Father Ed Boyle Fund

Boyle, Ed, S.J. Labor Guild Dinner Speech  for Nov. 30th 2007 (dictated to be read by a friend) 

(smile and take several deep breaths)

          GREETINGS TO EACH OF YOU, FROM VETERAN GUILDERS TO NEW AND LONGTIME CUSHING-GAVIN AWARDS DINNER SUPPORTERS.

          I REGRET VERY, VERY MUCH THAT I AM UNABLE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT, SO I HAVE ASKED THAT THESE GREETINGS FROM A HEART AND MIND SO FULL OF RICH MEMORIES BE SHARED WITH YOU THIS EVENING.

MY FIRST WORDS, OF COURSE, ARE TO ADD MY OWN WELCOME TO THOSE OF THE PRECEDING SPEAKERS TO ALL OF YOU JOINING US FOR THIS 41^ST CUSHING-GAVIN DINNER, AS WE SEEK TO CARRY FORWARD THE VALUES OF MUTUAL RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNITY BEYOND PARTISON DIFFERENCES THAT SPUR THE NECESSARY ACCOMODATIONS THAT CREATE A PRODUCTIVE AND JUST SOCIETY.

BUT IN THESE WORDS, MY PARAMOUNT THOUGHTS ARE TWOFOLD: THANKS AND PLEADINGS.

            FIRST, THANK-YOU…THANK YOU…LET ME REPEAT A THIRD HEART-FELT THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL COLLEAGUES FOR THE WAYS, LARGE AND SMALL, THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE HELPED TO BUILD THE LABOR GUILD TO ITS PRESENT VITALITY.

            THAT GLANCE BACK INCLUDES:

----THE TRANSITION FROM AN EXCLUSIVE CATHOLIC TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP TO AN ALL-EMBRACING LABOR-MANAGEMENT MEMBERSHIP WHERE PARTISAN EXCHANGES CAN RECEIVE A RESPECTFUL HEARING AND MAKE NECESSARY ACCOMODATIONS;

           ----THE FOUNDING OF THIS UNIQUE LABOR-MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY DINNER, UNDERSCORING THE WORD COMMUNITY, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION AND THANKS TO SOME OF OUR HARDWORKING AND TALENTED COLLEAGUES…

(light tone here)---LET’S NOT OVERLOOK THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT MONEY FLOWING FROM THE DINNER HAS PLAYED IN KEEPING THE GUILD OPERATIONAL YEAR BY YEAR---

            ---THE LAUNCHING OF LABOR-MANAGEMENT FORUMS THAT THUS FAR HAVE HAD A SPOTTED SUCCESS RECORD-- BUT WHICH I HOPE IN FUTURE YEARS MAY BE REVISITED AND PRODUCE BETTER FRUIT;

              --PUBLICATION OF THE VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE BOOK, “YOUR RIGHTS ON THE JOB”; AN ACCURATE, IMPARTIAL, AFFORDABLE RESOURCES ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE SPHERE OF LABOR RELATIONS. AUTHOR BOB SCHWARTZ EXPECTS TO HAVE A FIFTH EDITION FOR US BY NEXT JANUARY.

           ----THE FORMATION OF A TALENTED ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ADDITION TO THE GUILD PROGRAMS, PROVIDING SUCH A VALUABLE SERVICE.       

            ---AND FINALLY OF COURSE THE FINANCIAL HELP AND PRO BONO             CONSTRUCTION WORK REQUIRED BY THE TWO RELOCATIONS TO QUINCY AND NOW WYMOUTH.

            BUT TONIGHT WE MUST MOVE BEYOND THANKS FOR PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR VICTORIES, TO THE FUTURE CHALLENGES THAT AWAIT    THE GUILD

            IT IS NOT MY ROLE TO LAY OUT A LIST OF THOSE CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL STRATEGIES.

