Knights of Columbus Council 7559
Minutes for the Meeting on
Oct 8, 2013
Council Web Site: koccolumbiamd.org
St. John the Evangelist Parish: www.sjerc.org
District Web Site: www.knightsofcolumbus.org/district4md/home.html
MD State Web Site: www.kofc-md.org
Supreme Web Site: www.kofc.org
Councils in District 4: Fr. Comyns Council 9638 (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), Resurrection
Council 11341 (Church of the Resurrection), St. Louis the King Council 11898 (St. Louis the
King), Saint Alphonsus Rodriquez Council 13294 (Saint Alphonsus Rodriquez), Columbia
Council 7559 (St. John the Evangelist)
Meeting was called to order at: 8:00 PM by the DGK, Sonny Van, as the GK was
unavailable. The Council offered a prayer followed by the Pledge. The minutes of the previous
meeting of 10 Sept 2013 (which were posted on the web site) were approved. The roll of officers
was taken as specified below (P=Present, E=Excused, & A=Absent).
P
E
P
P
E
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Chaplain Fr Gene Nichol
Grand Knight Nick Clemens
Deputy Grand Knight Sonny Van
Chancellor Harry Lis
Recorder Andy Stack
Financial Secretary Bill Kotraba
Treasurer Don Plasse
Lecturer Harry Lis
Advocate Tim Lynch
Warden Greg Strakna
Guard Joseph Toyang
Guard Alan Pultyniewicz
3rd Year Trustee Jim Mahoney
2nd Year Trustee Boni Nwugwo
1st Year Trustee Garland Payne
Applications:
The Council voted to have approval/rejection of candidates done by Voice Vote. There
was 1 application for membership submitted by Pat Murphy.
Name
Michael Ufoeze
Parish
Nigeria immigrant
Status
new application
Degree:
First
Voice vote was taken and Michael’s application was approved
Grand Knight’s Report:
All brothers were welcomed and the following items were mentioned.
- First Degree at WLIFC on 24 October 2013, please attend and support. Jim Mahoney added
that he is unsure of state support for the degree program.
- Planning for Oktoberfest on 26 October 2013, see comments under unfinished business
- Car raffle tickets sold well beyond expectations, Tim K to provide final count
- Council Tootsie Roll drive needs support this Saturday, please sign up. Last week’s Tootsie
Roll sale was cancelled at River Hill as St Louis council was already on site, so we did only one
village center last week.
-Parish has requested all members consider participating in one of the ministries, EM, lector,
sacristan or usher.
-22 October 2013 presentation about Catholic Charities and Lutheran Charities support for
undocumented alien children and efforts to find family members who will sponsor and provide
food and housing and clothing for these children.
- 24 October 2013 1st degree WLIFC
- 26 October 2013 Oktoberfest
Chaplain’s Report:
Father Gene introduced himself as our new chaplain, and recounted his 40 years of priestly
service at various parishes in the Archdiocese will be regularly attending meetings. Father
reminded us October is the month of Mary
Treasurer’s Report:
General Fund:
Charity Fund:
Building Fund:
$3,058
$3,189 (Note: $1,778 is a set aside)
$15,621
Bills:
Jim Mahoney submitted one bill for payment, trustees to review.
Communications:
Thank you cards from Howard County Pregnancy Center
Financial Secretary’s Report:
Trustees Report:
The Trustees recommended Jim Mahoney’s bill be paid.
Chancellor’s Report:
No report
Sick & Deceased:
Please keep the following people in your prayers: Sick –Stanley “Danny” Daniello, Mary
Befacchia, Canadace Olds, Ed Strakna, Tom Murphy, Pura Murphy, Bob Estright, Mike
Hastings, Liz Siani, Lillian Geran, and Barbara Thompson
Programs: (Program Director Harry Lis)
Unfinished Business: Father Bowen would like to keep the bingo equipment. Jim Mahoney will
try to repair the blower on the bingo machine.
Garland requested $200 for the Ho Co USO chapter, approved by voice vote.
Bill Kotraba requested $200 for Ho Co pregnancy center, approved by voice vote.
Tim L reported on the Oktoberfest progress. Seventy tickets sold to date, expects 100 total.
VanDeusens set up for catering, TKO for music, needs 5 groups to handle setup, decorations,
servers, beverage table and raffles. With misc donations we will cover band costs, hope to break
even.
Brother Stan Daniello is due for his marrow transplant late October. Will need daily rides to and
from Hopkins and Columbia Wilde Lake, 7am and 5pm respectively, for about 2 months unless
Dan is admitted to Hopkins. Please sign up on the Caring Calendar, per Alan P’s latest email.
New Business: Fred reported the Resurrection ministry for funerals has only 5 members, needs
new members for the approx 3 hour commitment to usher and prep/clean up the church after
services. Ed Lucero heads this ministry, his phone 410-730-7904.
Pat Murphy suggested the council consider using the Old Barn in Oakland Mills for dances.
Could be coupled to the parish social committee with Knights’ support.
Insurance Agent’s Report: (Leo P. DesBiens; 410-652-1934)
NTR.
District (#4) Deputy’s Report: presented by Paul Messina (DW4)
- Greetings from the State
- Convention hotel date is Feb 3, lines open 7am. Patuxent Council has booked the
hospitality suite, crab soup will be prepared Friday nite.
- St Alphonsus council is having their annual bull and oyster dinner Nov 23, Resurrection
Council is having an Italian Dinner nite this Friday 6:30pm.
- Navy football Nov 9, vs Hawaii, $35 for tailgate and game ticket.
Good of the Order: Past State Deputy and Icon chair Ed Haynes discussed the icon program;
that we receive 3 icons every 2 years in Maryland. A brief story about The St Juan Diego and the
Guadeloupe icons was given. As icons are “retired” after 2 years of travelling, GK Nick
Clemons had made the request for consideration of Council 7559, and Ed was happy to deliver
the icon tonite for us to display.
Rick Askin and Don Kutzera are state membership reps making the rounds to each council. Rick
asked that each council build a membership team, and Don addressed retention and new
membership. Don suggests each new member have a sponsor, to guide them along their degree
path and get them involved, keep them coming.
Submitted by H. Lis on behalf of the Recorder