KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
www.kofcohio.org
SEPTEMBER 2015
Monthly Publication of the Ohio State Council
Mission Statement Brother Knights, A little on Membership: I cannot believe that the Labor Day weekend approaches and that the Summer Season is all but over. As we begin the Autumn Season of this fraternal year I would like to thank all who work so hard in July in August to get our great State of Ohio off and running with new membership intake. All have done a fine job. Brothers please don't get complacent with our overnight success, there's a long road ahead of us until we reach our membership goal of 3000 new Knights in Ohio. Continue to recruit well in September. Plan now and gear up for your Council’s Parish Drive and Ohio’s big membership push in October.
Keep scheduling 1st Degrees. Every District Deputy is required to schedule and conduct a 1st Degree in his district every month. The Web page should be overflowing with the posting of degree work in Ohio. If you schedule them they will come. Congratulations to the July Membership Contest winners and all who brought in a new member that month. Contest winners should be listed in State Membership Director Nick Gresko’s column. Remember September brings on a new monthly membership contest. See State Membership Director Nick Gresko’s column for details.
State Council Finances: I've had some calls on the non-receipt of the council's convention mileage and per diem checks. First I opted to authorize payment of the all Super Cash Bonanza Rebate Checks during the month of July. Secondly I then authorize payment of all Council Measure Up Grant Checks during the month of August. State Secretary Brother Kevin Miller has done a fine job in transition to his new duties and has completed both of these tasks. Now in September I will authorize payment of all the convention mileage and per diem checks owed to a council provided that your council’s State Per Capita Tax has been paid. All convention mileage and per diem checks will
We as men of the Knights of Columbus, men of faith, are called through Baptism to grow and increase in faith. We are thereby summoned to serve as witnesses to that faith in our daily lives, in the lives of our families, and in the lives of others throughout our communities.
Mission Objective Fostering men united in a faith that will continue the growth of Fr. McGivney’s dream ensuring the spread of Columbianism; becoming more visible through the good works of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity; creating an atmosphere which encourages and calls all Catholic men to serve with their Brothers. Check Us Out At
STATE DEPUTY (Continued from page 1)
be sent to the Council Financial Secretary. Thank you for being understanding with this procedure. It just makes sense to me to deal with one state program at a time, complete it and move forward. Membership Retention: Please take the time at your council to review the Membership Retention Process. The Supreme Council has the made some subtle changes to that process. If you are not sure of the Membership Retention Process as set out by the Supreme Council please contact either State Retention Chairman Bill Wirtz or Michael Jordan for that information. There are two conditions items that will hold up and not complete the process of the suspension of a member for non-payment of dues. First the lack of a Council Retention Chairman listed on the Council’s Form 365 and secondly no phone number listed on the Notice of Intent to Suspend Form 1845. The phone call from the Council Retention Chairman, the District Deputy, and the State Retention Chairman are vital to the retention process and will not be overlooked. It is my personal feeling that if they became a Knight of Columbus with the phone number they will go out with one too. No exceptions. Old Web site issue: For some reason and old version of Brother David Helmstetter, PSD’s Web site page has emerged. This site is not a viable web page for reporting your council activity reports for the “Through Him, With Him, In Him” State General Program. The old “Take Up His Cross” site will run out at the end of this calendar year and go away. We as a State Council have no control over programs that may be currently written to this incorrect
website. The key to correct program reporting on the new State Web site is if you don't see my picture on the homepage you're on the wrong site. Football Frenzy Fund Raiser:
evening. Meetings are open to all 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Degree members, one day as a Knight of Columbus or 80 years as a Knight of Columbus. Come and bring an open mind, your thoughts, and ideas and help each other become a better Knight.
