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HONORING THE PAST ~ EMBRACING THE FUTURE
January 2005
VOLUME XXIX ISSUE 7
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Contents . . .
GRAND KNIGHT'S MESSAGE
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Bother Knights, Ladies and Widows. We have reached the end of the 2004 calendar year and the first half of our fraternal year. We thank the Lord for His many blessings in bringing us this far.
As I look back on the last six months of my administration, I say thanks to the Officers, Directors, Chairmen and all the Volunteers, Families and widows who have sacrificed their time to make our activities and programs a success. Since my installation in August we have raised funds at two baseball games; assisted St. Andrew Kim with the official visit of Cardinal Stephen Kim of Korea; held our annual Council picnic; assisted at St. Patrick's and St. Peter's picnic; held our annual Inwood House Halloween Party; conducted a successful Tootsie Roll Campaign; took part in a State-wide Membership Blitz; participated in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; assisted at St. Peter's Christmas Bazaar; cooked at St. Peter's Breakfast with St. Nick; conducted a successful Silent Auction/Dinner Dance; submitted our First Quarter Surge with Service Report; conducted our annual Memorial Mass; went caroling at Montgomery General Hospital and did much more. All of us can feel proud of our efforts for the church, our families and our community.
Our last event of the year 2004 was our Christmas party for our family and children. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make the event a success. Special thanks to Father Sweeney of Our Lady of Grace for allowing us the use of Our Lady of Grace Parish Hall, thanks also to Father Joseph of the Marians for bringing the Seminarians to the party and for giving us his blessings.
Thank you to our Brother Knight who established a matching fund for donations up to $1,000.00 to serve as stipends to be given to the seminarians. And thanks to each of you who generously answered the call. Collectively you have donated over a thousand dollars for this worth cause and donations are still coming in.
At the Christmas Party, I announced our November 2004 Knight of the Month and Family of the Month. The Knight of the Month Award went to Robert D'Onofrio who served as the DJ for our successful Silent Auction/Dinner Dance. The Family of the Month Award went to the Bret and Christine Beehler family for their outstanding work on the Silent Auction including compiling the list of our generous donors, setting up the data base for the auction, sending out solicitation letters and a host of other things which helped lead to a success auction. The Beehlers are also acknowledged for their work in the parish. Special thanks to all our award recipients for being so involved in our Council's activities.
Donna and I and all the officers and their families wish you and yours a happy, healthy, spirit filled New Year. We ask that you continue to pray for our troops all over the world and that you keep the spirit of Christmas in your hearts throughout the year.
Yours in Christ,
Innocent P. d'Almeida
Grand Knight
DISTRICT DEPUTY'S MESSAGE
by DD Kevin L. Jeffords
Time has really flown. It is January 2005 and we are half way through the fraternal year; we hope that all had a wonderful Christmas. This month all the Grand Knights and Deputy Grand Knights will be attending the Mid-Term meeting and Pro-life Mass on Saturday January 8th at Cardinal Gibbons Council in Baltimore.
The Maryland State Scholarship applications must be in to the State soon The information has been published so if you need it, see your Grand Knight or checkout the State web site at www.kofc-md.org.
During January, all council's officers and members are being challenged to recruit at least two new members. Now is the time for you as members of your council and order to take the lead in membership recruitment as we enter the second half of the fraternal year an "Come Alive in 2005". The next order wide membership blitz will be held in April. Please don't wait, do it now!
We have seen a lot of councils cancel first degrees because of lack of new members. If you have one candidate ready to join the order...WE WILL NOT CANCEL A DEGREE. It is important to add new blood in the order. Work together as a TEAM. Recruit, recruit, and recruit.
Finally, I ask all Grand Knights and council officers to work with the PGKs, key members of your council and State officers on bettering your council. We are there for you.
Please remember to pray for our troops, pray the Rosary and may God Bless our Order.
FRATERNAL BENEFITS
GET ALL THE FACTS
If any agent or representative of another company suggests that you cash in or discontinue paying premiums on your Knights of Columbus insurance policy, please call me immediately.
Why? Because the replacement of one policy with another can cost you substantial amounts of money! You may have accumulated cash values and dividends in your present policy that would take years to build up in a new one.
Losing money may not be the only problem. Your existing policy probably has guaranteed options which are more favorable to you and your beneficiaries than those in a new policy. And if your financial needs have changed, there's a good chance that the old policy can be adjusted to meet your current situation. Should a replacement attempt be made, be sure that you have all the facts. Call me and give us theopportunity to review the replacement proposal with you so you will have both sides of the story.
Then you can make a financially sound decision.
Rick Morin, FICF/LUTCF
Your K of C Agent -- 301.384.7627
THE COUNCIL'S FIRST DEGREE TEAM
Each member of the Knight's of Columbus begins his membership by taking his initiation with the exemplification of the First Degree of the Order. This Degree exemplification is to be done by the Council into which the member is elected, if at all possible.
