Chuck Rademacher 

Chuck had a hard time re­membering just who it was who proposed him for mem­bership in the Knights of Co­lumbus, but he does remem­ber thinking about becoming a part of the organization even before he was approached.  He had been assessing his in­volvement in the parish as well as ways in which he could do something worthwhile by be­coming involved in an active organization and "give some­thing back to the community" while serving the Church at the same time.  There was also the added benefit of fraternity and the Knights just seemed to be the right thing to do.

 

He got involved while the Council was still quite young, and he remembers discussion at his first Council meeting centering on a possible calen­dar raffle, something the Council had discussed in its first year of existence.  He also remembers being somewhat confused and bewildered after the first meeting.  It took in­volvement and a few meet­ings, a process like any other, in order to get into the swing of things.  He soon got involved in a number of activities and especially notes the Youth di­rected activity of the Council.  "The youth are our future," he says, pointing out that often there really isn't a lot for youth to do and the Knights are try­ing to answer that need.  He also sees the possibility of growth in the Council by serv­ices directed toward the youth: enabling the young people to be exposed to the good things the Knights are doing might make them want to be a part of such an organi­zation.

In the time he has been with the Knights, Chuck has helped in many activities.  In addition to the youth activities, he has enjoyed working the Knights' Grill at the St. Bernard parish picnic as well as the Tootsie Roll Drive.  He's also worked with youth on the Poster Con­test, Knowledge Contest and Punt, Pass & Kick Competition and currently serves the Council as its Youth Director.  He is also involved in the Council's First Degree Team (joint with Council 10552).  Chuck received the honors of the Fourth Degree last April at Appleton, reflecting, "If you're in something, you might as well go all the way."  He ap­preciates the emphasis of the Fourth Degree on getting in­volved in one's own Council.  It might look like a lot of activity, but Chuck says, "No matter how busy you are, you can al­ways find the time to do what means the most to you." 

 

Originally from Chicago, Chuck and his family have been in the Green Bay area about 15 years now.  He and his wife, Bev, have been married for 21 years now and have three children--Greg, Mark & Lisa.  Chuck works as a regional sales rep­resentative for Cen­tral Steel & Wire out of Chi­cago and has been quite ac­tive in the Church, serving at St. Bernard as a lector, Eucharistic Minister and Vice-President of the Parish Coun­cil.  He and Bev have also helped in the Bap­tism Prep program and con­tinue to serve the parish in various ways.

 

He sees the Knights as a "great group of active guys al­ready doing something" and he  notes that many times the Knights may be overlooked for the good that they do.  That certainly doesn't seem to hin­der him from getting involved in the things that need to be done.

 

April 1994