Your Football Frenzy Campaign should be in full swing by now. We need to sell as many tickets as possible. No ticket should be left on the table. I’m positive that 58,000 Knights should be able to sell 36,000 tickets. This year we have made the program more of a contest and have added some new incentives. A diocese must sell an increase of 10% over last year’s sales. The #1 diocese will earn an additional $1.oo per ticket sold. The #2 diocese will earn an additional $0.50 per ticket and the #3 diocese will earn an additional $0.25 per ticket. Remember a State per capita increase at the next state convention is looming. Increased sales resulting in a $50,000.00 increase in State Council profits will negate a State per capita increase at the next
State Convention. God Bless you with your efforts. It's a win - win situation for all of us. Town Hall Meetings begin this month: “Town Hall” meetings throughout Ohio will begin in September with the following meeting dates, times, and locations. The meetings are open form and we'll talk about whatever might be on your mind at
Thursday, September 10, Norwood Council #1162 Tuesday, September 15, Minster Council #2158 Thursday, September 17, West Chester Council #13608 Tuesday, September 29, Dayton Council #500 Thursday, October 8, Bucyrus Council #711 Tuesday, October 13, Ottawa Council #1757 Tuesday, October 20, Holy Angels Sandusky Thursday, October 27, Perrysburg Council #7978 Thursday, November 5, Marian Council #3813 Tuesday, November 10, Mantua Council #3766 Wednesday, December 16, Columbus Area Thursday, December 17, Kenton Council #1597
Note: ”Town Hall” Meetings in the Steubenville Diocese will be scheduled during the month of January and Cleveland “Town Hall” Meetings will have one each month in September through December at a location TBD. A thought on Degree Work: I have attended some degree work throughout Ohio and need to address one observation. A 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Degree is no place for a Stranger, Candidate or Brother Knight in t-shirts and shorts. Please have the respect to the Order and the Ceremonials to dress appropriately. Golf or polo shirts with Dockers type slacks are a minimum dress that should be worn to any one attending these degrees. Please inform all
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YOU’RE A CLICK AWAY Bob Gilliland
WEBSITE
that has been approved by the State Ceremonial Director and a 3rd Degree Team has been assigned to this Displaying particular Degree. As a result of the Degrees. Once you approval, the specific information have logged into the State website at about the Degree is displayed. The http://www.kofcohio.org, you can Yellow color denotes a pending Degree that, just like a Council view the upcoming Degrees in your Diocese and in neighboring Dioceses. program, is waiting approval from Yellow the State Ceremonial Director Click on “News & Events” in the to both approve the degree and main menu, and then “Degrees”, and assignment of a 3rd degree team to then click on “Display Degrees” to perform the requested Degree. Once see the Degrees in your Diocese. the State Ceremonial Director On the next screen, you can select the approves the Degree, it will change to type of Degree you want and any a Green color and the information Diocese in the State of Ohio from the about the Degree will be seen. menu selection at the top of the page.
Any active member of the Council can view the Degree schedule for the entire State of Ohio by selecting the appropriate Diocese in the upper left corner of the selection menu. This way, if there is not a particular Degree in your Diocese, you can check a neighboring Diocese for a nearby Degree. If you have any problems, or need any help, please feel free to email me at BobG@sceinet.com.
Click “Update List” to update the displayed degrees with your selection preferences. You will be able to see the date, time, Diocese, location and contact information for the degrees you selected as well as any instructions for the particular Degree. All 3rd degrees are displayed in either a Green or Yellow color (see picture). The Green color denotes a Degree
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STATE DEPUTY
District Deputies please block out the attending degrees to dress the same. weekend of January 8th, 9th, and 10th, for the January Mid-year Meeting. Ohio Knights Statewide Retreat: Your presence at these gatherings is Please mark your calendars for the vital to the workings of the Knights of Ohio State Council Retreat at the Sts. Columbus in the Council, the District, Peter and Paul Retreat Centre in and all throughout Ohio. I look Newark, Ohio. The retreat will take forward to seeing everyone there. place the weekend of February 5th Please make arrangements and plan and 6th. A minimal fee for the to attend that weekend. More overnight event will be required. information on that weekend will be Reservations and more information passed along to you this November. will come to you in the near future. In closing: Worthy District Deputies: God Bless and continue to do the work
you do in Jesus name. Dedicate everything you do for Him to the honor and glory of God and see what changes it will make in your life. Vivat Jesus,
Bob Collins State Deputy
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REFLECTIONS FROM OUR WORTHY STATE CHAPLAIN Fr. Edward Janoch During the last few months there were released some videos on the sinful, downright evil, actions of Planned Parenthood on the sale of infant body parts after an abortion. Just when you would think that Planned Parenthood could not sink any lower in the moral life, they fall even lower. It has shocked some people, but many were not surprised. When human life is just a “blob of cells” or some “discarded tissue”, then the sale of these tissues/organs is just the next step in the depravity of this organization. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that an abortion is the “deliberate termination of pregnancy by killing the unborn child. Such direct abortion, willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against life.” This is such a moral offense because the Church sees life as sacred. The Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, in Donum Vitae, tells us that “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative
STATE CHAPLAIN action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” Human beings from the moment of conception must be recognized as having the rights of a person; the inviolable right to life. Sacred Scripture tells us that this life is known by God for “before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” Jeramiah 1:5; cf. Job 10:8-12; Psalm ss:10-11. The creation of a human being is in God’s Plan. He has a unique role for this person to perform in life to promote the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls. This respect for human life is also found in the earliest writings of the Church. In the Didache, which was written in the 1st Century, we read: “There are two ways, one of life and one of death; and between the two ways there is a great difference.” “Now, this is the way of life: . . . The second commandment of the Teaching: ‘Do not murder; do not commit adultery’; do not corrupt boys; do not fornicate; ‘do not steal’; do not practice magic; do not go in for sorcery; do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant. ‘Do not covet your neighbor's property; do not commit perjury; do not bear false witness’; do not slander; do not bear grudges. Do not be double-minded or doubletongued, for a double tongue is ‘a deadly snare.’ Your words shall not be dishonest or hollow, but substantiated by action. Do not be greedy or extortionate or hypocritical or malicious or arrogant. Do not plot against your neighbor. Do not hate anybody; but reprove some, pray for others, and still
others love more than your own life.”
