St. Mark Council News

Official Publication Knights of Columbus Council 12654

St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC

May 2006

http:/www.kofcncstmark.org

 

We just came off a month of extra activity for our council.  We held our first parish Fish Fry and received an overwhelming response that it was well received.  We held our annual Spring membership blitz and had fifteen St. Mark parishioners express an interest in finding out more about our council; four of which indicated they want to join at our next first degree ceremony, and two expressing an interest to transfer from another council.  Our Spring Golf Outing at Verdict Ridge Golf Club was our first ever Monday event and it turned out to be a great day for all and a success for our council.  Thank you to all who helped make these events another strong reflection of what we are all about.

 

During this month’s council meeting our annual elections were completed for next year’s slate of officers.  Thank you to Chris Tucci for stepping up to give Marty Brennan a well deserved respite as Advocate (don't worry Marty we will find other things for you to do including your continued work on our budget).  What can I say about Mike Mullen, Chip Marshall, Jim Lotitio, Bruce Milstead, Jimmy Carter, and Kevin Csehoski.  Year after year they are there for our council.  Without them and the dedicated efforts of our Financial Secretary, Program Directors, Trustees, and Web Masters, our council would be unable to continually grow our charitable and social endeavors.  Not to mention that I would be a basket case if I didn't have their help. 

 

We also discussed where we were in relation to our budget at the meeting.  We were proud to announce that we were about $1,700.00 under budget for the first three quarters but had overfunded our Foundation for our Future pledge by $5,700.00 through that point in time.  However, with some events we had on our schedule not taking place in the last quarter, we are going to have to really step it up at the events we do have.  If you have forgotten to pay your dues, please get those funds in now, they will help offset the shortfall we anticipate. 

Grand Knight Ed Keller

 

 

Calendar

 

May 19-28

Shuttle bus driving during spring races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway  (schedule information at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com)

June 5, 7:30 p.m.

June Council Business Meeting

June 10, 11:30 Mass

Ordination of Deacon (and St. Mark Knight) Robert Murphy

June 10

St. Mark Church Bazaar

June 23, 5-8:30 p.m.

St. Mark KofC Fish Fry

 

 

Drivers Needed

 

Races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway are scheduled through May 28. Knights are urgently needed to sign up for available shifts driving the shuttle buses that take fans back and forth between their campgrounds and the racetrack. Bill Pugh is coordinating the Council’s participation. Contact him at bpugh@gerdauameristreel.com. 

 

 

 

2006-2007 Officers Elected

 

Council 12654 elected officers for the 2006-2007 Fraternal Year (July 1-June 30). The slate of elected officers, as well as other unelected officer and trustee positions, is as follows:

Grand Knight

Ed Keller

Past Grand Knight

Tom McGahey

Deputy Grand Knight

Dick Christian

Chaplain

Msgr. Richard Bellow

Chancellor

Jim Lotito

Recorder

Mike Mullen

Treasurer

Chip Marshall

Financial Secretary

Jim Bossert

Warden

Kevin Csehoski

Advocate

Chris Tucci

Inside Guard

Bruce Milstead

Outside Guard

James Carter

First Year Trustee

Tom McGahey

Second Year Trustee

Barry McCaa

Third Year Trustee

Jack Clements

 

 

 

May Recognition

 

Knight of the Month: Jerry Jacobus

Family of the Month:  Tom and Karen Donahue, and family.

 

May 1 meeting notes

 

 

 

Grand Knight’s report

·          On behalf of the St. Mark Elder Ministry, Mary Alice Hollars wrote a thank you note for the $200 donated by St. Mark KofC for health screening kits.

·          For the third quarter of the 2005-2006 Fraternal Year (January-March), revenue is running approximately $3,000 ahead of projections. However, revenue in the fourth quarter will be lower than projected because several events are no longer on the schedule. So, Council 12654 needs to pick up $3,500 in additional revenue for the fourth quarter.

·          Thank you to all St. Mark Brothers for the hard work throughout the year, especially the work to support Foundation for the Future.

           

Chaplain’s Report – update on Foundation for the Future

·          Monsignor Richard Bellow is most appreciative of the $10,000 St. Mark Knight’s pledge for the 2005-2006 Fraternal Year. (The Monsignor was provided the remainder of the pledge, plus additional funds from the Candy Bar sale, for a total donated of approximately $11,000.)

