St. Mark Council News Official Publication Knights of Columbus Council 12654 St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC September-October 2006 http:/www.kofcncstmark.org

October 7, 2006

We have had a busy end to the summer. At the September meeting, Deacon Ron made a general observation, saying it appeared to him that we were too busy and may want to minimize our events to maximize the results.  One looking in from the outside could easily come to that conclusion.  The truth is that we actually have minimized our sponsored events.  We have tried this year to work closely with Monsignor Richard, and the many other church ministries.  Many of the events discussed at our meeting were activities we actively participate in jointly as part of the St. Mark Parish.  For example; the Car Raffle, the Eucharistic Congress, the Right to Life, and the Parish Festival.  Probably another reason for a greater number of activities rather than just a few big ones is that generally speaking we draw from the same group of Knights who are willing to participate.  These Knights time and again come through on behalf of our council.  As in most groups, 20% of the members do at least 80% of the work.  Why is that true?  When I read the summary forms of why new members join our council they usually list their desire to be actively involved in their faith.  I believe our Council’s primary focus has been faith-based, just like our prospective members say they want. We help to build our faith, build a new church, help our Priests and parishioners, etc. etc. Brothers, we need you to get involved. Ed Keller  

Activities Calendar
Date	Event	Needs	Contact
Oct 11-14	Fall Races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway	Shuttle Bus Drivers	Bill Pugh BPugh@GerdauAmeriSteel.com
Oct 23	Fall Charity Golf Outing (Birkdale)	Players & Hole Sponsors	Art Packard arthurp@us.ibm.com
Oct 26	Room at The Inn Annual Banquet	Attend banquet and sit at a St. Mark sponsored table	Additional information www.rati.org
Nov 4	St. Mark Christmas Bazaar	(3 p.m.) Knights needed to help break down tables and set up the Family Center for 5:30 pm Mass	Kathleen Mullen kate@kateattate.com
Nov 10	Festa Italia (Italian Night Dinner/Dance)	(1 p.m.) Set-up room (6:30-midnight) kp duty (10:30 p.m.) set up for Mass	Barry McCaa bemccaa@yahoo.com
Nov 22, 24-26	Operation LAMB collections	Collect donations for retarded children and hand out tootsie rolls at area grocery stores	Joe Scallan jfscallan@adelphia.net

Key Actions from September

• 2006-2007 Fraternal Year budget approved by voice vote
• $500 request by Monsignor Bellow approved for new Altar Server robes
• $500 request by Tracey Rafferty for travel expenses associated with vocation discernment approved
• Ray Marr recognized as Knight of the Month
• Tom and Diane Rider and family recognized as Family of the Month

Recognized

• Dick Christian is Knight of the Month for his leadership of the Parish Festival
• Sergio Miranda is Knight of the Month for his leadership of the Amazing Maize effort.
• Bruce and Terry Milstead and family are Family of the Month.

October 2, 2006 Meeting Notes

Grand Knight report: GK Ed Keller said the September 23 Parish Festival was a big success and thanked Dick Christian for his leadership, as well as all the Knights who volunteered.

Volunteers needed 5 p.m. October 18: Knights are needed to help set up tables and chairs in the St. Mark Family Center on Wednesday, October 18 at 5 p.m. Sandra Breakfield is organizing a Diocesan senior’s event the following day, October 19.

Treasurer’s report: Chip Marshall reported no income for September, and $238 in expenses. Bank balance on September 30 was $12,760. Chip also reported that the Council has received a $300 advance for expenses associated with being Host Council for the Mid-Year Convention January 5-7, 2007 at the University Hilton.

Membership: Chris O’Keefe reported that volunteers are needed for the upcoming

Membership Blitz after weekend Masses October 8 (There is no Saturday Mass because of the Eucharistic Congress.)