How straightforward this message is. The Early Church Fathers also reminds us that the destruction of life in the womb is against God’s Will. In the year 228 A.D., St. Hippolytus strongly writes in his Refutations of All Heresies: "Women who were reputed to be believers began to take drugs to render themselves sterile, and to bind themselves tightly so as to expel what was being conceived, since they would not, on account of relatives and excess wealth, want to have a child by a slave or by any insignificant person. See, then, into what great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by teaching adultery and murder at the same time!"
St. Tertullian states from his Apologia: “It is not permissible for us to destroy the seed by means of illicit manslaughter once it has been conceived in the womb, so long as blood remains in the person.” While St. Augustine tells us in his Sermon 126: “Therefore brothers, you see how perverse they are and hastening wickedness, who are immature, they seek abortion of the conception before the birth; they are those who tell us, ‘I do not see that which you say must be believed.’” This issue is not
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STATE CHAPLAIN
How much more do we need to hear something that is recent, but has from Christ and His Bride; the been a moral issue from the Church, to promote and defend life? beginning of time. How many more deaths and abominable crimes must be done In our times, The Second Vatican before we stand up and shout: “NO Council, in Gaudium et Spes reminds MORE!” I think that the time has us that: passed with almost 60 million lives destroyed by abortion. We should “God, the Lord of life, has have said “NO!” on January 22, 1973 entrusted to men the noble when Roe v Wade made abortion the mission of safeguarding life, “law of the land.” I find this and men must carry it out in a appalling for the Declaration of manner worthy of themselves. Independence declared that the Life must be protected with the citizens of this new nation had the utmost care from the moment “right to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the of conception: abortion and PURSUIT OF infanticide are abominable HAPPINESS” [emphasis is mine]. crimes.”
Padre Pio was born of simple, hardworking farming people on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, southern Italy. He was tutored privately until his entry to the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of grace he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910. On September 20, 1918 the five wounds of our Lord's passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest on the history of the Catholic Church. Countless persons were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly counsel and spiritual guidance through correspondence. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable
SAINT OF THE MONTH suffering, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his deep union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and Our Blessed Lady. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. After a public funeral, which attracted over 100,000 mourners, his body was entombed in the crypt of Our Lady of Grace Church. Increasing numbers flock to his tomb from all parts of the world and many testify to spiritual and temporal graces received. On the 16th of February 1973, the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Msgr. Valentino Vailati, consigned the documentation to the Sacred Congregation of the Causes of Saints so as to obtain the "nihil obstat" for the beginning of the process of his Beatification. On December 18, 1997, by the reading of the decree on the herocity of virtues, the Holy Father Saint John Paul II declared Padre Pio "Venerable." The steps taken in the process of Padre Pio's beatification are the following:
As members of the Knights of Columbus, we need to stand for LIFE. Our moral life requires us to do this. Our salvation depends on it. Let us see what activities we can plan to do during the upcoming month of October, which is designated as the Month for Life. One thing that we need to do now is to continue to pray before a Planned Parenthood facility to pray for the souls of the infants killed and for those who are performing the abortions and who support this “crime against LIFE.” Vivat Jesus!
March 20, 1983, the Diocesan Process was begun
January 21, 1990, the aforesaid process was closed
December 18, 1997, the reading of the decree on the herocity of the virtues
December 21, 1998, the publication of the decree on the miracle Sunday, May 2, 1999, Saint Pope John Paul II declared Padre Pio Blessed.
The Beatification ceremonies in Rome, Italy were host to more than one million pilgrims. Here in the USA, Our Lady of Grace Chapel and Padre Pio Spirituality Centre (National Centre for Padre Pio) was host to over 20,000 pilgrims from as far as California, Canada and Guam. Saint Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio of Pietrelcina a Saint on June 16, 2002 in one of the largest attended liturgies ever in the Vatican's history. The Pope remarked that Padre Pio's spirituality and suffering are a valuable model for modern times. The Pope reemphasized his message at the end of the canonization liturgy by announcing Padre Pio's feast day, September 23rd, is an "obligatory memorial" in the church's general liturgical calendar.
