July 2010 Newsletter

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FROM THE GRAND KNIGHT

• Brothers, I-m looking forward to the coming year as your Grand Knight and wish our past Grand Knight, Stewart McLamb success in these challenging times. I am committed to lead our council-s efforts during the coming year while keeping present in our actions on our core principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. Our council has contributed over 4,000 man hours this past year to support our families, parish and community. Well done! Your efforts have had a positive impact on improving the quality of life for many people. Let us continue to Live, Laugh, Love and Believe.
  
  As we move into a new year, we need your active support to connect with those brothers who have become disenchanted with our meetings. I am committed to focusing our second Monday of the month meeting as a social gathering for our members to gather and enjoy fellowship. We need to celebrate our successes and share our challenges in charity. There have been some interesting ideas suggested for programs for these social meetings. I am also committed to focusing our time during our business meetings on building a positive, charitable tone to our discussions, using a focused agenda and an eye on the clock on this work night so we can return to our homes prior to ten o-clock.
  
  How do we build on our past successes- It is your efforts and your enthusiasm that makes it possible. Let us grow as our parish grows this coming year by providing an interesting, exciting place for men of our parish to meet and invest their time and talent. Your ideas and energy will make it happen. I challenge each brother to connect and bring one returning member to a meeting by October and one new member this year. I also challenge each brother to select one activity to join and contribute your time and talent. Your return will immeasurably exceed your investment. I further challenge each brother to bring his ideas and energy forward. Using our fraternal principles, we will focus these resources to support our families, parish and priests in the coming year.
  
  Vivat Jesus!
  S/K Ron Cortopassi, GK
  
  THE INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS will take place on July 12 beginning with the rosary at 7 and installation proceedings starting at 7:30. Following the installation ceremony, to which spouses and family are invited, the Council will host a dinner in the Parish Family Center. The menu will include Brother Joe Sala-s famous meatballs, pasta and salad. Wine and beer will also be provided. It has been requested that men do not wear shorts for the occasion.
  
  New officers to be installed include S/K Ron Cortopassi as Grand Knight, succeeding outgoing Grand Knight S/K Stewart McLamb, who chose not to run again due to business demands. Serving as Deputy Grand Knight will be S/K Jim Kiger while Brother Jack Madey will be Chancellor. Brother Don Mayer continues as Secretary. Brother Phil Bischoff will be Treasurer and Financial Secretary will be Steve Weis. S/K Mikawato Red Arrow will continue as Advocate. Brother Jim Grogan will assume the duties of Warden. Brother Hank Brzoska will be Inside Guard and Outside Guard duties will be handled by Brother Larry Paffrath. Trustees for the coming year will by Brothers Clayton Brown, Tom Joy and Vince Greco.
  
  THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS WILL HOLD A BUDGET MEETING for the coming Columbian Year in July. The budget will be presented to the Council at the July business meeting on July 26. GK S/K Cortopossi outlined the possible financial difficulties that the Council faces in the coming year since its income has dropped during the past two years.
  
  BROTHER VINCE GRECO ASKED FOR A RESOLUTION that the Council limit contributions to the building fund to 5 per cent of dues and initiation fees as specified in the by-laws. Currently, up to 50 per cent of all income has been invested in the building fund which is now valued at $60,903. Brother Vince-s resolution will not delete the building fund, but by reducing the amount being invested, it will assist the Council in its budgeting for the coming year. The resolution was passed by a voice vote.
  
  ROOM AT THE INN, a program that will assist unwed, pregnant women, and located at Belmont College, was discussed at length. Currently, our Council has joined other councils throughout the state in financially supporting this facility and its work. Our commitment over a five year span will be approximately $20,000, with each Knight assessed a $20 per charge over the five year period. The assessment will be shown on the annual dues statement. The parish will be apprised of Room at the Inn, and if any parishioner wishes to contribute, their contributions will be credited to our Council. S/K Steve Weis, Financial Secretary, will be setting up a special bank account to handle the Knights- donations and any from parishioners.
  
  A committee has been named to oversee the Council-s Room at the Inn donations and make regular reports to the Council. The committee includes S/K Jim Kiger, S/K Phil Bischoff, Sr., and Brothers Jack Madey, Vince Greco and Clayton Brown.
  
  FINAL FIGURES FOR THE ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC held this past May have been reported by Brother Vince Greco. Vince has presented the Council with approximately $5,400 profit from the event that was held at the Birkdale Golf Club. 64 golfers took part and over $2,500 in prizes were awarded through an after lunch raffle. The Keffer Auto Group supplied a 2010 Volkswagen CC Sedan as the prize for a hole in one. Unfortunately, the car was returned to Keffer when no one aced the par three hole that would have won the car.
  
  Members are reminded that Keffer offers discounts to all Knights who purchase cars from any of the Keffer locations. All that one has to do is, after finalizing the price of a new or used car, ask the salesperson to phone Jim Keffer. Identify yourself as a Knight to Jim and he will authorize a discount over and above the -deal- made with the dealership.
  
  OUR COUNCIL WILL TAKE PART IN FOURTH OF JULY PARADE to be held In Troutman on July 3. For those receiving this edition of Knightline prior to the third, you can still take part by contacting S/K Jim Kiger at (704) 340-0281 or at his e-mail papajimk@alltel.net.
  
  LAMB 2009 HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO A CONCLUSION with checks totaling $2,158 being sent to LifeSpan, Special Olympics and the Mooresville High School Special Education program.
  
  BROTHER CLAYTON BROWN REPORTED THAT THE RECENT BLOOD DRIVE was a huge success with 48 donors being processed with little or no long waits. The Red Cross Blood Mobile will return to St. Therese on October 17 for another drive.
  
  A FOURTH DEGREE INSTALLATION WILL BE HELD in Charlotte on November 6. Any Third Degree member who wishes to receive the Fourth Degree should contact Ed Kane ((704) 799-9575 or <njsp2248@roadrunner.com) or any Council Officer for further details.
  
  A DISTRICT SECOND DEGREE TEAM HAS BEEN CERTIFIED and four members of our Council are members of that team. They are S/K Ron Cortopossi, S/K Dave Koenders, S/K Steve Weis and Brother Bill Hanagan.
  
  OFFICERS FOR THE 2010-2011 COLUMBIAN YEAR
  
  Grand Knight - S/K Ron Cortopassi   rjcorto@aol.com
  
  Deputy Grand Knight - S/K Jim Kiger  papajimk@alltel.net
  
  Chaplain - S/K Joseph Kappes, S.J.  jkappes@sainttherese.net
  
  Chancellor - Jack Madey  Madeyjack1@gmail.com
  
  Recorder - Don Mayer  Dmayer5@juno.com
  
  Treasurer - Phil Bischoff  thebischoffs@aol.com
  
  Financial Secretary - Steve Wise  Pantherfan40@juno.com
  
  Advocate -S/K Miko Red Arrow  mredarrow@hotmail.com
  
  Warden - Jim Grogan  Jeg3111@gmail.com
  
  Inside Guard - Larry Paffrath  larrypaffrath@bellsouth.net
  
  Outside Guard - Hank Brzoska  junehankb@yahoo.com
  
  First Year Trustee - Clayton Brown  dabohart@aol.com
   
  Second Year Trustee - Tom Joy  tomandjoanjoy@windstream.net
  
  Third Year Trustee - Vince Greco  Vagreco30@gmail.com
  
  Lecturer- Dave Koenders  davekoenders@msn.com