President’s Update:
Our Division email will be Wednesday May 10th. Doors open at 7 pm.
Our speaker will be Dennis Hill who is Executive Director of the William H. Markward Basketball Club of Philadelphia. An article detailing his background is below. He is also an AOH brother so we will plan to close the meeting after he takes questions. He will speak around 8 pm. Thanks to Dan Harrell and Tom Meakim for organizing this. I enjoyed our April speaker and think Dennis will be a great follow up to Stephen Gambescia. As a side note Stephen thanked us for all that we do to preserve the American ideal of Fraternity.
Our June meeting will be Wednesday the 14th and will not be a meeting. We will have a member only barbecue and ask those that those who want to bring a prospective member to do so. We will treat this as a fundraiser and ask for a $10 donation from members. Pat O’Brien will be on the grill and hopefully a few cigars will show up! This will be a great opportunity to raise a little money, meet some new people and spend some time together before the summer break.
Our family picnic will be in August – date TBD – and is most likely moving back to the Legion. More to come on this.
At our board meeting we also discussed a fall event and watching an away Eagles game or two together this fall. More to come.
Due to our June meeting being – NO Business – please have any announcements to me by May 31 and I am happy to email them out to the division ahead of the barbecue.
We will start taking reservations for the fall trip (tentatively Friday November 3rd) in September – this year will be a tour of the Coast Guard Base in New Jersey which means a day trip to the shore. We expect a full bus given the location – Cape May to Atlantic City or vice versa – and will also encourage people to invite prospective members / family / friends/ other divisions once current members have had a chance to sign up in September.
As always there is a lot going on but our meeting and events are a great opportunity to get out of the house and have some fun – especially as we get into the warmer months!
Did you know the Hibernian Hunger project has collected 5500 pounds of food and expects to hit its goal of 8,000 pounds this year? Thank you to Bob Farrington and everyone that helps with this. That is a lot of food to collect and deliver!
Wednesday’s should be a very interesting speaker (see below) – hope to see you there – Mike
PROFILES, SPORTS IN FISHTOWN
Basketball in His Blood
BY JEFF KILPATRICK | MAY 9, 2012
Dennis Hill is Honored by Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
For twenty-four years, Fishtowner Dennis Hill worked for the Philadelphia Police Department. For seven years after that, he was the manager for Maui on Delaware Avenue (a nightclub that once stood next to Penn Treaty Park). For the last twelve years, Dennis has been working at the University of Pennsylvania in Public Safety, a job he will be retiring from in a few weeks.
Of all the jobs Dennis has worked in his life, it seems that his most successful was actually the game of basketball. Dennis Hill has basketball in his blood. From his time playing as a young kid at Newt’s Playground (now Shissler Recreation Center) and the old Hackett schoolyard, he idolized the giants of the game. “The old Newt’s indoor court was very small and the basket was on the wall. You learned to position yourself properly so you didn’t get pushed into the wall. I played on outdoor courts in all types of weather. My love of the game started when I went to see the Tom Gola, Paul Arizin, and Wilt Chamberlain play for the Philadelphia Warriors. I was very lucky later in life to become friends with all of them.”
I first came to know Dennis when I was working at North Catholic in the development office. Dennis is a 1967 graduate, and was very active with the school. I had no idea of his history with the Falcon basketball team. I just knew Dennis as a loyal grad and super-friendly guy – a neighborhood guy. “I started North Catholic in 1963,” said Hill. “And I was honored to make the freshmen team after two weeks, because over four hundred freshmen went out for the team. I was coached by Fran Dougherty, who to this day is still a very close friend. I played for two more years until I suffered a knee injury, which required two operations in five months.”
In spite of this injury, Dennis Hill remains close to the game to this day. “I have played the game in every level with some the greatest players from the Philadelphia area,” said Hill, “I enjoy the game as much today as I did when playing for Coach Frank O’Neill at Holy Name CYO.”
Throughout his life, he has coached at Holy Name of Jesus Grade School, Fishtown Athletic Club, and the 26TH District PAL teams to championships. He also coached at Archbishop Ryan and North Catholic. Furthermore, Hill has scouted for Providence College for his friend Tim Welch when he was the coach.
Hill’s work in basketball has not gone unnoticed. He has been honored by the City of North Wildwood and Roman Catholic’s Sports Hall of Fame.
For the past twelve years, Dennis has been the Executive Director of the William H. Markward Basketball Club of Philadelphia. The club, which is the oldest basketball club in the country, was founded in 1946 and was created to honor Philadelphia Scholastic players. Hill spoke of expanding the parameters of the club, stating, “My staff and I have made changes in which we now honor female high school players. We have also included the Suburban schools.”
Dennis said he sees about one hundred and eighty high school games per year to find players to be honored by the Markward club. Hill says he sometimes enjoys watching girls’ basketball as much or more than boys’ games, because they often show more solidarity as a team.
I asked Dennis how he thinks the game of basketball has changed since the time of his youth. Once again, he focused on the topic of teamwork, declaring, “The court is the same length and the basket is the same height. Some young players today think that it is more important to shoot a three-point attempt rather than use teamwork to make a lay up.”
