Knights of Columbus

Dear Brother Knights:

I was not able to send out a newsletter for April & May because my computer crashed just before Easter and I did not get it back up until late May. Also this will be my last newsletter as your Grand Knight. I will report on the Council elections elsewhere in this newsletter. I am sorry to report that we have lost another Brother Knight. Brother Harold Leatham has gone home to be with our Lord. Please pray for the repose of the souls of all our departed Brother Knights.

The election of Council officers for the 2010 – 2011 Fraternal Year was held during our June 1, 2010 meeting. I am pleased to report the election of following officers by unanimous assent: Grand Knight-Lou Syre, Deputy Grand Knight-Alex Zaragoza, Chancellor-Lyman Weaver, Treasurer-Joe Pecsi, Recorder-Ken Toy, Lecturer-Don Buser, Warden- Jack Yaeger, Advocate-Jerry Knapp, Inside Guard-Nick Vardakis, Outside Guard-Gary Russell, Trustees 1^st – Grad Wilkins, 2^nd – Ron Scira, 3^rd – Ken Toy. The installation of officers has not yet been scheduled. Most likely, it will be on a Sunday in July with a luncheon following the installation ceremony. Please try to attend the installation and luncheon when it is announced.

Membership recruitment and retention is a major issue facing our Council. As you know, this past year, four of our Brother Knights were called home to be with our Lord. Our delinquent membership numbers remain steady at about twelve members. We only recruited one new member this past year. With statistics like these our Council faces a dismal future. If you know one of these delinquent members please contact him and ask the Brother to recommit to our Council. If you know a practical Catholic gentleman whom you think might be a prospect for membership, please ask him or refer his name to the Council for contact. If you are current in your membership, but have not been actively participating in the Council activities please consider becoming a little more involved with the Council.

Because of your hard work and support of your Council, we had a financially successful year, our treasury is sound. We were able to make charitable donations totaling a little over $11,000; $4,500 in scholarships to students from our Council’s service area, $250 in support to the Diocese of Fresno Educational Congress, $4,000 to OLPH church, $900 to various humanitarian relief causes, $400 for Mother’s Day roses, $1,000 to support Fr. Gracey’s Year of the Priest trip to Rome, Italy and $100 to support a Boy Scout’s Eagle project. I would like to thank all the Knights who made this possible.

We had our last Pancake Breakfast for the fraternal year on Father’s Day, June 20, 2010. Although the turn out was less than planned, we had an excellent breakfast thanks to Brother Franco and the rest of the crew. Our next Pancake breakfast will be scheduled for the second Sunday in October 2010. We will discuss, at the July meeting, how our Council can help with the doughnuts after the Sunday Masses. So come on out, have some fun and fellowship with your Brother Knights.

Jul. 4, 2010: 1^st Sunday of the month; All Knights plan to attend the 8:00 am. Mass, dress will be our blue & gray.

Jul. 6, 2010: Council meeting 7:00 PM, Parish Hall. Fourth Degree meeting precedes the Council meeting at 6:15 PM.

Jul. 16, 2010: Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament, Contact Brothers Joe Pecsi 872-0999 or Lou Syre 872-7679 for more details.

Jul. 22, 2010: Pot Luck Social, 5:30 P.M. location to be announced, Everyone bring your own entrée and beverage, A-M bring a side dish, N-Z bring a dessert to share.

Aug. 1, 2010: 1^st Sunday of the month; All Knights plan to attend the 8:00 am. Mass, dress will be our blue & gray.

Bea Tomko, Nick Vardakis, Adeline Joseph; Lyman & Mary Weaver; Ray & Teri Schaaf; Patty Franco; Pete Buser, Mary Yaeger, Bob Toth, Barbara Webster, Margaret Karaffa.