Hi everyone
Many of you are accustomed to our email/newsletters. Some of you are seeing this for the first time. If you have no time to read our email now, please print it out and read it later.
First, we have a few announcements to make in this issue (see announcements section below) which we feel are important, so please consider supporting these fine causes.
Failte 32’s featured organization for November will be the United Irish Counties Association of New York (www.uicany.org). The UICANY is the umbrella organization of all 32 county societies in New York, each of which represents one of the 32 counties of Ireland. The county societies have been the backbone of the Irish community in New York during the past century, and still play a very important role in helping our new arrivals find jobs in New York. It’s current President is Michael Prunty, a great Longford man and leader in the Irish American community, having served roles including past President of the County Longford Association of New York, and past President of Division 4 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in New York (http://www.aoh.com/pages/divisions.html).
If you are a graduate of one of Ireland’s third level institutes, please forward us your contact details, as the New York Pan Alumni Group is planning a job support workshop/expert speaker event to be held at law offices here in New York. We will keep you posted.
The Shamrock Fund SM, launched last month, was recently featured in the September issue of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (www.CIIC-USA.org) newsletter. We would like to thank Katie Fox, its new National Coordinator, for including us in this important issue. Katie jumped straight into her role as National Coordinator with such positive energy, by actively reaching out to everyone in the Irish community in a unifying way. We are very thankful for her support and great suggestions. The same newsletter features the Coalition’s important meeting with An Tanaiste & Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamonn Gilmore.
The Shamrock Fund SM has in its first month of operation assisted two long term visa holders by paying their membership dues to organizations such as the Irish Network-NYC (www.irishnetwork-nyc.com), Irish Business Organization (www.ibo-ny.com), and the Irish International Business Network (www.iibn.com). Below are email applications from the first two sucessful applicants fyi which highlight the great efforts being made by Irish visa holders in their search for employment in the U.S., and the value and great work ethic they can bring as an employee of a U.S. company.
From:
Donal O’Conghaile
Message:
Dear Failte 32,
I am almost 6 months into my 12-month J visa. When I initially arrived
in New York, I did all I could to network and find a job: I connected
with the great Irish community there is here by going to events by the
Irish Network NYC and the New York Irish Center, meeting with the
Emerald Isle Immigration Center and by integrating myself with the
Irish where I live, in Sunnyside (mainly by going to the many Irish
pubs here). My efforts paid off and after 5 weeks I secured a paid
internship for the summer.
This internship ended on August 12th so I find myself back on the job
market. I have stayed connected to the New York Irish Center, where I
volunteer at computer classes for senior citizens and I also assist
the Center with their social networking. I have a business degree from
Trinity and I’m looking for work in marketing/ digital media/ social
media in the online or publishing industries.
The Shamrock fund is a brilliant idea and the timing of its launch
could not be better for me. I’d love to avail of the Fund to secure
membership in the Irish Network NYC and any other organisation that
may be helpful for me in my search for work.
I have really settled here in the States and my ultimate goal is to be
sponsored for a H1B visa so that I may stay here for longer than the
12 months.
Thank you for setting up this initiative and I hope to hear back from
you soon.
Regards,
Donal O’Conghaile
My Linkedin profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/donal-o-conghaile/15/9b0/8b4
From:
Seamus McDaid
[email protected]
Message:
To whom it may concern,
I would like to apply for support from the Shamrock fund.
I moved to New York on a graduate J1 in late June. Previous to this I
was working as marketing manager in our family business. However, as
the opportunity to take up this visa type expired in June 2011, I left
to try and gain exposure to the American sports industry.
I graduated from UCD with a 2.1 in Sport and Exercise Management in
June 2010. The day after my final exam I moved to Australia where I
took up the role of International Recruiting Manager with Flying Start
Sports Management. Essentially I identified talented GAA players,
placing them with Aussie Rules clubs in Australia; Kerry’s Tommy Walsh
being the best known client I managed. Furthermore, my role included
looking after whatever issues they may have had. I had been lucky
enough to intern with Flying Start the previous summer and they
offered me a more permanent position at the end of the intership which
I turned down to return and finish my studies.
Unfortunately due to events outside of my control Flying Start was
sold and reformed, less their international wing, in March 2011. While
disappointed at this turn of events I had already begun the
application process to come to America before the company disbanded as
I knew that Amercian exposure was critical to my professional
development.
SInce June I have applied for numerous positions but had little
success. Recently, however, things have begun to look up as I have
been working at the US Open for the past two weeks. Whilst I am now
finished work with the US Tennis Association, they have already asked
me to return as an employee next year. I have also attended two sports
careers fairs and, whilst I have received great feedback, I have had
no job offers. As well as the job hunt I have volunteed at the Aisling
Irish Centre where I have been helping distribute food to homeless
people in the city on a Monday evening. Additionally, I have been
coaching gaelic football at the St.Raymonds Club.
