New SVP regional head aims to boost membership among young

A CROSSAKIEL farmer is the new leader of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) in the north-east region. Creevagh resident Michael O"Keeffe, who has been elected president of the SVP"s Oriel regional council, is aiming to implement a development plan for the organisation in Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan. He is also hoping to boost membership throughout the four counties. Mr O"Keeffe, who has been SVP Meath west area president for the past few years, succeeds Co Monaghan-based Hugh O"Reilly in the regional post. The latter"s five-year term has expired. The new incumbent plans to look at areas of population growth in the north-east with a view to expanding the number of conferences (branches) in the area from its current figure of 80. He sees potential to boost society activism everywhere, but especially in fast-growing Meath. He recalled: 'When I joined the society in 1974, there were 70,000 people in Meath. Today there are 160,000 living in the county, but we haven"t two-and-a-half times more conferences here.' His objective is to consult with conferences in the region with a view to assessing their particular needs and possibly helping to put action plans in place. He is particularly anxious to attract young people to the society. 'We have some youth involvement in the north-east, but they are very much a minority,' he added. Mr O"Keeffe"s other associations in the voluntary sphere include membership of the Meath Partnership Board and treasurer of his local parish finance committee. He is, in addition, a former chairman of Kilskyre National School"s board of management.