Father Peter Paul Maher Council has had a First Degree Team to accomplish this exemplification since the Institution of the Council in 1976. For over 25 years the Council's First Degree Team has performed the Degree for our new members.
Again we are in danger of loosing our First Degree Team and with it the ability to initiate our new members in our own Council. Long standing members of the team are passing on, moving or are reaching the point where health conditions limit their ability to participate. For the past year we have been in need of a Grand Knight and a Chancellor. We have also suffered losses in the depth we once had at the Financial Secretary and Warden positions.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!. Not the guy next to you, not the guy in the next row, BUT YOU! Several members have expressed interest in trying out for parts, but to date no one has completed the effort. Please contact the Degree Team Captain (Bob Caron, PGK 301-774-6951), if you are willing to be a part of this rewarding council function. With over 400 members in the Council, somewhere there are a few members who can step forward to participate. If no one steps forward, we will probably have to abandon the Team by year's end.
PANCAKE & SAUSAGE DAY 2005
MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On Saturday, February 19th, 2005, Father Peter Paul Maher Council along with the LIONS CLUB of Olney, will again sponsor the 29th Annual Pancake and Sausage Day. The usual "ALL YOU CAN EAT" breakfast at St. John's Episcopal Church Hall in Olney will provide the Council with the major source of funding for our annual College Scholarship Program. The full page flyer elsewhere in the Newsletter gives the details.
Two important reminders. FIRST: Council Members will be needed to work the dining room from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. This will be done in the usual two shifts of 7:00 am to 11:00 am, which includes set up, and the 11:00 am to 3:00 pm shift which includes take down and clean up. Many hands will make for light work. Contact Bro. Jack Giacalone (301-774-6338) or email jgiacal@verizon.net to volunteer. SECOND: A very important source for the success of the event is the Advertisements in the Program Booklet. Contact Bob Caron (301-774-6951) or Jack Giacalone (301-774-6338) with your ad. Remember, two complimentary tickets are given with each Ad.
PROGRAM BOOKLET ADS
A major source of revenue for the Pancake & Sausage Day is the program booklet. We need as many members as possible to take out an ad. If you own a business, please consider this opportunity to support the Council. Individual members are encouraged to take out business card size ads to support the Scholarship Program. Remember, two complimentary tickets with each ad.
1/8 PAGE (BUSINESS CARD SIZE) -- $25.00
1/4 PAGE -- $50.00
1/2 PAGE -- $85.00
Full page (8.5 by 7 in.) -- $160.00
Two complimentary tickets with each paid ad.
For Ads contact: Jack Giacalone 301-774-6338 or Bob Caron 301-774-6951.
Ad deadline: 4 February 2005.
RETREATS HOSTED BY MARYLAND STATE COUNCIL
The Maryland State Council will be hosting two One-Day Retreats at The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland. The cost of each retreat is $30 which includes lunch. The dates for these retreats are:
* Wednesday, January 12, 2005: For Knights, Wives and Widows
* Saturday, February 26, 2005: For Knights and Their Wives
If you are interested in attending any of the retreats, please contact E.J. Cummings, Church Activities Director, at 301-260-2846 for more information.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
by Homer Chen
Let's welcome the following 15 new members who joined our Council during the first half of our fraternal year: Thomas J. McManus, John E. Moore, Timothy F. MacDonnell, Albert J. Mayer, Paul Fitzgerald, Marc Long, Steven Funk, William J. Kollins, Robert A. Donnally, Jeffrey Phillips, Rev. Fr. Rafi Kuttukaran, Kevin M. Barry, John T. Gibala, Joseph E. Krempasky and Zhihe (Mark) Xu. Let's also welcome Thomas P. Kennedy and Robert Quinn who have transferred to our Council.
If we all try to bring in new members, we should reach our goal of 22 and more very soon. We can talk to our friends, co-workers, family members who may be just waiting for you to ask. For membership information, please call Ed Ramos at (301) 924-1898 or Homer Chen at (301) 460-0580.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING OUR POPULAR 'HEALTH ARTICLES' SERIES
by Bill Gulban
We will not be running a health article this month. We will begin running health articles every other month in 2005.
NAMETAGS
Please order your nametag and one for your wife, to wear at all K of C functions and social events, by calling me, Harry Bushar, at (301) 929-1425 or by completing the following form and sending it to me at 15004 Columbine Way, Rockville, MD 20853, along with a check ($5 for members, $3 for wives, and no charge for widows of the Council).
NOTES FROM THE CHANCELLOR
Prayer Remembrance
Any person related to our Council, brother, relative or friend, may call me, Harry Bushar, at (301) 929-1425 to request prayers for a brother, relative, or friend who is ill or deceased, so that his/her name may be offered in prayer by Council members when we meet or by any reader of this newsletter.