Knights of Columbus ILLINOIS STATE COUNCIL ONE FAMILY UNDER GOD

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1 ILLINOIS STATE COUNCIL Knights of Columbus ONE FAMILY UNDER GOD March 2009 Editor Robert J. Fuggiti STATE DEPUTY Phil Barone BUILDING A BETTER WORLD ONE COUNCIL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Fraternal Year has now moved into the last quarter. It is now time to make the adjustments needed to ensure a Successful Year. The Jurisdiction of Illinois is truly outstanding in many areas of Charitable and Programming Activities. We are the envy of many throughout the Knights of Columbus. We have made some tremendous strides, in the last few years, in demonstrating that the Councils in Illinois can take that same expertise in Charities and Programming and make a Real Impact in both the Parish and the Community. Our Vocations Program is truly having a positive impact on the Church Community and needs even more support from the councils to move forward. We need to continue with the Membership Growth Programs that compliments our strong Charitable and Programming Activities in ensuring that each council and the Order in general will have a bright future. The results in Membership recruitment are moving forward but still lag behind the desired results that every needs to be successful. Membership Growth is the Key to Council success. Councils that don t grow will not exist in the future. The Order without Membership Growth will also cease to exist in the future. In this challenging time for our nation; it is our Order that must step up and lead the way to helping others. It is a time to be a Brother to Brothers in financial trouble as they experience a Life Crisis. Now is the time to bring Men together for real purpose and add dignity and purpose to their lives by giving them the gift of membership in our Order. Look for more information on the Brother to Brother Program that will be sent to Grand Knights shortly. NOW! Is the time to STEP IT UP in our efforts in the Area of Membership Growth! We need to make sure that the Spring Blitz Campaign planning has been completed and that ALL the Council members are Actively Working First Degree dates should have been scheduled and should be reported as well as making sure all the Prospects have been signed and advised of the degree dates. Financial Secretaries need to submit the Form 100 to Supreme in a timely manner to reflect the council achievement and growth. It is a Great Time to be a Knight of Columbus. The Church and your Community need the Knights of Columbus now more than ever. The results of the survey of Fraternal Organizations have confirmed what we already know. The Knights of Columbus is the one organization that is truly making a difference and without the Knights this world would be in a much more difficult position than it is now. You are the KEY to the success of your council. Without YOU the task is more difficult and the resources more limited. Please make the effort to devout your most valuable time to helping your council succeed. I ask each Knight to look at himself in the mirror and ask the basic question Am I the Knight of Columbus I want and should Be and what am I going to do to be that Knight that I should Be? This is a matter of PRIDE For Myself, For My Family, For My Council, For My Order, and For My Church. WE NEED YOU NOW!!!!! 1

2 If your council was not very successful in the Fall Blitz Campaign, then it is time to take a different approach and plan another membership program. Help from your District Deputy and Diocesan Coordinators and Consultants are readily available. You need only ask and help will be forthcoming. Membership is a continuous activity that requires the efforts of ALL the members of the council, even if it is to simply provide a name of a Catholic Gentleman that can be a potential member. The State Convention is just around the corner. The State Convention will be held on Memorial Day Weekend at the WESTIN HOTEL in LOMBARD, IL. This year s 111 th Annual State Convention is Dedicated to the Memory of Past State Deputy Paul Havrilka, Jr., who past away earlier this Fraternal Year. He was a Great Knight and Beloved Family Man. As you know from last year s convention; this is brand new hotel with marvelous facilities and terrific dining and shopping opportunities right outside its door as it is adjacent to the Yorktown Mall Shopping Complex. We have many activities and opportunities for each attendee to meet and bond with their Brother Knights from ALL around this great state of Illinois. The State Convention will begin with a Welcome Sweethearts Dance on Friday Night in the main ballroom. Saturday morning there will be Mass followed by an All Day open Forum that invites ALL family members to join in Celebrating the Knights of