St. Mark Council News Official Publication Knights of Columbus Council 12654 St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC January 2007 http:/www.kofcncstmark.org

Brother Knights, 

Our Council had the honor of hosting the NC Knights of Columbus Mid-Year Convention Jan. 5-7 at the University Hilton. I have received numerous compliments from the attendees, in particular the State Officers headed by Deputy Bob Grabasky. We have much to be proud about, as usual. A special thanks to Tom McGahey, who coordinated Host Council efforts with the assistance of coordinators Chris O’Keefe, Ray Fitzpatrick, Ed Kenney and Barry McCaa. The efforts of all who helped are sincerely appreciated.

Emphasis at the meeting was to add, keep and involve new members. A particularly moving presentation was made by the NC Membership Chairman. His message was built around the good things we get out of being Knights. We feel fantastic when we provide financial, physical or spiritual assistance to those in need. We are setting an outstanding example for our loved ones, friends, and fellow man. Brothers, that is the reason we are Knights.

Congratulations to Dan Cedrone, our January Knight of the Month, for his superb leadership of the annual Christmas Tree Sale. Kudos also to Sergio and Amy Miranda (and family), our January Family of the Month. Sergio, our Church Committee Chairman, was on point to ensure that more than 1,400 Angel Tree gifts were delivered for St. Mark Catholic Church this Christmas season. GK Ed Keller

Annual Dues Reminder

Deadline is February 5 for members to pay their $30 dues for 2007. Dues can be paid by check at the February 5 Monthly Council Meeting. Or mail your checks to Jim Bossert, 8527 Forest Shadow Circle, Cornelius, NC 28031.

Activities Calendar
Feb 5, 7:30 p.m.	St. Mark Knights of Columbus Monthly Council Meeting
February 23	Fish Fry at St. Mark Catholic Church (sponsored by KofC)
March 30	Fish Fry at St. Mark Catholic Church (sponsored by KofC)
October 20	Fourth Degree Exemplification, Concord, NC

January 8 Council Meeting Notes

Grand Knight Report:

• GK Ed Keller reported on the Jan 5-7 NC KofC Mid-Year Convention at the University Hilton. (St. Mark was Host Council.) Keller said St. Mark Council did a terrific job as Host Council. The main responsibilities were running registration and the hospitality suite.
• Membership growth and development was at the top of the NC KofC leadership agenda. Communication with new members is critical. State leaders urged Councils to contact all member Knights at least quarterly, regardless of whether they are participating in meetings or activities.
• Keller said that new members always in intend to be active, but the timing may not be ideal because of other responsibilities. Keller said the important message to communicate to new members is that we don’t expect them to be at every function or activity, and that they are always welcome regardless of t heir level of attendance.

Treasurer’s Report: Total income for the month of December was $12,190; expenses were $12,190. As of December 30, the Council had $26,152 in the bank. Please note that the $10,000 check for Foundation for the Future was dated January 1.

Program Report: Program Chair Ray Marr reported that St. Mark Council turned in more than 14,000 hours for the first trimester of the 2006-2007 Fraternal Year. Hours were up significantly over the previous Fraternal Year.

Angel Tree thanks: Sergio Miranda said that Knights delivered more than 1,400 Angel Tree Gifts for St. Mark Church to eight different locations December 14-21. Miranda thanked Knights Dick Driscoll, Tom Rider, Ed Kenney, Mark Schmidt, Joe Scallan, Stan Moore and Arthur Packard.

Spring Golf Tournament: Arthur Packard discussed some of the options available for the Spring Charity Golf Tournament, which will be scheduled for late April or early May. The question was raised whether to have the tournament on a Sunday or a Monday. The consensus was to schedule the tournament for a Monday. Packard said he is leaning toward Highland Creek because of pricing, flexibility and a lower number of players required. GK Ed Keller asked Packard to check other parish ministries for potential conflicts before locking in a date.

Upcoming Fish Fry events: Ray Marr reported that two Fish Fry events will be scheduled at St. March Catholic Church during Lent this year. The two dates are Friday, February 23 and Friday, March 30. (Dates have been approved by the Church.) More details will be available after a planning meeting in late January.

New Business

State Raffle coordinator needed: GK Ed Keller asked for a volunteer leader to coordinate the sale of State KofC vacation raffle tickets. The deadline for returning the sales proceeds to the State KofC is May 11. The Raffle tickets are $5, and half of the sales revenue goes back into Council coffers.

Seminarian Assistance: A motion was made that the Council provide Deacon Rick (who served at St. Mark Catholic Church during the summer) with $1,000 in support. He will be ordained as a Priest in June 2007. The vote on this motion will take place February 5. (All proposed charitable donations in excess of $500 are introduced and discussed at one monthly meeting, and then voted upon at the subsequent monthly meeting.)

Idea for Spring charity fundraiser: Ed Kenney discussed a possible alternative to the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner-Dance, which was sparsely attended in 2006. The event is called a “5K Dinner.” A total of 125 tickets are sold for $100 each. A steak dinner is provided by the organizers, and someone goes home with a $5,000 prize, in addition to a variety of lesser cash awards. Possible date is Friday, May 4. Kenney will report further at the February meeting.

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 pray for all those who are sick and in distress, or in danger, especially

• Melissa Greer and her unborn baby (Melissa has terminal cancer, and the life of her unborn child is in grave danger)
• The soul of Eugene Watkins, and his family. Eugene passed away January 25. The memorial service will be at St .Mark Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 30, at 2 p.m.
• The souls of Reverend Patrick Shelton and Reverend David Dram, two Charlotte Diocese Priests who were killed in a recent automobile accident. Reverend Shelton was located at St. James Parish in Hamlet, NC; Reverend Dram served at Sacred Heart Mission in Wadesboro, NC.
• Ed Kenney’s mother in law
• Bruce Milstead’s mother in law
• Tom Fox’s mother Adele
• Teresa Duff
• Dan Sullivan, friend of Arthur Packard
• 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	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	Joe Scallan	947-8175	jfscallan@adelphia.net
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	Richard Keyser
Coord, Parish Roundtable	Deacon Robert Murphy	947-7870	ram316@bellsouth.net
KofC Building Director	Jim Lotito	948-9015	jllotito@bellsouth.net
Web Master	Oscar Bernardo	894-9290	ocbernardo@earthlink.net
Web Master	Chris O’Keefe	875-2524	sandcritta@adelphia.net
Newsletter Editor	Mike Mullen	948-7484	michaelamullen@bellsouth.net
Lecter	Open Position
PR Director	Open Position