When asked about the criteria for the players to be honored by the Markward club, Dennis said, “The Markward Club honors a player for their merits on the court and off the court. The player has to show that they are deserving of our award by respecting their teammates, coaches, refs and the other teams.”
The Markward Club provides scholarship aid to students with future college costs. They pick their candidates at the end of every basketball season. Generally, Markward honors the players of the year from all local scholastic leagues. The club picks one male and one female as the top players of the year. The Markward Club also honors unsung players, team managers, and basketball officials. This year, a player from Fishtown that Markward honored was Billy Shank from Neumann-Goretti’s championship team.
Of all his involvement with the game of basketball, Hill’s greatest honor took place on April 10, 2012, when he was honored by the City All Star Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for his work with the Markward Club and the devotion and leadership he has displayed through his lifelong legacy.
“This award is the pinnacle in my career. I am very fortunate because I am able to do something that I love. The award ceremony was attended by two of my former assistant coaches from Holy Name: Mike Golden and Marty Golden. They were beside me when I started in the coaching field.”
I asked Dennis if he had any words of wisdom to impart to young basketball players, to which he responded, “I always tell young players when I am doing basketball clinics that you have to work hard to be the best. Basketball is a game that requires five players to be united on the court to become the best team. I always remember what Jim Phelan, the Hall of Fame Coach from Mount Saint Mary’s, told me. Dennis – be good to the game because the game was good to you.”
Dennis continued with shout-outs to connections from his career in the game, stating, “Also, never forget your teammates (Jerry Leski, Don Woods, Buddy Bukowski) and players who you have coached (Joe Boback, John Shank, Jimmy and Billy Lamb, Tommy Smith). These are friendships that will last a lifetime. I always say that I haven’t done bad for a skinny kid from Fishtown.”
Colin Cleary is very thankful that the division members donated so many new hats and gloves.
He was able to give over two hundred hats, gloves , and scarves to the Philadelphia Police 16th district.
The officers will give them out to kids without on their way to school as well as needy family’s.
As always the division came up big for those in need!
AOH Dennis’s Kelly 5 year plan
1) Active membership growth – utilize 4 corners meeting strategy to increase member participation – start quarterly membership awareness events to recruit members – start a social chair
2)Increased community activity – increase giving through increased fundraising – utilize 4 corners strategy to focus all members on fundraising – scholarship fund at Catholic school
3)Increase permanent fund – start coin challenge – charitable gifts from members are tax deductible and increase permanent fund
4)Partner/purchase clubhouse – better outreach with Legion – donations to them at times – form committee to explore purchase and what it requires
5)Host a degree ceremony
Mike
Please note that 2017 dues are now due. Dues are now $50.00* cash or check, $52.00 for all credit card transactions, paid annually. If paying past year’s dues, add $35.00 or $36.50 if paying by credit card.
* NOTE: If you were a member last year and have not yet paid last year’s dues, please add that amount to your current year’s dues payment.
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2. By cash or check payable to AOH of Havertown. If you cannot pay in person, please mail your check to: P.O. Box 1606, Havertown, PA 19083. Be sure to indicate the annual period for which you are paying (e.g. 2017 dues; 2016 and 2015 dues)
McKenna’s Kitchen and Market Opening Sunday July 5th As many of you know, our dedicated division member Brian Cleary and his wife are opening McKenna’s Kitchen on Darby Rd. where the Irish Shop used to be (1901 Darby Rd, Havertown, PA). The grand opening was Sunday, July 5th from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. They will typically be open for dinners as well with the last seating taking place around 7:00 pm. Brian has done so much for the division over the years with generating fundraising ideas, running ad books, getting sponsorships, working events, etc. He has done it all and has always been there for us so let’s be sure to support him in this endeavor. You can go in for a great Irish or American meal as well as pick up some Irish products on your way out. This is a great business to have in the Havertown area. Follow link for info and menu: McKenna’s Kitchen
Dennis Kelly merchandise Dennis Kelly merchandise available, including winter jackets, windbreakers, scarves, and our new zip-up windbreaker with our logo on front and back, and black knit cap with logo. Email Tim Carroll at tjmcarroll@gmail.com for available sizes and prices.
Congratulations Congratulations to Brother John Cooke for being chosen to be new president of Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School. Official Announcement
3 Leaf Basketball 3 Leaf Basketball is an offshoot of the Dennis Kelly AOH. Home of the Delco 33s, promoting sport & friendship with our brothers and sisters from Ireland. Follow us on Twitter 3leafbasketball or Facebook 3leafbasketball
Scranton trip pictures. View pictures and images of the Scranton trip and other AOH events on the Highlights from AOH Events on the EVENT/NEWS drop down menu on our Home Page.
View the trailer of “A Terrible Beauty.” If you missed the world premier of “A Terrible Beauty,” follow the “A Terrible Beauty” link to view the film trailer. A Terrible Beauty
Next general meeting Wednesday May 10, 2017, at the American Legion on Grasslyn Ave. Doors will open at 7:00
Slàinte.