Grand Knights Column -- Feb.

Brothers,
I've got a couple of short subjects that I wish to touch on this month.
The first one is why someone might consider joining the Knights and why you would or should stay in the Knights.
The answer, quite simply, is that if you want to help others in your local parish and the community around you then you should join the Knights. If you want to experience a broader sense of friendship with your fellow Catholics by helping others then you've come to the right place. If you want to have the opportunity to help your brothers in their time of need and create a much larger extended family that will help you in your time of need then the Knights is for you.
This organization has never been a place that I would join to network, but at the same time I enjoy helping my fellow Knights when they need it. I want to see our members succeed in their business ventures and I want all their families to have strong loving relationships.
I revel in the successes of their children and I feel their pain when they fail just like their children are part of my own family.
In this fast paced world where we know fewer and fewer of our immediate neighbors around us and our sense of community is shrinking, the Knights is a fantastic supplement because of our similar beliefs and family values. All you have to do to make this a reality is not be a name on a list. Get involved! Say yes the next time one of your brother Knights calls or emails you for your help and it will be the beginning of a very enjoyable experience.
I've also want to touch a little bit on our email list. Our list is meant to be used by our members to conduct the business of the brotherhood. It is not meant to send out jokes, so please if you have a joke that you would like to share with a few of your brothers please refrain from sending it our to the whole list. You could offend another brother Knight with out even knowing it.
Thanks again for your time,

Dave Meglio
314-610-7139

Remember to Pay Your Dues

A reminder that dues notices went out in December and our now considered past-due. . . Please remember to get your dues paid if you haven't done so yet to save the council the extra cost of sending out late notices and the time it takes to make phone calls reminding those who haven't paid. There are about 50 members who still have't paid their dues. You can bring your dues to the Feb. meeting or mail them to:
Gene Stark
14Shadowcreek Dr.
St. Peters, MO. 63376

New Lector Looking for Ideas

Brothers, I have taken over as the Lector for our council.
I am excited to take over this position and look forward to providing new and exciting meals at the council meetings. I hope to have an emphasis on more "home style" meals along the lines of what Bob Gragnani . and Pierce Conley provided to our council in recent years.
This I feel will give us a more personal atmosphere. I plan to start cooking the meals for the meetings, this not only save us some money, but also will provide for more brotherhood after the meetings.
A special thanks to Bob Gragnani for the suggestion he has given me from when he was lector. Also special thanks to Kenny Boone for being the Letor the last year or so as he moves on to help with both the Squires and staffing at UMB this summer.
I ask any of you that may have a request or an idea for a meal to please e-mail me. The plan as of now is to have the menu in the news letter each month. The February meeting is a first degree so we will have BBQ pulled pork and potato salad.
Thanks
Virgil Beer
e-mail ( virgilbeer@charter.net )

Easter Carnival Donations Needed

Gentlemen,
That time of year is rapidly approaching, the annual Joachim and Ann Easter egg hunt. This year's festivities will be held on Saturday, March 26th from 10:00 am to noon. I have decided to change the name to Easter carnival and egg hunt as this seems to fit the festivities a little better.
Once again I am in need of your services. I will require any Knight, there wives and or teenage children to assist with this years function. I will be sending out an e-mail for people to sign up and help with this years function. I will need people to help set up, run and clean up. I will also need donations from those of you that can.
Snacks!!! Lots of cookies, small cakes, donuts, etc., plastic ware, 8-12 oz cups, 8-12 oz insulated cups for coffee, paper plates, drinks( Kool -Aid, lemonade, instant please, enough to make several gallons), and most of all any item which can be used as a prize, whether it be a door prize, a small prize to redeem for a ticket in an egg or penny game prizes. Unfortunately, my sources for such items have not produced sufficient quantities and to keep the cost down I am looking to you for donations.
Please, anytime you or your wife are in a store look through the clearance items and pick up anything you think would work. Keep it as cheap as you can! and as many as you can afford. Every little bit helps. E-mail me if you have products to donate and I will make arrangements to pick them up.
Guy's, this is important, start looking now, don't wait until the night before thinking you can just run to Walgreens and pick up something, this isn't what I am asking of you. I'm looking for penny items, things to use as prizes for the games the children play, Lots of JUNK, JUNK, JUNK, bubble gum machine items.
I know this is asking a lot from you, but if we all search, even raid our kids rooms for items they no longer need or use, we could come up with a substantial pile of JUNK to give away. Contact me as soon as you have something.
Thanks for your help in this matter. With your help, this will be the best Easter Carnival ever.
Sincerely,
Glenn Korando, Family Director