Columbus in Illinois with Squires Installation of Officers, State of the Order presentation, Insurance Agent Awards, Council Awards, Family and Knight of the Year awards and More. The Awards Program will be one of the highlights of the State Convention. Your council deserves to be recognized for the great work that is performed and this can only happen through your active participation. The Ladies Luncheon will have a Special Guest that you ll surely want to meet. The Saturday Evening Mass will be concelebrated by Archbishop Francis Cardinal George, Bishop J Peter Sartain - Bishop of Joliet, and Bishop Joseph Perry - Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. The mass will be coordinated by Interim State Chaplain Fr James McIlhone. The Saturday Night State Deputy s Banquet will be filled with Honored Guests and Special Awards, including State Medallion Presentations. There should be, No Must Be, representatives from your council in attendance at the State Convention. In addition to the many great activities and happenings that will be part of the State Convention; there will be Resolutions put forward for voting by the representative that Will Have an Impact on both you and your Council. In addition, there will be the Election of Officers to lead this Great Jurisdiction of Illinois into the Next Fraternal Year. It is truly a sad situation that Councils miss the opportunity to be counted and heard on the issues because there isn t a Council Representative in attendance. Please don t let this happen to your council. I look forward to seeing each of you at the State Convention and have a chance to have you enjoy the fellowship and hospitality of the Knights of Columbus. Recently a terrible fire destroyed most of the rooftop of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. The Officers of the Illinois State Council has approved a donation of $10,000 to assist in the efforts to restore this beautiful place of worship. In addition there have been other donations, over the past fraternal year, from the General Assistance Fund that has been approved to help those in need throughout the State of Illinois as well as helping other States that have had natural disasters. A list of ALL donations will be listed in the State Convention Booklets distributed to the delegates. These contributions are made on your behalf to help those in need. One of the criteria for consideration is that the donation will relieve Human Suffering and that the Local Council has demonstrated a support for the need through activities. We ALL have the opportunity and resources to achieve OUR Goal, making the Knights of Columbus in Illinois an Active, Strong, and Vibrant Fraternity that is second to none. Each of US must make that commitment to our councils that will add new members this fraternal 2

3 year. The time is NOW and the person that is needed is YOU. With ALL of our efforts the Knights of Columbus in Illinois will continue to be a Leader and the Bright Jewell of the Order. Vivat Jesus, Phil Barone Our Lady of Fatima Knights of Columbus in Oak Lawn held its 30th annual Blind Vets Dinner for dozens of veterans from across the country who are enrolled in a blind rehabilitation program at Hines VA Hospital near Maywood. Dozens of visually-impaired veterans attend a Thanksgiving dinner Sunday afternoon hosted by the Oak Lawn Knights of Columbus. STATE SECRETARY James Bednar ieducate@yahoo.com Brothers, we are now in the last quarter of the fraternal year and time is running out for us to make this year the best ever in Membership, Charities and Programming. The question to ask yourself, today, is have I done the best job I can to strengthen my council(s) this year? Now is the best time to ask yourself, what would I have done different this year to make my council(s) stronger? If you ask these questions today you have a better chance of making some late changes to help you council grow and thrive before the end of the fraternal year. It does not matter if you are the District Deputy, the Grand Knight, the Deputy Grand Knight, the Financial Secretary, other Council Officer or a member at large, you have the power and the ability to make your council(s) the Best of the Best. Take time right now to review the last three quarters of this year and than set new goals and move forward, with out any delay - TODAY, to be part of the Best of the Best. Reach for the 5% membership growth of your council or reach above that by asking catholic men and his families to join with your council in doing the good works of the Order. Seek the honor of knowing that your Council has accomplished the First Principle of the Order, Charity, by seeing that all of your goals are reached. And be sure that your Programming reaches all of your member s interests by keeping your members