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August 2003
VOLUME XXVIII ISSUE 2
Contents . . .
Grand Knight's Message
Good Brothers,
The council needs your help. We can only keep our vows and honor by making all our program events successful with your help. We have a lot of brother Knights waiting and watching a few of us "make everything happen". Gentlemen, this is your council, not mine, not the officers, not the trustees and not the past officers and Grand Knights. Myself and the rest of the officers stand ready to pitch in, schedule, coordinate and even chair events and activities, but without your ideas, help and active participation we haven't a clue to what you want the council to do. Please contact myself, Innocent or any other officer with your ideas and suggestions, expect to be an integral part of these ideas and suggestions. Together we can make the council better and, in turn, more successful.
Even if you think there need be no changes to the council activities and events, we still need your participation and assistance. Make your choice to be a Knight of Columbus have meaning, help yourself, the parishes and the community by participating in at least one event or activity every three months. Just your presence and expert advice can make the council better and the activities more enjoyable and rewarding. I hope to see you at an event, activity or meeting in the very near future.
Vivat Jesus et Salve Regina,
Rick L. Allison
District Deputy Report
by Joe Feakes
Its August already, have you made your plans to help your council achieve Star Council? You say you haven't. You say there's nothing you can do. Wrong!!!. There is a lot we can all do to improve our councils. Don't rely on the Grand Knight or other council officers or committee chairmen. You take the lead. What are some of the things you can do? Get involved in an activity or start a new one. If there is a project you think your council should or could be doing, say something.
In our installation ceremony we point out that each man in the council has a unique talent that makes him different from everybody else. The extent that each of us uses that talent will reflect on the success of the council.
Recruit a new member. There are very likely a thousand eligible men in your parish who you could ask to join our order. Some will say no, some will say yes. You will never know which is which unless you ask. New members are the future of the council. Don't put the future of your council in danger. MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERSHIP.
If you are not yet an insurance member, consider meeting with your Fraternal Benefits Advisor. The Knights of Columbus insurance plan is among the best in the country. Even if you don't think you need any coverage, there might be something available for your wife or other members of your family.
All these things, programs, membership, and insurance go towards that status as a Star Council. You can do them all by yourself, and it doesn't take a lot of time. If you can get other men and their families to join you, the results can be very surprising and rewarding.
If you remember the movie "Smokey and The Bandit", there was a song that included the lyrics "we have a long way to go and a short time to get there". We do have a long way to go, but let's not wait until time becomes short. On behalf of our District Warden, Yen Le, and our wives Lynn and Nu, I wish all of you a pleasant remainder of the summer. Remember "First Charity".
Vivat Jesus
Insurance News
by Rick Morin, FICF, LUTCF, Your K of C Agent 301.384.7627
FRATERNAL BENEFITS AN ECONOMIC MUST
Do you have seat belts in you car? Of course you do! How many do you have? Aren't you certain that you have one for every member of your family? Would you buy an automobile that only provided one "belt" -- that being for you? But would you believe that family after family with whom I visit are running along with the one "belt" of insurance on the father. Somehow, the common opinion seems to be that death will strike only the father -- not the mother. Today, insuring your wife's life is an economic must. With "wife insurance", should death occur, you have a fighting chance to retain at least a semblance of a home for your children.
Call me today to discuss these needs.
Important Announcements from the Chancellor
by Bill Gulban
As your newly elected officer of Council Chancellor I want to identify three important items for future council events.
As new members who became welcomed first-degree members to our council you were notified by the Financial Secretary that name tags bearing your name and council name were available. The color is (crackle finish) burgundy, our council color, engraved with white letters. The name tag has a new option to pin the tag unto a sweater, shirt, etc., as well as to clip on to your coat breast pocket. The cost is $5.25. I will be calling each new member not having a name tag to arrange for prepayment and then to order your first name according to your desire, such as nick-name or other preferred name. An additional option each member's wife has available a small white pin-on name tag engraved in color to wear at K C functions or social events. I will ask each council member if they want to order one for their wife. The cost will be about $3. Any member's wife not currently owning one can order by calling me at 301+774-424. This announcement is in support to our communal spirit when gathering at our K C events.
The second item is to publish in our newsletter the remembrance of prayers for members who are ill, friends and relatives who are ill, and those who have died. In addition to all members who requested prayers at any council meeting and desire prayer remembrance please call me to publish their name so that the newsletter can reach members for prayers. To make sure that names are read or heard, please call me for their publishing. Personally, I can vouch that as a recipient of a prayers being answered I am very thankful that the Lord has answered.
The third item is in behalf of our council needs to have a fund raising event. This event has been successful in other councils and organizations. The event has not been scheduled yet but with many hands of effort from our council members I am announcing a "Garage to Attic Sale". Advertisement beyond our newsletter will be in local papers and parish bulletins, please be advised to save your giveaways, collect your items where good trash can be treasures to others. Attic jewels and garage gold will be treasured at our sale. Some limitations and cautions are no children cribs, large appliances such washers or dryers, tires, non-workable items, children's carriages or car seats. Yes items include children's toys. There will be more details in future communication, so please list now your items, collect and store them for planned pickup.
