St. Mark Council News

Official Publication Knights of Columbus Council 12654

St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC

September 2005

http://www.kofcncstmark.org

Grand Knight’s Beacon Light

We are all back from summer vacation and ready to address the many functions that are coming up between now and the end of the calendar year.  We had a very productive council meeting on September 12, and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm there. The meeting did run a little longer than we anticipated, not because we were disorganized, but because we had so many topics to address.  For those of you unable to attend, we challenged members to participate in our Council events. If members are unable to participate, they should at least make family and friends aware of the opportunity to participate. If you cannot play golf at our outing Fall Golf Tournament on Oct 23, then please try to get a hole sponsor ($100.) or other gift that can be used as a prize.  If you cannot arrange for you and your wife to attend our Festa Italia on Oct. 7th, maybe you can help sell tickets or help setup or cleanup in the kitchen on that afternoon or evening.  Sign up to drive shuttle buses at Lowes Motor Speedway Oct 13-15. This is a great way to have some fun and earn money for our charities. Each of us is encouraged and should encourage neighbors and friends to buy a Christmas tree and/or wreath and/or garland when we start that sale.  As usual, we are having a membership blitz the weekend of Oct 8th and 9th. Please try to encourage friends to stop by and get information, and please come help answer those questions.

We also addressed a special request from a Knight’s wife (also the mother of a Knight) for financial help for her brother who was directly affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Realizing that our council could not set a precedent for responding to disaster requests, we directed the plea to our Council Members.  I am very proud to report that our brothers have donated close to $2,700.00.  Adding the church pledge to this amount more than exceeded the original request. Thank you council 12654!

Upcoming Events		Support/Volunteer Opportunity	Contact
Sept 26, 7:30 pm	St. Mark Knights Officer Meeting
Oct 3, 6:30 p.m.	St. Mark Knights of Columbus Choir Practice	Sing	Mark Conter markaconter@aol.com
Oct 3, 7:30 p.m.	St. Mark Knights Council Meeting
Oct 7, 7:30-11:30 p.m.	Festa Italia Dinner/Dance at St. Mark Family Center.	Ticket sellers; room set up; maitre d'; dishwasher	Barry Mccaa bemccaa@yahoo.com
Oc tober 8, 5:30 pm Mass	Members of Fourth Degree assembly attending Mass in Regalia
October 8-9	Membership Blitz, all Masses	Talk to St. Mark men after masses	Mark Conter markaconter@aol.com
Oct 13, 6:30 p.m.	Room at the Inn Annual Banquet	Attend banquet (free), make a contribution to Room at the Inn	Tony Gagliardi ajgags@aol.com Mike Mullen michaelamullen@bellsouth.net
Oct 13-15, 7 am – 12 am	Lowe’s Motor Speedway (see detail on p. 2)	Drive shuttle buses	Lou Agosto louagosto@mvalaw.com
October 23, 1 p.m.	Fall Knights Charity Golf Tournament, Highland Creek Golf Club	Play golf, sponsor a hole, solicit businesses for door prizes.	Ed Keller (pairing) edwardkeller@bellsouth.net Dick Christian or Jim Engle for hole sponsors or gifts
October 29, 10 a.m.	Fourth Degree Exemplification, Durham NC		Chip Marshall chip.marshall@adelphia.com

September 12 Meeting Notes – 45 Knights attending

Grand Knight Report: Grand Knight Ed Keller kicked off the meeting by bringing to the Council a request by a brother Knight’s wife for emergency funds for family members who lost everything in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina. Brother Keller said that he could not set a precedent for addressing other emergency requests with Council funds. So, he presented the appeal as request for individual assistance from individual Knights. (Brothers donated nearly $2,700.)

Budget discussion: The 2005-2006 proposed budget, prepared by Advocate Marty Brennan, was discussed briefly. For the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, the budget is $68,540 in gross charitable revenue and $53,360 in charitable expenses. Charitable profit to support various causes (exclusive of Operation LAMB) was estimated to be $15,180. Membership will vote on the budget at the October 3 meeting.