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MEMBERSHIP What is a Church Drive? The Knights of Columbus designates time each year when every council is encouraged to conduct a Church drive. All councils are being asked to conduct a church drive in each parish they serve in October during Columbus Day weekend (October 10-11) or any weekend in October. The church drive may be the most effective way of presenting our message to fellow parishioners as well as to recruit new members. If you have not ordered your church drive materials from Supreme now is the time!!! This is a time to tell our story of faith in action with emphasis on fraternal care and charitable works. Prepare yourselves: Meet with the pastor and inform him of your intentions and secure his permission. Place an insert in your parish bulletin/s notifying the parishioners of the upcoming drive. Order recruitment brochures, posters and flyers from the Supreme Council Supply Department (Allow 4 – 5 weeks for delivery) Develop or update the council’s brochure and make adequate copies. Prepare an effective and concise pulpit talk to be given within the time frame allowed. Contact and schedule members to assist with recruitment activity and do not forget to invite your field agent to attend. Identify teams to call on prospects or schedule an information night, and then schedule at least two first degree opportunities for the new candidates. During the scheduled weekend: Set up information tables, place posters and flyers at all entrances of the Church Personally hand out prospect cards to everyone as they enter the church or have cards and pencils available in each pew of the church. Have a council member give a presentation to the parishioners and ASK them to join the Knights. Ask the Mass celebrant your pastor to give his words of endorsement. Schedule plenty of brother Knights to hand our material and mingle with the crowd Schedule brothers to work, do not rely on those who happen to show up for Mass that day. Hand out material, mix with the parishioners and collect prospect cards.
TEAM MEMBERS
Nick Gresko “Inspector Membership” State Membership Director John Brown New Council Development William Wirtz Retention Director (West) Michael Jordon Retention Director (East) Raymond Darr Ceremonials Director
DIOCESAN MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORS Richard Chunnic Cincinnati Jerome Nowesnick Cleveland George Jones Columbus Thomas Offenberger Steubenville
Follow-up after the weekend drive Within 48 hours make personal contact with every prospect. Set up an appointment to meet with him and his spouse at their home or inform them of the scheduled information night. Offer transportation and refreshments if holding an information night. (Continued on page 7)
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James Collins Toledo Dave Bender Youngstown
GENERAL SERVICE PROGRAMS (Continued from page 6)
4 MORES: MORE Knights Information night bring MORE hands & hearts, Be organized, have an adequate number of brochures, explain to raise MORE funds and to benefits of being a member, share council activities, have field evangelize, doing GOD’S good agent speak about fraternal benefits, have chaplain/pastor give works helping MORE people his endorsement, show film such as “Experience of a Lifetime”, in need! call on dignitaries for comments. After program, assist each prospect with the completion of a Form #100. Inform them of First Degree dates. Have snack and refreshments available upon conclusion of your meeting. Offer transportation and refreshments if holding an information night. The First Degree Conduct a First Degree no later than two weeks after your informational meeting. Offer transportation. Prepare degree certificates. Inform them of the next meeting date and time, upcoming activities and how they can be involved with your council.
GREAT START TO MEMBERSHIP IN OHIO For two straight months we have been positive with membership recruitment. Brother Knights what do you have planned for the next two months to keep this trend up? Inspector Membership is expecting huge numbers the next few months!!! Inspector also wants to thank all of the Brother Knights and Councils for their hard work when it comes to membership for the first two months!!!
FORM 450 & 450C ARE LIKE GOLD!!! District Deputies please make sure within two days of holding a degree in your District the Form 450 is turned in. Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries the Form 450C should be sent in within two days of doing a degree. This is extremely important because this allows us to track if Supreme actually processed your Form 100’s! If you took the time to bring in a new member the State Membership Team wants to make sure you get credit for your work and effort.
FORM 100’S Within two days of a degree any Form 100’s should be emailed to the Supreme Council at membership@kofc.org or to membershiprecords@kofc.org Supreme is able to process the Form 100 much quicker this way and you have a receipt that they were sent in your sent mail. Plus this saves your council the cost of a stamp every time new members are brought in. 7 | VOICE OF THE SPIRIT | SEPTEMBER 2015 | WWW.KOFCOHIO.ORG
MEMBERSHIP PROACTIVE RETENTION lessen the need for the Form 1845. Michael Jordon & William Wirtz, Jr. There are many definitions of “retention”, but unless you are holding your water or building a wall we believe the following meaning applies to what we should do as Knights. Our “retention” relates to “the fact of keeping something in one's memory” or “the act or power of remembering things.” Why use this version? Let’s just say “retention” is not all about the Form 1845 process. We strongly recommend we all be more proactive, so as to
our current members.
Let’s make contact with our Brothers by any means necessary to ensure they are not forgotten, to help them to feel needed and respected, and to impress upon them how they are valued members of our fraternity. Put your Retention Committee into action throughout the entire fraternal year.
For questions and assistance please don’t hesitate to contact the Ohio State Council Retention Directors.