First Degree Slated for Feb. Meeting

The Feb. 21 meeting will be the next First Degree that the council will be hosting. If you know of anyone who would be intersted in joing, or have been follow through with the 1kNight1Call program that Jim Radi started make sure you invite some of those future Knights you have spoken to to the First Degree, let Jim know if you think you have some future Knights to bring to the Feb. meeting.

Blood Drive Set for March 20

We had 26 good donors at the January 9th blood drive. Thanks to all that came out to work. The Community Blood Centers whom we had at that drive were extremely efficient and we will be having more drives with them in the future. They are recognized by the Archdiocese over the Red Cross. They are so efficient that we may not need as many Knights staffing the drive as we have had in the past. It's unfortunate that the donors were at least 1/3 to 1/2 of what we normally have in January. I suspect that the reason is the parking situation at J & A.
The next blood drive will be with the American Red Cross on Sunday, March 20th. If we don't succeed in getting more than 26 donors (goal would normally be 50) we will probably cancel the June 5th blood drive and future ones and resume after the construction phase.
Thanks again and remember, if just 50 of our Knights (you non-squeemish ones) came out to give blood we would make our goal. Just drop by and roll up your sleeve. It only hurts for a minute!! If Carol Rothermich can come out to work (for her husband mind you) AND give blood, anyone can!!

Insurance Agents Report

The Knights of Columbus insurance program issued
$6.224 BILLION in new life insurance in 2004,
representing an annual increase of MORE THAN
$ 1 BILLION. It is the first time the annual increase
in new life insurance has exceeded the $1 billion
mark. It represents a 19.2 percent increase over 2003.
Find out why so many of your brother Knights are
taking advantage of this Fraternal benefit. You are
not only helping yourself and your family but allows
the K of C to donate $250,000 to the Asia Disaster
Relief and provide free accidental death benefits to
all it's members as part of the Fraternal Benefit Program,
as well as many other programs our members enjoy.
Your future starts tomorrow. Contact me today.
Bob Klein F.I.C. / F.I.C.F.
(636) 928-0510 E-Mail bobkleinkofc@msn.com

Recommendations Made for Monthly Donations

At the Feb. Directors meeting a discussion was held regarding possible charities to allocate the council's monthly donations for both Jan. and Feb. The Directors ultimately decided to recommend to the council that the spending of Jan.'s funds be allocated to the Catholic Charities Tsunami relief efforts and Feb.'s funds be given to the MS Society through efforts that member Sean O'Donnell is conducting. Both issues will be raised at the Feb. meeting for consent before the council, and remember if you have a good cause you would like to help out bring your ideas to the Director's meeting.

Care Service Events Planned

Mark your calendar now for two big Sts. J&A Care Service events upcoming.
The Care Service will be sponsoring a golf tournament at Whitmore County Club on Thursday, April 28. If you are interested in playing or volunteering at the event let Michael Tobin know. Cost for the tourney is $125 per golfer and holes sponsorships and other sponsorships are also available.
On May 20 the Care Service will be holding a black-tie formal dinner at Old Hickory Country Club, again Michael Tobin will have more information about the event if you are interested. Tickets will be $100 for the event, which also happens to be on the same day as Mariam's birthday, so if you are looking of a unique gift for her why not come out and help support the Care Service's expansion plans?

No Hunger Holiday Given special Award

Congratulations to those Knights involved with the No Hunger Holiday effort. The Thanksgiving Day food drive was given special recognition last week as a Program of Distinction by the Missouri Head Start and Youth In Need groups. No Hunger Holiday board member Doug Helfrich attended a special luncheon at the Lake of the Ozarks where No Hunger Holiday was recognized.

Good Turnout For Otters Game

Thanks to all who attended the River City Otters game on Jan.. 29. There was about 25 in attendance as part of the Harvester Knights group, including Knights, their families and other friends.
Thanks to Tony Dickherber for organizing the event and we look forward to doing it again sometime.