Hi everyone
Failte 32 is very excited to announce the launch of a petition for the passing of the IRE Irish Immigration Bill, which is being jointly developed by immigration attorney Caro Kinsella and Failte 32. The IRE Irish Immigration Bill is a temporary measure that will afford Irish nationals both skilled and unskilled, with the much needed opportunity to live and work legally in the United States, and then after a few years return home to a brighter future.

For more information, and to sign our petition, click on the link below:

http://www.change.org/petitions/united-states-congress-pass-the-ire-irish-immigration-bill

The IRE visa will provide a practical, realistic and achievable solution to many people back home who are out of work.

Please support this bill by signing our petition. As always, we thank you for all your kind support.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Failte 32 requests and inquiries.

We always ask the community to try to help our newest arrivals from Ireland in their search for employment and accommodations. As always, we thank you for your kind support.
To: Webmaster
1.
From:
Seamus Kearney
[email protected]

Message:
Hi,

We are two Irish students over here on a J1,

As there are only two of us, male and female, we are finding it
difficult to find an apartment. We are staying in a hostel at the
moment but cant afford to do this for much longer. We are looking for
a one bed place in any borough.

If you could be of any help it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Seamus Kearney

718 664 4443

 

2.
To: Webmaster
From:
Elaine Baker
[email protected]
Message:
I arrived in NY Woodlawn the 26th of May 2012, after sucesfsully
receiving the DV1 2012 lottery visa. My understanding is that I should
receive both my permanent resident card and SSN within 3 weeks, also
that because I am over 18 and its after 2002 that I didn’t need to
apply for the SSN, that it wouid be automaticaly processed.
I have not yet received either my SSN number of resident card, how can
I check this status?
Regards and thanks,
Elaine Baker
____________________________________________________________________________________

Other news:
1.
Sheila Lynott, President of the very successful Irish Business Organization (www.ibo-ny.com) is looking for 4-6 J-1 girls to help out with their Summer party next week. If you are still looking for a Summer job, this is a great way to maximize your chances of finding work. See below for details of the event:
IBO SUMMER NETWORKING EVENT
Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 · 6.30 PM
Location: Harbour Lights, Pier 17, South Street Seaport, NYC
Join us at the Annual IBO Summer Party 2012! Following our recent successful Golf Classic, the IBO will be making presentations to the three Irish Centers. This is always a very well attended event, and places are filling up fast, so make sure you send in your RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!

2.
Thursday June 21 2012: Chairman and CEO of Irish Radio™Network USA and Flannelly Promotions Ltd., 515 Madison Avenue, New York City, Adrian Flannelly, has been selected as “Man of the Year” by the Irish Examiner Newspaper USA, America’s leading Irish newspaper.
Now in his 43rd consecutive year of Irish Radio™ broadcasts, Flannelly has received his 3rd major Award from Irish American Media in the United States. The Irish Examiner Newspaper bestowed their “Man of The Year” Award on Adrian this week.
The Irish Examiner Publisher, Paddy McCarthy was joined by Ireland’s Consul General in New York Noel Kilkenny in the presentation. Lifelong friend, Malachy McCourt, movie and TV actor, author and raconteur recounted numerous accomplishments in Flannelly’s career. Adrian responded by thanking McCourt for the “premature eulogy” and promised to plagiarize his moving tribute at McCourt’s funeral!
“Seriously, there is no greater honor than to be recognized by your colleagues and peers.” “I am humbled and truly appreciative of receiving this” said Flannelly at last night’s Irish Examiner Award ceremony in New York City.
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=X0y54K1i0xG7&PBID=48aa9324-abeb-4e71-904b-9de0bf371a30&skip=

3.
From Treasa Smyth:

The County Cork Association has asked me to be Co Guest of honor at their dance in Ireland on Friday Aug 10th at Rochestown Park Hotel Cork, the othe guest of honor is Conor Counihan, the Cork football Manger.

I am more than humbled and thrilled and I guess excited along with a little nervious of being picked along with Conor Counihan. especially in Ireland in my home of Cork.

My family and friends and fellow Cork members will be in attendance as well as old school friends.

I was more than surprised to be even asked.

I have attached some details about the dance and the journal adds. I certainly know you wont be able to attend, however if you woul like to send a greeting it would be more than appreciated.

To be honored in one’s home town is just an unbelievable honor, and I am so looking forward to a great dance and meeting old and new friends.

If by chance you may be in Ireland and want to attend you are more than welcome to come and join in the celebrations

The details are attached for your information.

Thank you for always supporting me.

Kindest Regards
TreasaTreasa Goodwin Smyth

Host Ireland Calls Radio Show
Sat 6pm on 1460am/wvox.com
ph-718-651-7336
4.
As part of Failte 32’s inter-diaspora reach out (and support for our corporate members), one of our strategic partners, The Epoch Times (courtesy of Lori Harel www.theepochtimes.com) would like to invite business people in the Irish American community to a special event next week. They are bringing in one of the most successful advertising strategists in the world to do a free seminar this Monday.

When you leave the seminar, you will know how to get an immediate ROI off of
any ad you place, whether its print, online, direct mail, etc.