Please allow the Holy Spirit, and our Through Him, With Him, and In Him program, guide our hearts and our actions for the next two years. Embrace the Retention Activities Program and get creative with your efforts to reach out to all
William Wirtz, Jr. State Retention Director West 2221 Vienna Parkway Dayton, OH 45459 937-470-7795 billjoyce1@sbcglobal.net
Firecracker 4 July Membership Program Winners
Michael Jordan State Retention Director East 2325 Innwood Drive Austintown, OH 44515-7317 330-540-7317 mtjordon@yahoo.com
MEMBERSHIP MISSION #3 Parties, Cookouts and More Summer is coming to end as Labor Day approaches. There will be parties, cookouts, fantasy football drafts and more. What a perfect time to get out and talk about the Knights of Columbus to your friends and recruit.
3 councils that bring in 4 new members will each win $100.00 1. Council #478 Steubenville Diocese 2. Council #2050 Toledo Diocese 3. Council #3410 Cleveland Diocese 2 DDs whose districts bring in 8 new members will win $100.00 each 1. DD #40 Andrew Colgrove Columbus Diocese 2. DD #56 Anthony Offenberger Steubenville Diocese
Inspector Membership is challenging all of us during this end of summer celebration to go out and recruit some members. Yes, there are incentives provided you accept your mission. Watch the video below and read the flyer - send out to all of your council members. Challenge yourselves to take it to the next level - and we are not talking about just hamburgers and hot dogs either.
5 Proposers will win $50 each 1. David Neuzil Cleveland Diocese 2. Terry Welch Steubenville Diocese 3. Robert Powell Cleveland Diocese 4. Leroy Golembiewski Cleveland Diocese 5. Eric Rutkowski Toledo Diocese
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GENERAL SERVICE PROGRAMS The World Meeting of Families will be held September 22-25. We should keep these participants in our prayers for a successful gathering. This would be a great time to bring your Councils families together for a prayer service and honoring the Families that do so much in your Council. Supreme Council continues to honor families with the “Family of the Month”, now would be the time to submit a worthy family in this program.
TEAM MEMBERS REPORTING DIRECTORS Robert Walsh General Program Director Gary Anderson Culture of Life
By now, councils should have all there Chairman’s in place and completing plans for the programs this coming year. Reporting these programs is also part of the activity that was held. As you report these activities on line remember to write them down on the Star Council checklist to keep track of the activities on the #SP form.
Jeff Kiliany Church
The Directors and I are always available to assist you with Programming questions that may arise in the Council. Remember to hold monthly meetings to review the progress of your planned activities, and to check on the activities that have been reported. This meeting should be held by the end of the month before reports are due.
Stewart Vetter Family Tom Buehner Council
God Bless,
Mike Nau Youth
Bob Walsh General Program Director
Tom Forsthoefel Community
CULTURE OF LIFE HERE to view CMP's
heat on them through letters to the editor, Gary Anderson Internet posts, in group Knights of Columbus discussions, among your There is never a dull around the state of Ohio friends and acquaintances, moment in the pro-life and across the nation have, by continued contact with movement! Just two days your state and national prior to my drafting of this in one voice, let our politicians and legislators elected officials, and, most article, the Center for know that we demand an importantly, through Medical Progress (CMP) ongoing prayer. Prayer and released the seventh in its end to this genocide. fasting may be the only series of undercover videos Congratulations and my way to cure such grave evil of top Planned Parenthood deepest gratitude to all who have stood up for the and hardness of heart. officials callously discussing their diabolical little innocents. But we cannot let up now. With For a list of your U.S. work of harvesting and the release of every senators and selling baby parts and successive video-they seem representatives by zip organs. Can anything be to become more grotesque code, CLICK HERE. To more hideous? Yet, the with each release-the find your Ohio majority of Americans in recent polling still believe general public is beginning representatives by zip to wake up to the horrors code, CLICK HERE for the Planned Parenthood deserves ongoing funding. and deception of that most Ohio Senate and CLICK despicable and murderous HERE for the Ohio House That, brother knights, is organization known as of Representatives. symptomatic of the Planned Parenthood. darkness and hardness of soul of so many people in (Continued on page 11) Please continue to keep the our nation today. CLICK videos.
