Knights of Columbus. Newsletter for the Father Howard J. Lesch Council July 2, Recorder: Kevin Mahoney

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1 Knights of Columbus Newsletter for the Father Howard J. Lesch Council 7667 July 2, 2013 Grand Knight: Tom Elsesser Deputy Grand Knight: Moe Powers, PGK Chancellor: Karl Eschmann Financial Secretary: Ken Laird Treasurer: Mike Flinn Field Agent: Tim Pugh Recorder: Kevin Mahoney Advocate: Ellis Boudreaux, PGK Warden: Steve Zajac Inside Guard: Steve Sharpe Outside Guard: Gary Hetzel 1st Year Trustee: Ken Elliott, PGK 2nd Year Trustee: John Foley, PGK 3rd Year Trustee: George Lambert, PGK Chaplain: Fr. Toledo Lecturer: Deacon Lou Marini GENERAL NOTES: Please send announcements, upcoming events, pictures of KoC activities, and other pertinent info to Kevin Mahoney at To improve the accuracy of meeting minutes and newsletters, please provide meeting reports to the Recorder in writing before, during, or after the general meeting. General Business Meeting held at 7:00 PM every 1st Tuesday of each month in the HNJ parish hall. Social Meetings/dinners generally occur the 3rd Tuesday approximately every other month in the HNJ parish hall. Officers Meetings are held at 7:00 pm the last Tuesday of each month in the HNJ parish hall. Newsletter and calendar inputs can be given to Kevin Mahoney Upcoming Dates: Access KC calendar by clicking on the following link:

2 Council 7667 General Membership Meeting Minutes June 4, 2013 The Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Grand Knight (GK) Tom Elsesser. Roll call was taken. Minutes were approved after minor corrections. Report of Admissions: (PGK John Foley) Two form 100s submitted. Brother Troy McClain is wishing to transfer from Council 4444 and Henry Batton (currently with St. Michael s Parish on Eglin AFB) is wishing to be re-instated as a Knight. A motion was made and passed to admit both new members. Grand Knight s Report: (GK Tom Elsesser) GK Tom Elsesser s first act as GK was to thank PGK Ken Elliott for his leadership and hard work guiding the council through the past year, and for all his officers for winning the awards and all the efforts it took to win the awards at State Council. We are on target to have an Installation Ceremony on 16 July, to be held after the 6 p.m. Mass, tentatively at 6:45 p.m. We are on our way to attaining Star Council for FY and time to start focusing on efforts to make Star Council for FY Baby Bottle Drive: There were close to 400 bottles handed and most were returned. The initial results from the Parish is $5200 raised. Using the Knights to sponsor this effort had a beneficial effect on the return thanks to all who volunteered to help collect bottles and those who put money in bottles. Kitchen Update: All electricity is in, microwave is working, outlets where the coffee maker is going to go is working, most cabinets are in, currently waiting on formica for the counter-tops to come in. We received the new Tootsie Roll drive signs (signs were on display for all to see) Our Fraternal Year budget has been passed at $38K Chaplain s Report: No Report Treasurer s Report : (Mike Flinn) Our income this past year was $45,849. Based on expenses we have planned in for Scholarships ($4,000), the income for the past Fraternal Year was $3, Our bank account balance is approximately $16K and some change. Financial Secretary s Report: (Ken Laird) Received Florida sales tax paperwork. Last year taxes were paid on bingo kitchen sales and pasta income. It was learned from our Tax Attorney that we should not be paying taxes on

3 pasta income, as this is a pure fundraiser. Going forward, we will only be paying taxes on bingo kitchen income. I received 81 responses from folks on dues, either at the meeting or mail; additionally, I have 19 Honorary Life members (who won t be paying dues), and I have 88 more to go. Thanks to all who have paid their dues. New membership cards will be ready for the Aug meeting Trustee s Report: (PGK John Foley) No report other than just preparing for annual audit Chancellor s report: (Karl Eschmann) I ordered 25 Cross of Jesus vocation pins at a cost of $100. Once they arrive they will be available for purchase at $4 each. Note: Newly transferred member Troy McClain served with Karl s son at Elmendorf AFB on AWACS. Vocations Report: No report Report on Service Program Committees Membership Director: (PGK Moe Powers) o We are going to attempt to expand support for some of the committees that we have, particularly the Youth Activities Committee. Anyone interested or knows someone who is interested in supporting youth programs, we could use the help. Program Director: (DGK Ellis Boudreaux) o No report Church Director: (PGK Ellis Boudreaux) o Corporate Communion is 4:30 p.m. 4:50 p.m. this Sat o Christmas card orders we get a discount if we order early, so for those checking the mail, be on the lookout for order forms Community Director: (PGK Ellis Boudreaux) o Pasta dinner this Sat help is always welcomed o We need to do more to upkeep the property adjacent to the church request for GK to try to organize Boy Scout help to help get the weeds down. o It was noted the Parish is looking into purchasing equipment to maintain the playground and area around the sheds this would help us to maintain the area ourselves. Council Director: (Pat Ritchie)

