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Written by Rob Perschau
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Thursday, 28 January 2010 21:33 |
GRAND KNIGHT'S REPORT
It’s too early to tell if the worst of winter is over. If you are starting to get a little cabin fever, not to worry, as we have plenty to keep you occupied in  the next several weeks. Please review the events listed below and schedule the time on your calendar. At our Feb. 8 meeting, we’ll have sign-ups for the Fish Fry, serving donuts and the Valentine Dance.
Lent is just a couple of weeks away as Ash Wednesday is Feb. 17. Make sure to take time for prayer, penance, sacrifice and helping others in preparation of the celebration of Easter. The parish bulletin will be having a variety of activities that you and your family can participate in to strengthen your spiritual preparation for Easter.
Kevin Baker has stepped up once again to co-chair the Fish Fry. Brett Sharp, who just took his First Degree in January, has volunteered to co-chair with Kevin and learn the ropes. This is a huge undertaking and we need everyone doing their part to make this a success. We’ll need workers for prep, serving, clean-up as well as a few delivery drivers to help with the homebound meals. Russ Wojtkiewicz has been chairing the homebound meal delivery and he’s looking for someone that’s interested in learning this important role and take over after this year.
Our annual Valentine’s Dance for the assisted living homes will be on Feb. 27, and John Lusero is again chairing the event. This is really an easy event to work as it’s simply serving and clean-up. The residents of the homes really look forward to this event each year. I think those that work the dance often get as much enjoyment as our guests!
Thanks to Ed Burgess for his efforts in coordinating our Annual Appreciation Dinner. Ed’s efforts led to an excellent turnout and a fun evening. His contacts at Festival Foods came through for us once again with a great dinner. Also helping make the dinner a success:
Bill Marcotte for obtaining the salad
Dale Fick for coordinating the beverages
Dave Tracewell with the appetizers
Russ Wojtkiewicz for bringing in his equipment and supplying the music
 We would like to recognize and thank the ladies of the Altar and Rosary Society. Their efforts enabled us to enjoy our evening while they took care of setting up the Wooldridge Center, prepping the salad and appetizers, serving, bar tending and clean-up. Doti Brown not only worked the event, but she obtained the lovely assortment of desserts.
The council was also pleasantly surprised with a gift from Albert Daniels. He handcrafted, out of wood, a Knights of Columbus sign for our council. The craftsmanship is amazing, and we will soon get it mounted on a wall on the 3rd floor. Please make sure to
thank Albert for his special gift to our council.
Upcoming February events include:
2/5 - First Friday Dance (7 – 10 p.m.)
2/8 – General Meeting @ 7 p.m. (3rd Floor of the Education Center) with First Degree
2/17 – Ash Wednesday
2/19 – Fish Fry
2/21 – Donuts: Knights to serve donuts after the 8 & 10 a.m. Masses
2/26 – Fish Fry
2/27 – Valentine’s Dance (for assisted living homes)
Vivat Jesus,
Sean Joyce
Grand Knight
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Cell# 816.695.3421
I think anyone who was there will tell you we had a pretty darn good APPRECIATION DINNER. It was a night that had a little of everything: serious moments, humor, emotion, reflection, suspense and, of course, expressions of appreciation. The Italian cuisine, arranged by Ed “Mr. Sunshine” Burgess, was fantastic, and bordered on cheap at $10 a plate.
Something in the neighborhood of 125 people attended. Not of one of us had to set anything up, serve or clean up, because the ladies of the Altar & Rosary took care of it all.
   The Grand Knight, Sean Joyce, ran the show like he runs all our meetings: efficiently, with brevity in mind. The meal was served a little early because, well, it was ready and we wanted to eat it while it was hot. When we were done, Sean got things going right away with his welcoming remarks and a rundown of our accomplishments for the year. He presented gifts of appreciation to Fr. Mike and Fr. Duc.
Doug Hayworth, our Financial Secretary, read the names of our Honorary and Honorary Life members, and thanked them for their long service to our council. Deputy Grand Knight Dave Tracewell recognized Mail Print, the company that printed our Business Directory free of charge.
Sean then announced the four annual awards that go to some of our hardest working Knights:
• Rookie of the Year: Eric Parry
• Family of the Year: Family of Ed Burgess.
• Special Achievement: Doug Hayworth and Rick Brennaman, for financial record keeping advancements.
• Knight of the Year: Rob Perschau
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 After that, Albert Daniels came up and uncovered an astounding piece of woodworking art – a large wooden plaque, hand made in his workshop. It will hang forever more in our council chambers.