active you retain them as members in good standing with little effort. Let others know that your council is active by completing the Spirit of Illinois Honors Award Form (available on the Illinois Web site for electronic submission or hard copy printing) every council large or small in Illinois is capable of achieving one of the levels of this award. Go for it! Now for the ADVERTISMENT! If you have not attended the State Convention (this year - May 22 24, 2009 to be held at the Westin in Lombard, IL) you are missing the best opportunity to learn and share with others from around the Illinois jurisdiction. See and hear about what councils do for membership growth planning, how to squeeze more out of Charities and programming that just might work for your council. This is your chance to learn from your brothers and teach them as well, vote and elect your State Officers, vote and voice your opinion on issues that affect your Council, our Church, our families, our youth and our Communities. The State Convention offers you and your family opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with old friends. There are activities for the ladies and the youth, check it out! Pat and I are hoping to see you all in Lombard, May 22-24, May God bless and keep you. Jim and Pat Bednar State Secretary 3

4 The Fr. Bader Assembly of the Illinois Quad Cities coordinated the mailing of over 250 Christmas Cards and original pieces of Christmas art work to overseas service personnel. The project was done in cooperation with the Holiday Mail For Heroes. Students at Jordan Catholic School of Rock Island prepared cards along with members of the 4th Degree and parishioners of St. Pius Parish in Rock Island. STATE TREASURER Richard Spada A Time for Celebration! Soon we will celebrate Founders Day, March 29, 2009 and, what an awesome history of 127 years of Columbianism! Imagine the days of our founder, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney when the Church was under attack and its members struggled to stay within the folds of Christian values. Families were on their own if the breadwinners were met with an untimely death. Men struggled to get whatever employment was available and it usually involved dangerous and long hours of hard work. Yet Father McGivney, a young energetic priest, himself with great demands placed upon him, did not despair. Just as the saying Some people see things as they are and say why; others see things as they could be and say why not. George Bernard Shaw, our Venerable Founder, met the needs of the less fortunate and demonstrated the audacity of hope in founding the Knights of Columbus! He gave us the model; all we need to do is follow it! Imagine how proud he would have been to see his organization grow internationally. Imagine further still how he would react to see parish recruitment drives across the globe in celebration of the founding of the Order on the anniversary of its founding. Some of us call this global drive the Founders Day drive; others call it the Blitz. Whatever we call it, it is a show of solidarity with our Founder, our Order and our united resolve to continue the mission of service to our Church, Families and Communities. What better way to say thanks to our Founder and show our solidarity then to welcome all faithful into our ranks and grow the Order. Let us also take this opportunity to join the Father McGivney Guild and promote others to do so too. Truly is a saint for our times as the demands that he faced in founding our Order are no less today! Looking Ahead to Convention Illinois knights and their families give life to the dream that our Founder started and fulfill the mission of the Knights of Columbus every day! Councils serving one or more parishes work hard to meet the needs of pastors and their associates by becoming partners with parish organizations to help them succeed at spiritual and material objectives. They work to protect life issues and to meet the needs of our families and friends. Convention is a great time to celebrate those successes as Knights and their families come together to pray, play and celebrate as one family. It is a great opportunity to get to know our Brothers throughout the jurisdiction and share challenges and solutions to take back home to our councils to even better serve our Church and Communities. Information is already going out to council leaders in preparation for the great event being held in Lombard; you might say it is the greatest family reunion we have each year! Let me urge each of you to prepare and plan to attend; you won t want to miss it. My family looks forward to this each year and we ve made many fond friends and memories along the way. When my children were younger, they enjoyed the Youth hospitality and meeting other KC children; some grew up and still keep in touch! Friday night is a great opportunity to get to know each other at the welcome party. Saturday morning has a Convention welcome session for all family members to attend to see special guests and presentations and to observe the installation of our official youth group state officers of the Columbian Squires. Above all, you won t want to miss the awards ceremony to celebrate all the great things going on in Illinois and the achievements of councils throughout the jurisdiction. Great times!!! Linda and I with our family look forward to seeing you all in Lombard! Vivat Jesus! 4

