GRAND KNIGHT'S REPORT

Happy New Year!!  

It’s hard to believe that 2010 is here.  As a council, we have wrapped up another exciting calendar year and enter the second half of the fraternal year. Later this month we’ll highlight our 2009 accomplishments at our Appreciation Dinner on the 23rd in the Wooldridge Center. This event is open to all Knights of the council and their guests for a nominal fee. More details will be distributed in the coming weeks regarding the menu and there will be a social hour after the 4:30 p.m. mass followed by dinner and an awards ceremony.

The start of the new year is also a great time to have family and friends eligible to become a Knight take their 1st Degree at our January meeting. You can also invite them to the Appreciation Dinner where they can meet other Knight, socialize and hear some of our 2009 accomplishments. It is also a good time for those Knights that haven’t been as active to get back to participating with council meetings and activities.  In the last couple of months we have had Pete Lobdell, PGK, speak at a meeting and an open letter from Sir Knight Ed Burgess in the newsletter regarding the need for members to be involved. Everyone is busy with family and work, but simply participating in a couple of activities throughout the year can make a huge impact to those that we serve through our financial contributions and efforts with service hours. Participation also assists those fellow Knights within the council that consistently serve as either event chairs and/or do the majority of the event work month in and month out.  Long story short, be proactive and sign up to assist on an event or two and better yet, offer your time to chair or co-chair an event with a buddy. You’ll enjoy it and be better for the experience.

Also for those with either a 1st or 3rd Degree, make a personal resolution in 2010 to take your next step within the order. For those with a 1st Degree, complete your 2nd and 3rd Degree as the ceremonies are held back to back on the same day. Upcoming ceremonies will be on January 31st at Conception Abbey and March 28th at Smithville. Knights with their 3rd Degree should sign up for their 4th Degree Exemplification that will be held at the Airport Hilton on April 10th. Those interested should let me know so I can coordinate for each ceremony and the 4th Degree requires advance registration.

Upcoming January events include:
1/11 – General Meeting @ 7p (3rd Floor of the Education Center) with First Degree
1/17 – Donuts:  Knights to serve donuts after the 8a & 10a masses.
1/17 – Scouts Pinewood Derby (Knights will be judges & race starters)
1/23 – Annual Appreciation Dinner – Wooldridge Center
1/31 – 2nd & 3rd Degree @ Conception Abbey – 1:30p

**Note there will not be a First Friday Dance in January **

Vivat Jesus,
Sean Joyce
Grand Knight
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Cell# 816.695.3421

TREASURER Rick Brenneman reported the General Fund had $16,149.70; the Sentinel Fund $39,144.49 and the Teen Fund $2,905.37. We approved bills that included $213.18 for expenses relating to the National Catholic Youth Conference, $7.20 for postage, $10 for a mass card for a deceased member; and $367.95 in expenses incurred by the grand knight for the Adopt A Family program and the Youth Conference.

We approved donations totalling $850, including $300 for the Benedictine Sisters; $200 for Special Olympics, $50 for Agape House; $100 for the Fifth Grade Vocation Awareness Program; and $75 each for Fr. Mike, Fr. Pat and Fr. Duc for Christmas.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Doug Hayworth said he is about 85 percent finished verifying the membership and sending out statements. He noted that 135 members have not paid 2009 and prior dues.

Doug also said 164 youths attended the December TEEN DANCE, which he considered a good number given that it competed with Christmas on the River. There's no dance in January. From now on notices about the dances will appear in  the Parkville Luminary.

Our new lecturer, Ted Miller, gave a short presentation on the Religious Information Bureau. RIB has eight home study courses that can be taken free of charge either on line or via regular mail. You can get all the RIB information at www.mokofc.org/Directory/RIB/RIB.pdf, or by contacting Joseph Rosenthal, Director, 346  Newport Road, Walnut Shade, Mo. 65771, (417) 561-4087

Our council will host a FIRST DEGREE at the Jan. 11 meeting. There will be a second/third degree on Jan. 31 at Conception Abbey, and another at Smithville on 28.

The Scouts will hold their annual PINEWOOD DERBY on Jan. 17. Brothers Charlie Gosselin, Russ Wojtkiewicz and Dave Tracewell always have lead roles in the event, but they will be looking for help from a few other Knights. A signup sheet will circulate at the next meeting.

Mark your calendars: The council's APPRECIATION DINNER is Jan. 23, and the menu will probably be Italian. You will be able to buy your tickets at the next meeting, or by mail. Watch for information on the website at www.kofc7199.org.

SUPREME KNIGHTS OF THE PAST
Francis P. Matthews
The Eighth Supreme Knight 1939 - 1945

Francis P. Matthews devoted his term as supreme knight to the demands created by World War II. When the National Catholic Community Service (NCCS) offered social centers behind battle lines and on the home front, local Knights of Columbus councils provided support. The Order also sponsored blood donor programs and participated in national war bond drives.