Knights of Columbus
Newsletter
March 2001
Grand
Knight's Column
What's
Your Rating? Wouldn't it be
interesting if people had ratings similar to that of the movie industry?
The movie industry rates their offerings as G, PG, PG-13, R, and so on,
to give the potential viewer some idea of what they are about to view.
What if every person wore a visible indicator as to what type of person
he or she was? It could be on a
cap, a tee shirt, or a necklace. It
wouldn't matter as long as it was visible by everyone they met.
That way when you encountered a person, you would have some idea of
what to expect from them and they in turn could look at your rating, and also
know what to expect from you. A
crazy idea? Of course it is, but
it does make you think.
Take
a moment to think about what you feel your rating would be.
Are you rated for general audiences all the time, or are you more of a
PG type person? Or perhaps just
like the movies you are in fact made up of some of each. Sometimes you would
rate yourself "PG" and yet most of the time you see yourself as a
"G" person. That's
probably how most of us would analyze our lives.
But that still leaves the question of our overall rating unanswered.
Just what would be our rating if we were to take our proud moments and
our not so proud moments and blend them together for the finished product
called daily life? Are we
consistent with our words and actions? Do
we have one standard of behavior for at work and another standard for at home?
As we start the journey of Lent, take a moment to reflect on your current life. If there are things in your life that you would like to improve upon, now is a good time to work on them. Try taking Jesus with you whereever you go. Act as though He were standing there with you, watching and listening to you. We use a similar technique to this in a retail setting and I know that it works. Any time that we are working one on one with a customer who has a complaint, we just imagine that there is a representative from the Better Business Bureau right there observing the situation. By doing this we find that we keep our emotions in check, become better listeners, and work hard at finding a solution that's pleasing for both the customer and the company. So why not give this technique a try for yourself? Have Jesus walk with you each and every day as you make your Lenten journey. If you are mindful of His presence, He will guide your thoughts, actions, and words, so that in the end you will be happy with your rating. But keep in mind, the decisions that Jesus makes are more binding and longer lasting than those of the Better Business Bureau.
Rick
Noe
Grand Knight
The
March meeting of Council 10243 is scheduled for our usual Third Monday of the
Month, March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph.
In honor of he who was chosen by God to watch over the Holy Family of
Jesus and Mary, please make a special effort to attend this meeting in which
we will continue to discuss ways of watching over and caring for all God's
holy people. The meeting will
begin at 7:30PM with rosary preceding at around 7:15.
Please note there will not be an exemplification of the First
Degree at this meeting.
Deputy
Grand Knight
Congratulations to Grant Turner who
was unanimously elected Deputy Grand Knight of Council 10243 at the last
(February 19) meeting. There has
been a vacancy in the Office for some months now; Ian
Forbes was elected Deputy last year but resigned. Thanks to Ian for his continuing service to the Council and
congratulations to Grant on this new opportunity to serve the fraternity.
First
Degree
Initially
we anticipated an exemplification of the first Degree to precede our next
Council meeting on March 19, however that exemplification has been moved.
The Degree was re-scheduled for Sunday,
March 11 at Ss. Peter and Paul.
Three men of Council 10243 await the First Degree.
Special
Days
March
15 - April 15
A
= Marriage Anniversary
B = Birthday
March
15
A Kelly & Virginia
Gigot
16 B
Roger Heesacker
17 B
Dan Mullen
19 B
Mary Ann (Jim) VanAllen
25 B
Helen (Robert) DeGrave
26 B
Delores (Jeff) Shutter
26 B
Larry Ziarnik
27 B
Dave Doperalski
27 B
Kelly Gigot
29 B
Lucille (Lee) Maccoux
30 A
Robert & Vione Jacqmin
31 B
Judy (Richard) Bligiske
April
01
B Al Greene
03 B
Vione (Robert) Jacqmin
05 A
Dave & Denise Doering
05 B
Jim Barnett
08 B
Denise (Stephen) Kotlar
10 B
Connie (Mike) Worzala
11 A
Al & Lois Greene
12 A
Thomas & Barbara George
15 B
Gary Nimmer
Chaplain's
Column
I
have been determined this year to break into the 'Hundred and Above Club' in
the sale of charity raffle tickets and that has gotten me to notice just how
large a number 40,000 really is. The
Wisconsin jurisdiction of the Order has about forty thousand members and my
presumption is that the nearly three hundred Councils in the State have, as
our Council has, made an effort to get their members to sell off a certain
number of those goldenrod tickets. The
problem that I have occasionally encountered is that many of my friends and
acquaintances are members of the Knights of Columbus.
They are not interested in me peddling my tickets because they have
their own to get rid of. A whole
additional column could be written about all these folks that suddenly seem to
be Knights with tickets of their own to sell when faced with the prospect of
buying one off of me. This does
not even address the fact that with all these people who say they have their
own tickets, the gross ought to be higher.
