NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE – OCTOBER 2020 EDITION
Dear Ottawa Gaels,
I understand these are challenging times for everyone as we move into the winter during the second wave of this pandemic but the Ottawa Gaels continue to stay the course, and have some great activities planned over the next few months. I want to take this opportunity to share some exciting updates with you.
AGM & 2020/21 Executive
First off, I would like to personally thank all 19 members who attended our first ever virtual AGM on October 25th. Miraculously, we had no technical difficulties, and it went quite smoothly. A huge thank you to our 2019/2020 Executive who despite the challenges of operating a GAA club in the middle of a pandemic succeeded in keeping our close knit community on track towards getting our members back on the pitch and sweating out those positive endorphins. Rolling off the board are Noel McGinnity our Youth Development Officer and Ken O’Callaghan our Cultural Liaison. As well, David Bhamjee will be passing the men’s representative torch to long time veteran, JF Chapman. Thank you all for your years of dedicated service to the Ottawa Gaels. We are all so appreciative of all the time you have committed to the Club.
I am pleased to announce the following members were voted on to the Executive for 2020/21:
Chairperson – Lisa Langevin
Vice Chairperson – Daphne Ballard
Secretary – Aisling Keenan
Treasurer – Vanessa McLean
Public Relations Officer – Haleigh Conway
Registrar – Doireann Lawlor
Youth Officer – Kerri Beeching
Men’s Representative – JF Chapman
Ladies Football Representative – Jen Keir
Camogie Representative – Émilie Lavallée-Funston
Club Development Officer – Lisa Jensen
Child Protection Officer – To be announced
Cultural Liaison – Pat Kelly
A new position was created after a motion was passed by the CGAA on October 17, 2020 that all Canadian GAA clubs have a representative on each of the divisional subcommittees. Jamie Kennedy has graciously agreed to be our representative on the ECGAA whose main responsibility moving forward will be to handle competition including the ECGAA championships which are typically held in September of each year.
Camogie
The Ottawa Gaels are excited to announce that it is the recipient of a DFA/GAA grant through the 2020 Global Games Development Fund. This grant will assist us to promote and establish Camogie within our Club. We were advised we were awarded the grant in mid September and have moved quickly to implement a developmental program for our Ladies. We have had some excellent training over the past few weeks organized by our secretary, Aisling Keenan. Please come out and give it a try. As our Vice Chairperson, Daphne Ballard (aged 46) so accurately put it, you are “never too old to try a new sport”. We have one more outdoor training session scheduled at Celebration Park, on October 31st at 10:00 to 11:30 am. We will then be proceeding to six indoor training sessions at the RA Centre on Saturday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on November 7, 21, 28, and December 5 and 12. We will be having a session on Sunday, November 15th with our time slot TBD.
Gaelic Football
The Ottawa Gaels returned to Gaelic Football training in mid August and had a blast getting back at it. The outdoor sessions at Notre Dame finished up at the end of September and it is our hope to organize some short indoor training sessions at the RA Centre following Camogie training on the dates listed above subject to the restrictions imposed by the facility due to the number of participants we may have on any given night for Camogie. We will provide details on social media each Friday to confirm if Gaelic training will be proceeding on the Saturday evenings. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this regard.
We also will be planning to start indoor training in January for Gaelic with details to follow shortly. Make sure to come out and build up your fitness level and improve your skills!
We continue to follow all the GAA “Return to Play” protocols for the Mens and Ladies teams. We are acting with a great deal of caution in order to safeguard the health of our membership and your families. Your health and safety continue to be the Ottawa Gaels highest priority. As a reminder, if you have not already been out to a session, please review the Return to Gaelic Games Guidelines https://gaelicgamescanada.com/wp-content/uploads/1.0_CGAA_Return-to-Gaelic-Games_Guidelines_EN.pdf in advance of any Return to Play. Kindly note these guidelines are subject to modification should the Ontario Provincial Governments’ guidelines change.
As a quick reference, the CGAA has also prepared a two-page guideline setting out how teams and players should conduct themselves in advance of training and at training. Kindly familiarize yourself with the guidelines below in advance of any Return to Play if you have yet to return to training.