When: Monday, June 25th, 9-10:30 am
Where: 151 East 25 Street, Ground Floor (Baruch College)
The official invitation is attached.
If you plan to attend, please reply ASAP to: [email protected]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Advice to Irish Students visiting the USA on J1 Programme

 

Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers
 June 2012
Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers Newsletter
In This Issue
Irish Senior Connect
J1 Summer Students
DFA Press Release
Seniors Travel from PA to NY
MA Nonprofit Network Leadership Award
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Dear Maurice,

 

Welcome to the June 2012 edition of the CIIC Newsletter.
This issue includes an update on the Irish Senior Connect Program, information about the arriving J1 Summer Students, information about collaboration between two Member Centers, as well as recognition of a leader in the community.
Please update me about the happenings of your Member Center or organization, so we can share your news and achievements with the community.  Please also feel free to forward this Newsletter onto friends and colleagues by using the link at the bottom of this page.

 

Best,

 

Aileen Leonard Dibra

National Coordinator

Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers

[email protected]

 Irish Senior Connect

ISC_LogoThe phones of Irish Senior Connect (ISC) are ringing!  Irish and Irish American Seniors have started to call the listening line to talk, learn about local senior programming and hear a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.

Training for ISC volunteers is ongoing, and they are answering calls while supervised.  ISC also began a major outreach drive with a direct mail initiative.  Thanks to support from the Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston, the programs host center, ISC was able to mail informational brochures to 550 people, most of whom are Seniors as well as Senior service providers.

To view the latest print materials about the Irish Senior Connect, click here, and please feel free to distribute amongst your constituents.
For more information on the work of Irish Pastoral Centre Boston, click here.

For more information on the Irish Senior Connect program, contact Susan Doody at [email protected].

 J1 Student Orientations

 

Members Centers are reporting on the many groups of arriving J1 Visa students across the country. Many Member Centers are hosting orientations for these students or have handbooks and other important local resources to share with them.

Some Member Centers have submitted information to share regarding their J1 experiences thus far this summer.  For more information about the immigration centers featured below, please click on each center’s name.

 

Irish Immigration Pastoral Center, San Francisco

The theme for success as a J1’er in San Francisco is to come early and come prepared.  Of those who arrived in the first two weeks of June, most have found some work and now have options to look for something else if they are not satisfied.  On the housing front, it has been a tougher year with fewer housing options and higher rents.  Students have had to work harder, provide more documentation and pay more in rent and deposits to secure accommodation.  Everybody has found something, or they are waiting it out in hostels as they continue to look.

Those who contacted the IIPC and put the time and energy into preparing their resumes and cover letters have had the best experience.
Irish Outreach San Diego

The J-1’s in San Diego have had better success in finding accommodation this year. The earlier arrivals did get the jobs and they seemed to be more serious than those who came later.  In San Diego there are large events from May through Labor Day and J-1’s fit well into the needs to fill jobs.
There seems to be more girls than guys, and overall most are employed, except a few who have applied for their S.S.# on their own and lack a permanent address to have the card sent.

 

Ocean City Irish Outreach

There are an estimated 500 J1’ers thus far in Ocean City Maryland.  The Irish Outreach group continues to provide as much guidance and support as possible to the arriving students.

 

It seems that most are finding jobs, but that there are still issues with accommodations.  Many of the students were staying in motels until other housing options open.

 

Aisling Irish Community Center

Since the J1 summer students started arriving from Ireland last month, we have assisted over 440 Irish students with their search for work and accommodation throughout New York. We understand a lot of them have found accommodation by now having spent days calling landlords and viewing apartments, but many have yet to secure a job. The time and effort it takes to secure a job seems to be the most overwhelming aspect of the experience for many, but also the most rewarding once they succeed in finding that job. Our internet café which can accommodate up to 10 people at a time is full of students researching job vacancies from about 11:00am onwards everyday.
We are happy to say the experience so far for most Irish students based here in Yonkers/Woodlawn has been positive with no horror stories of apartments being vandalized or of students getting into trouble with the law for drunk and disorderly behavior, and hopefully that will still be the case in September when their J1 visa experience will be coming to an end. The most shocking realization for some has been the cost of seeing a doctor when sick with many deciding to suffer the symptoms rather than hand over their hard earned money while we urge them not to neglect their health and well being.
We will be contacting all the students who came into the Aisling Irish Community Center this summer to establish where they found work so that we can build on our database of seasonal jobs for J1 visa students in the future, so we hope they will all respond with a view to paving the jobs path for summer students in the future.

 

Emerald Isle Immigration Center(s) – Bronx and Queens

This summer saw a somewhat higher than usual initial influx of J1 students to us in New York City which naturally drained a lot of the Center’s early leads and resources relating to accommodation and jobs. So far we have helped hundreds of summer J1 arrivals stated EIIC staff. We are working through all and as many channels as possible to ensure we track all local leads.
The main and recurring concern has been the need for accommodation which is unfortunately an inherent difficulty given the nature of the 3 month J1 Visa and we are still making appeals for those still searching to finalize their summer options as hotels and hostels are only temporary and expensive choices. Our Queens J1 students have had better luck with job offers and our Bronx J1 students have fared better with accommodation, but we have some students still looking for both!  Our thanks to those who have already helped with securing early apartments and jobs for so many. Overall the main issue has been a lack of preparation on the part of the J1s, who arrive and this is a growing concern that needs to be addressed.

