ABoR to host annual TREPAC Golf Tournament The Austin Board of REALTORS (ABoR) will host its annual golf tournament at the Teravista Golf Club on Monday, April 14. All proceeds will directly support the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC), which represents the real estate industry to the legislature. Participants may begin check-in and light practice at 11 a.m. and enjoy lunch until noon. The tournament will begin promptly at 12 p.m. with an awards party at The Ranch House at Teravista to follow at 5 p.m. The $125 player registration fee includes lunch, range balls, green fees, a cart, beverages and dinner. Those who prefer not
to golf may cheer on participants and attend the awards party for $25. Advertising opportunities for this event are available at a variety of levels, ranging from $200 hole sponsorships to $1,000 awards party sponsorships. Registration forms may be found at www.abor.com/pdf/GolfFlyer.pdf. For more information about attending or advertising at the tournament, please contact Emily Chenevert of the ABoR Government and Community Affairs department at 454-7636 ext. 1501 or government@abor.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
MARCH 19 NAHREP Monthly Meeting Cool River Cafe - 11:30 a.m.
APRIL 3 WCAoR Monthly Luncheon Clubhouse at Heritage Oaks in Georgetown - 11:30 a.m.
•••GOLF TOURNAMENTS•••
MARCH 19 St. Patti’s Day Golf Tournament Forest Creek Golf Course - 10:30 a.m.
APRIL 14 TREPAC Golf Tournament Teravista Golf Club - 11 a.m.
MAY 5 AMBA Annual Golf Tournament Avery Ranch Golf Club - 10 a.m.
MAY 8 19th Annual WCAoR Golf Tournament Cimarron Hills - 10 a.m.
GREAT REASONS TO LOOK INSIDE… Associates In Progress
MARCH 2008 • VOL. 12 • ISSUE 11
Enjoyable. Entertaining. It’s all About You.
PAGE 25 - PrimeLending, Inc. PAGE 29 - Texas American Title
Agent Spotlight: Bill Flood, page 33
Bring on the green by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day tinuing his travels throughout Ireland, while establishing monasteries across the country. His mission CONTRIBUTING WRITER in Ireland lasted for 30 years. He then retired to It’s almost here, and it’s been said that, "Everyone County Down where he died on March 17 in 461 AD wants to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day." But what does at the age of 76. And that is the day that has been commemorated it really mean? Other than green beer, green clothing, festivals and parades, what is St. Patrick’s day as St. Patrick's Day ever since. In addition to the commemoall about? For starters, it’s an old, a really old, story. The rative celebrations through person who was eventually to become St. Patrick, the years, St. Patrick’s Day the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about plays a large role in Irish folk385 AD. His given name was Maewyn, and he lore, such as the belief that almost didn't get the job of Bishop of Ireland Patrick raised people from the because he lacked the required scholarship. He did- dead. It’s been said he gave a n’t start out as a Saint, and until he was 16, he con- sermon from a hilltop that drove sidered himself a pagan. Then he was sold into slav- all the snakes from Ireland. (It ery by a group of Irish marauders raiding his vil- doesn’t matter that snakes were lage. It was during his captivity that he became clos- never really native to Ireland, or er to God. He escaped six years later and entered the that some people think this is a monastery for 12 years. During those 12 years he metaphor for the conversion of the became aware that his calling was to convert other pagans.) Then there’s the shamrock, and it pagans to Christianity. Evidently, Patrick was successful at winning con- too is related to Patrick. An Irish tale verts, a fact that upset the Celtic Druids. He was says he used the three-leafed shamarrested several times, but escaped each time, con- rock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how Presorted Standard U.S. Postage the Father, the Son, and PAID the Holy Spirit could all Austin, Texas Paid Permit #715 exist as separate elements of the same entity. It was P.O. Box 81366 only a matter of time until Austin, Texas 78708-1366 his followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his Feast Day. The shamrock is also related to the libations associated with the day of Don’t forget: You can visit us online 24/7 at www.realtylineonline.com celebration. The custom
By Melinda Seifert
known as Pota Phadraig or Patrick's Pot is also called "drowning the shamrock" because it is customary to float a leaf of the plant in the whiskey before downing the shot. It wasn’t until 1737 that the custom of St. Patrick's Day came to America, where it was first publicly celebrated in Boston. The first celebration in New York City was held 19 years later in 1756 at the Crown and T h i s t l e Tavern. The first Saint Patrick's D a y Parade in New York City was held six years later on March 17, 1762, by Irish soldiers in the British Army. Then 18 years later in 1780, General George Washington, who commanded soldiers of Irish descent in the Continental Army, allowed his troops a holiday on March 17th. This event became known as The St. Patrick's Day Encampment of 1780. Today, St. Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike. So, back to the green beer and green clothing. We celebrate the holiday by imbibing the green and wearing green (a symbol of Ireland's lush green farmlands) and traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched. Ouch. Parades and pints, yes, but there’s no doubt, it’s all about more than “the green.”