St. Thomas More Council #7826 Knightly News for April 2015 My Brother Knights, this marks the first newsletter since October of last year. As we all know, it was in the month of November that our Grand Knight, Bob Haas began the final days of his battle with cancer. As we continue our recovery from the loss of his leadership, let us dedicate this publication to his memory. Bob was passionate about the Knights and the need to publish a monthly newsletter for our council. I am certain he will remain a loyal follower of our newsletter and the activities described within it. Welcome to our new Brothers, as well as those who have transferred to our council, since October: Charles Baldelli Anthony Jarvis Brian Palmer Gary Basara Tom Kennedy Dr. Randall Rodriguez-Torres Paul Bourgoin Tom King Robert Sheely David Clark Bill Lucke John Spinale Neil Corrado Ed McManus Edsel Van DeWall Arnemann Alan Dressel Jim Mc Namara Ed Wolfe Edward Espinola Thomas Nate Jerry Zaback Gerald Grens Ralph Neller David Radeke Please take the time to introduce yourself to them and get to know them at your next council meeting.
Congratulations to our Knight of the month for February, Larry Hall. Larry has been an active participant since joining the Council and his work on reporting hours of service has improved the quality as well as the number of hours we have been reporting. In addition, Larry has agreed to take on the most challenging responsibility of being our new Financial Secretary. Thank you, Larry for all you do for the Council. The following are some of the more significant events that have transpired since our last newsletter. 1.) We conducted a very successful Citizens with Disabilities Drive collecting in excess of $7,000 this year. This is about double what we did last year. We increased our coverage at the Palmer Ranch Publix and did one day at the Gulf Gate Publix. Additionally, the parish members of STM were extremely generous in their support. Plans are underway to expand our coverage even more next year. We will be discussing the disbursement of the funds at our next meeting. 2.) The Baby Bottle program with Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center which Bob Haas spearheaded was a super success. We had a record return rate from the parishioners. In fact we have had some bottles returned as recently as one week ago. Total collections were in excess of $10,000! Several Knights recently attended a luncheon at SMPC with Jennifer Carey, the Executive Director and several Board Members. They are very appreciative of the work we have done. We used the function as an opportunity for a photo op. Please see the website for the photos (kofc #7826.org.) Also watch the parish bulletin, Columbian magazine and local newspapers for the article and photo submitted by our new Publicity Chairman, John Maier. 3.) We are winding down our Spring Training Concession stand work with the Incarnation Council. The new stand has been great. Sales are about double what they were with our previous stand. Thanks to all who have really worked hard this year at making this a fundraising success. A punster could call this a homerun. 4.) Continuing with the baseball analogy, we are rounding third base, heading for home in our Raffle ticket sales. The drawing is Memorial Day and our final church sales will be held that weekend. If you haven t sold your tickets
yet, please do so soon and get your money into the Council. Remember, this is our major fund raising project. 5.) Thanks to Peter Barry for his work in designing and obtaining our Memorial Plaque to remember our departed Brothers. It is a beautiful piece and a fitting tribute. I again refer you again to the website for photos of the plaque as well as the presentation to the widows of our departed Brothers at our recent Social events Mark your calendars. Our next Social with be dinner at Stoneybrook Country Club in Palmer Ranch on Friday April 24 th. Cocktails and Hors deurves begin at 6:00 with dinner at 6:45. Menu includes choice of three entrees. Cost is $34.00 per person. Contact Larry Hall at nancyorlarry@comcast.net or call 941-924-2828 for reservations. For the first time, ever, there will be a combined 2 nd and 3 rd degree ceremony on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Saints Peter and Paul in Bradenton. Anyone interested in doing both or, if you have your second degree, just the 3 rd degree, contact Ron McCluskey at 232-2274. We are again hosting a cake and ice cream social for our First Holy Communicants. It will be held on Saturday May 9 th after the 10:30 AM Mass. We need someone to Chair this function, as well as volunteers to work the event. Our May social will be held on May 29, 2015 at the Oaks Country Club. Details will be forthcoming. On June 20, 2015, we will have a Corporate Communion at the 4:00PM Mass at St. Thomas More, followed by the Officer Induction Ceremony in the Spirit Center, followed by Cocktails and Dinner also in the Spirit Center. The dinner will be catered by Gecko s and should be excellent. Please try to make this event. Let s maximize our turnout! The following Brothers will have gracefully added one more year to their liferesume in April. Be sure to congratulate them when you see them. Dr. Thomas Meirink April 1 Deacon Kevin Monahan April 22 Bruce Hoeffel April 23
Dr. Randall Rodriquez-Torres April 29 The Good of the Order included the following people in need of our prayers. Please keep them in our constant prayers: Joanne Ballschmieder (wife of Charlie) Mike D Alberto (Tony s Brother) Tom Fenner(Steve s Son) Gerhard Glaesel Annie Hayes (Jerry s wife) Paul Mehalso Margaret Mentz (Phil s wife) John Murray Anthony Picozzi ( Tony s son) Judy and Jeffrey Solum (John s wife and son) Blanca Talero (Gilberto s wife) Sue Zava (Fred s wife) Jeanne Leonard (Don s wife) Our departed Brothers If you would like to order a name badge for your wife, they are $10 and can be ordered by contacting Larry Faeth. Email Larry with the spelling of your wife s name at lfaeth@aol.com. Council shirts can be ordered from Tony D Alberto. It is important to wear a council shirt to our meetings as well as a number of our events during the year, so that you can be recognized as a Knight. Tony offers a variety of styles and colors at reasonable prices. You can email Tony at threadz@aol.com. Finally, it is an honor to serve as your Grand Knight. I thank you all for your confidence in electing me. I realize that I have some big shoes to fill and I promise to do everything I can to uphold the reputation our Council has established in the
past 4 years as one of the top Council s in the State and the Nation. I welcome anyone and everyone s suggestions on how we may continue to improve in any area whatsoever. If there is anything on your mind, please share your thoughts with me at danb6002@comcast.net. Vivat Jesus Dan Bulinski