However, there is definitely a positive side to all this.
For one, I am forced to work just a little harder to find people who
are not associated with the Knights, and that might be an opportunity for
future recruiting. Also, I enjoy
meeting members of other Councils, and running into so many Knights gives me
the opportunity to hear about what's happening in other Councils in our area
and around the State. I do not
wish to give the impression that our primary purpose in working for the
success of the Charity Raffle is to be a top seller, or to meet other people,
or anything else than charity. The
purpose of selling tickets and raising money for charity is to extend the
reach of Christ toward his suffering people through the work of the Knights of
Columbus. However, I suppose
there's really nothing wrong with a little bit of fraternal competition, or
with trying to get to know someone and widen our circle of friends by the
simple act of selling a raffle ticket. It
has been my privilege to be a part of some of the presentations of the
proceeds from these raffle sales, and it is a good feeling to see charity
being practiced, and an even better feeling to know that I played a part in
it. I have learned that not too
many people will pass up a five buck chance to win the grand prize.
I have also come to believe that the real grand prize is what is being
done in the name of the Knights in this State and beyond.
Father
Al Lis, O.F.M.
Chaplain
From
the Financial Secretary:
Dues
Overdue
There
are five Brother Knights who have not paid their dues for the year 2001. If
they wish to continue to be members of Council 10243 an additional fee of
$10.00 is added to the $30.00 which make the remittance $40.00. Otherwise
these men will be Suspended for Non Payment. A reminder that
Fourth Degree Members must maintain the Third Degree Membership which is
separate from the Fourth Degree. Any questions please call Jim Barnett at 468-1245.
Fourth
Degree
An
exemplification of the Fourth Degree is scheduled for April 21 in Appleton.
While about a quarter of our Council is already a part of the Fourth
Degree (and this is higher than average) the challenge is placed before all
Third Degree men in good standing to consider this, the highest Degree in our
Order. For information contact one of the Fourth Degree men of the
Council or Faithful Navigator Larry
Ziarnik (468-1979) or District Friar Father Al Lis (437-1979).
Exemplification
Facts:
DATE:
April 21, 2001
PLACE:
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton
DINNER
COST:
$22.00
EXEMPLIFICATION
COST:
$65 (Clergy $25)
MEN
DRESS:
Black tuxedo, baldric or jewel
LADIES
DRESS:
Long or cocktail dress
HOTEL:
$92.00 double. Call 800-242-3499
SCHEDULE:
Exemplification:
1:00 PM
Mass:
4:30 PM
Dinner: 7:15 PM
Dance: 9:00 PM
The
Fourth Degree Knights held their usual monthly meeting on February 13 at
Woodside. A short business
meeting was held to determine delegates to the meeting at the exemplification.
Navigator Larry Ziarnik also had invited Assembly Officers and others to come
together as a Steering Committee a few weeks prior to discuss ways of making
the Assembly more active and more visible.
The meeting at Woodside continued with a presentation on Wills and
Trusts by Attorney Robert Geimer.
Pancake/Porkie
Thanks
to the many men and their families who came together on February 11 to help at
the pancake/porkie breakfast. Profits
of $307.75 were realized, which is about $50 more than last year's event.
Sincerest gratitude to those who took part: Bob
Agard, Randy Barrett, Bill Bartelme, Tom Caldie, Al Collins, Ray Demerath, Jim
Janssen, Roy C. Johnson, Bob Ledvina, Terry Misfeldt, Aaron Naze, Rick Noe,
Stan Waslowski, Harry Watermolen, Dave Whitton, Mike Worzala &
Larry Ziarnik.
Booyah
February
24 and 25 saw one of our most successful booyah events ever.
The final tally is $620.00, which beats the last time we held a sale
and comes very close to our all-time record of $626 from an event in April
1999. Making of the Belgian pies
was farmed out to Don's Bakery in Luxemberg, and they definitely had that
'home made' touch. Thanks to all
those who took part in the sale--from making 'phone calls to picking up the
pies to cooking and selling the booyah: Bob Agard, Jim Barnett, Randy Barrett, Dan Barrington, Bill Bartelme,
Bill Brown, Tom Caldie, Dave Doering, Dennis Duckett, Ian Forbes, Steve
Froelich, Wencil Froelich, Brad Gauger, Tom Gauthier, Kelly Gigot, Bill
Griesbach, Jim Janssen, Roy D. Johnson, Bob Ledvina, Dan Maine, Aaron Naze, Rick Noe, Gerry Piontek,
Richard Rebman & Mike Vanden Busch. Our
appreciation is also expressed to the spouses and family members who helped
make this event such a success.
