Reserve now for Sept. 19 lecture and Irish Cemetery Tours
September 3, 2022
Dear Members
We hope you’ve had a most enjoyable summer! September will be an activity-packed month, and we look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of our happenings, in-person in Newport, or “virtually.”
The Board extends a special welcome to our newest members, those who joined in the June-August time period. We hope to have a chance to meet you in person this fall.
Please read on for all the latest news, including the kick-off of our our 21st Annual Lecture Series, our fall Irish cemetery tours, and an update on the 2022 Annual Appeal.
Please keep in mind that reservations are required for most of our events. Should you have questions or need assistance, one of us will get back to you swiftly.
PS – if you missed our last e-news of Aug. 5, please clickto read.
PPS-don’t forget to take our 1-minute survey. Scroll to bottom and look for the shiny penny!
Historic Irish Cemetery Tours
Tours of the historic Barney Street Cemetery will be offered on the following Sundays at 1:00 pm:
Sept.11
Sept. 25
Oct. 9
Oct. 30
These tours of the final resting place of many of Newport’s early Irish immigrants and site of Rhode Island’s first Catholic church, are approximately 30 minutes long, and will be given by popular local historian and guide, Steve Marino, who is also a member of our board of directors, a past lecture series speaker, and the manager of our Interpretive Center on Lower Thames Street.
Tours are given weather-permitting. A light rain won’t stop the tour, but torrential downfalls and high winds will result in a cancellation. No fee.
RESERVATIONS REQUESTED
(click below orange button)
Can’t join us in person? Click the below button for resources, including directions and links to videos and articles about this site, so central to the history of Newport’s early Irish immigrants.
Lecture made possible by a generous gift from Virginia Pittsley,
given in memory of her husband, Bill Pittsley, and their son, Jay Pittsley
We are delighted to announce that the first talk of our 2022-23 Lecture Series — our 21st Annual — will be presented on Monday,September 19 at 6 pm (EST), per the flyer members recently received in the mail.
Dr. Elizabeth Stack, Executive Director of the Irish American Heritage Museum (Albany, NY), who presented via Zoom to our members from near and far to rave reviews last February, will be joining us in person at our wonderful new venue,Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, R.I., just across the Newport border.
Dr. Stack’s lecture will be live-streamed via Zoom for those who are unable to join us in person for the talk, Q&A, and cash-bar reception to follow.
As always, reservations will be required and a modest fee will be charged for members attending the lecture and reception in person.
This is a great time to invite your non-member family and friends to attend our talks and become a member! Those who join to attend a lecture are not assessed the $5 per person lecture fee, just pay the 1-year Annual Membership fee of $20 Individual ($30 Family/Household). It’s our “welcome” gift to them. Questions/Suggestions/Comments:
Our Wyndham Newport hosts invite you to dine at their on-site restaurant, Johnny’s, before or after the 6:00 pm lecture.
Their popular three-course $17 “Early Bird” menu will be in effect, from 3-6pm (regular dinner menu/pricing will be in effect the blanch of the evening).
RESERVATIONS
are strongly encouraged
Click HERE for Johnny’s website. When you click the “Menu” option, be sure to scroll all the way down to see each menu page graphic to click and view. “Early Bird” is on far-right.
Phone for reservations: (401) 847-2750.
2022 Annual Appeal
Thus far,183 donations to the Appeal have been received.
We are truly grateful for each and every gift!
The total raised to-date: $22,760
Your gift in any amount will make a difference, and is also a wonderful way to honor your deceased or living loved ones.
When the 2022 Appeal is concluded, a donor board to recognize the names of all individuals, foundations, and organizations that have contributed to the appeal will be produced and displayed at
our Interpretive Center and at special events, as we did for
Members who have been with us for any period of time are familiar with the flyers they receive in the U.S. mail, inviting them to our lectures, Annual Meeting and Irish Heritage Month happenings. Members also receive occasional special letters or invitations connected to fundraising initiatives, such as our 2020 and 2022 Annual Appeals, and our yearly benefit gala (last held pre-covid). Of course, all of this information is also shared on our website and via e-newsletters, such as the one you are now reading.
At this juncture, we are exploring the idea of potentially cutting back on U.S. mailings to those who use email, in order to be ecologically responsible and to reduce printing and postage expenses — but we need your input to understand your needs and preferences.No decisions have been made; we are simply gathering data and member input at this time.
Key Facts:
We send a maximum of 10 U.S. mailings per year, and perhaps twice as many e-newsletters.
A material number of our members are not email/Internet users, so rely exclusively on our mailings to stay informed and engaged. (Nothing will change for them).
The average e-newsletter is opened by 60-65% of members with emails in our system.
Below is a simple survey to help us gauge your interest in continuing to receive printed pieces in the mail, along with these e-newsletters vs. the option of reducing or
After choosing 1 of the 3 options, above, feel free to share other thoughts via NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com or by phoning Ann Arnold, Membership Chair at
Click Here for Museum Board of Directors Contact Info. and list of deceased board members, fondly remembered.
The MISSION of the Museum of Newport Irish History is to tell the story of the Irish immigrants and their descendants in Newport County and the surrounding area from the colonial era to the present. It also seeks to preserve artifacts and mementos relating to their experiences and facilitate
Thank Youto all our members with Annual (vs. Life) Memberships who have paid their dues for the
2022-2023 Membership Year.
We are still anticipating payments from
approximately 130 of you, whose memberships
lapsed as of April 1.
Thank you submitting payment at your first opportunity.
If you are unsure of your membership status — beforemaking a payment — please email Ann Arnold at tpm1@earthlink.net or phone her at 401-841-5493 and she’ll get right back to you.