5 Marty Mazurek (left) of St. Raphael Council in Naperville signs up a potential donor at a blood drive to benefit Heartland Blood Centers. The event, which was co-sponsored by Naperville Council 1369, saw 165 donors St. Joseph Council in Manteno distributed several donations at its annual Christmas breakfast. Knights donated funds to Good Shepherd Manor and the Kankakee County Training Center, among others. Funds for the donation were raised during the council s annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities. Members of Tri Cities Council 1098 in Granite City delivered Christmas presents and $1,800 in cash donations to 30 needy families in the area. STATE ADVOCATE Donald Skip Kinyon kinyon@gallatinriver.net Brother Knights, The Calendar on my wall is telling me that March 2009 is here and that means there is less than six months remaining in this fraternal year. Now is not the time to sit back and review our first six months rather it is time to take stock of where we are at and continue our plan of growth and service to our Church's, Priest's and Communities. Maybe we need to adjust our plan a little so we can better last year's performance in our membership growth or our programming. What will it take to achieve the Columbian award or the Membership awards which will be given out at our State Convention? Utilize the Worthy District Deputies, the Diocesan leaders or the Elected, Selected or appointed officers of the State. That is what we are all here for, the betterment and successes of our councils of Illinois. The 2009 State Convention will be here before we know it. By the time you read this I will have attended two of the State convention planning session. The convention co-chairman's State Program Chairman Bill Doerfler and State Membership chairman Frank Schwartz along with the convention committee have a Fantastic convention planned for all of our membership to enjoy. I have sent out a letter to all Grand Knights of record the procedures and necessary information regarding the resolutions that councils can submit for consideration. If you have not received yours, please call the State Office and they can send out the information to you. Councils who are in good standing with the Supreme and the State Council are awarded 2 votes. One vote is from the Grand Knight or his alternate and one from the council delegate or his alternate. I urge all councils to attend the entire convention but if the council is not able to attend all of the convention then by all means attend the Sunday elections. Let you voice be heard! Diane and I are looking forward to seeing all of our Knights of Columbus family members on Memorial Day weekend at the Westin Hotel in Lombard. See you soon. Skip Kinyon STATE WARDEN Gary Schmidt Schmidt.Gary@comcast.net Brother Knights, Here we are 2 months into 2009 and it seems that somehow the brakes have been applied. We have 3 months until State Convention and those awards that all councils relish, but to get to that point, one must get moving in all aspects of membership and programming. Membership is not just a membership drive in October and March, but an everyday happening. It is not to late to hold a membership drive, open house and do some good old one-on-one recruiting and have the insurance agents get involved at a 5

6 insurance and new member night at your councils. The period that we are going through will test us to no end, but with hard work we will make it. Councils are still holding candidates until the time is convenient for them remember Degrees Are Held for Candidates not The Candidates for the Degrees. Membership is a must to survive and the avenue for new ideas and events to be born. It is time to shift out of 1 st gear and get this organization moving. We all have rested long enough, now is the time to get going. We can accomplish the goals that we have set, but all must work together and be part of the upward movement. Enough said and Let s Get Going. Vivat Jesus, Gary Schmidt St. Anthony Council 9770 in Frankfort held its annual golf tournament to benefit Father John Hannigan, a U.S. Marine Corps chaplain who ships Christian reading materials to U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. Over