Key Guidelines for Return to Play
https://gaelicgamescanada.com/wp-content/uploads/CGAA_COVID_Protocols_Clubs_EN_June21.png
Protocols for Coaches/Players
https://gaelicgamescanada.com/wp-content/uploads/CGAA_COVID_Protocols_Coaches_Players_EN_June22.png
Youth Program
The Executive will be hard at work in the next few weeks to start planning for the feasibility and interest of Return to Play for the youth program.
If you are a parent and have children in the youth program or are interested in signing your children up for training in the New Year, please reach out to our Youth Development Officer, Kerri Beeching at youthofficer@ottawagaels.ca or myself at chairperson.ottawagaels.ca@gaa.ie. The logistics of Return to Play for the youth will be driven by the interest of our parents. It is our commitment to you to ensure this is done safely, consistent with the GAA protocols and in compliance with the current Provincial restrictions in place.
We will report back within the next thirty days as to our recommendations for the 2021 winter youth program.
Virtual Gaelic Football Banquet – November 14th at 8:00 pm “Ottawa Gaels Got Talent”
Obviously, an in person banquet with a lovely meal at the Heart & Crown with a couple pints, some laughs and maybe a dance or two is not possible but the Executive are working hard to bring you a unique and COVID friendly event. The plan for this year is to tap into our talented membership and present our talents on an evening Zoom call that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home with a glass of your favorite beverage, cozy pjs and fluffy slippers or perhaps you want to dress to the nines. Whatever floats your boat.
On the roster for the evening, is Mickey Delaney, who will be kicking off the evening with a comedy show geared towards adult ears only, some singing from our very own Jarlath Connaughton, a literary reading by our veteran, Dermot Guinnane and some classic surprise entertainment by our talented Sarah Thorenton and Kelly Cambridge. Ryan and Lauren Mortimer have also volunteered to display their musical and dance talents. If you have a talent you would like to share, please reach out to me at chairperson.ottawagaels.ca@gaa.ie. This definitely will be a night to remember.
The Zoom invite is below so save it in your calendars.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85680404237?pwd=UE52Nlo2cTR5bEhoSHgvS3pCaTZTUT09
Meeting ID: 856 8040 4237 Passcode: 745939 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb5bexEOJf
GAA Club Newsletter
Read the most recent copy of the GAA Club Newsletter right here!
https://www.gaa.ie/news/read-the-latest-club-newsletter-september-2020/
Irish Community Partners
Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa
The Ottawa Gaels would like to extend a warm welcome to the newly appointed Ambassador of Ireland, Eamonn McKee. We look forward to meeting you remotely and hopefully personally very soon.
Condolences
The Ottawa Gaels would like to pass along their condolences to Mr. Tom Murtagh’s family and friends due to his untimely passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Final Word from the Chairperson
As I embark on year two as Chairperson of the Ottawa Gaels in the middle of a pandemic, I am optimistic for the year ahead. We no doubt will be faced with challenges but the Ottawa Gaels are a commited and caring family. We assist those in need, we have each others back and we can count on each other for guidance, support, a good sweat and some comic relief. Stay positive. We will get through this.
Stay Safe.
Lisa Langevin,
Ottawa Gaels Chairperson
A little Irish joke
| An Irishman goes to the doctor, who after examining him says“You have some problems with your heart, but if you take these tablets, I think it will be okay.“So, the doctor gives the man the tablets and the patient asks,“Do I have to take them every day?”No,” replies the doctor, “take one on the Monday, skip the Tuesday, take one on the Wednesday, skip the Thursday and go on like that. “Two weeks later the doctor is walking down the street, and he sees the patient’s wife.“Hello Mrs. Murphy,” he says, “how’s your husband?”“Oh, he died of a heart attack,” says Mrs. Murphy.“I’m very sorry to hear that,” says the doctor, “I thought if he took those tablets he would be all right.”“Oh, the tablets were fine,” says Mrs. Murphy,“It was all the bloody skipping that killed him!” |
