Knights of Columbus
	Father Maher Council 6793
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JULY 2002    VOLUME XXVII      ISSUE 1

Contents . . .

Grand Knight's Message

New Council Officers

Rebuild, Renew, and Reunite

Council Bills

District Deputy Report

August 4th Installation of Officers

Insurance Report

Membership

Fourth Degree Installation

Grand Knight's Message

I anticipate a very active year focusing on re-building, renewing and reuniting our council. As I work full time and am also a Cub Scout Committee chairperson, I feel my time is somewhat limited. But I truly believe in the membership of our council and the integrity of every member to put his hand to the tasks at hand.

We will have a Saturday afternoon brainstorming effort. I have some ideas, but I want to bounce them off a group of brother knights to test the viability of each item. With your help we’ll develop a list and outline of activities for the year which will enhance our council, bring members back to the council and get us known to the greater Catholic and Christian community of Olney and Aspen Hill.

The attached table lists some events I think would be nice to do. Think about how you would like to help and bring some more ideas to the "brainstorm". If you’re interested in helping with any of these specific events please give me a call.

Thanks for you help and confidence,

Fraternally,
Rick Allison
Grand Knight elect

New Council Officers

by Homer Chen and Carmine Amatucci of the Nominating Committee

During the Council meeting of June 11, 2002, election of the new Council officers
was held for the fraternal year beginning July 1, 2002 and ending June 30, 2003.
The following brother knights were elected:

Re-build, Re-new, and Reunite

by Rick Allison

Here are my thoughts for activities for fulfilling the three tenants.

1. More active membership
   
   
   1. A Tee-shirt for every brother knight thanking them for being Knights
   2. Once a year Re-Union meeting (Gerry Becker's idea)
   3. A Family event each month (centered on holy day, feast day or national event)
   4. Knights Medieval Dinner in October (Mead, Costumes and entertainment)
   5. Send out a Membership survey every quarter
   6. Establish Phone tree under direction of Chancellor and a team
   
   
   
2. Fundraising activities
   
   
   1. Christian Music festival – Late Summer/September
   2. Joust for Charity – Fall, October or Early November
   3. Polish Polka Party
   4. Italian Dinner Party
   5. German October Fest
   6. Country Spring Dance party
   7. K of C Bake sale(s)
   8. Spaghetti Dinners
   
   
   
3. Visibility – ensure families are addressed for involvement
   
   
   1. Once a Month K of C Sunday – Encourage as many brother knights and families to attend a specific mass with reception, (could coincide with community Sundays).
   2. Brother Knights wear name badges when ever possible
   3. Jacket/Cap purchase drive
   4. First Friday devotions wearing name badges
   5. Council Trips and tours
   6. K of C sign on 97 north and south of Olney, and east and west of Olney on 108.
   
   
   

Council Bills

by William E. Ketter, PGK

July is the start of a new Council year and it is a good time to remind members and Program Directors that they should submit bills prior to the meetings for what they have spent for Council activities. Individuals should call the Financial Secretary at (301)570-8959 the day of the meeting or the day before to provide him the information concerning the bill(s). Receipts can be given to Financial Secretary at the meeting. If a bill contains items for two or more budget items, the bill should show what was spent for each budget item. If bills are presented after the meeting, the individual will have to obtain the approval of all the Trustees, present at the meeting, to pay that bill at that time. Bills presented after the meeting has started, may not get prepared so action can occur during that meeting.

District Deputy Report

by Joe Feakes

I cannot express to you in simple words how proud and privileged I feel to have been asked to serve as your District Deputy-District #1!

At the outset, I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to now Former DistrictDeputy, Tin Cao, and Former District Warden, Kevin Jeffords. Both men have displayed standards of energy, leadership, and knowledge that will be difficult to maintain. We will try. Thank you gentlemen and Sir Knights.

Next, I would like to thank and introduce our new District Warden, Yen Le, Immediate Past Grand Knight of Our Lady of Viet Nam Council #11769. I know of few men who better display the attributes of faith, family, and fraternity. These areas, once again, will be the focus of the Supreme Council. Yen brings a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm and offers, as I do, any assistance possible to the members and councils of District #1 and to the Maryland State Council.