4 o We are getting ready to write the checks for two of the four scholarship recipients. As soon as we have the information on where the other two will be attending school, we will be writing those checks. Family Director: (Karl Eschmann) o June Family of the Month: Steve and Mary Anne Sharpe o June Knight of the month: Steve Zajac Pro-Life Director: (Chuck Frey) o The Columbians magazine (received last week) has an outstanding 3-page article on Natural Family Planning. It is suggested that everyone make it a point to read that article and pass it on to children and grandchildren who are old enough. o GK Elsesser read a thank you letter from Mr. Bob Grady for the Baby Bottle fundraising support from HNoJ. The letter also spoke of a baby that was born to a resident at the maternity home as well as another pregnant mother moving in. The letter stated that, these blessings are a result of your generosity and I thank you. The Director of Life Inc. Youth Director: (Ed Coleman) o No report Round Table Chairman: (Chris Harvey) o We also have two reinstatements; Bros. Henry and Gerald. Bother were previously members of Council 4444 and are now requesting to be reinstated to our council. They have begun attending St. Michael s and will be a part of their Round Table and Council 7667 o Bro Chris provided the council with an update on Bro. Doug Powell s condition. At this time he is doing better o Planning is underway for St. Michael s Parish Picnic scheduled for Sun, 22 Sep. The Knights are responsible for picnic this year o St. Michael s monthly Rosary, which takes place the third Sunday of every month, has been very successful Recruiting: (PGK George Lambert) No Report Bingo: (PGK John Foley) Bingo teams are in need of help also we need about two more people to be substitute callers floor workers are also needed. Each team has to work one Friday a month. If interested contact Bros. George Lambert or John Foley for more information. Unfinished Business: Installation Ceremony Fill-ins will be needed for officers unable to attend. This entails standing in line and receiving their jewel from DDGK Purka

5 New Business: PGK Foley: We made the application in time to get reimbursement ($500 maximum) from Supreme for the Food for Families program. Bro Foley provided details about the program and noted that Bro Steve Sharpe is our liaison to St. Vincent DePaul s Kitchen and in the last 2 ½ years he has petitioned our council for adding the funds as a donation for St. Vincent DePaul. Bro. Foley made a motion that whatever amount we receive from Supreme be donated it its entirety to the St. Vincent DePaul effort here at HNoJ, in honor of Steve Sharpe. The motion was passed. GK Elsesser informed the council that Bro Sharpe delivered just short of 23 tons of bread to Sharing and Caring, St Vincent DePaul, Head Start and a Mission in Crestview. Bro Ken Laired: Asked if there is someone among us who would be willing to maintain the KoC section of the Parish website. Initially Bro. Chris Harvey volunteered to take on this task, but later Bro. Mark Williams volunteered since he has an information technology background and Brother Harvey is already doing so much at St. Michael s. Report of the Fourth Degree: 4 th Degree coming up in Coral Springs, FL. Bro Powers will get more info and get it out to the council 4 th Degree to be held in Daphne Alabama Jul 20 Next meeting is 18 Jul (meeting are third Thurs of each the month) New officers will be elected Field Agents Report: (Tim Pugh) Bro. Tim provided the council with an Insurance Tip of the Month. He spoke about Participating and Non-participating Insurance policies. A Non-participating insurance policy is what you might get with a publicly traded company. You buy their insurance, they make a profit, and they pay dividends, but they go to their stock holders who are not necessarily insured members or insurance owners of the company. In the KoC case, since we are a fraternal benefits organization, we are a mutual company. When we make a profit and we pay a dividend, that dividend goes to us, those of us who own whole-life insurance policies with KoC. That s a Participating company. We participate in the dividends of the company. Bro. Tim gave us an example and provided us with an illustration of how a policy started in 1982, with a face amount of $30K had grown to a total cash-value of over $73K and a total death benefit of over $93K by As we enter the new Fraternal Year will meet with members, and try to meet with everyone to review your plan for security for your families. I will meet with new members and do the Tradition of Protection presentation. I ve spoken to many of you and many of you have a good plan in place. Our goal is to make sure every Knight and their family has security in the event of catastrophe. Contact me if you re interested in setting up an annuity with the Knights of Columbus. Tim Pugh (850)

