The 2009 American Celtic Ball Journal
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2009American Celtic Ball ICCUSA Moving Toward the Future American Celtic Ball 1 21 st Annual American Celtic Ball Co-hosted by The Ireland Chamber–United States and Co-operation Ireland Our warmest congratulations Maurice A. Buckley to tonight’s honorees: President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue Alfred E. Smith, IV President and CEO, Chairman, ICCUSA U.S. Chamber of Commerce THOMAS J. DONOHUE Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. President and CEO & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chairman, President and CEO, Keynote Speaker & Sir Michael Smurfit Lifetime Achievement Award NACCO Industries, Inc William J. Ryan Chairman of the Board, HONORING TD Banknorth, Inc. WILLIAM J. RYAN The Duchess of Abercorn Chairman of the Board Patron, The Pushkin Trust TD Banknorth, Inc. Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award Jim Rogers Chairman, President and CEO, ALFRED M. RANKIN, JR . Duke Energy Chairman, President and CEO NACCO Industries, Inc Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award (Irish Recipient) THE DUCHESS OF ABERCORN Patron The Pushkin Trust Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life Humanitarian Award JIM roGERS Chairman, President and CEO Duke Energy Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award Thursday October 8th, 2009 Grand Ballroom The Waldorf= Astoria Hotel 2 American Celtic Ball American Celtic Ball 3 INTERNATIONAL SIR MICHAEL W. J. SMURFIT, KBE DINNER CHAIRMAN I would like to welcome you to the 19th annual ICCUSA American Celtic Ball. I would like to welcome you to the 21st Annual American Celtic Ball, this year co-hosted by The IrelandTonight Chamber we will recognize – United some States very and special Co-operation guests starting Ireland. with Senator George Mitchell, top business leaders from the United States and Ireland, Ambassador Michael Collins as well as senior members of Tonightthe Northern we will Ireland recognize Government. some very I would special also guests like to starting welcome with representatives Thomas J. fromDonohue, Invest and Northern other leadingIreland, businessIDA, Enterprise executives Ireland and humanitarians and Tourism Ireland.from the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland. I would also like to welcome senior representatives from both governments of Northern Ireland and the RepublicI would also of Ireland like to alike. congratulate Included the in thisstaff welcome of ICCUSA are the for vastly doing important such a wonderful agencies thatjob serveover theto steer last foreignseveral yearsdirect both investment in the area and of tourism developing such business as Enterprise relationships Ireland andbetween Tourism Ireland Ireland. and the US and also the expansion of their various chapters. Added to this their work for raising funds for various charities Iis wouldmost commendable. also like to congratulate the staff of ICCUSA for doing such a wonderful job over the last several years both in the area of developing business relationships between Ireland and the US and also No Home No Hope theCongratulations expansion of totheir tonight’s various honorees chapters. on Added their toachievements this their work and for contributions raising funds to for their various communities charities isand most being commendable. role models for professionals and entrepreneurs in both countries. Congratulations to Jack Butler, Joe Loughrey, Neville Isdell and Matt McCoy. It gives me a real sense that we have created a Congratulationsformat where governments, to tonight’s state honorees bodies on from their both achievements Northern and and Republic contributions of Ireland to their and organizationscommunities andsuch beingas ICCUSA role models and other for Chambers professionals are pullingand entrepreneurs together and increating both ancountries environment and nowand opportuglobally.- Congratulationsnity for both organizations to William and J. Ryan, individuals Alfred toM. operate Rankin, in Jr., the The most Duchess efficient of Abercornways in both and countries. Jim Rogers. It gives me a real sense of pride in that we have created a format where governments, state bodies fromAt this both time, Northern I would likeIreland to recognize and Ireland the andeducational organizations initiative such that as isICCUSA proposed and between other theinternational Northern Haven is changing the lives of thousands ChambersIreland’s department are pulling of together Employment and creating & Learning an environment headed up byand Sir opportunity Reg Empey for and organizations ICCUSA. Thisand individualsprogram over to timeoperate will in impact the most how efficient business isways conducted in across in the Northern island and Ireland the throughAtlantic alike.the exchange of