 Pete Lorenz, one of our charter members and a former Grand Knight, attended the dinner along with several members of his family. Pete and his wife, Mary Jean, moved to Lee's Summit last year, and this was really the first chance the council has had to thank him for his many years of dedicated service. Pete endured some mile roasting, but later came to the podium to express heartfelt appreciation for the friendships and experiences that came his way via the council.
State Deputy Greg Stratman praised the leadership of the council, and the council itself, for its accomplishments. He encouraged us to “keep up the good work, because you are making a difference.”
After closing remarks and a prayer by Fr. Mike, the winning raffle tickets were drawn and the prizes were awarded to Virginia Vargas and Paul Smith.
We welcome NEW MEMBERS Brian Pieper, Brett Sharp and Todd DeMint.
TREASURER Rick Brennaman reported the General Fund’s balance was $10,131.75; Sentinel Fund $43,110.67, and the Teen Fund $2,803.33. He reported that the council’s officers have capped the general fund at $10,000. When the fund grows larger, the extra money will go directly into the scholarship fund, which we are trying to grow to the point where earned interest can fund the yearly awards.
In a related report, the Grand Knight read the year-end corporation FINANCIAL REPORT submitted by Joe Farris.
Here are those figures:
Sentinel Fund:
Sentinel Government Securities Fund - $38.110.67; yield - 4.05 percent; 2009 return - 5.19 percent.
Corporate investments:
Eaton Vance Fund - $57,576.01; yield -3.43 percent; 2009 return - 45.06 percent.
Floating Rate High Income Fund - $58,917.83; yield - 3.95 percent; 2009 return - 46.71 percent.
We spent some of our money on several GOOD CAUSES, including:
$500 to the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
$300 to Bill Marcotte's nephew, a seminarian, who is being ordained in May and needs help purchasing his vestments.
$300 to sponsor John Lusero and a guest at a benefit for seminarians.
The council approved paying BILLS, which amounted to $59.99, to Rob Perschau for newesletter related expenses.
Haven’t seen your 2010 DUES STATEMENT, either by email or snail mail, yet? Contact Financial Secretary Doug Hayworth at
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There was no TEEN DANCE in January, but there are dances on Feb. 5 and March 5. There will be no dance in April, because it would land on Good Friday.
A new BUSINESS DIRECTORY will be printed later this year, according to Dave Tracewell, Deputy Grand Knight. Dave said the new directory will be more accurate because the council has made strides in updating its membership records. He said that whatever is in the Financial Secretary's records at the time of the printing is what will be reflected in the directory. The next directory will be printed in July or August, and proceeds from it (advertising) will be used for scholarships. If you know anyone who might buy an ad, you can get an ad rate sheet and form from Dave.
Grand Knight Sean Joyce still has RAFFLE TICKETS for the Contest of Concern for Special Olympics. Sean has had these tickets for a long time, do him a favor and lighten his load by buying a few.
Our annual VALENTINE DANCE for the mentally handicapped will be Feb. 27. John Lusero is once again coordinating the event, and he expects 100-125 people to attend. If you can help, setup will be right after the 4:30 Mass that day, and the dance is from 6-9 p.m.
John also reported that two new novices have joined the Benedictine sisters, and 12 sisters will take final vows in May. He said Conception Abbey is just 2 or 3 short of capacity, so it appears VOCATIONS are on the increase everywhere. He said the Knights and the Serra Club have had a big part in that.
In an effort to come to the aid of the people of HAITI, who are suffering a humanitarian catastrophe of huge proportions in the wake of January’s earthquake, the Knights of Columbus sent an immediate contribution of $50,000 to Catholic Relief Services. State and local councils are asked to make their contributions through the Supreme Council..
Donations by individual Knights can be made on line at www.kofc.org. Checks should be made out to Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc. and mailed to 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510. Please write "Haiti Earthquake Relief" on the memo line of the check.
Contributions will be used to provide assistance wherever it can have the most immediate impact, and where the need is greatest.
PAST SUPREME KNIGHTS
 John E. Swift
The Ninth Supreme Knight
1945 - 1953
John E. Swift crusaded against communism as supreme knight at the onset of the Cold War. Swift led the Order's 1946 Crusade for the Preservation and Promotion of American Ideals, a program President Truman endorsed with hopes that the entire membership would "join in support of
..with zeal and enthusiasm." Swift also established the Order's $1 million Educational Trust Fund for the children of members killed or disabled while serving in the armed forces during World War II. During his term, membership surpassed 800,000.
Swift had a noteworthy Massachusetts legal career. He maintained a general practice for 30 years in Boston, and was appointed to the bench of the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1933, serving until his retirement in 1967.
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Last Updated on Friday, 29 January 2010 20:30 |
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