            I SIMPLY CALL OUT, CALL OUT, LOUD AND CLEAR, HELP, HELP. LET US STEP FORWARD TOGETHER, SO THAT THE GUILD CAN CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKES THE LABOR RELATIONS SCENE HERE IN GREATER BOSTON AND FAR BEYOND, HEALTHIER , MORE MORAL, WITH LONG TERM VISION AND DECENT CORE VALUES.

            FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL GUILDERS, STAY THE COURSE AND BRING SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US,

            FOR THOSE WHO THUS FAR HAVE HESITATED TO JOIN US, I HOPE YOU WILL REVISIT THAT DECISION.  MEMBERSHIP IS NOT ONEROUS. REMEMBER, IT IS OPEN TO MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL FAITHS, BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS ORGANIZATIONS.

            I SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU JOIN THIS LABOR GUILD FAMILY THAT IS CONCERNED WITH PROMOTING AND PROTECTING THE VALUES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SYSTEM POSITIVE, IN WHATEVER SPECIFIC WAYS THE SHIFTING LABOR RELATIONS CLIMATE REQUIRES.

TO CONCLUDE, I NEED TO EXPRESS SOME SPECIFIC THANKS AND RECOGNITION:

            TO MARY STANDLEY, WHO LEFT US ONLY TEN MONTHS AGO, MY RIGHT AND LEFT HAND ALL THESE MANY YEARS; HER GUILD CONTRIBUTIONS, BEYOND MEASURE;

            TO CATHY QUINN, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, LESS VISIBLE BUT IN MANY WAYS OF EQUAL IMPORT, ESPECIALLY HER STEPPING FORWARD THESE MONTHS SINCE MARY’S PASSING;  
      

            ALL OF YOU VOLUNTEERS, WHO HAVE KEPT THE GUILD PROGRAMS OPERATIONAL YEAR AFTER YEAR

1)      EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS,

2)      OUR FAITHFUL MAILING & ELECTION TEAM;

3)      OUR TALENTED AND GENEROUS SCHOOL FACULTY, REGISTRAR AND BOOK MANAGERS,

4)      OUR  NUMEROUS HIDDEN VOLUNTEES, ESPECIALLY PEG GAVIN;  
            .

OF COURSE THIS SUMMARY DOESN’T DO JUSTICE. BUT YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT SACRIFICES YOU HAVE MADE. AND GOD DOES TOO.

            AS LONGFELLOW IN HIS POEM “THE BUILDER” DESCRIBES SO WELL:

                        ALL ARE ARCHITECTS OF FATE WORKING IN THESE WALLS OF TIME

SOME WITH MASSIVE DEEDS AND GREAT, SOME WITH ORNAMENTS AND RHYME

NOTHING USELESS IS OR LOW

AND WHAT SEEMS BUT IDLE SHOW

STRENGTHENS AND SUPPORTS THE REST.

            MY PRAYER IS THAT GOD WILL BLESS EACH OF YOU ONE HUNDRED FOLD FOR YOUR GUILD CONTRIBUTIONS.

            I CLOSE THESE THANKS, THOSE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SENT CARDS AND MADE PHONE CALLS TO ME THESE PAST MONTHS.  MY APOLOGIES THAT I DIDN’T FIND THE TIME OR ENERGY TO EXPRESS MY THANKS MORE PERSONALLY. MAY GOD MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR MY SHORTCOMINGS.

            LET US CLOSE WITH A ROUSING CHEER THANKING THE GUILD AND THE GOD WHOSE EVER-PRESENT QUIET BUT POWERFUL SPIRIT SUSTAINS EACH OF US, AND THIS LABOR GUILD AND HAS HELPED BUILD UP MY OWN PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP WITH EACH ONE OF YOU!

            HIP  HIP  HOORAY!

ONCE AGAIN----HIP  HIP  HOORAY!

GOOD NIGHT AND THANKS FOR A MOST WONDERFUL JOURNEY.