Knights recognized for July & August – pictures at www.kofcncstmark.org

• Kevin Csehoski, Knight of the Month for July, for his dedicated service providing food and beverage for our council meetings and special events.
• Larry and Sarah Miller, Family of the Month for July, for outstanding service to St. Mark Church, especially Vacation Bible School.
• Mark Hoidas, Knight of the Month for August, for service to the Council, especially providing high-quality burgers and hotdogs for the St. Mark Knights of Columbus Family Picnic.
• Andy and MaryRose Kopchinski, Family of the Month for August, for organizing the 2005 St. Mark Knights of Columbus Family Picnic.

Fall Charity Golf Tournament: Grand Knight Ed Keller requested $500 for a deposit to Highland Creek Golf Club for the Fall Charity Golf Tournament on Sunday, October 23. All Knights are requested to provide support for the Tournament, which begins with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The fee for the day is $85.00 per person and that includes a pulled pork and barbecue chicken dinner with all the trimmings. If you don’t play golf, please consider sponsoring a hole ($100), which provides exposure for the business advertising. Or, Knights are also needed to solicit local businesses for door prizes. For pairings, contact Ed Keller (704-655-8190). For hole sponsorships or business gifts, contact Dick Christian or Jim Engle (704-907-3129)

Membership: Director Mark Conter reported that five new members were brought on board in August – Jim Abate, Alan Mulligan, Ryan Mulligan, Steve Norton and Joe Scallan.  There will be a membership blitz October 8-9 after all masses, and a First Degree sometime in November.

Church Committee: Director Sergio Miranda thanked all Knights who conducted a Rosary as requested at home on August 15. He asked that all Knights make plans for a family Rosary at home on the 15^th of each month. Brother Thomas Donahue spoke about plans to have Knights lead a group Rosary before each Mass at St. Mark. This program will begin in October. Leaders are needed who can show up 20 minutes before mass and begin leading a Rosary. To be a Rosary leader, contact Donahue at tdonahuecfp@yahoo.com. Additionally, Miranda thanked Steve Norton and Joe Scanlan for helping with the school supply drive in August. Finally, St. Mark needs more greeters. Contact Patty with the St. Mark Welcome Committee at 704-608-2299.

Italian Dinner/Dance (Festa Italia): Council Director Barry Mccaa announced the details for Festa Italia Dinner/Dance on Friday, October 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person, which includes dinner, door prizes, and live entertainment by nightclub-style singer Joe Manino. Table reservations will be taken for groups of eight only. All attendees are asked to be generous in providing gratuities for the LifeTeen members who will be waiting tables.

• Greeter/Maitre d' (must wear tuxedo)
• Event ticket sellers after masses the two prior weekends (Tickets are $25 per person)
• Raffle ticket sellers (The raffle is a 50/50 raffle. Half of the proceeds from raffle ticket sales will go toward cash prizes of varying amounts. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 3 for $10.
• Room set-up specialists (help needed setting up the room beforehand, and tearing it down afterward)
• Dishwashers (needed after the dinner dishes are cleared by the waiters)

Family Picnic: Family director Andy Kopchinski reported that 109 guests enjoyed the St. Mark Knights of Columbus Family Picnic at Patterson Farms August 27. Total cost to Council 12654 was $95. Brother Kopchinski mentioned several Knights who helped make the Picnic a success: Ray Marr, Ed Keller, Chris O’Keefe, Mark Conter, Mike Mullen and Mark Hoidas. For pictures, go to: www.kofcncstmark.org/Family%20Picnic.htm

Off to the Races: Brother Lou Agosto reported that Knights will be driving shuttle buses for the Fall races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Speedway needs shuttle bus drivers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 13-15. Three shifts are available each day: 7 a.m.-noon, noon-6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to Midnight. Agosto said this is one fundraising effort that has no expense component. (The Spring races at Lowe’s netted Council 12654 nearly $4,000 in salaries and tips. There is no longer any special training session organized the weeks leading up to the race. For anyone who needs training, it’s done at the beginning of the shift. All drivers should report to the “Big Oak Tree” at the Speedway. To sign-up, contact Lou Agosto at louagosto@mvalaw.com.