6 District Deputy Report: (DD Joe Purka) Joe Purka s message was as follows: 1) Congratulations on making STAR Council: Now that we begin a new fraternal year, your goals are 13 new members and 5 new insurance members. 2) District Realignment: Florida State Council has realigned the districts and we are now in District #4 3) Upcoming Reports: a. Form 365 (Service Program Personnel Report) is due Aug 1 st. b. Semi-Annual Audit is due August 15 th. 4) District Organizational Meeting: Scheduled for 31 August from 9-12 at Council #4444 in Ft. Walton Beach. Recommended attendance is GK, DGK, FS and Membership Chair; although any and all other officers are invited to attend. This is a valuable meeting for all who have not held an officer position previously 5) Goal for this year is to have at least one First Degree each month. Every council should have a First Degree team to conduct exemplification for new members 6) Youth Program Supplies: a. Soccer Challenge August 15 th b. Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest Sept. 1 st c. Essay Contest Sept. 1 st Prayer Requests: Deacon Lou Marini Doug Powell Bill Milican Jim Cox George Guzzetta Bill Milliken Good of the Order (Deacon Lou Marini) In Deacon Lou s absence, Fr. Sebastian Naslund shared the following words: Fr. Seth recited a powerful rendition of the Charge of the Light Brigade and graced us with the following inspiring words (in summary): In light of the growing cultural struggles in our society, I was thinking that this charge of these men, unquestioned, united they really in sense, had the four elements of the Knights of Columbus; They had CHARITY, because they cared for one another and for the country; They had UNITY; They had FRATERNITY, and all of us who have been in the military know that fraternity is a very big part of military life most of the men in our council are in or have been in the military; lastly PATRIOTISM.

7 When Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded the KoC on 29 March 1882, he was 30 years old. It has grown to over 1 million members and he died in 1890 at the age of 38. Those four ideas were the heart of what he wanted to achieve by establishing the KoC. We are being called in our day to help the CHARITY of helping our members, our parishes, our communities, and working for the good of our society. We have to be UNITED, as nobody can achieve great things without working together in cooperation, which is sometimes very hard to do. We need to have FRATERNITY we re Brothers in Christ, Brothers for the sake of the good of all mankind. Lastly, we have to have PATRIOTISM, love for our country, its values, for the principles that make us people of work and value and dignity. Fr. Seth would like to encourage each member to remember and meditate on what we are about. When we are motivated by a clear understanding of what we are doing, the least things we do become important. In the months and years ahead it s becoming clearer and clearer there is going to be a great need for the well-being of the Church to have KoC who stand together in CHARITY, in UNITY, and FRATERNITY, and in PATRIOTISM. Don t ever count yourself out; don t ever consider your participation and your part are unimportant. Everyone is needed for the task of preserving the values that sustain and motivate the Christian community. Let us look beyond one another s faults let s look at the good we can always do. Meeting Closure GK Elliott closed with a prayer and the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Next general membership meeting is 2 July at 7 p.m. After-meeting Social Attendees remained for a social at the end of the meeting. GK Elliott provided the snacks and beverages.

8 Family of the Month June 2013 Stephen and Mary Ann Sharpe The Sharpe family worked hard this month in many parish and council related activities. They have been very active members of the HNJ parish for many years; Brother Steve has been a member of the Knights for over nine years. He volunteers to work every month as a Floor member with Bingo Team Number One. He and the other members of the four Bingo teams have been instrumental in the success of the activity in producing over 70% of the income used in charitable, community, and council support. Steve has also helped with numerous other Council programs to support Handicapped Citizens. He and the other volunteers work at several key store entrances in the Niceville area and collect contributions while handing out vast quantities of donated Tootsie Rolls to the contributors in support of the Handicapped Citizens Drive. On average of over $2000 is typically submitted to the State Council to help various groups assisting the handicapped. Brother Steve has been an active volunteer for ten years with the Saint Vincent DePaul Society. The group is involved with helping to gather federal and state grant money, foodstuffs and other items such as furniture for the county s needy people. They also provide entire Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners for families in various states of poverty, where there would be no dinner otherwise. Steve s primary area of expertise is as a resource person, or one who looks for and finds the things needed by those unfortunate families. Annually Steve has collected over "23 TONS" of bread products from local bakeries and delivered them to 4 regional charities and food banks. In a similar volunteer assignment, he helps to find and restock personal care items needed by the residence at the Pavilion Assisted Living facility by providing basic essentials like toiletries, blankets, and also provides minor maintenance in their rooms and on a weekly basis. He and Mary Ann also provide the residents with transportation to and from medical appointments and they share in bringing Catholic residents to mass on Sunday mornings. He works especially hard to support Parish social functions. He volunteers to server and clean-up for the Pasta Night Support Team Number One. The dinners collect hundreds of dollars for charity programs supported by the Knights, while also providing members of the parish with an excellent dinner on Saturday nights at a very reasonable cost. Typically people are served at the monthly dinners. Steve and Mary Anne also both serve in the parish ministries as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and as Visitation Ministers who attend to the sick or elderly home bound or institutionalized parishioners. He and his wife visit and bring Holy Communion to parish residents in the local nursing homes on Christmas, Valentine s Day and Easter Sundays and also visit these folks on their birthdays. Every Saturday morning, he cleans up the parish grounds and Rosary Park pathways and provides other maintenance and upkeep required to maintain the integrity of the Rosary Park and parish grounds. Additionally, he and another Council member performed work on the Parish Rectory rebuilding the garage and preparing for the removal of the old carport. Brother Steve is also the Council s Inside Guard, a 4 th Degree Sentinel, and a Honor Guard. Mary Anne also participates in the Ladies Sodality Group, this group of distinguished women works unselfishly to set up the execution of social functions such as cakewalks, picnics, Sunland Christmas Party and the Parish Oktoberfest. The Ladies Sodality also hosts receptions for funerals and memorial services while aiding the grieving friends and relatives of those whom have passed on. Brother Steve and Mary Anne demonstrate through hard work their Christian values and the KOC principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