In the beginning I said I was here to serve. I emphasis "serve". Whether it is as a leader, counselor, or brother knight, it is my goal to make every knight and every council in our district the best they can be. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the experience, talent, and energy available to the councils in District #1. I know that I will be drawing upon these resources and I encourage every Grand Knight, other council officers, and program chairmen to do the same. Together we can make this fraternal year the best ever. Yes, Yen and I share this challenge with you.

Be open to new ideas and encourage innovation. Evaluate your current programs. Can they be improved? There might some activities that weren't successful a few years ago. Many things have changed. Maybe their time has come. Above all, work to include as many of your brother knights and members of their families as possible in all your programs.

My priorities this year are quality membership, service, and family participation. Quality membership is planning for the future, not just trying to make a number. It is giving a Catholic man and his family a unique opportunity to really live their faith.

Services are the products we offer as councils and members of the Knights. These services are to council, community, church (especially to our bishops and priests), family, and youth.

Finally, I ask you to strive for family participation. We all realize how difficult it is to find quality "family time". Let us, as brother knights, make this sometime dream a reality. Make certain that your programs and activities are made available to as many men and their families as possible. A strong family unit helps to build a faith-filled church and strong community.

In closing, I look forward to making many new friends this year and renewing relationships with old ones. I ask that Almighty God bless us all, our families, our efforts to make this world a better place to live and worship, and to bless those we serve.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

FLASH...FLASH...FLASH...FLASH...FLASH...FLASH

AUGUST 4TH, 2002 INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND PICNIC. DETAILS TO FOLLOW, BUT MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW. WE NEED FOLKS TO COOK SET-UP RUN GAMES ETC… THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION, YOU CAN NOW RETURN TO REGULAR READING.

FLASH...FLASH...FLASH...FLASH...FLASH...FLASH

Insurance Report

by Rick Morin, FICF/LUTCF---Your K of C Insurance Agent (301) 384-7627

The fourth of July commemorates our country's independence. Let today commemorate you family's independence. Free your family of worry and stress by getting life insurance. Life insurance for the time when you aren't going to be with them. No one lives forever, but your family's freedom can. Life insurance, allows your family the freedom of living. The protection allows them to live their lives; instead of worrying about how they will live their lives. They will survive, because of you and the investment you made in life insurance!

Call me today and let your family gain independence.

Membership

by William E. Ketter, PGK

The July 1, 2002 dues statements were mailed to 85 members during the week of June 17, 2002. Members in the Council not paying their dues, because they are experiencing some problem or have decided to leave the Order, causes the Council to expend postage each quarter to mail out the dues statements, funds which could better be used for charitable works. Members with a problem or members deciding to drop their membership should immediately contact the Financial Secretary. Also as soon as you receive your dues statement, please pay your dues as soon as possible.

There are primarily only two ways a Council member can terminate his membership in the Order, one is by being suspended for non-payment of dues and the other is to request a withdrawal card. A withdrawal card can be requested if the member has his dues paid up to the time the card is requested. Any member who has not paid any dues by June 18th , can sent a letter to inform them that the process to suspend their membership may soon be instituted. If the suspension process is started the member will be contacted by the Council retention committee, a notice of change in status will be sent, the member will then be contacted by the Supreme Council, the State Retention Chairman, and the District Deputy prior to being suspended. If a Council member has any question concerning his dues or the suspension process, please call the Financial Secretary, William E. Ketter, at (301)570-8959.

It is also a Council member's responsibility to keep the Council informed of his current address and telephone number so the Council can maintain contact with its members. If your address or telephone number has changed or soon will change, please contact the Financial Secretary immediately so the records can be kept current. The Council also needs this information from the widows so they can maintain contact with them.

Fourth Degree Installation Announcement

Cardinal Patrick A. O'Boyle Assembly Installation of Officers July 14, 2002 Holy Sacrifice of Mass and Installation at 4:00 PM at Old St. John's Church Dinner and reception following at Father Rosensteel Council $15.00 per person For reservations contact Sir Knight Joseph Rosick, PFN, at 301-438-3320