St. Mark Council News

Official Publication Knights of Columbus Council 12654

St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC

May 2007

http:/www.kofcncstmark.org

Brother Knights:

Our council year is about to come to a close on June 30th.  We had some great results in FY2006-2207. We had our challenges, too, but the bottom line is that we can be very proud of what the Council accomplished this year. There are still some key events coming up in the next few weeks, so let's finish the year off in style. The All-star race and the 600 race are coming up on consecutive weekends, so try to spare some time to drive the buses at the racetrack. They are usually in need of drivers so it would be nice to check with Bill Pugh even if it is the same day you realize you can do it. Especially the days of the big races. I am off to the State Convention on the 19th in Raleigh. At the June meeting and June newsletter, I will let you know all the convention news. A special plea – please try to get some new members to join our order at the next First Degree Ceremony on June 4 during our last Council meeting of the year. We switched to a Monday format because it has been difficult to get members to show up for First Degree ceremonies on Saturday mornings.

 

Congratulations are in order for our newly elected officers for 2007-2008: Bill Pugh-Grand Knight; Sergio Miranda-Deputy Grand Knight; Chancellor-Deacon Robert Murphy; Recorder-Mike Mullen; Treasurer-Chip Marshall; Advocate-Carl Rizzo; Warden-Kevin Csehoski; Inside Guard-Bruce Milstead; Outside Guard-Rick Knack; 1st Year Trustee-Ed Keller; 2nd Year Trustee-Tom McGahey; and, 3rd Year Trustee-Ray Fitzgerald. A heartfelt thanks and best wishes to all.

 

Activities Calendar

 

Through May 27

Shuttle Bus driving during Spring Races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway

May 26, 4:30 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Choir Practice (The choir will sing at 5:30 p.m. Mass)

June 4, 7 p.m.

First Degree Ceremony (before council meeting)

June 4, 7:30 p.m.

Council monthly business meeting

October 20

Fourth Degree Exemplification, Concord, NC

 

 Election Results: Council Officers 2007-2008

 

Grand Knight

Bill Pugh

Deputy Grand Knight

Sergio Miranda

Chancellor

Deacon Bob Murphy

Treasurer

Chip Marshall

Advocate

Carl Rizzo

Recorder

Mike Mullen

Warden

Kevin Csehoski

Inside Guard

Bruce Milstead

Outside Guard

Rick Knack

First Year Trustee

Ed Keller

Second Year Trustee

Tom McGahey

Third Year Trustee

Ray Fitzgerald

 

April 2, 2007 Council Meeting Notes

 

Chaplain’s Report

  • Monsignor Bellow briefed the Council about the plans to build a church at St. Mark. Substantial progress has been made toward reaching the 40% (cash + outstanding pledge) threshold set by the Diocese as a condition for beginning project construction. St. Mark now has plans in hand for a church that will cost between $6.5 and $7.5 million (probably closer to $7.5 million).
  • An anonymous donor who does not belong to St. Mark recently approached Monsignor Bellow after hearing him discuss the difficulties of raising enough money to build a church. This individual contributed $252,000 to the building fund. The Monsignor said this was a very clear sign from God that the parish needed to get reenergized around reaching the church building goal.
  • St. Mark is now approximately $60,000 short of the amount required to break ground. An architect has been hired, and drawings of the new church will be available soon for review.
  • Monsignor thanked St. Mark Knights for all of their support for Foundation for the Future.

 

GK Notes

  • 5K Dinner and Raffle postponed: GK Ed Keller said that the 5K Dinner and Raffle, originally scheduled for May 11, has been postponed because not enough tickets were sold. (To fund the $5,000 grand prize, as well as many lesser cash awards, 125 tickets had to be sold at $100 each. A total of 27 tickets were sold.)
  • Membership: GK Ed Keller led a discussion about scheduling the next First Degree ceremony. The recent Membership Blitz identified many potential prospects to be invited. Recent First Degrees have been held on Saturday mornings, and attendance by Council members has been sparse. The next First Degree will be held before the June 4 Council business meeting. Candidates need to arrive by 6:30 p.m.; St. Mark Council members are asked to arrive at 7 p.m.
  • Confirmation Masses: Religious Education Coordinator Donna Smith has confirmed that all available Fourth Degree Members are needed in Regalia for Confirmation Masses at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19.
  • Fourth Degree coming up: GK Keller encouraged all aspiring Fourth Degrees to put October 20 on their calendars. A Fourth Degree will be held in Concord, NC on that date. For additional details, contact Keller.

State Raffle revenue builds: Sergio Miranda has received $1,455 from members who have sold State Vacation Raffle tickets. Half of this amount - $727.50 – comes back to the St. Mark Council.

Golf Tournament: Tournament leader Art Packard was not present at the meeting, but GK Keller reported that the April 23 tournament at Highland Creek made around $2,800 in profit for Council charities.

Operation LAMB: Joe Scallan, leader of Operation LAMB (Least Among My Brethren) for the Council said early collections for the new year have exceeded $700. The goal for calendar year 2007 is $8,800. Scallan said the Operation LAMB schedule will shift this year, with all Tootsie Roll collections ending by Halloween. The schedule change was necessitated by a new policy that bars fundraising in front of the stores during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Choir: Dan Szako said that the Knights of Columbus Choir will practice at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, and sing that same night at 5:30 p.m. Mass.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway: Shuttle bus coordinator Bill Pugh said volunteer commitments should net the Council about $1,800 for driving the shuttle buses at Lowe’s for the upcoming races. (Drivers are paid $8 per hour, which goes directly back to the Council.) Additional volunteers are welcome. Contact Bill Pugh at 704-309-7466 or bpugh@gerdauameristeel.com.

 

 

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
  • Jackie Keller, wife of GK Ed Keller
  • Brother Bruce Milstead (Surgery for prostate cancer scheduled for May 24)
  • Brother Dan Szako (In late May, Dan will have surgery to get a new artificial hip to replace the one that he had installed last year.)
  • Marion Szako (Dan Szako’s father)
  • Millie Florio (Andy Kopchinski’s aunt)
  • Jean Burger, Chris Burger’s mother
  • All relatives of St. Mark Knights serving in the Armed Forces, especially for the son of Brother Jimmy Carter, who is serving in Iraq.
  • 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