NONREPORTING DIRECTORS Joe Mackos Vocations & Round Table Harding Christ Editor “Buckeye Bulletin” Marty Schumacher Squires
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Robert Gilliland Website Jim Maslach Social Media
GENERAL SERVICE PROGRAMS for Aborted Children event going on nationally and across Ohio, visit Councils across the Buckeye State the website by CLICKING HERE, are in high gear planning their bus or see pages 66 and 67 for Activity trips to the March for Life 2016 in #50 in the program book. The fall Washington, D.C. The 43rd March 40 Days for Life campaign runs steps off around 1:00 pm on Friday, from September 23 through January 22, 2016, preceded by the November 1. You can get details at big rally at noon. If your council is their website by CLICKING HERE, interested in sponsoring a bus, now or under Culture of Life Activity is the time to make it happen. The #47 on pages 64 and 65 of the March for Life website is chock full program book. of important and useful information such as a downloadable trip The Respect Life Program from the planner, Rally and March U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops information, Conference and Expo (USCCB) begins anew each year on details, and much more. CLICK Respect Life Sunday, the first HERE. Sunday in October, which this year falls on October 4, and is a part of The March for Life is Culture of Respect Life Month. The program Life Activity #48 on pages 65 and is highlighted in liturgies and 66 of the General Program Book. marked by special events Please note that it is a Supreme throughout October. The USCCB Featured Program, meaning if Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities your council meets the Featured publishes new materials each year Program requirements to the letter, to call attention to numerous this activity will max out the human life issues. The packet Culture of Life state program as contains everything your council well as fulfill the Culture of Life and parish needs to observe Respect component of the Columbian Life Month by sponsoring valuable Award. and beneficial events and activities during the month. For last minute details and Ohio locations for the September 12 To order the free 2015-2016 Respect National Day of Remembrance Life Program packet, call toll free (Continued from page 10)
now at 866-582-0943 or visit the website by CLICKING HERE. Activities conducted in observance of Respect Life Month in October may be submitted as a Council Choice, either Activity #53 or #54. Let's keep those life-saving ultrasound machines coming for deserving pregnancy care centers! They are the best antidote to the poison of Planned Parenthood and other abortionists. We're nearing our 30th machine here in Ohioplacing us at an astonishing #6 in the country-but more are needed! This is also a Supreme Featured Program provided your council meets the requirements exactly as outlined by Supreme. More details on the Ultrasound Initiative, Activity #45, are on pages 62 and 63 of the program book. And finally, brothers, remember to visit and bookmark our Ohio State Council Facebook page by CLICKING HERE. It is updated in real time with the latest Culture of Life news, as well as a wealth of other timely, and important State Council and Supreme Council updates to benefit your council.
ROUND TABLE
you’re a parish base council or a home base council. I’m sure that your members are active within their parishes and The tour is over. I have asked probably many sit on a parish at each diocese how many council. These are the members parish base council we have. that would be a good candidate The response by the show of hands in attendance is over 100 for the round table. councils. And yet, I have only Please see the for that I have received 1 council to report a sent along print it off fill it out round table. WHY? All you send it in. need to do is fill out the form enter parish base council grand You don’t need a hole list of knights name and mail it to names 1, 2 or 3 would be great. supreme or scan in the Hope to be seeing your form computer and email supreme, soon. and copy me. Joe Mackos
Every council should take the time to file a form whether
Double-click the form to the right to access.
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GENERAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FAMILY Stewart Vetter Have you planned your fraternal night? Maybe you don’t know what it is or why it’s important. A fraternal night is an opportunity to bring several services and representatives together in front of your members for end of life planning.
for some of these things. Many of our Brothers don’t prepare because they fear the cost will be excessively high or they don’t realize that a few simple things now can save their grieving spouse many headaches later.
Does she want to be cremated and sit on the mantle until you pass too? Do you want an open casket? Do you want a viewing at all? These are important issues that can all be discussed and preplanned. Maybe you invite a local financial planner to discuss retirement and financial preparedness. Though our insurance agents are amazing and have the same skills as most financial planners, there are products they don’t offer (401K, 503C, IRA, etc.) and having another financial professional present gives someone to speak to those products.
You definitely want to invite your Knights of Columbus insurance field agent. Ask him to speak about the differences between types of insurance, long term care products, estate planning, and what happens when he gets a form 100 about a member’s passing. Many of us aren’t sure how insurance and death certificates and filings work after your spouse dies and it’s better to be educated before it happens then to try to juggle all these things while grieving the love of your life.
The real goal of a fraternal night is to get spouses and families talking about plans for the future. This Ask a local funeral home if they is a great opportunity for our would like to send a representative brothers, our ladies, and our to discuss pre-planning memorial families to be educated about events services and costs associated. Prethat are best planned and prepared planning can be a huge relief to a for. None of us like to think about grieving family and to the deceased. the end but as men it is our job to make sure we have cared for our You could invite a local attorney to Have you ever asked your wife where she wants to be buried? Have families and eased the stress on our discuss wills, estate planning, you told her where you want to be grieving loved ones. Tempest probate court, etc. He should also be Fugit, Memento Mori buried? Do you want buried at all? prepared to discuss estimated costs
DISTRICT DEPUTIES There are several requirements you September Requirements need to work on in September. 1. District Membership Plan of They are summarized below and the District and of your counlisted in the District Deputy Manucils to be sent to the Diocesan District Deputy Coordinator al. Remember the monthly reports are due by 11:59PM on the 5th of 2. Contact all your councils every month. We need a 100% onand get the total number of Measure- Up Rulers needed. time turn in. Also these reports are Send the total number you to be done on line. The link will need for your district to the either be on the website or sent out State Warden. by your Diocesan Coordinator. If 3. Follow up with your Grand Knights you are having trouble contact your to be sure they have appointed a diocesan coordinator for assistance. Round Table Coordinator for each The numbers for this report should parish they have. (Supreme Report be for AUGUST ONLY. Do not inForm 2629) Due by September 1st clude your July totals in this report. 4. Get councils to order the Soccer
6.
