Irish Alumni Association Board at the Irish Golf Classic
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For Alumni of St. Patrick, St. Patrick Central, Bishop McNamara High School, and Bishop McNamara Catholic School Irish Update VOLUME 38, NO. 1 • FALL 2019 Irish Alumni Association Board at the Irish Golf Classic The Irish Alumni Association Board at Oak Springs Golf Course in St. Anne on July 5, 2019. Left to Right: Kelsey Curwick ’13 McGrath, Sharon Soucie ’56 Jackson, Beth Olsen ’75 Provost, Jim Gerth ’80, Annie Provost ’07 Rorabaugh, Taylor Bennett ’06, Sandy LaMotte ’82 Malpasuto, Tyler Provost ’99 Pallissard, Nick Elliott ’06, Dave Roney ’12, Tyler Boerschig ’09, Emily Olszewski ’12, Mitchell Gerth ’11, Todd Arseneau ’86, Deb Devine ’73 Rorabaugh, Adrian Provost ’92, Pat Neville ’73 Chaplinski, and in front - Kati Kresl ’03 our volunteer for the putting contest! The Irish Alumni Association Board loves planning the annual Irish Golf Classic! On July 5, 2019, we celebrated our 33rd outing with the most attendees since 1997. We were very fortunate to have a gorgeous, sunny day. It was wonderful to see everyone sharing stories and reconnecting with fellow alums, faculty, staff, coaches, friends and family! The Irish Golf Classic is the alumni board’s major annual fundraiser. Monies raised support these endeavors: the producing and mailing of the Irish Update sent to over 5500 households across the country each spring and fall; the alumni tent and post-game gathering at Homecoming; the biennial Hall of Honor induction ceremony reception; a scholarship for an incoming freshman student; and a parting gift for each senior student upon graduation. We extend our sincerest thanks to our major event sponsors, hole sponsors, volunteers, and of course…all those who came out to golf. This event is a success because of all of you! Mark your calendars for next year’s Irish Golf Classic which will be held on Friday, July 3, 2020 [email protected] Irish Update 1 FROM OUR PRESIDENT Terry Granger ’76 IRISH UPDATE Dear Irish Alumni, “Accept the past but fight for the future! Even though we are never is published semi-annually free from change, we are always free to decide how we respond to it.” (spring and fall) Viktor Frankl championed this idea after surviving three years in Nazi concentration camps. Upon coming home, Frankl discovered everything ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS and everyone he loved was gone. Everything in his life had changed. Frankl’s story is an extreme example, of course, but it is also all the President more reason why we should find inspiration from it. Nick Elliott ’06 As a Catholic school committed to providing an excellent education for all of the students Vice President of Bishop McNamara Catholic School, we cannot rely on the past or live up to the phrase Annie Provost ’07 Rorabaugh “we’ve always done it this way.” We must be astute to the ever-changing realm of education to ensure we are indeed carrying out our vision and mission of providing a quality Catholic Secretary education. A prime example of change that we are excited about as we begin the 2019-20 Kelsey Curwick ’13 McGrath academic year is our Enhanced Dual Credit Program through our partnership with Kankakee Directors Community College. Bishop McNamara students who qualify academically now have the Sharon Soucie ’56 Jackson potential to earn up to fifty college credits during their four years of high school. These earned Pat Neville ’73 Chaplinski credits are guaranteed to transfer to over two hundred colleges or universities in the state of Illinois. This is just one example of the enhancements we have made to our curriculum at Deb Devine ’73 Rorabaugh the high school level. Beth Olsen ’75 Provost In order to maintain a current and rigorous academic environment across all grade levels Jim Gerth ’80 such as this, there are other changes we must consider with our fundraising efforts in order Todd Arseneau ’86 to bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost to educate students. After listening to Adrian Provost ’92 and surveying our parents, alumni, and other constituents of Bishop McNamara, there have Tyler Provost ’99 Pallissard been recommendations given to our School Board and Executive Board which they have Taylor Bennett ’06 acted upon. We are excited about the possibilities these enhancements to our fundraising Tyler Boerschig ’09 efforts will bring and how they will ultimately enhance the education for all of our students of Mitchell Gerth ’11 all ages. There are two changes we want to share with you, the alumni of Bishop McNamara. Emily Olszewski ’12 These changes are related to the 36th Annual Dinner Auction and the Progressive Raffle. Dave Roney ’12 Our annual dinner auction which is traditionally held in the spring is being moved to the fall, Taylor McCammon ’14 in