Voting is July 11, 2021
Please take a moment to read more about the candidates.
Elizabeth Lynch – Candidate for President
My name is Elizabeth Lynch and I am a long-time, proud member of the Sons of Erin Cape Cod (SOECC). I grew up in West Roxbury and have lived in Yarmouth for 25 years with my husband, Mike Lynch, also a long-time member of SOECC. We have a wonderful daughter Grace, who just graduated from high school and will be attending college in the fall. I have worked for Cape Cod Healthcare for 20 years and am currently Director of Operations, Behavioral Health Outpatient Department. I have been an active member of the SOECC serving on the Events Committee and organizing numerous charitable and holiday events. I have been a past President and Vice President of SOECC, and more recently, honored to be named Irish Woman of the Year in 2019. I sincerely love our Club and all the blessings it has provided to me and my family over the years. It would be an honor to serve as your President and I will do my absolute best to support the Club and its members.
Rodger Christiansen – Candidate for the Board of Directors
My name is Rodger Christiansen and I am long-time member of the SOECC. I have lived in Yarmouth, with my wife Susan, for more than 10 years. Susan is also a long-time member of the SOECC and currently serves as its Membership Secretary. I currently serve as the Chief Financial Officer & Controller for the Cape Cod Irish Village in South Yarmouth. Prior to my retirement in 2014, I served in several senior financial positions at the Department of Defense (DoD), U S Government Accountability Office (GAO), and Grant-Thornton – an international public accounting firm. I am a Lifetime member and also the former Treasurer of the SOECC. In 2018, I was honored to be named Irish Man of the Year. I am honored to be nominated as a candidate for the Board of Directors of the SOECC.
John Flaherty – Candidate for the Board of Directors
I have been an active member of the Sons of Erin Cape Cod since 2006. My wife Candice is a one -woman Sunshine Committee and an active participant on the Events Committee. We retired here in 2009. We have always loved the Club, the lifelong friendships we have made, the camaraderie of its members, the fun times shared by all, the good food and the great year-round weekend entertainment. I want those fun times to return, the Halloween Parties, the Valentine Parties, the Halfway to St Patrick’s Parties, the fundraisers for special events and causes, the Wooden Ponies. I want the SOECC to get back to its roots of being a member’s club, a club in which everyone had a great time. In my 15 years of membership, I have been the Membership Chair for 5 plus years, I have served on the Board of Directors and as President. My professional background consisted of being the Executive Director of a large IT department with a budget of $20M. I was also the VP of a Condominium/Timeshare in Florida with my main responsibilities consisting of facility management and infrastructure. I would appreciate your vote for me and the other new members running for the Board of Directors as a mandate for change.
Trish Venckauskas – Candidate for the Board of Directors
My name is Trish Venckauskas. I have been a member of the Sons of Erin for many years. I grew up in Brockton and South Yarmouth. I have resided in South Yarmouth for over 10 years now. Ken Doyle and I have been together for over 25 years and owned very successful restaurants in Brockton and Easton called Doyle’s. We sold the restaurants in 2011 so we could move to the Cape full time and enjoy the quiet life. I also maintained my own career with Carousel Industries for more than 20 years. Carousel Industries is one of the largest telecommunications companies – we serve all over the United States and now maintain an international presence. I currently serve as the Senior Manager for the Video/AV purchasing department. I have two beautiful daughters – Kayla Venckauskas, Esq. Kayla graduated from UMass Dartmouth Law and now serves as Corporate Counsel for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Kenzi Venckauskas graduated from UNH and works for Spaulding Rehab. I am extremely proud of my girls and all that they have achieved. I have made many great friends at the Club and look forward to meeting many more. I am an outgoing person who loves to sit and chat with all. I would like to thank the past and present Board for all their hard work and dedication. However, at this time, I feel I can do more to support the future of the Club and its members. I wanted to step forward and do my part. That is my primary reason for running for the BoD. Thank you for your consideration and I wish the best for all.
