Page 31 - FOP September 2016

“I was a little nervous. It seemed a little further than what they said,” confided Gonzales who worried that his shot would hit a member or guest in the party tent. “I’m glad nobody got hurt.”
Still, it was a moment worth a million dollars for creat- ing some drama and uniting the 500-plus for the cause with fervor, similar to the way they have united for so many union causes.
“Everybody was behind them. It was awesome,” cheered Jim Mayo, a Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy on hand to share the fraternalism with his sisters, Lodge 7 Adminis- trative Assistants Kathy Moore and Doreen Plachta.
“This is a day to show that 100 percent blue lives matter. I’m here because I got family, I got friends and I got peo- ple I don’t know who work their ass off every day to try to make this city safe, and I think it’s about time that people started appreciating that.”
Since Dineen and his executive board began the golf outing in the early 60s at the Jemsek’s first golf facility – St. Andrews in West Chicago – the event has always been about showing appreciation to the members, both active and retired. Playing a round on one of Chicagoland’s finest courses accentuated the appreciation so much that, even though it took more than five hours to finish 18 holes, it was the kind of day on which playing another nine would have been rewarding.
Of course, the reward waiting on the 19th hole was a feast fit for Henry VIII and raffle prizes that made the Cog Hill party tent look like the old Wieboldt’s Department Stores that the residents of the building that houses Lodge 7 used to own. From grills to sets of golf clubs to posters and paintings to the finest spirits, nary a person went home without a little something. And several went home with coveted Cubs, White Sox and Blackhawks tickets.
“I have always thought what has made it so special is that I have never met more dedicated people in my life, for police officers, for any organization,” Jemsek compli- mented. “We’re pleased to help those who keep us safe. The world is so much better because of you all. I’m hon- ored to have you as customers.”
But if no member had won a single raffle prize, walked away in a new pair of golf shoes or even dropped a single birdie putt, there would have been a reward from just be- ing there on this day. Perhaps in deference – or reverence – to Lodge 7, the rain held off until all players had safely completed their rounds, the Million Dollar Shot trans- pired and everybody was safely under the tent basking in the fraternalism.
The opportunity to feel the, well, love attracted a table full of Kane County Sheriff’s Department FOP members whom Williams said admired the way Lodge 7 hosted the State FOP Conference in July. And they wanted to be at Cog Hill to show Chicago Lodge 7 the, well, love.
“At the State Lodge meeting I just thought these guys were fantastic so we wanted to come out and support them the best we can,” Williams continued. “Everybody they support, everybody from the local to the state of Illi- nois, shows how great they are. We’re a fraternal organiza-
The Golf
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