four years, Council 9770 has contributed approximately $4,000 to Father Hannigan, who is a member of Harry G. Johansing Council 4482 in Twenty Nine Palms, Calif. STATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR Bill Doerfler bdoerfler@sbcglobal.net The winter games for the Illinois Special Olympics are finalized and I must admit the weather was bitter cold but the warm smiles from all the athletes keep us warm. One of the highlights for me was one of the snowshoe races. A young athlete participated in the race with a walker and never quit till she crossed the finish line. We all should have this determination to accomplish our goals. When talking with the parents they were quick to say thank you to all the Knights of Columbus members in Illinois for their support. The weekend of May 22, 23 & 24 will very soon be upon us. Many activities are scheduled for the weekend, but in the life of the K of C s it s our State Convention. This is a weekend that is full of fun, festivities and a time where YOUR Council can be recognized for all the wonderful and innovative programs that each of you do all fraternal year. Take the time now, Grand Knights, Program Director and your District Deputy to sit down and review the status of your council in regards to the top award The Spirit of Illinois Honor Award. The tally sheet and checklist is on the website for you to use. Wouldn t it be great to take this award home to your council? But don t forget that there are MANY other awards that will be presented at the convention: llinois State Knight of the Year Illinois State Family of the Year Membership Awards Charitable Activities Award State Council Service Program Awards Rising Star Awards Best Newsletter Award Best Council Scrapbook Award Blood Donor Program Award State Pro-Life Award Ladies Auxiliary Service Award Outstanding Ladies Auxiliary Ladies Auxiliary Scrapbook Award Any one(or more) of these awards would be a great acknowledgement of your council achievements. Remember all reports including all Charitable Goals are due at the State Office by APRIL 30, After May 1st NO reports will be accepted. The State Bowling Tournament is now history. Thanks to Bishop Muldoon Council # 470 Rockford for hosting this year s tournament, from the opening ceremony attended by Jim Bednar our State Secretary to the last ball thrown, the tournament was once again outstanding. Thanks to all the councils that participated. A big thank you to Jim Michel for all the time and energy it takes to organize and run an outstanding tournament. The Knights of Columbus free throw tournament is under way. All Regional dates and time can be found on the Illinois webpage. The State Finals will be April 4, 2009 At Chatham-Glenwood High School, Chatham, Il. If you have any question 6

7 please free to call Wayne Decker Free Throw Chairman at or Congratulations to the Supreme Family of the Month Winners: November Winners Jerome & Charlene Jansen Council 2869 Breese Charles & Mary Seputis Council 3602 Park Forest Angelo & Theresa Campanale Council 5573 Plainfield Juan & Patricia Enriquez Council 8473 Wonder Lake December Winners Jesse & Donna Davis Council 665 Effingham Ed & Patricia Orbrzut Council Inverness Blood drive Chairman Gary Gunderson reports that a total of 3997 units of blood have been donated to date. Council 3880 Father McCormick leads the way with 296 units. They also hold highest single event collection so far with 198 units. Brothers I cannot stress enough how important of an activity this is to our fellow man. Give today if you can, this is truly is a gift of self. We look forward to seeing all of you at the annual convention, May 22, 23 &24 th at the Westin Hotel in Lombard. It s a weekend to have fun, meet other KofC families from across and up and down the state. (Which we ve had the pleasure of doing in our travels the last 2 yrs. WOW!!! What a wonderful opportunity Terry and I have been given) There are Sooooo many great people we ve met and have yet to meet. Come have fun and meet all the people that make the Knights of Columbus such a strong and formidable group of caring and generous people in Illinois. Terry and I along with Frank and Shelly Schwartz are once again co chairing this event. We hope that you have a memorable weekend. If there s anything we can do to make this weekend more enjoyable, please let us know. We can be reached by or phone. We look forward to seeing all of you and having a great time in May. Vivat Jesus Bill During the 40 Days for life campaign at planned Parenthood in Aurora Councils 4849, 14171, 8002, 5573, 2191, 12497, 736, 14463, 1369, and all supplies one or more members to take the Knight Shift thanks to the leadership shown by Bill Laudando and Joe Williams of Cardinal Bellarmine Council # Larry and Marge