Appreciation
Dinner, February 18
A
total of about 40 people attended the annual Appreciation Dinner on February
18. In addition to the
entertainment provided by The Brass Factory,
the Honorees of the Council's Knight of the Month and Family of the Month for
the past fraternal year were handed out and the Council's Major Awards were
announced. Congratulations to all
the winners!. Never intended to
be a fund-raiser, the event cost the Council $79.00.
Guests of the Council were clergy and religious who were able to
attend: Deacon Larry & Doris
Mastalish and Father Dave Pleier. Also attending were Jim
& Marilyn Barnett, Randy & Becky Barrett, Bill & Sandy Bartelme,
Kevin & Denise Beck, Al & Rose Collins, Steve & Lori Froelich, Ron
& Marilyn Frosch, Curt & Blossom Gilson, Jim & Fay Janssen, Roy
& Mary Johnson, Bob & Carol Ledvina, Aaron & Carol Naze, Rick
& Mary Noe, Gerry & Janet Piontek, George & Joan Raymaker, Richard
& Janet Rebman, Andy Schumacher and Mike
& Renee Vanden Busch.
Past
State Deputies Honored
Among
several people and several Knights of Columbus receiving the Papal award Cross
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross
for the Church and the Pontiff) recently were two Past State Deputies of the
Knights of Columbus. The award,
founded by Leo XIII in 1888, recognizes special service to the Church and was
awarded in Madison on February 25 by the Most Reverend William Bullock, Bishop
of Madison. Congratulations to
Past State Deputies Harold Stohlmeyer
(1992-94) and Larry Lanners
(1996-98) on the honor.
Prayer
Prayer
to St. Joseph
The
Solemnity of St. Joseph falls on March 19.
Joseph, Husband of Mary is venerated as Patron of the Universal Church,
patron of workers, patron of a happy death and of numerous countries including
Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Vietnam & Austria.
Great
St. Joseph,
Protect
our Holy Father and his brother Bishops
Watch
over all those who labor in the world,
Patron
and protector of the dying,
Protector
and guide of the Church,
May
the Knights of Columbus
Second
and Third Degree
We
were surprised and saddened to learn that the planned exemplification of the
Second and Third Degree at DePere on February 25 had been canceled--the reason
we were given is that there were only seventeen candidates signed up.
Customarily, this Springtime Degree is held on Palm Sunday, and some
have even referred to this exemplification as 'the Palm Sunday Degree.'
It is with regret that the Council apologizes in the name of the Order
to Bob Agard, Father Dave
Pleier and Randy Schmitz, who had rearranged their schedules in order to take
part in that exemplification.
Another
thought:
In today's busy world, we in the business of getting men advanced through
higher Degrees consider ourselves fortunate that our brothers have enough
commitment to completing the journey to full Knighthood in our Order that they
are willing to give up a Sunday, often their 'family time,' in order to
fulfill the requirements of the Knights of Columbus.
We find there is little that can be said in explanation when an
anticipated event is scratched. One
cannot help but wonder what sort of response there would have been if this
"Palm Sunday Degree" were left on Palm Sunday.
Some may remember that this happened at least once before in our
Council's history--in 1993 the 'Palm Sunday Degree' (which had been moved for
some unknown reason to the end of January) was canceled at a time when Council
10243 had eight candidates ready to take part.
It took us three years to get those guys through.
We have come to anticipate Degrees at certain times of the year, even
on certain dates, so designated by the 'tradition' brought to birth by our
practice. Since we put more than
a little effort into moving men through Degrees, it is our hope that changes
in schedule are made for reasons more substantial and pressing than the simple
convenience of the leadership involved, but rather with an eye toward the good
of all the Knights in the area. The
bottom line must be the ancient proverb--"If it ain't broke, don't fix
it." Again, apologies to
those who went through the effort of finding the time to participate.
None of the three men were able to take part in an exemplification in
Appleton on March 11; it seems the next realistic opportunity will be the
usual 'Fall' exemplification. Our
gratitude is extended to Abbot Pennings Council 3955 in DePere, George Garrity, GK, which planned to host the exemplification.
Charity
Raffle
Coordinator
Leon Janowski has given us the
following information concerning the Council's participation in the 2001
Charity Raffle as of the end of February: To this point 880 tickets have been
sold, about 70% of the total. 46
brothers have responded to the raffle, leaving 79 who have not.
For the last couple of years, the 'Hundred and above' club of ticket
sales has been limited to Roger Heescker, John Schmitz and Tom Gauthier.
So far this year, four men have already broken 100 tickets sold--Roger
Heesacker (162), Richard Rebman (125), Randy Barrett (116) and Father Al
Lis (100). They are followed by Dave
Whitton and Mike Vanden Busch. We
are doing very well, but more of a response is needed. Last year, just eight men sold half of the Council's 1383
total ticket sales. Certainly we
have some dedicated sellers, but think of where we'd be if every member of the
Council took responsibility for at least the tickets he was sent.