Christmas Tree Sale just around the corner: Christmas Tree Tsar Dan Cedrone reported that he has been in contact with the firm that provides the Christmas trees and other holiday items for the annual St. Mark Christmas Tree Sale. The price increase this year will be just $1 per tree. So, Brother Cedrone is suggesting that retail prices be kept the same this year. Brother Cedrone asked all Knights to begin talking up the Christmas Tree sale with family, friends and co-workers.

St. Mark Knights Ladies’ Group to form: Terry Bossert, wife of Financial Secretary Jim Bossert, will begin contacting spouses of St. Mark Knights soon to organize a Ladies’ Group.

Knights Choir needs more men: Brother Mark Conter said that St. Mark Music Director Laura McLean may be forced to disband the Knights Choir if the group can’t consistently attract a minimum of 12 Knights. The next practice is 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 3 (prior to the Council Business Meeting). The Knights Choir will sing at 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, October 8.

Other business

• Approved a request for $200 to help defray the cost of a local Eagle Scout project to build park benches for use in Huntersville.
• Approved $250 request for St. Mark Music Ministry to rent equipment and transportation for the September 23-24 Eucharistic Congress at the Charlotte Convention Center.
• Approved $500 for Room at the Inn annual banquet October 13 (also at the Charlotte Convention Center).
• Deferred discussion until October on a request by Dan Cedrone for $2,000 to place a deposit on Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and other items to be sold by the Knights.

The Power of Prayer

Mk 11: 24 - "I give you my word, if you are ready to believe that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer, it shall be done for you."

Please keep the following individuals and families in your prayers:

• Jo Anne Wise, Steve Norton’s Mother-in-Law (cancer)
• Soul of Evelyn Mesker, Bob Murphy’s sister
• Jim Lotito’s father (hospitalized)
• Will Pekrul, Mike Mullen’s father-in-law (recovery from surgery)
• All relatives of St. Mark Knights serving in the Armed Forces
• All U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving in Iraq

Council Contact Information
Grand Knight	Ed Keller	655-8190	edwardkeller@bellsouth.net
Past Grand Knight	Tom McGahey	947-9334	tommcgahey@bellsouth.net
Deputy Grand Knight	Dick Christian	875-1258	dchristian@insouthinsurance.com
Chaplain	Msgr R. Bellow		richard_bellow@yahoo.com
Chancellor	Jim Lotito	948-9015	jllotito@bellsouth.net
Recorder	Mike Mullen	948-7484	michaelamullen@bellsouth.net
Treasurer	Chip Marshall	875-8811	chip.marshall@adelphia.net
Financial Secretary	Jim Bossert	655-8852	sixsigmaguy@aol.com
Warden	Kevin Csehoski	947-2856	kcsehoski@bellsouth.net
Advocate	Marty Brennan	896-6441	Marty.brennan@mmbrennanlaw.com
Inside Guard	Bruce Milstead	892-4578
Outside Guard	James Carter	948-8506	jcarterjr@adelphia.net
First Year Trustee	Tom McGahey	947-9334	tommcgahey@bellsouth.net
Second Year Trustee	Barry McCaa	895-2424	bemccaa@yahoo.com
Third Year Trustee	Jack Clements	992-0789	jacknnan@adelphia.net
Membership Director	Mark Conter	947-8604	markAconter@aol.com
Community/Health Dir	Open
Operation LAMB Dir	Richard Clancey	609-4400
Council Director	Barry McCaa	895-2424	bemccaa@yahoo.com
Family Director	Andy Kopchinsky	655-0949	76triumph@adelphia.net
Youth Director	Sean McSweeney	948-5543	sean.mcsweeney@fedex.com
Church Director	Sergio Miranda	395-9802	smiranda@carolina.rr.com
Pro-life Director	Tony Gagliardo	439-0533	ajgags@aol.com
Insurance Field Agent	Ken Hillberry	938-6795