entrepreneurial methodology as well as improving cultural ties between the parties. of destitute Haitians by providing them At this time, I would like to recognize the launch of The ICCUSA Foundation, Inc., and its flagship Iinitiative would also the likeAlbert to thank Schweitzer’s Dr. Ian Leadership Paisley (First For Minister Life youth of Northern leadership Ireland) program. & Mr. You Martin will learn McGuin more- nessabout (Deputy this thoughtful First Minister and dynamic of Northern program Ireland) tonight for their and supportits recent and success sincere in congratulationsDublin 2009 around for their its success.inaugural international youth leadership conference, in partnership with Foroige; I would kindly urge with a proper home. But we need your you to consider becoming involved in its ongoing success. Again, I would like to thank you all for joining us tonight, I am confident that you will enjoy yourselves and leave with a far greater appreciation of the role that ICCUSA plays in further strengthening the help. Donate to Haven or volunteer to go historic bonds between the USA and the entire island of Ireland. to Haiti for Haven’s Build it Week in 2010. Michael W. J. Smurfit International Chairman Michael W. J. Smurfit Help us to build hope in Haiti. International Chairman You can sign up or donate on line at National Headquarters, 556 Central Avenue • New Providence, NJ 07974 • Tel 908-286-1300 • Fax (908) 286-1200 www.iccusa.org web www.havenpartnership.com email [email protected] tel +353 1 433 3930 Haven is a registered charity CHY 18494 American Celtic Ball 5 CONCERN-Bangladesh 052809.qxd 5/28/09 3:28 PM Page 1 ALFRED E. SMITH, IV CHAIRMAN It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 19th annual ICCUSA American Celtic Ball. I would like to Itthank is my Senator pleasure George to welcome Mitchell you our to keynotethe 21st speakerAnnual thisAmerican evening Celtic as well Ball, as Marvinthis year Scott, co-hosted our MC. by The IIreland would Chamberalso like to – congratulateUnited States tonight’s and Co-operation honorees. TheyIreland. are I individualswould like whoto thank represent Thomas the J.very Donohue bestour keynoteof what speakerIreland/America this evening has asto welloffer. as I Matt would McCoy, like to welcomeour MC. and congratulate Jack Butler, Joe ILoughrey, would also Neville like to Isdell congratulate and Matt tonight’s McCoy honorees. for their commitment They are individuals and excellence who represent in their thefields very which best ofis whatextraordinary. Ireland, Northern They display Ireland Irish and ingenuity American and have know to how,offer. thus I would setting like a togreat welcome example and for congratulate the younger Williamgeneration J. Ryan,in Ireland Alfred and M. America Rankin, for Jr., individuals The Duchess of Irish of Abercorn descent. and Jim Rogers for their commitment ICCUSAand excellence has developed in their fields over thewhich last is 19 extraordinary. years from very They small display and humbleIrish ingenuity beginnings and andknow now how, has thus chapterssetting a acrossgreat example the United for States.the younger They generationare all working in all actively of Ireland to promote and America businesses for individuals in their region of Irish anddescent also and throughout beyond. the United States and Europe. Combined with our relationships with the Dublin, Northern Ireland Chambers of Commerce & Industry and our recently established strategic relationship withICCUSA the Chambers has developed of Commerce over the last of Ireland,21 years gives from us very a unique small and networking humble beginningsability for over and 12,000now has 7 members.chapters across I am the also United delighted States. to welcome They are the all workingrepresentatives actively from to promote IDA, Enterprise businesses Ireland, in their Tourism region When the rains come to Bangladesh, walls don’t keep the water out. Ireland,and also Investthroughout Northern the UnitedIreland Statesand guests and Europe. from Trinity Combined College with and our Smurfit relationships Business with School. the Dublin, I would “ likeNorthern to thank Ireland the Presidents, Chambers theof Commerce Prime minister, & Industry the Ambassador, and our recently the Archbishop established of strategic New York, relationship various It washes through homes where families live, eat, sleep, and play – with the Chambers Ireland, gives us a unique networking ability for over 13,000 members. I am also delightedgovernors, to senator welcome and the the representatives mayor for their from letters Enterprise and their Ireland, encouragement Tourism Irelandfor us to and continue guests buildingfrom oods and stripping away their dignity. and to broaden the base for ICCUSA members to expand trade both from the USA to Ireland and vice destroying their livelih versa.Trinity College