Yes, it is THIS weekend! That was the reminder...now the info...The location is 8800 Irvine Center Drive at Irvine Meadows. Exit Irvine Center off of the 405 Freeway. If you take the 5 Fwy use the 55 Fwy South to the 405. If you stay on the 5 to the 405(El Toro "Y") you will go too far south. When you exit the 405 at Irvine Center follow the signs to the Irish Fair. It is not far off the freeway. There will be a will call at the entrance with all of the volunteer names on a list for tickets. Pipe Major Scott Walton or I will be at the parking entrance at 1000 Hrs where you will receive your parking pass. NO ONE should be paying out of pocket for parking or entrance tickets! If you arrive later call 213 709-3254 or 909 262-6503 and someone, probably me, will come out to you with a parking pass! This message will be followed by a phone call from me to confirm all information!

There will be great entertainment at the Fair and I am looking forward to our return to the Irish Fair in County Orange!

Steve Saletros

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Emerald Society Movie Night

Brother and Sister Emeralds,

On Friday June 27th we, the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society, will be gathering at the Laemmle Theater Beverly Hills to see the Los Angeles premiere of the Irish movie, "Red Roses and Petrol" starring Malcolm McDowell and former Miss Ireland Olivia Tracey. Olivia Tracey was our guest speaker at our June meeting and her beauty, charm, humor,wit and stories were unsurpassed and most entertaining! She was a delight and we thank her for the very special guest she was!

The start time of the movie has not been announced yet but I am thinking it will be around 7 PM...For those of you who have never been to this theater, there is parking just around the corner on Doheny St for $3.00. This is a relatively small and intimate theater that shows many indpendent films and they often have film festivals there!

Your attending Board members will be wearing their kilts and all Society members are encouraged to wear Emerald Society shirts or jackets.

I anticipate that this will be a wonderful night at the cinema and I encourage you to bring your family and friends! If you have any questions at all please contact me and I hope to see you at the movies!

Brother Steve

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Irish Fair

Emerald Brothers and Sisters,

The Irish Fair is to take place on Saturday and Sunday June 20/21 at Irvine Fairgrounds! Our Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Band will be there proudly representing our Society! We are also going to have a booth at the Irish Fair for which we will need some volunteers. At the general meeting last night, we received commitments from 8 members to volunteer to work the booth. Ideally, we would like to have a few more volunteers! If you are able to, and considering attending the Irish Fair, please consider volunteering at the Booth. Volunteers will receive a free parking pass and admission for a commitment of a minimum of 4 hours at the Booth. Of course, you can stay and volunteer at the Booth longer, as it is always a fun place to be with your fellow Emeralds, and interact with the Irish Fair attendees. The Irish Fair opens at 10AM and closes at 7PM. Time assignments will be coordinated by yours truly so that the system is fair and allows everyone time to have fun at the Fair! It is time for the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society to return to the Irish Fair and be seen and heard and the welcome mat has been extended to us...so, let's take this opportunity to shine Emerald Green! Those who decide to volunteer please email and /or call me to confirm times and details and I will be calling you to confirm. Thanks in advance! You guys are the Best!


Brother Steve S

Friday, June 6, 2008

Special Guest for Our June 11th Meeting


Yes Emeralds, I have wonderful news! Olivia Tracy, former Miss Ireland, Miss Universe runner up, super model, actress and author will be our special guest at our June 11th meeting!. Olivia is currently starring in "Red Roses and Petrol" and is breath takingly beautiful and charming. This should be a very delightful meeting and I look forward to seeing you there!

All the Best,
Steve

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Red Roses and Petrol

Fellow Emeralds,

In keeping with our ongoing tradition of being good partners in the Irish/Irish American cultural community, our Los Angeles Police Emerald Society is supporting the Irish film "Red Roses and Petrol" which is coming to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Boston! Please pass on the below announcement of the opening of this Irish film to any Irish heritage affiliated organizations to which you may also belong!

Stay tuned for an announcement of a very special guest who will be featured at our June 11th meeting! You wont want to miss this one! Oh yes, and don't forget to check the supporters section on the "Red Roses and Petrol" website!

All the Best to All My Emerald Brothers and Sisters,
Steve Saletros
President

Monday, June 2, 2008

St. Brigid's Church is Saved!!!

Greetings My Emerald Brothers and Sisters,

Many months ago Brother Emerald Joe Flood (thank you Joe!) brought to our attention the plight of St Brigid's Church, known as the Famine Church of the Lower East Side, in New York City.

St. Brigid's was built by Irish immigrant labor in 1848 and is a church that has great significance for its history, architecture and service to the surrounding community for so many years. The Catholic Archdiocese, sighting structural weaknesses of the Church, designated St. Brigid's for demolition with the eventual sale of the property to follow.

As a response to the announcement of the impending demolition of St. Brigid's Church, the "Committee to Save St. Brigid's" was formed with the intent of preserving St. Brigid's Church. During a Christmas visit back to New York City I went to visit the shuttered church and met with Committee member Carolyn Ratcliffe. She told me of the situation and the struggle that was taking place as we stood just across the street from the majestic church. The distinctively beautiful church overlooks Thompson Square Park and seems to stand as a beacon of faith over the park and the entire neighborhood. The prospect of the historic church no longer being there was distressing. Thoughts of the Irish laborers who built the Church, the multitude of the faithful who had worshiped, prayed and celebrated meaningful spiritual events in their lives over so many years filled my head. The loss of St. Brigid's would be a tragedy that could not be reversed once the Church was demolished as it was scheduled to be. We had to try to help save St Brigid's! In our own way, whatever we could do, we had to try and preserve our heritage wherever it might be and in whatever form.

Our Emerald Society, after a vigorous discussion at a general meeting, unanimously voted to send a donation to the "Committee to Save St. Brigid's"! At that meeting I cannot tell you how proud I was to see our members, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish all come together to draw a line in the sand and stand together! We would not let a House of Worship, an Irish historical Church, be demolished without a fight! And we joined that fight from 3000 miles away! We demonstrated that we were good partners and kept the faith with our Irish heritage no matter what the distance, difficulties, or odds. And make no mistake about it we knew that the odds of winning this fight were overwhelmingly against us. But sometimes, you just have to make the effort because it is the right thing to do, and we did! The "Committee to Save St. Brigid's"raised financial and political support in a demonstration of tremendous effort on behalf of all who participated! The "Committee to Save St. Brigid's" delayed the demolition through the courts for about three years until finally.....an answer to the prayers of many... a miracle occurred!

An anonymous donor donated 20 million dollars to St Brigid's which will save St. Brigid's Church!!! Ten million will be allocated for restoration of the Church building, with an additional eight million for St. Brigid's School and two million as an endowment for the spiritual needs of the parishioners. This is truly a miracle and we are deeply grateful to the benefactor who has made the preservation of St. Brigid's Church a reality! His generosity will preserve our heritage and St. Brigid's Church for years to come! We also express deep gratitude for the tireless efforts of the "Committee to Save St. Brigid's" and all those who struggled together!

It is my sincerest hope that one day you will be able to visit St. Brigid's Church, the Famine Church, and sit in the park in the shadow of the Church. Know that you were part of a historic effort to save a historic Church and preserve our Irish heritage!


Together as One,
Steve Saletros
President
Los Angeles Police Emerald Society