7.
5. Submit the Supreme Form 450 for all Degrees in your district to Supreme, the State Membership Director and to the District Deputy Director. Turn in September DD Monthly Report to your coordinator and District Deputy Director on or before October 5th. Make sure all of your councils have turned in Forms 185, 365, and the council audit.
Keep up all the good work you do. George Metz
Challenge Kits.
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2014-2015 STAR COUNCILS I am most happy to report, that 61 Councils in Ohio achieved the Star Council Award for the 2014 - 2015 Fraternal Year. What an accomplishment! We exceeded our quota by four councils. Great job, Grand Knights, General Agents and Field Agents! As part of my State Deputy Incentive Program from last fraternal year, each Grand Knight will receive a $100 check from the State Council for achieving the Star Council Award. Please remember the Supreme Council Incentive: all councils achieving the Star Council Award will have their Supreme Council per capita for 20152016 credited for all members paying dues. You will likely receive a notice that your per capita tax has been credited. Supreme will also award each council with the Star Council Award plaque and each Council Grand Knight, General Program Director and Membership Director will receive a special lapel pin in recognition of your council’s achievement. Here are the 61 Councils in Ohio that achieved the STAR COUNCIL AWARD: 637
2280
5239
11354
13813
14457
15043
15793
1056
2565
5559
11445
13984
14502
15056
15824
1234
2640
5628
11550
14093
14714
15401
15901
1597
3123
5801
12359
14155
14834
15447
15905
1641
3698
5899
12772
14282
14882
15458
15942
1757
3724
10941
12939
14344
14962
15533
1801
4733
11216
13429
14345
14995
15569
2158
5128
11224
13608
14406
15009
15614
In addition, six District Deputies achieved Star District and they will receive a check for $100 from the State Council. Great job! William Donohue, DD 21
Rodney Anderson, DD 43
William Reinhard, DD 37
Ronald Ginnetti, DD 51
Brett Gissel, DD 41
Denver Mossing, DD 56
State Family Activities Director, Mike Saine achieved the highest participation in all our six service programs during the last program year and he will receive a check for $100. In addition, we had a special District Deputy Incentive and DD 46 Keith Dunnigan will receive a check for $100. Great job to all our District Deputies! Thanks, again, to everyone for the dedication and commitment to our goals and objectives from last fraternal year. Now is the time to re-dedicate our efforts for our new State Deputy Robert Collins and to his “Through Him, With Him and In Him” State Program! God Bless, Ken Girt Immediate Past State Deputy
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ADMINISTRATION
THE GUY
My Brother Knights, 2 months into this year's program and reports are due soon. Remember, Forms are a critical part programming as well as an important communication tool for all us as we continue the journey into this Fraternal Year.
I’m the guy who asked to join your organization. of of
Administration Forms are a requirement and their timing of submittal is critical for Star council and Special Program awards in the individual State Programs. Administration Forms should be submitted to the proper Supreme address and copies whether paper or electronic should be submitted to the State Forms Chairman based on the Table below: Form Title
185
Report of Council Officers
365
Service Program Personnel
1295 1728 1295 SP7
Semi-annual Council Audit Report Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity Semi-annual Council Audit Report, (December Report) Columbian Award
I’m the guy who stood up in front of you and promised to be faithful and loyal. I’m the guy who came to your meetings and no one paid attention to.
As we continue to compose the new 2015-2017 State Directory and get it ready for publication, If your council has any roster changes throughout the year especially in regards to your Grand Knight please submit the changes or additions on the appropriate form 185 to Supreme and a copy to the State Council.
Form Number
I’m the guy who paid his dues to join.
Form Due Date
July 1 2015 August 1 2015 August 15 2015 January 31 2016 February 15 2016 July 30 2016
Please utilize the Table above and the Forms Checklist provided in the General Program book on page 30. This checklist is an excellent tool to help you succeed this next year. Copies should be sent to the State Forms Chairman: Richard Royle 13942 Olde Orchard Rd. Strongsville, Ohio 44136-8342 My phone is 216-210-5247 and via email at kofcroyle@gmail.com.
