Grand Knight's Report

You may have been thinking we’ve been busy with all of our council activities during April such as the Fish Fries, First Friday Dances, helping the Altar and Rosary Society with the bread bake and the Easter Egg Hunt, but what about fellow Catholics Frank Castellano and Richard Phillips and what they did during Lent?  The names might not be familiar at first glance unless you read in detail regarding the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips from the Somali pirates. The tie in with us as Knights was referenced in an article on www.fathersforgood.com (an initiative for men by the Knights of Columbus) regarding Newsworthy Dads.  Use the link above to sign up for the e-mail distribution.

I subscribe to the Fathers for Good distribution, but hadn’t had a chance to catch up on my e-mails.  I’d been following the events in the news and didn’t get the connection until Dave Tracewell sent an e-mail on the event.  Quick recap - Capt Phillips was bound and being held at gunpoint on a covered lifeboat. As Commander of the USS Bainbridge, Cmdr. Castellano gave the order for the Navy SEAL snipers to rescue Capt. Phillips by simultaneously shooting the three pirates. Their last couple of days of Lent probably tested them in ways most of us couldn’t imagine. The power of faith and prayer was strongly demonstrated for those involved to get through such an ordeal and for this complicated as well as high-risk rescue to be successful.  Incidentally, the rescue was conducted on Easter Sunday, April 12.  By the way, Frank Castellano joined the order in 1986 and is a 4th Degree Knight.

As far as the April 4th bread bake with the Altar and Rosary Society, it was pretty successful even though we weren’t able to make as many loaves as we have in the past.  We had 20 workers from the Knights who contributed approximately 83 hours to the effort.  Research is underway for a bigger machine to make the dough mixing process more efficient for future bread bakes.

Thanks Dan Maroney and Donald Sigler for their work in creating stones (left) for the St. Therese Parish Rosary Garden.  Dan and Donald created two stones: one to represent Fr. Mike and Fr. Pat and the other stone for our council.  Mike Sirridge, Director of Buildings and Grounds, has organized this project for the parish and is a Knight as well.   

Reminder regarding upcoming events:

5/1 – First Friday Dance (7th & 8th graders) & for May, we welcome those graduating from 6th grade as well.  Workers need to arrive around 6:30p as the dance is from 7-10p.  We expect a larger than normal crowd.

5/3 – 2nd & 3rd Degree @ St. Peters.  Contact Dave Tracewell (816.668.4641) if interested and will carpool from St. Therese.

5/6 - Religious Ed Program: Knights to cook & serve hot dogs ~ 7p (Sean Joyce - chairman @ 695.3421 if you can assist)
5/9 – Taco Dinner in the Commons for the parish.  Details are elsewhere in this newsletter, and proceeds will benefit the council’s scholarship fund.

5/11 – General Meeting @ 7p

5/16 – Highway cleanup & we’ll meet at Hy-Vee on Barry Road @ 8a.  Hopefully, it won’t rain this time!

Vivat Jesus,
Sean Joyce

Hard to believe, but our annual ELECTION OF OFFICERS is almost here again. The actual election is at the June meeting, but nominations can be made at the May 11 meeting. While there is a proposed slate of officers its only importance is to assure that we have at least one nominee for each position. If you are interested in serving the council as an elected officer, you are urged to nominate yourself or have someone do it for you. Nominations will be taken from the floor right up to the election. If two or more candidates are seeking the same office, a secret ballot will be held. The votes will be counted and the winner announced during the meeting.

This is a great opportunity for members to become more involved in the leadership of our council. Here is the current slate of officers:

Grand Knight: Sean Joyce
Advocate: Jason Grill
Dep. Grand Knight: Dave Tracewell
Warden: Bill Marcotte
Chancellor: Ed Burgess
Outside Guard: Dick Adamak
Recorder: Rob Perschau
Inside Guard: Etienne Kilgore
Treasurer: Rick Brennaman
3rd Year Trustee: Steve Kilgore
Chapter Delegates: Dale Fick, Sean Joyce

Some of the many volunteers who worked in our drink carts at the Kansas Speedway April 25 and 26

TREASURER Rick Brennaman reported our General Fund has $8,544.29, the Sentinel Fund $37,885.26 and the Teen Dance Fund $1,473.05.

From the General Fund the council approved payment of these BILLS: Fish Fry, $3,542.60 to Kevin Baker, who chaired the dinners and fronted the expenses; Gomers, $111.48; hats, $80 to Neo Rabang; Fourth Degree meeting, $30.76 to Sean Joyce; Easter Egg Hunt, $35.96 to Dave Tracewell; First Friday dance, $100 for flyers; and Fish Fry, $21.57 to Ken Finke.

Grand Knight Sean Joyce read THANK YOU NOTES from Community of the Good Shepherd (SPRED), and Conception Abbey, both of whom recently received donations from the council.

April’s meeting was a busy one fantastic not just because it demonstrated how active the council is, but also because we welcomed FIVE NEW MEMBERS. They are Etienne Kilgore, who is familiar to most of us already through his work at the Teen Dance, Fish Frys and other activities; Laurence Benton; Paul Carrill; Sam Schnieders, who is the new Field Agent; and Ted Miller Jr., who transferred from St. Joseph.
We are proud to have all of them in our council.

It must be the economy. Scholarship chairman Dan Maroney reported he has already received 30 inquiries about our SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, and we are still early in the process. Last year we received just 20 inquiries. Dan said interest in the program is obviously up, and the council should start thinking about ways to fund the scholarships.