·          A letter is being sent to all parishioners explaining that the most recent goal of building a $10 million church is not attainable with the current level of pledges to Foundation for the Future.

·          Pledges are $3.7 million. The next goal will be to reach $2 million in the bank, which will most likely enable St. Mark to proceed with a $5-6 million Church under the current Diocesan formula that requires a certain percentage of the total cost to be in the bank and already pledged. All current pledges will need to be honored.

·          The Monsignor expects that St. Mark will have a “wonderful” church within five years that will have seating for 1,200-1,400. We hope to use the same architect that designed the building that was illustrated on recent campaign literature. 

·          In the meantime, there are plans to ease overcrowding by adding another Sunday morning Mass in the Fall.

·          Knights will need to continue to set the example for the entire parish in being supportive of the effort to build a church at St. Mark.

 

Treasurer’s report: Total income for the month of May was $3,061. Total expenses were $2,232. Bank balance as of April 30 was $11,653.

 

Chancellor’s report on vocations: Jim Lotito reported on the plan to provide care packages for 13 seminarians that are assigned to the Charlotte diocese. There was some discussion about whether to wait until fall since the summer break is near, but the Council decided to move forward with mailing the packages as soon as possible. Lotito prepared 39 names for Knights to select (3 care packages for each seminarian). Once a Knight selects a name, that Knight is responsible for preparing and mailing a care package. Suggested contents should include personal care items, snacks and miscellaneous items such as phone cards and batteries.

 

Membership: The Membership Blitz on April 22-23 generated interest among many potential Knights. GK Ed Keller said that at least four men are interested in joining now. First Degree will be sometime in June, potentially combined with the June 5 Council business meeting.

 

Family: Andy Kopchinski reported that the summer family activity could be a Charlotte Knights baseball game. He said Chris O’Keefe is assisting with planning.

 

Church: Dick Christian said a St. Mark Church Bazaar will not occur until September 23.

 

Fish Fry report: The St. Mark Knights Fish Fry generated nearly $2,000 in profit, according to Ray Marr. Twenty nine volunteers worked 225 hours. A total of 464 fish plates, 195 kid’s plates and $419 worth of baked goods (courtesy of the Knights Ladies) were sold. Check the newsletter calendar for the next Fish Fry date.

 

State Raffle: Andy Kopchinski reported that profit from this year’s KofC State Raffle should be in the $700-800 range. (The Council earns $2.50 for each $5.00 ticket sold.)

 

Lowe’s Motor Speedway: Bill Pugh is organizing this year’s charity effort to drive shuttle busses for Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Pugh circulated a sign-up sheet for volunteers. Shifts on Fri-Sun:

  • Friday – May 26th Movie Night – 4pm – 1am
  • Saturday – May 27th Busch Race – 1st Shift 8am-4pm  /  2nd Shift 3:30pm-2am
  • Sunday – May 28th Coke 600 – 1st Shift 8am-6pm   /  2nd Shift 5:30pm-2am

 

Charity Golf Tournament: Ed Keller reported that the April 24 Charity Golf Tournament at Verdict Ridge earned $3,589. There were a total of 66 players; of those, 15 of them St. Mark Knights. Keller gave special thanks to $100 hole sponsors Mark Hoidas of Hoidas Engineering PLLC, Marty Brennan of Brennan Law Firm PLLC, Dick Christian of InSouth Insurance Services LLC, Jim Engle of Aquesta Bank, David Bell of In Source Business Strategies, Inc., Chip Marshall of Allen Tate Realtors, Dan Cedrone of Poly-Tech Industrial, Jim White of Maverick Sales & Marketing Inc., and Dr. Joseph Zuhosky. He also thanked Verdict Ridge Golf Club, Birkdale Country Club, Pat Jackson, Jeff Newton, John Benson and Ray Marr as gift sponsors. 

 

St. Mark will be Host Council: Council 12654 will be the host Council for the 2006-2007 NC KofC Midyear Convention on January 5-7, 2007 at the University Hilton.

 

New Business

The Council approved a request to provide Diane Peloquin with $156 to attend a Young Adult Retreat in Stuebenville June 2-4.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  • Don Suave, NY Knight (throat cancer)
  • Jackie Keller
  • Trevor Hehn, who was deployed to Iraq in early January
  • All relatives of St. Mark Knights serving in the Armed Forces
  • All U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

 

 



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