Page 2
www.celtic-connection.com
MAY 2009
Great Food, Music, and Sunshine at our Volunteer Appreciation Barbeque
nyone involved with any community-based organization knows that at the heart and centre of every successful undertaking is a core of volunteers working behind the scenes. These dedicated people are the unheralded heroes who keep the wheels rolling and work for the benefit of many others.
Here at The Celtic Connection we have a solid group of volunteers who,
month in and month out,  The best thing about the day was to help to bring each iSSUe to  finally have an opportunity to sit i i   ,      ii  ,i      down together and socialize.
our readers and to all the
Celtic        groups        and So often when we meet it's in the . \ . irenzy 01 working on a deadline with
organizations tlllS paper the paper or in full distribution mode Serves. so there just isn't the time for any
kind of a conversation except getting the job done.
By CATHOLINE BUTLER & MAURA De FREITAS
These volunteers range from monthly columnists to our distribution team who work through rain and hail and sleet and snow to deliver the paper.
Our volunteers are an interesting and fun group of individuals who work in various fields and many also volunteer at other endeavours.
On April 26, we hosted a Celtic
Connection volunteer appreciation Maura and Jose turned their garage
barbeque in the garden of Maura and into a bar and banquet area and this
Jose De Freitas to say thank you to is where everyone congregated. The
everyone for all their hard work and garage was cosy enough to be an
loyalty.
Irish snug with a long table and chairs set up for the group luncheon.
We were blessed with glorious sunshine and a sumptuous meal Doug Medley brought along his was lovingly prepared by chef Jose,   fiddle and in no time at all, we had
BLESSING OF THE RAIN
May the blessing of the rain be on you — the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up,
and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the great rains be on you,
may they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there many a shining pool where the blue of heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.
GUESTS at The Celtic Connection volunteer appreciation barbeque (L-R) [Standing back row]: Neville Thomas, Tom Butler, Colleen Carpenter, Mavis Williams, Maura De Freitas- McCay (Editor/Publisher), Bill Duncan, Kareen Duncan, Catholine Butler, Joanne Long, Jim Carbin, Kevin Boggan and Eifion Williams. [Seated] Sharon Brown, Bernice Carracher, Bill Carracher, Doug Medley, Stephanie Boggan and Cathy Thomas. [Missing from the photo isAngie Park.]
jigs and reels, spoon players and singers with lots of talent around the table - you would have thought that you were at an impromptu Celtic music session. It was a fun day with lots of laughs and a few jokes.
We are very grateful for the support of our loyal volunteers, their contribution is vital to the continued success of The Celtic Connection. Thank you all most sincerely.
Unfortunately not all our volunteers were able to join us at the barbeque. Among those absent were Dave and Diane Abbott, Frank and Brenda Dudfield, Paddy Connolly, Linda Robb, Kathy and Fd Griffin, Oliver Grealish, Melissa Fstelle, Nanci Spieker, John and Maureen Keane, Finian and Sally Rowland, and Jim Foskin.
fceLtic connection I
Subscription
Rates:
Canada......$30/yr.
U.S......$45/yr.
Overseas.. $75/yr. Name:
IT WAS Bill Duncan's birthday and Maura surprised him with a birthday cake at the barbeque.
THE CELTIC CONNECTION
ISSUE 18 VOLUME4
#452-4111 Hastings Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6T7 Tel: (604) 434-3747 • Fax: (604) 438-8419 Website: www.celtic-connection.com Maura De Freitas - Publisher • E-Mail: maura@telus.net Catholine Butler-Advertising • E-Mail: cbutler@telus.net Colleen Carpenter - Copy Editor • Christine Burke - Ad Production Distribution: Sisa Kumar • Kevin Boggan • Angie Park • Linda Robb • Kathy Griffin and Frank Dudfield in Surrey • James Carbin in Mission • Bill Duncan in Maple Ridge* Bill Carracher in White Rock* Nanci Spieker and Melissa Estelle in Seattle • Oliver Grealish in Edmonton.
Published 10 times per year. Unsolicited submissions welcome but will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your files. Contents copyright 2009 The Celtic Connection. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the publisher but rather a reflection of voices within the community. All correspondence must include a name, address and telephone number.
Canada Post Canadian Publications Agreement 40009398 This paper is dedicated to truth, the dignity of every person under God and the call to help one another to live out that dignity.