Maze Report: Church Director Sergio Miranda reported that the Council raised $775 from staffing volunteer positions at the Amazing Maize Maze September 14-17 (budget called for $800). Sergio recognized the following volunteers: Ray Fitzgerald and wife, Ray DiDonato, Ed Kenney, Jack Clements, Carl Whitesel, Art Packard, Dick Christian, Chip Marshall, Jack Clements, Joe Scallan, Jerry J acobus, Mark Schmidt, David Barnes, Bill Pugh, Jeff Newton, Mike Mullen, Tom Rider, Jay Bunton, Lou Agosto, John O’Neill, Ed Keller, Pat Jackson, Joseph Hack and Christopher Hack. Ed Keller pointed out the Sergio worked full shifts all four days.

Festa Italia: Council Director Barry McCaa reported on the November 10 Festa Italia, a semi-formal dinner dance scheduled for 7:30-10:30 p.m. at St. Mark.

• Tickets are $25 and reservations are available only for tables of 8. Tickets will be sold the two weekends before the dance after all Masses.
• Each table will have two bottles of wine provided. Beer is also free.
• A live singer will accompany a D.J.
• Catering will be by Waiter’s Choice
• Donna Smith is organizing babysitting on a first-come, first-serve basis
• A 50/50 Raffle will be held
• The drawing will be held to win the new Volkswagen Beetle convertible benefiting Foundation for the Future.
• Volunteers are needed for setup at 1 p.m. on November 10, as well as table takedown/setup for Sat. morning Mass, beginning after the event.

Youth: Mike Ducey, who is helping out Youth Director Sean McSweeney, said there would be four events coming up this winter: Essay Contest, Poster Contest, Free Throw Championship (Mt. Luther King Day 2007), and a new competition, a soccer event. Stay tuned for more details.

Operation LAMB (Least Among My Brethren): Joe Scallan is leading up this year’s effort. Tootsie Roll collections will begin the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 22) at the Exit 23 and Exit 25 Harris Teeter and the Exit 23 Bi-Lo. Collections at the same stores will continue the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Ed Keller made a special plea for volunteers, saying the Council fell short of Operation LAMB fundraising goals last year. Knights are being urged to involve their families.

Fall Golf Outing: Arthur Packard reported that teams and sponsors are being signed up for the Fall Golf Tournament at Birkdale Country Club on Monday, October 23. Needed are 12 more foursomes and seven more hole sponsors. Even if businesses do not become hole sponsors, they can still donate goods and services that can be handed out at prizes for the many contests taking place at the event

Knights of Columbus Choir: Dan Szako said the St. Mark KofC Choir will be practicing on Monday, October 23, and also will practice at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28. They will sing at the October 28 5:30 p.m. Mass. Additionally, the Choir will practice before the Knights Council meeting on Monday, November 6 in preparation for singing at 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, November 11.

Christmas Tree Sale: Dan Cedrone said brochures are being printed, which will be distributed after Masses the last two weekends in October, and also sent home with students at St. Mark Elementary School.

Fall Races at Lowe's Motor Speedway: Bill Pugh said volunteers are still needed to drive shuttle buses on October 11, 12, 13 and 14. At the meeting, Pugh said 10 Knights had volunteered, and 10 more were needed for St. Mark to achieve a $1,000 revenue goal from the event.

VW Raffle: Ray Marr said that approximately $50,000 worth of tickets had been sold as of September 28 (cost of car is about $23,000). Ed Keller said that Keffer Volkswagen is providing another VW Beetle convertible to set up at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Denver to sell raffle tickets on October 14-15, and again to sell tickets at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in the University area on October 21-22.

Eucharistic Congress: Jim Bossert provided details about Fourth Degree participation in the Eucharistic Congress in Uptown Charlotte beginning Saturday, October 7. The procession through the city begins at 1:30 p.m. and Fourth Degree Knights are needed beginning at 12:30 p.m. (with or without full regalia).

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 Ray Marr’s grandson Travis Clark in your prayers.
• Pray for all relatives of St. Mark Knights serving in the Armed Forces
• Pray for all U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Thank the Lord for answering the prayers of so many people and delivering Trevor Hehn safely back to the USA from an eight-month tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Army.

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	Chris Tucci	896-9799	C2c01@msn.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	Chris O’Keefe	875-2524	sandcritta@adelphia.net
Community/Health Dir	Open Position
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