I really feel that I could utilize the Shamrock Fund. It would provide
a door opening that I am unable to do by myself. Each time I have come
in contact with a person within the industry they have been impressed
by my knowledge and experience, however I have had very limited
opportunities to meet these people. The Shamrock Fund would provide
greater opportunity to meet the right contacts and provide a greater
chance of securing employment.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your continued
support to the Irish community in New York.
Regards,
Seamus McDaid
9146193523
__________________________________________________________________________
Below are recent requests for guidance from our new arrivals. We kindly ask that you please do what you can to give them some support and referrals to assist them in finding employment here in NY.
From:
Megan Maguire
[email protected]
Message:
Hi Failte 32,
I moved over from Ireland to Boston in late August and since then I
have tirelessly been looking for a PR/Media related job. I am on the
J1-WT Visa for one year and I need to find a full time job related to
my field of study which was Media and Communications (I am open to all
forms of Media jobs such as journalism and advertising). I have tried
everything from Craigslist, to cold calling CEO’s, to contacting HR
departments and asking for people who work in the professions help. I
understand that you are mainly based in New York (however if there was
a possibility of work I would not think twice about moving). I was
wondering do you have any advice for me?Either for Boston or New York.
Kind Regards
Megan Maguire
From:
Joseph Long
[email protected]
Message:
Hi,
I have just arrived from Ireland and I just want to know if I should
send you my Resume for any job openings. I am living in Yonkers and
have 18 month working visa. I would truly appreciate any help to you
could provide me.
Thank you very much in advance.
Warmest Regards
Joseph Long
_________________________________________________________________________
Please see this issue’s immigration article from Failte 32’s immigration attorney, Caro Kinsella, which was featured in last week’s Irish Examiner USA (page 12). Caro will be writing periodic articles for the Irish Examiner USA going forward.
__________________________________________________________________________
Announcements:
1.
We received an email from Padraig Mallon CEO Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind informing us that a group of Irish in New York were holding a fundraiser for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind this past Sunday October 23rd in Rory Dolans in Yonkers from 6-30 PM. Unfortunately we were unable to get this Failte 32 email/newsletter out before the event, but at least we can highlight this very worthy cause. Please visit www.guidedogs.ie for more information.
2.
We received an email from a friend of ‘Graan Abbey’ in conjunction with an effort to get out the word about an alternative many Irish families may be interested –helping their elders to “go home again”.
Margaret’s parents happily lived 95 and are still going strong. Unhappily they had wanted to be in Ireland since they left in 1958, but they outlived their own folk. They both have dementia and were unhappy not having anyone to really talk to. The solution turned out to be the Graan Abbey Home in Enniskillen. They have been there for a year and a half and they are at home and content for the first time in many years. Tea is on the menu 5 times a day –and there are people to share their memories. Taking care of folk is a calling more than a job.
Margaret wanted to circulate the news because it might be a solution for many families-you can in fact take them home.
RETIRE TO IRELAND
GRAAN ABBEY IS A LUXURIOUS HOME RESTORED ON THE SITE OF A FORMER MONASTERY.
ELEVATED RURAL LOCATION, BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, 3 MILES FROM ENNISKILLEN TOWN .
ALL ENSUITE ROOMS, EXCELLENT CARE,FAMILY RUN HOME.
WE PROVIDE NURSING AND RESIDENTIAL CARE
SPECIALIST DEMENTIA CARE FACILITY
Home baking daily,Activity therapy,Daily Mass,Person centred care.
RATES: 537 STERLING PER WEEK – NURSING
428 STERLING PER WEEK -RESIDENTIAL
CALL Patricia,
Graan Abbey Nursing Home
Derrygonnelly RoadENNISKILLEN BT74 5PB
Tel: 011 44 28 66 327000
mail: [email protected]
web: carewellhomes.co.uk
3.
DV Lottery 2013
The Emerald Isle Immigration Center (www.eiic.org) staff offer assistance with green card lottery applications October 4th through November 5th, 2011
http://eiic.org/immigration-information/dv-lottery/
4.
Subject: MEDIA ALERT: Leon Fleisher Performs with Irish Chamber Orchestra Oct.31 Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center.
https://www.failte32.org/2011/10/subject-media-alert-leon-fleisher-performs-with-irish-chamber-orchestra-oct-31-alice-tully-hall-lincoln-center/
Happy Halloween!!!
Kind regards
Failte 32 Committee