9 Knight of the Month June 2013 Stephen J. Zajac Brother Steve worked hard this month in many parish and council related activities. He has been a very active member of the Holy Name of Jesus parish for ten years, and has been a member of the Knights for over twenty-six years. Brother Steve volunteers to work every month as a substitute Bingo Team Floor member. He and the other members of the four Bingo teams have been instrumental in the success of the activity in producing over 70% of the income used in charitable, community, and council support. Steve has led numerous Council and parish social events like KoC 3rd degree, Parish Mission, Necrology dinner, Clergy appreciation dinner and New-comers brunch as the chef and his made from scratch meals are always well attended. Steve has also helped with numerous other Council programs to support Handicapped Citizens. He and the other volunteers work at several key store entrances in the Niceville area and collect contributions while handing out vast quantities of donated Tootsie Rolls to the contributors in support of the Handicapped Citizens Drive. On average of over $2000 is typically submitted to the State Council to help various groups assisting the handicapped. He was very much involved in the church's self-help project to design and build a "Rosary Park" on the church grounds. Every Saturday morning, he continues to clean up the Holy Rosary Park on the parish grounds, and provides other maintenance as required to maintain the integrity of the park. Steve s primary area of expertise is as a resource person, or one who looks for and finds the things needed by those unfortunate families. He assists Brother Steve Sharpe to find and restock personal care items needed by the residence at the Pavilion Assisted Living facility by providing basic essentials like toiletries, blankets, and also provides minor maintenance in their rooms and on a weekly basis. He also provides the residents with transportation to and from medical appointments and they share in bringing Catholic residents to mass on Sunday mornings. He serves in the parish ministries as the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Visitation Ministry Coordinator. Steve recently completed implementing a Diocesan wide mandate from the Bishop and retrained 115 ministers who assist the parish deacons and priest at mass and the ministers who attend to the sick or elderly home bound or institutionalized parishioners. He also visits and brings Holy Communion to parish residents in the local nursing homes on Christmas, Valentine s Day and Easter Sundays and also visit these folks on their birthdays. He works especially hard to support Parish social functions. He volunteers to server and clean-up for the Pasta Night Support Team Number One. The dinners collect hundreds of dollars for charity programs supported by the Knights, while also providing members of the parish with an excellent dinner on Saturday nights at a very reasonable cost. Typically people are served at the monthly dinners. He recently rebuilt the parish hall kitchen areas. He replaced the dilapidated old stove, replaced all the electrical circuits, added a double oven, cook top and microwave oven and new cabinetry Additionally, he led other Council member in performed work on the Parish Rectory rebuilding the garage and preparing for the removal of the old carport. He additionally volunteers to help the Parish Widows by performing home repair activities for their homes. Brother Steve also planned a full weekend with council volunteers to clean up years of neglect on the outside grounds. Brother Steve spent hundreds of hours of his own personal time to complete this noteworthy project. Brother Steve demonstrates through hard work his Christian values and the KOC principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

10 Photo from Installation Ceremony for newly elected FY-2013 Officers First row: Deputy Grand Knight - Maurice Moe Powers; Chaplain - Fr. Toledo Second row: Grand knight - Tom Elsesser; Warden - Steve Zajac (Franklin Bevel filling in); Third Trustee - George Lambert (Chris Harvey filling in); Treasurer - Mike Flinn (Charles George filling in) Third row: Advocate - Ellis Boudreaux (Chuck Frey filling); Financial Secretary - Ken Laird (Jack Landserk filling); Recorder - Kevin Mahoney; Chancellor - Karl Eschmann Fourth row: Outside Guard - Gary Hetzel; Inside Guard - Steve Sharpe; Second Trustee - John Foley; District Deputy - Joe Purka Not pictured; Tim Pugh filling in for First Trustee - Ken Elliott Thanks to the Brothers who volunteered to filled in for officers who were unable not attend.