If that is the case, please contact your Financial Secretary in one of these two ways.

Brother Knights,

There comes a task in every position that is far more difficult than all the others.  Unfortunately, in my role as Financial Secretary, it undoubtedly has to be the very arduous task I have at hand right now. As we have recently discussed in our meetings, Council #7199 has begun sending final invoices, along with a letter indicating a date when SUSPENSION activity will begin for several members.

As a reminder to ALL members, these past dues accounts must come under control due to our obligations for fees associated with the Per Capita, Catholic Advertising Fund, Culture of Life Fund to the Supreme Council and the State of Missouri Knights of Columbus. Also, we are out the $7.50 for the RIB obligation for each year these members are past due.

For all of those members past due, by now you should have received an invoice showing your status with our council. If not, please notify me right away.

Some might ask why we are having these suspensions. The quick answer is necessity. East of the previously mentioned assessments also involves costs associated with invoicing and postage. It is important for everyone to know that we have in effect “carried” these memberships as active on our roster, many for several years.  By “carry” I mean the council has paid the fees mentioned above, and expended the costs of invoicing and postage for these members each year. The approximate costs have been estimated at $24.75.

If this problem was only a handful of members, some might say it is not a big deal. When multiplying the annual expenditure by 100 members, Council #7199 spends approximately $2,475 each year to maintain delinquent memberships with Supreme Council and the state of Missouri. The time has come for this practice, no matter the cause, to come to an end. 

I am sure all of you will pray for these members to remain in good standing in the brotherhood known as the Knights of Columbus. Personally, as the Financial Secretary, I pray that these members contact me so we can handle these dues in such a way to make this task a rewarding one for all. Please know I am willing to work with all of these members to help bring them current on the outstanding dues. 

Feel free to contact me via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone at 816.914-9802 if you have any questions about your invoice or current membership status.

At the February meeting TREASURER Rick Brennaman reported the General Fund  had $10,211.76, the Sentinel Fund $45,036.55, and the Teen Dance Fund $1,703.33.

The council approved payment of BILLS totaling 2153.60. Most of the bills had to do with the appreciation dinner, citywide meeting, and the corporate communion.

The council approved several REQUESTS FOR FUNDS, totaling $1,246.50.

• Dare to Dream Golf Scramble, benefiting the Special Olympics - $100.
• Valentine Dance - $400 for snacks, beverages, candy.
• Little sisters of the poor - $100.
• Haiti relief fund - $500.
• St. Therese 2nd graders - $100 for t-shirts for the St. Patrick's day parade.
• Dave Tracewell - $46.50 for postage for the business directory.

A total of 189 kids attended the February TEEN DANCE, producing revenue of close to $900. The next dance is March 5. There will be no dance in April because it would land on Good Friday.

Dave Tracewell reminded everyone the Website has a recent CALENDAR OF EVENTS. Also reported on the BUSINESS DIRECTORY – if you know of errors, let Doug Hayworth know, because whatever information he has for official council records will be used in the directory.

Dale Fick reported that the 2011 SPECIAL OLYMPICS state basketball tournament might be based in the Park Hills district. The tournament would be a big volunteer opportunity for Council 7199, which has done volunteer work with the Special Olympics several times in the past. The basketball tournament would require 5 or 6 volunteers at each of several gyms. The tournament would probably happen in March 2011.

Council Lecturer Ted Miller presented a short but interesting program on SCRIPTURE AND ECOLOGY. He stressed the importance of preserving the environment, and in particular of ceasing the use of plastic bags.

This year’s PINEWOOD DERBY went very well, according to organizer Russ Wojtkiewicz. Russ said 68 boys participated, and several Knights helped out, including Sean Joyce, Ray Miller, Charlie Gosselein and Albert Daniels, who did repair wok on the track.

The Scouts are looking for a large space to store and work on the track, so if you can help with that, please contact Russ.

APPRECIATION DINNER organizer Ed Burgess declared the event a success and thanked all who helped and attended. Paid attendance was 92, and only one person who made a reservation failed to attend.

Special thanks went to the ladies of the Altar and Rosary Society for providing desserts and serving help, and the Roma Bakery, which donated all the bread.

Our LENTEN FISH DINNERS are under way and the first one on Feb. 19 appeared to be a big success.

Kevin Baker is the chairman again this year, but is assisted by Brett Sharp, who has agreed to take over the reins next year.

This year all the fish is baked, and all meals are all you can eat. This year parents of St. Therese school children are being asked to help sell tickets, with $1 of each ticket sold going straight to the school.

The dinners are served from 5-7 p.m.  The cost is $8 per plate, $7 for seniors.

Sean Joyce and Kevin Baker were elected delegates to the STATE CONVENTION, which is April 24.

John Lusero and Dale Fick were elected alternates.

The council will pay expenses for delegates and alternates, and the difference between what the state would pay for the vocation chairman and district deputy and the actual cost.

Alert: The SPEEDWAY project is May 1, 2, and we will be back again on Oct. 1, 2 and 3. Plan to volunteer.

The council tabled a recommendation by the officers to establish a PLANNED METHOD OF SAVING and spending funds.

The plan involves keeping the general fund at about $10,000 by moving any excess into our corporate investment and sentinel funds on a quarterly basis.

The corporate investments would be treated as an endowment, with the corporation directors determining at the beginning of each year how much of the earnings can be returned to the council to be used to fund various projects. The council officers would make recommendations on how to spend the money to the full council.

This plan would take the place of a plan adopted in the 1980s. The members wanted to research the details of that plan before proceeding with any new plan.

Dennis Wessling and Steve Briggeman tied for SERVICE HOURS for the fourth quarter.

Kevin Baker reminded everyone the 4th DEGREE EXEMPLIFICATION is coming up in April. Also, a picnic for all Knights and their families is being planned for this summer. The picnic targets Fourth Degree Knights who don’t attend many Fourth Degree events, and Third Degree members who want to know more about the fourth degree.

DISTRICT DEPUTY Tony Tomasich said the council might want to consider a more formal officer installation this year. In recent years our installation ceremony has been held during general membership meetings.

Tony also suggested that when we have functions we make personal invitations to widows of Knights as a courtesy.

SUPREME KNIGHTS OF THE PAST

Luke E. Hart

The Tenth Supreme Knight 1954 - 1964

Luke E. Hart served as a supreme officer for nearly 42 years, first as supreme advocate, then as Supreme Knight. He launched the Catholic Advertising Program to "correct false notions about our faith," and coordinated funding for the microfilming of more than 40,000 Vatican Library documents, making them available to scholars outside the Vatican for the first time. Hart is also remembered for this leadership in getting the words "under God" added to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

Hart modernized the business operations of the Order as membership increased to more than 1 million and insurance in force surpassed $1 billion. He successfully lobbied for the election of Supreme Officers by the board of directors rather than by the general convention. He was the first supreme knight to move to New Haven and actually resided in the headquarters building until his death in 1964.