These days, that's not all that big a chunk of change.
Let's try to get as close as we possibly can to 100% participation in
the 2001 raffle, and make this the best year ever for the Council, the Diocese
and the State. It's within our
reach. It's within our reach.
100th
Annual Convention
The
Annual meeting of the State Council will take place in LaCrosse this year on
April 28-29. Several members of
Council 10243 are planning to attend as delegates, alternates or guests.
It is always good to have even better representation; anyone interested
in making a trek to LaCrosse should contact GK Rick
Noe (468-3194) for more information.
Remember--one needn't be a delegate in order to take part in most
Convention functions.
Mass
at Manor Care
Chaplain
Father Al Lis was invited by
members of Fort Howard Council 5382 in Green Bay to preside at a Mass at Manor
Care Health Services (formerly Americana Nursing Home) next to St. Mary's
Hospital on February 15. The Mass
is an annual event sponsored by the Knights for the residents of the facility.
About a dozen Knights joined the residents for the Mass, with music
provided by the St. Jude Parish Choir. Peter
J. Denissen serves as Grand Knight.
Youth
Update
Council
Youth Director John Murphy reports
that the Knowledge Contest was held on February 17. About twenty took part in the activity and eight of them
qualified for the next level of competition, though only six were actually
able to make the date. John
extends his gratitude to those who helped out for the contest--Curt
Gilson, Jim & Fay Janssen and Carol
Naze. John hopes to get the
youth involved in other projects in the coming months.
No
Free Throw competition was held this year because of difficulty finding an
available facility.
Major
Awards Presented
The
annual Appreciation Dinner on February 18 was the setting for the presentation
of the Council's top Annual Awards: the Father
Al Lis Knight of the Year Award, the Richard
& Janet Rebman Family of the Year
Award and the Dan McLaughlin Distinguished Service Award.
The Council voted on the Knight and Family of the Year at the January
meeting. These awards in a small
way acknowledge the tremendous contribution that has been made by families and
individuals of the Council 10243 family to the work of the Knights.
Congratulations to the winners of the Council's Major Awards:
The
1999-2000
Knight of the Year Award
Leon &
Sheila Janowski
The 1999-2000
Family of the Year Award
Rick & Mary Noe
Distinguished Service Award
Tom &
Ann Gauthier
Wayne & Alice Wassenberg
The Spotlight is on George Raymaker
Most
people would associate George with the Holy Name Society at St. Bernard before
the Knights of Columbus, but he has been a part of the Knights almost since
the beginning of the Council. He
can't remember exactly who talked him into becoming a part of the new Council
10243 about ten years ago, but it was either Richard Rebman or Ron Frosch.
Though it is usually impossible for him to make it to the Monday
evening meetings of the Council, he has taken part in numerous activities
including the Tootsie Roll drive, food stands and booyah.
He was also deeply involved in the pancake/porkie breakfast when the
Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus co-sponsored it.
George
has been involved with the Holy Name Society since about 1980 and has served
as president since 1992. The
organization as it operates at St. Bernard has 103 names on the roster but
most are older men, and finding some who are willing to serve as officers is
often very difficult to the point that they were going to dissolve at one
point. Many Knights of Columbus
Councils face exactly the same problem, though Council 10243 has a good blend
of men of all ages. Many members
of Council 10243 also hold membership in the Holy Name Society, and Father
Mike Seis served as Spiritual Director as well as Chaplain of the Knights.
The Society has limited activities, taking part on Masses and corporate
communions, but holding breakfasts afterward has been something of a problem.
They also try to get members to show their support for a deceased
member at funerals.
George
has been a life insurance agent since about 1970, working for National Mutual
Benefits, a fraternal benefits life insurance company out of Madison.
His average day begins quite early, dealing with reports, calls to
clients and the like. He is out
of town every third week calling on members as well.
With his wife, Joan, he serves on the board of the local branch, and
the members have been involved in some activities similar to the Knights
including grounds work and painting projects at the Green Bay Botanical
Gardens, NEW Zoo and the (Bay Beach) Sanctuary Society.
They also help to care for the homeless and senior citizens.
George is also proud to say that he has the chance to play Santa Claus
every year.
For
relaxation he enjoys softball and has been a part of St. Bernard's team for
the last ten years. He also likes
to golf and is an avid sports fan, especially following the Packers. He has missed very few Packer games. George and Joan will be married forty years this year and
have three children: Dan, who resides in Green Bay, Rick in Oconto Falls and
Kathy, who works for NBC Channel 3 in Las Vegas.
One of his other joys is visiting his daughter in 'Vegas and also
visiting a few gambling establishments. A
native of Green Bay, George has lived in the area all his live except for a
brief stint in Orlando from 1973-78. He
is a longtime member of St. Bernard Parish (since 1964) and has been involved
in picnic planning and ushering at the parish.
March