Penny Shaughnessy – Candidate for the Board of Directors
My name is Penny Shaughnessy and I have been an active member of the Sons of Erin Cape Cod (SOECC) since 2010. I grew up in Watertown, MA and now live in Yarmouth. I am semi-retired – I currently work as an office manager at Pessini Landscaping. Prior to moving to the Cape, I worked as an operations manager at Verizon for 30 years. After retirement, I decided to follow my dream of owning and operating a floral business. With the support of my husband, Kevin, we opened Kabloom of Watertown which I operated for more than ten years. Kevin and I raised two beautiful children. Kevin and I had always dreamed of retiring on the Cape and in 2010 moved to Yarmouth permanently. We immediately became members of the SOECC. I immediately volunteered as a waitress and met many wonderful members. Unfortunately, our retirement dreams were cut short when Kevin was diagnosed with cancer and lost his battle in 2012. Words cannot express how much the SOECC meant to me during this time – the love and support I received during one of the most trying times of my life. I am especially thankful and grateful for the Club and its members during this most difficult time. While it has been 10 years since Kevin’s passing, I am blessed and appreciate being a member of the SOECC. I am honored to be nominated for the Board of Directors and to support the Club and its members.
Jay Collett – Candidate for the Board of Directors
My name is Jay Collett. I have been a member of the Sons of Erin Cape Cod (SOECC) for the past 14 years. During that time, I have met some really great friends. We all have travelled through some really great times together and a pandemic which has taken its toll on us all in many ways. I have served you for the last 2 years as a member of the Board of Directors (BoD) through this trying time. Also, I was the manager of the Club’s golf league for close to 9 years and worked with many of our members to a successful golf tournament for the Club – which we will get back to when times pick up. I am interested in continuing my time as a BoD member with your vote.
Lisa Williams – Candidate for the Board of Directors
My name is Lisa Williams. I have been a volunteer and seen the “inner workings” of the restaurant and bar, as well as observed as a patron, and have a very clear understanding of what it takes – the employees and tireless volunteers – that make this establishment operate successfully. This Club has always been a second family for most of us, and in a very trying time in my life, and my husbands, the people of this Club have rallied around me and were great support, and have been to others as well in their time of need – a big (somewhat dysfunctional) family. My goal would be to return the Club to the way it used to be – not in numbers, but in the intimate “family” feeling, and a membership that wants to “do for” its Club, not just enjoy the benefit of membership. A membership that sees it really is a privilege to belong to this Irish Social Club that celebrates our heritage, supports each other and our community. I want our newest members to feel as welcome as those of us that have been here for years, and to know that their ideas are encouraged, and so is their volunteerism. I hope to have your vote on election day.
Andrea Petit – Candidate for the Board of Directors
My name is Andrea Petit, but the members know me as Dee. I hail from Smithfield, RI and became a “wash-a-shore” when I moved to the Cape in 2010. I became a member of the SOECC in 2007 when we were still across from Pirates Cove. Because I truly believe the SOECC is a great organization, I became a lifetime member in 2011. At that time, to support the Club, I also purchased a lifetime membership so it could be raffled off to raise money for the Club. My background is in education – I taught for 26 years and now work in retail food service. I live and work in Yarmouth year round. I decided to accept the nomination for the BoD so I could have a chance at helping the Club regain its strength post pandemic. I have actively served the Club throughout my years of membership via volunteerism. I was on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Float Committee – back in the day when this Committee actually existed. I have volunteered numerous times to sell countless tickets to all the raffles the Club has held over the years. In addition, I have wrapped silverware, done prep work, manned – or should I say womanned – the fryolator and washed dishes to help out the kitchen. I served as the Club’s Recording Secretary for 2 years and I am still a member of the Events Committee. I also serve as a Director on the Club’s new golf league. The Club is very important to me and to you also or you wouldn’t be reading this. I truly believe that doing something, no matter how small, far exceeds talking about it. I make my voice heard and tell it like it is. I want to be your voice on the BoD. Together we can work to have the Club be a welcoming place to have fun, meet and make new friends and regain the social atmosphere we’ve all been missing. I would truly appreciate your vote on July 11th. Thank you.