To that end, Ed Burgess suggested  the council host a TACO NIGHT in conjunction with Cinco De Mayo. The council agreed and Dan Maroney said he would team with Ed to chair the event, which will be held May 9. Proceeds will go into the scholarship fund. The dinner will be from 5 to 9 p.m.
in the St. Therese School Commons. Adults will pay $8, seniors $7 and children $4 for all you can eat tacos or taco salad. Dinner includes tacos or taco salad with all the fixings, free iced tea, coffee and orange drink, 50 cent canned sodas, and $3 margaritas or beer. There will be music and a piñata break for the children. If you cannot join us for this fun evening of supporting our children's education but would still like to contribute, you may send a check to:
Knights of Columbus Council #7199
Scholarship Fund
7207 NW Highway 9
Kansas City, MO 64152

Is it the calm before the storm? There were 70 kids at the last FIRST FRIDAY DANCE, not a big crowd but enough to come out in the black. The big turnout is expected at the May dance. Last year’s May dance attracted 320 kids. Plan to show up to help with this dance because it’s a challenge to keep tabs on that many young teens. The dance is May 1 in the school gym. Just show up about 6:30, or whenever you can get there.

The council’s MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY is complete, but it doesn't have many business ads as we had hoped. That’s why it’s no longer called a business directory. No matter; it’s a good looking book that lists all our members and gives us something to grow from in coming years. Dave Tracewell has been working on the publications for several months and hopes to have it printed soon, and at no charge.

Something else that looks good is our WEBSITE, another one of Dave’s projects. Quite a few members are registered on the site, but certainly not everyone yet. Once you register you have access to additional information. Go to www.kofc7199.org and take a look. If you have suggestions for the site or want to write an article, call Dave.

Woody Nolette, a member of the CORPORATION BOARD, reported the corporation fund has risen from $84,859 to $92,524.

FOURTH DEGREE members take note: on April 30 there will be a pot luck at Smithville 9272 to welcome new fourth degree members. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. You are invited to wear your social baldrick. Call Dale Fick if you have questions.

Kevin Baker and Pete Lobdell have joined the FIRST DEGREE TEAM, replacing Pete Lorenz and Dale Fick. Henry Font has also stepped down, so the council is seeking someone to take his spot. If you’re interested, contact the Grand Knight.

Mark it down: there is a SECOND/THIRD DEGREE at St. Peter’s on May 3. If you are a new First Degree member you should plan to attend this event. Contact Russ Wojtkiewicz.

The council received $100 back from Supreme for its donation to a seminarian. We won’t keep that money. Instead, it will go to the STATE VOCATION FUND. Dale Fick, district vocation chairman, said contributions to the fund are needed.

Russ Wojtkiewicz thanked all who helped deliver fish dinners to the home bound. He said 28 dinners were delivered the first night, and then the average was 23 for the rest of the dinners. A total of 150 dinners were delivered.

And finally, Dottie Brown was singled out for going above and beyond helping us with the fish dinners. She'll get a $50 gift certificate from the council.

We had a good turnout of 20 workers for the Altar & Rosary BREAD BAKE. The council collectively logged 83 hours of work, and will get a cut of the profits based on our contribution. We may have a  check for May meeting.  

This year’s EASTER EGG HUNT, held the day before Easter on the parish grounds, was a huge success. Dave Tracewell was the chairman, and he said about 300 youngsters turned out on a perfect day to search for 360 real colored eggs and 550 plastic eggs that were “hidden” in the grass.

Mike DeGhelder did a fantastic job as the Easter Bunny, and even got special mention from Fr. Mike at the Sunday masses. Ed Burgess got the 30 dozen eggs donated from Food Festival (thanks, Food Festival).

The council agreed to donate $100 to help keep the CENTER FOR SPIRIT AT WORK going. Pete Lobdell made the request. About 12 years ago Msgr. Bud Fiedler started program, in which business and civic leaders meet at Crown Center on first Fridays to listen to a guest speaker and discuss spirituality and ethics in the workplace. The center also has a job club.

On Oct. 16 there will be a memorial luncheon for Msgr. Fiedler, with funds going to keep the Center going.

Other DONATIONS approved included $300 to the St. Vincent DePaul Society; and $225 for the eighth grade retreat for lunch.

The council ALSO APPROVED the purchase of an eight burner outdoor propane grill for $399. The grill can handle 100 hot dogs or 60 hamburgers, and fits in a pickup for easy mobility. We will ask Sam's Club for a discount since we are non-profit organizations. The grill will be used by us for our functions, and by other groups for functions at the parish. It will be stored out of the elements.

Did you know our council is officially in charge of cleaning up one-half mile of I-29? Pete Lobdell is the chairman of HIGHWAY CLEANUP, and he has plans to pick up trash the Saturday after each general membership meeting. Participants will meet about 8 a.m. at HyVee for breakfast and head out at 8:30. A minimum of eight volunteers is needed. The work usually takes about 90 minutes.

The first pick-up of the spring on April 18 was rained out.

John Lusero reported a nice turnout at CONCEPTION ABBEY WALK AND RUN event, which raises funds for the seminary. John, who is also active in the Serra Club, said the diocese has 26 seminarians and 5 new Benedictine novices. Vocations are on the rise.

The SCHOOL OF RELIGION has asked us to wants us to cook popcorn for 250 kids on April 29. We'll be there, but we’ll need a few guys at 4 p.m. to get things rolling. Contact Sean Joyce.

And then on May 13 we’ll need a few guys to cook hamburgers and hot dogs for exhibiters who will visit the school. The exhibitors will include ambulance, military, police, fire. Contact Dave Tracewell if you can help.

Our NEW FIELD AGENT is Sam Schnieders. He is also a new member of our council.

DISTRICT DEPUTY Tony Tomasich urged First Degree members to take their second and third degree as soon as possible.

He also urged new members to get involved in council activities. New member often erroneously think they have to wait a while before they can participate in events and even take leadership positions.