 

Chicago Irish Immigrant Support 

Chicago is witnessing record numbers of J1 students this summer with Chicago Irish Immigrant Support already registering and counting over 2300 students.  If early indications are correct that number could be set to double as the majority of J1 students arrive in the coming weeks.
With such large numbers inevitable problems have already begun to surface: Issues relating to housing were first to appear as students found it difficult to source accommodation in a saturated market with increased competition.  Many also fell foul to self-styled entrepreneurs who have charged hugely inflated prices for rentals in bad neighborhoods.
After the initial adjustment period students now report difficulty in finding employment.  Those to arrive first were fortunate to secure work but the tail end of arrivals and any new students are experiencing fewer options.  Chicago Irish Immigrant Support Executive Director has met with the Irish Consulate of Chicago to alert the DFA of the issues affecting students and has appeared on Galway Bay FM radio show to highlight the issue in Ireland.

Click here to locate a regional Member Center that you can refer incoming J1 students to for more information.

Please forward updates about your center’s J1 experience this summer to Aileen Leonard Dibra at [email protected]

Press Release: Departement of Foreign Affairs & Trade

 

 Advice to Irish Students visiting the USA on J1 Programme

 

It is hoped that all Irish students taking part in the J1 Summer Work and Travel Programme will have a rewarding and successful visit to the USA. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade wishes to highlight some advice to those travelling this summer. Ambassador Michael Collins, in the Irish Embassy in Washington DC, said:

 

“I wish all J1 Summer Work and Travel participants from Ireland a rewarding and enjoyable visit to the USA this summer. However, in order that they make the most out of it, I would also urge Irish students to plan well for their visit and to stay safe throughout.”

 

In particular, students should ensure before travelling that they will be able to secure accommodation at their end destination. Reports are already emerging that lack of accommodation has been a serious issue for some Irish J1 students in some traditional destinations such as Chicago.

 

Passports should be kept secure at all times and do not attempt to travel on a passport that was ever reported as lost or stolen. Ensure that you have enough funds to get up and running in the USA and to maintain yourself throughout your stay.

 

The Irish Embassy in Washington DC and Consulates General throughout the USA will be able to provide emergency consular assistance should it be needed, although they cannot organise accommodation or employment for students.

 

For further advice for Irish J1 students, please see the Department’s website, www.dfa.ie, and the website of the Irish Embassy in Washington DC, www.embassyofireland.org, which also has contact details for each of the Irish Consulates General in the US. Travel advice updates are available on Twitter @DFATravel.

 

Press Office

08 June 2012

Seniors Travel from Philadelphia to New York

 

On June 27th a group of twenty-five Seniors from the Irish Immigration Center (IIC) in Philadelphia will make a day trip to visit the New York Irish Center (NYIC) in Long Island City.  The two groups will participate in NYIC’s Senior Lunch & Social Club, allowing them to share a meal and conversation, as well as exchange information on their heritage, experiences and the programming offered at both centers.

Leslie Alcock, the Director of Community Programs at IIC Philadelphia indicated that the trip “really accomplishes three purposes of the centers’ Senior programming: socialization, education and strengthening cultural identity.  It is an opportunity for our seniors to learn about the long standing and successful programming at NYIC, to exchange ideas with their peers in New York and perhaps form friendships that will continue into the future.”

This exciting collaboration between IIC in Philadelphia and NYIC will hopefully create a bond between the two Senior groups that will lead to continued communication and perhaps more activities and visits together in the future.

For more information about the Irish Immigration Center in Philadelphia, click here.

For more information about the New York Irish Center, click here.

 

Sr. Lena Deevy Nominated for Leadership Award

 

Sr. Lena Deevy, Executive Director of Irish International Immigration Center (IIIC) and CIIC Board Member, was nominated for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network’s Excellence in Leadership Award. This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose strategic vision, passion, perseverance and collaborative style have led to extraordinary organizational or programmatic results.

 

CIIC sends its congratulations to Sr. Lena on her nomination for this prestigious award, and is proud to recognize all the wonderful work that IIIC does to provide support to Irish immigrants and immigrants of other nationalities.

 

Click here to learn more about the work of IIIC.

 

ABOUT THE COALITION OF IRISH IMMIGRATION CENTERS

The Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (CIIC) is a national umbrella group for all of the Irish Immigration Centers in the US. The CIIC was established in 1996 to promote the welfare of Irish immigrants in the US at a national level.

The mission of the CIIC is to represent immigrant organizations throughout the United States who are committed to providing services to Irish immigrants. The Coalition provides support and assistance to the various centers in their work through advocacy, education and the exchange of information. CIIC member organizations are located in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Wisconsin.

To learn more about CIIC visit, www.ciic-usa.org

 

 

 

Kind regards

Failte 32 Committee

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