I tried several times to be friends, but they all had their own buddies to talk to and sit next to. I sat down several times, but no one paid any attention to me. I hoped very much that someone would have asked me to take part in a fund raising project or something, but no one saw my efforts when I volunteered. I missed a few meetings after joining because I was sick and couldn’t be there. No one asked me at the next meeting where I had been. I guess it didn’t matter very much to others whether I was there or not. The next meeting, I decided to stay home and watch TV. The following meeting, I attended, but no one asked me where I was for the last meeting. You might say I’m a good guy or a “good family man” who holds a responsible job and loves his community and country. You know who else I am? THE GUY WHO NEVER CAME BACK. It amuses me how the heads of organizations and the members discuss WHY the organization is loosing members. It amuses me to think that they spend so much time looking for NEW members when I was there all the time. All they need to do was make me feel needed, wanted, and WELCOME!
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FUND CRAZR FOOTBALL SWEEPSTAKES JULY KICKOFF until OCT. 27, 2015 Over the past thirteen years, Ohio State councils have sold over 165,000 tickets earning councils over $500,000 in rebates from the Football Sweepstakes program. These are rebates that councils may use to pay expenses that they choose to cover from their proceeds. Last year there was a nearly 5% increase in tickets sales and a 15% increase in rebates to participating councils. This is a “Win-Win” situation for councils – a win - where $1000 is awarded to weekly winners and a win where councils will receive rebate proceeds. And you get all of this - 10 weeks of excitement for only $10.00 a ticket.
FOOTBALL FRENZY the diocese that has the second greatest increase in sales, and an extra .25 for the diocese with the third greatest increase in sales. MINIMUM OF 10% INCREASE !!
week. It makes no difference whether teams win or lose. Total prizes awarded for the 10 weeks are $10,000.00. A winners’ list will be posted on www.fundcrazr.com – Password is going to your ticket number.
The 2015 sweepstakes involves the last 10 weeks of games played by the National Football League this season – games that will be Tickets that are sold can be played between Nov. 1 and Jan. turned in any time before October 27, which is the final deadline. Sold tickets, and money, are to be sent to: PSD Gary Eckstein, 1498 River Trail Drive, Grove City, Ohio 43123. You also may contact me at 614-679-4238 for additional tickets. Winners will be notified and paid automatically each week by the Ohio State Council.
Remember: participants must print legibly their name, address, telephone number, and name and 3. Donations are $10.00 per Once again, the basic incentives number of the selling council, on ticket. There are 32 NFL teams will remain the same as in the ticket stub. The stub, and and each ticket has four different previous years, so over $125,000 $10, is turned in. The participant teams each week No other ticket in rebates can be earn, simply by selling these football sweepstakes has the same teams in any given keeps the rest of the ticket. week. tickets. The bottom line is that the more tickets sold the larger A total of $1,000 in prizes is the rebate to your council. awarded each week to ticket EXTRA BONUS REBATE: A holders with the four teams that bonus rebate of an extra $1.00 score the most – or the least – per ticket will be given to all councils in the diocese that show number of points in that given week of games. The scores from greatest increase in sales – the previous week’s games are minimum of 10% increase over used for teams that are not 2014. A bonus rebate of .50 for scheduled to play on any given 15 | VOICE OF THE SPIRIT | SEPTEMBER 2015 | WWW.KOFCOHIO.ORG
MATCHING FUNDS I have chosen “Providing needs for Catholic Education” as the theme of the 2015 Matching Funds Program. Your council’s contribution to the fund will assist in strengthening the Catholic Education efforts in every Catholic school, in every religious program, and in every RCIA program of your diocese The Matching Funds Program will run from September 1, 2015 through November 15, 2015. The Ohio Charity Foundation, Inc. of the Ohio State Council is matching the first $25,000 donated to this year’s program. My goal for the 2015 Matching Funds Program is $70,000 combined with a100% participation of our Ohio councils. I would hope that all councils across this great state will contribute as generously as they have in past years.
There are several ways to fund your council’s donation to the Matching Funds Program: Donate a portion of your Super Cash Bonanza Charity Ticket rebate Host a council fundraising event with proceeds earmarked for the fund Pass the hat for donations at council meetings Ask your members to make a personal pledge to the Matching Funds Program. Here are several ideas for a successful campaign within your council: Appoint a chairman Set a goal of at least 10% higher than last year Contribute early in the campaign so that your donation will be matched Send your council’s donation to me, Bob Byers, between September 1 and November 15, 2014.
The Matching Funds 2015 Contribution Form is printed on the back of this letter for your convenience. All awards will be presented to the District Deputies at the January mid-year meeting for distribution to the Councils. The following is a list of this year’s awards: The highest donation overall by a council The highest donation by a council in each diocese The highest donation per member by a council in each diocese The highest donation by a chapter, an assembly, or a squires circle will each receive an award For those district deputies with 100% council participation in their districts. Please pray for the success of this year’s Matching Funds campaign. In advance, may God bless you for your work for religious education and for “Providing needs for Catholic Education”. Thank you. Fraternally, Mark Siracusa State Advocate 2015 Matching Funds Chairman
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