Theriault Right to Life Chair couple report on the FOCA "The Freedom of Choice Act" The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called FOCA 'The Most Radical Abortion Legislation in U.S. History. It has been reported in the media that the new Administration had vowed to sign the Act when it came across his desk. Thanks to a very aggressive post card campaign by all the Parishes as well as the involvement of many Protestant Organizations, those who are pushing the Act for passage, withdrew their efforts for now. It must be realized that the Act is nothing more than a combination of several bills that, if passed, would set the Pro- Life movement back 35 years. The death peddlers, for now, are taking the 'one step at a time' approach. This is no more visible than in the State of Illinois. One only has to visit the Catholic Conference of Illinois' Website: or call , to see the number of anti-life bills that are waiting their turn to work their way through the Committee process and be voted on by the State Legislature. If we are going to continue to build a "Culture of Life", we must be willing to constantly be on our guard to watch and recognize the good from the bad. We must let our legislators know what we support and which legislation goes over the line. You can locate yours at: earchtype.aspx?navlink=1 or call (217) for State Senate information or (217) for State House information. Our Pope, Bishops, & Priests have spoken; It is up to us to 7

8 act! We must continue to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Mt. Carmel Council 1343 celebrated their 100 th anniversary. Pictured is Pete Schumacher presents a letter of congratulations GK James Tennis. STATE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Frank Schwartz Jr. fjschwartzjr@ameritech.net Membership; we all are called to be the strong right arm of the church and to serve others. The Founder s Day Membership Drive March 29, 2009 is Founder s day for our Great Order. During the month leading up to that day, I am asking each Council to conduct some type of membership drive to honor our founder Fr. Michael J. McGivney. Let us have a visible presence as Knights of Columbus in all of the churches our councils serve. Help a new Member become a Recruiter and be more active use the Shining Armor Award program. By using this membership program your council can help all new members become active and to recruit two new members in one year. The Grand Knight simply makes the Shinning Amor Award mean something by presenting the award at award dinners or council meetings. By making the award special, a new member will want to get the award and when he does, he will wear it with pride. Just a reminder to all councils we are still adding Names to the scroll honoring Immediate Past State Deputy Paul Havrilka Jr. Names will be added for all new first degree members taken in by every council from October 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009 so do not hold on to those form 100 s get them in now. Make sure you watch the mail for a letter from our Current State Deputy Phil Barone on the Brother to a Brother membership program voted on and approved at the mid-year District Deputy meeting. Team 3000 Update Many District Deputies and Grand Knights have qualified for a free dinner at this years State Convention by meeting half their membership Goal by December 31, Team 3000 continues to push to make this year s goal of 3000 new members recruited into our great order. With 50% of the Fraternal Year over, we have obtained 32% of the Goal. All that is needed is for 343 new members to be recruited monthly from here to the end of this fraternal year, (a very obtainable number each month) and we all will have met our goal of 3000 new member this year in the State of Illinois. New Council Development With two new Councils already in the NCD, and two reactivations already under their belts. The Co chairs are pushing to get the next (4) four sites completed by Founders day. John Muldoon and Jim Russell are asking District Deputy s, Grand Knight s and all members to help in identifying 12 new sites for the Fraternal year. If your Parish or neighboring Parish could benefit by having a Knights of Columbus Council in it please contact John or Jim and let them know. Retention Al Urban continues to work with councils and District Deputies to ensure that each council has an active retention committee and a good retention program (such as the Star Power Program) Council who have acted on Al s advice have been able to save 31 brothers Knights so far this year Precious Blood Council 9689 in Grayslake cohosted a blood drive with Boy Scout Troop 96 at St. Gilbert Church. The event netted 67 units of viable blood. St. Paul the Apostle Council in Peotone sponsored a candy sale with area volunteers 8