Inwood House Halloween Festival
This year our Halloween Festival for Inwood House Residents will be held on Saturday October 25th, 2003. Please come to our "Kick-off Koffee" @ 7:30 P.M. on Wednesday, September 17th to be held at Padams' home at 3624 Martin's Dairy Circle, Olney, MD. We will need many volunteers-including last year's committee.
All interested knights (and their wives) please come on Sept. 17th.with your ideas for this year's Festival...
This activity is one of the Council's Community Adtivities which has been so successful in the past. All the residents at Inwood House are excitied about the prospect of another Festival (This will be our Fourth year offering such a party for the disabled residents). Last year we served 115 guests!
For directions, call Jim Padams at 301-570-5213.
Council's Fr. Canice Treacy Memorial College Scholarships Awarded
The last event of the 2002 - 2003 Council year was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 at 8:00 PM. It was a reception with light refreshments in the dining hall of the Marian Assisted Living Center (19109 Georgia Avenue, Brookeville, Maryland) to acknowledge our three Father Canice Treacy Memorial College Scholarship recipients. All three recipients were recently graduated, with honors, from Colonel Zadok Magruder High School.
Ms. Benedicta Osafo-Darko was accepted to the University of Maryland at Baltimore to study medicine. Ms. Tosan E. Ehanire was accepted to Johns Hopkins University to study medicine. Mr. Thomas M. Koval, Jr. was accepted to St. Mary's College of Maryland to study law and Grand Knight Richard Allison and Chancellor Paul McFarlane presented each recipient with a $1,000 scholarship award check for the college of their choice. Ms. Ehanire was unable to attend so, her sister, Itohan, accepted the award on her behalf. She and Ms. Osafo-Darko and Mr. Koval told the thirty-some guests why they had chosen their particular fields of study and thanked the Council. The Council extends a hearty "congratulations" to each of the recipients and their families.
Spring Fund-Raising Raffle Results
by Bob Caron, PGK - Chairman
THANKS, THANKS, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Spring Fund-Raising Raffle was a success thanks to the support of 35% of the membership. To ALL who helped in any way, THANKS!
The lucky winners were: First Prize: $500- Lawrence A. Thomas; Second Prize: $100- Dr. & Mrs. J. P. Swope; Third Prize: $50- Mrs. Ann C. Schneider. Congratulations to all the winners.
As a result of the continued support of the membership the Council was able to add over $746 for use in our community service and charitable programs. As a sign of the times, our results this year were off nearly 25% from previous years. Special Thanks to the following members for the high number of tickets sold: PGK William E. Ketter and Br. Charles W. Cozad. WELL DONE!
Health for K of C Membership Longevity
by Bill Gulban
A recent experience of being exposed to a virus and being attacked in my respiratory system ultimately sent me to the hospital. Without other symptoms of a common cold, constant coughing and hacking to the point of keeping me awake during the night kept me very tired.
The cause of my personal recent June and July episode is the subject of my article this month. Even though many people have experienced summer colds, a virus can attack one's body and make them very uncomfortable. Having no temperature or fever but chest discomfort from continued and persistent coughing was enough to send me to the doctor. With these symptoms the x-rays proved no pneumonia but only irritation and infectious swelling of the lining of bronchial tubes, similar to bronchitis. When cells lining the airways are irritated beyond a certain point, the tiny cilia (hairs) that normally trap and eliminate foreign matter stop working properly. The buildup of irritants leads to the production of excess mucus, which clogs air passages further and produces the characteristic heavy cough of bronchitis.
Bronchitis occurs in two forms-acute and chronic. While both types of bronchitis produce a persistent cough, most cases of acute bronchitis clear up in about two weeks; chronic bronchitis may persist for a number of years.
Between January and March, the number of doctor visits for bronchitis peaks at about 10 to 12 million cases a year. Proper treatment can speed recovery and prevent complications, especially in those who smoke.
Causes - Contrary to popular belief, acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. Bronchitis generally develops when a virus invades the air passages of the lungs (bronchi) in the aftermath of an upper respiratory infection, also known as the common cold. The virus stimulates an immune response, which causes the bronchial lining to become inflamed.
As a result, the air passages narrow and in about half of patients the bronchi become more responsive (hypersensitive) to dust and other irritants. While most people recover from acute bronchitis within a couple of weeks, symptoms sometimes persist or recur frequently. Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed when symptoms have lasted for at least three months to more than two years in a row.
Treatment - Most cases of acute infectious bronchitis clear up in about two weeks with rest, increased fluid intake, and over-the counter cough medicines that contain the expectorant guaifenesin. In the past, acute bronchitis was also treated with antibiotics. However, treatment strategies have evolved since research has shown that bronchodilators-medications that are routinely prescribed for asthma-may be effective for acute cases that linger longer than two weeks. Research also proves that antibiotics should not be prescribed routinely. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a serious problem because it may render the medications less effective when needed for a legitimate purpose. The problem, which has received considerable media attention, is known as antibiotic resistance.
In my personal case the persistent coughing spell over many days was enough to finally cause a whiplash, which my doctor claims is less common, than broken ribs, but was possible. After being discharged from the hospital on July 4, I'm still taking guaifenesin to rid the reduced hacking. Since my episode, at least four people related to our council have experienced similar coughing viruses during this summer. My wish to everyone is to retain a sense of health, practice good eating habits and maintain your exercise.
This article is supported by 'The Johns Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50', and 'The Complete Home Wellness Handbook' by the University of California.