November. Join us on Friday, November 8, 2019, here at Bishop McNamara’s Kankakee School Liaison site for this wonderful event. Regarding our Progressive Raffle, the opportunity to win a total Sandy LaMotte ’82 Malpasuto of $120,000 in prizes will be held at two event drawings: the 36th Annual Dinner Auction in Coordinator of Alumni November and Las Vegas in Bradley on February 29, 2020. Special Events The Irish alumni have always provided tremendous support! We ask that you please continue Editor of the Irish Update to do so by attending these major events and by participating in our Progressive Raffle. Mark your calendars and save the dates for our 36th Annual Dinner Auction on Friday, November Interested in learning more 8, 2019, and Las Vegas in Bradley on Saturday, February 29, 2020! about the Irish Alumni Here is to an awesome 2019-20 academic year. Go Irish! Association Board? Peace, Contact Sandy at Terry Granger ’76 [email protected]. President & Principal Bishop McNamara Catholic School FROM OUR ALUMNI PRESIDENT Nick Elliott ’06 Dear Fellow Alums, I want to first extend a huge “THANK The Irish Alumni Association, much like our current students, YOU” to all of the alumni who attended looks forward to the annual Homecoming week activities. The and assisted with our annual golf outing Homecoming game this year falls on Friday, September 27, on July 5, 2019. I am proud to report that 2019. This is a great opportunity to reimmerse yourself into the we had 129 golfers participate which is pride and glory of the Fightin’ Irish! our largest turn out since 1997. The outing Come on by and watch the crowd cheer on the football team. would not be possible without the generous donations of our Stop by the alumni tent at the south end of the football field and sponsors, our gracious volunteers, and all those who came catch up with friends. After the game, hop over to Brookmont out to golf. Bowl and share a drink with 100 or so fellow Irish alums. We now watch golf weather slowly slip away into fall I hope to see you all this fall at Homecoming. Be sure to “football” weather. Many of us remember the bittersweet balance out the bitter end of summer with the sweetness that feeling of the new school year wash over us. The dismay of is our Fightin’ Irish! summer vacation ending is balanced out by the excitement Thank you and Go Irish! of a new year with friends and countless school events. The Nick Elliott ’06 first major event approaching is, of course, Homecoming. Irish Alumni Association Board President 2 Irish Update bishopmac.com Honorary Chairpersons. Sandy is a 1982 graduate of Bishop McNamara. In 2006, she began working at Maternity BVM Catholic School as a part- time administrative assistant. In 2012, she joined the Bishop McNamara administrative assistant team, then served as Bishop McNamara’s Director of Advancement from 2013 until 2017. Since 2018, Sandy has continued her services at Bishop McNamara by volunteering on the Irish Alumni Association Board. In that capacity, she acts as the Coordinator of Alumni Bob and Sandy Special Events. She was also LaMotte ’82 Malpasuto a member of the inaugural Bishop McNamara’s 36th Annual Dinner Auction, “Under group that started the MAC PAC, the current parent-teacher the Stars” will be held on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Bishop association. In addition, she serves as editor of the Irish Update. McNamara in Kankakee. Sandy enjoys the connection that all generations of Bishop This is the same great McNamara alums continue to share at all of the fun alumni- annual event that is sponsored events. being moved from the Bob has also served as a volunteer for Bishop McNamara. He spring to the fall! has been on the finance committee since 2011 and the school Our fall 2019 auction board since 2014. He was a member of the strategic planning chairpersons, Scott and committees in 2011 and 2017. Bob was on the committee for Peggy Purcell ’90 Mayer, the regionalization of the area Catholic schools. He is a current will be working very member of the Catholic Education Foundation Board for the hard with the steering Diocese of Joliet and is a former parish council member of committee to make the Maternity BVM Catholic Church. In addition, Bob’s expertise in event extra special this technology has served us well in numerous ways to include the year! Scott and Peggy building of our raffle database system. have three children in Bob and Sandy have two sons that are 3rd generation Bishop the Bishop McNamara McNamara graduates. Jack ’12 currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Catholic School system. Michael ’14 currently resides in Seattle, WA. Bob and Sandy were Riley is a sophomore and involved in the Catholic school system when their sons were of Morgan is in 8th grade at Scott and Peggy school age and continue to do so to this day.