9 that raised $5,400. Of the proceeds, Knights donated $900 each to six local charities. STATE CHARITIBLE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR Bill Linz Jr. State MR-LD Chairman Ted Glaser reports As of February 6, 2009 the State Office has received 73% of the reports and monies collected during the MR-LD September Drive. As we ALL know and some only too well, these are very trying times for most. Certainly no less so for the organizations that so desperately need our help. To me, there is NO reason for a Council to "hold" monies, none. As we have said during the kickoff meetings and many times since: please turn in what you have as you can always file an "amended" report for the additional. I would ask each Council who still has not turned in their report and monies and do so NO later than March 1st at the latest. Our State Office is very busy with numerous items and we all need to be cognizant of that. Needless to say, but our collections are down and so any "extra" help that our GREAT Councils can do to help would be GREATLY appreciated-especially from those Councils who chose not to participate in the Drive. On another note, I recently had the honor at the invitation of our Worthy State Deputy to attend the Special Olympic Games in Galena. I could go on and on about what I saw, the smiles on the athletes faces as they participated, the parents joy at seeing their child in the competition, the absolute graciousness from people who saw us at the various events and the heartfelt appreciation and thanks expressed by all to the Illinois Knights of Columbus for our support and encouragement. However, I did notice something that to me really stuck out. I don't know where they got them but it was amazing to me how many athletes had an embroidered KC emblem sewn into their coats or 'hoodies". These were not some type of uniform but their everyday clothes. What does that tell us about how much we are appreciated and recognized? Again, without your support, the Illinois Knights of Columbus, this program and others like it just do not happen. Thank You! Edwardsville Council 1143 sponsored a benefit breakfast that raised more than $500 for the St. Mary s Teen Group. The funds were used to offset the group s trip to the annual March for Life, held in Washington, D.C., Jan. 22. St. Mary Council 6993 in Mokena held its annual Christmas party for retired women religious. The sisters enjoyed food, snacks and many games of Bingo. ILLINOIS STATE COUNCIL OFFICE Don, Donna & Mary illinoiskc@illinoisknights.org Don, Donna & Mary We will be mailing out the request for Council Chairman for MR/LD Fund Drive. The Office State drive date is September 18-20, Additional dates of September 4-6, and are also approved. Please fill out and mail back the MR/LD Chairman Form to the State Office as soon as possible. This form is vital so we can mail out all necessary MR/LD material to your Council Chairman. This form can be filed electronically by visiting the Illinois State council website at: Those councils whose forms are received at the State Office by April 15th, will receive an MR/LD baseball hat. Additional Hats can be purchased for $10, with $2 per hat going to your MR/LD fund. The insurance certificate for this year s MR/LD drive for those not participating in our General Liability Insurance should be received shortly and we are working on the policy for the General Liability participants. These certificates will be forwarded to the Grand Knight or the MR Chairman on record with the State Office. To request insurance this year we have a new form which must be completed. Many municipalities require special language on their certificate or want to be an Additional Insured. Please indicate this when requesting their certificate, but be sure to send in that MR Chairman Form so we can get the insurance request form and all future mailings to the correct Knight! Credential cards for this year s State Convention will be mailed out to the Council Financial Secretary on or about March 1st. Please fill them 9

10 out and mail them back in the pre-addressed accompanying envelope. If your Council is working on their Columbian Application (Form SP-7), before you submit it to Supreme, bring it with you to the State Convention in May. There will be a table set up for reviewing your form and someone also will be available to assistance you in completing this form. Every council in Illinois should qualify for this Columbian Award; you just have to fill out the paperwork and submit it. You owe it to your Brothers within the council who worked hard all year on the various programs in support of the Church; the Community; the Family and your fellow Brothers. The Data Gathering form (DIR 1) for the fraternal year will be mailed out in early April. As soon as elections are held, PLEASE complete the form and mail back to the State Office ASAP along with your completed 185 and 365. These forms are very important. They are used to gather the information which is published in the State Directory and our mailing database. These forms can also be submitted electronically by visiting the State Council website: for the DIR 1 and through our link to Supreme on our website for the Supreme Forms 185 and 365. The quarterly Charity Goals Letters have been mailed to the Financial Secretaries. If our records do not agree with your disbursements, please contact the State Office immediately at , 8AM thru 4PM Daily to reconcile the differences. All deposits to meet the Charities Goal must reach the State Council Office by Noon, Thursday April 30, 2009 We have been notified that there are several councils which have no SUPREME APPOINTED financial secretary. Supreme must have a letter of resignation or notification that the FS of record will not be reappointed before the necessary paperwork to appoint a new financial secretary can be mailed out. Please get the necessary paperwork to Supreme as soon as possible so this important council position does not become vacant. We want to assure all members that the State Office is doing its part to comply with all State and Federal laws so we protect our State Charitable Status which has caused some additional documentation on your parts and we appreciate your cooperation. It is more work for us all including the State Council Office, but noncompliance is not an option. We appreciate your assistance. We also want to remind all councils that the criteria for awards are listed in the State Directory and can also be found on the State Website. Please review and begin to gather the necessary documentation for all awards so you can complete your year end forms for both Supreme Council and State Council awards. The Crucifix which was first dedicated on the grounds of Lansing Council 3540 in Lansing, Illinois in 1965 was moved to a new location at St. Ann's parish. Restoration, done by Life Scout Dominic Podsiadic for his Eagle Scout community project along with 25 other scouts, friends and family took some five months. The Crucifix weighing over 2000 pounds. Father Mark Kalema, Associate Pastor and Father Fred Pesek, Pastor at St. Ann's in Lansing, Illinois, rededicated the Crucifix. STATE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIR. / NEWSLETTER EDITOR Robert Fuggiti no5025@aol.com Communication is of the utmost importants in any Council and also in life. We do it in many ways: in what we say, and sometimes in what we don t say. Aren t we taught that our examples communicate who we are? What example have 10

11 you communicated lately? Take time each day to reflect on what you did and how you did it. When was the last time you went on a spiritual retreat? Does your council or church sponsor one? If not, think about adding one to your council list of activities. As you have read the State Convention is coming and now is the time to be recognized. Get your Council Newsletters organized in a booklet. Get your council s pictures of all your activities and make a scrapbook. Not only are you recording memories, you are organizing the history of your council. Bring these peaces of history to the State Convention. They will be displayed for all to see. After the convention is over you ll get them back. I encourage you to visit and take part in the convention. Come on down and communicate who you and your council are. Do you remember when you had show and tell at school? The State Convention is just like that or maybe more like show and tell and learn. In Loving Memory Rev. Leo F. Hotze S.V.D. Called to Life April 10, 1916, First Vows June 21, 1938, Perpetual Vows June 21, 1942, Ordained August 15, 1943, 1st Degree November 12, 1951 Appointed Chaplain Divine Word Council #7331 July 1, 1969, Former Chaplain of Northside GK, PGK Club 4th Degree February 23, 1969, Illinois State Council's "Chaplin of the Year" Called to Heaven, January 18, 2009 May their Souls and all the Souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen Cncl # First Name Yrs Cncl # First Name Yrs 2932 Don A. Balasters Rev. John J. Mackin 67 Chaplain 658 William F. Bernbrock John J. "Jack" Maloney Bernard Brefeld Kenneth Mascetti John L. Bromley Nicholas Modaff Joseph E. Bussan 78 PGK,PFN 2164 Bill Moffe Charles E. "Chuck" Crumbacher, Jr John A. Morazoni Steven Detmer Norbert W. Moses David D. Diestelhorst Sr Roger S. Murphy William Hillmer Lavern Rolfingsmeyer Terry Hughes Oswald J. Spillane Stanley Jendresak Richard L. Strebel, Sr. 35 PGK 460 Harold J. Jilek Ralph Timmermann 35 PGK 4688 John J. Kaufman Carl Vansaghi Cletus "Clyde" Kellermann Gene B. Wickenhauser Francis Lechner Martin Will 68 11