State Deputy Bob Collins’ Annual Report
Welcome I would like to extend fraternal greetings and best wishes to our clergy, my Brother Knights, ladies, and guests of this 117th Annual Ohio State Council Convention conducted this May 20 – 22, 2016 at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Sandusky, Ohio. It has truly been an honor to serve you as your State Deputy this past fraternal year. Our Theme Our theme this year, “Through Him, With Him, In Him,” is taken from the Ordinary of the Mass. It is that time of the Mass when we give everything back to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. A firm commitment to these six simple words will set the tone for a new found faith, a stronger catholic family, an unshakeable church, and an Order of Knights to boldly lead the way. Membership Growth Each and every one of us knew there needed to be some far-reaching changes made in regards to membership recruitment and retention here in Ohio. It has always been an idea of mine to conduct a series of monthly membership contests throughout the fraternal year. Every council would then at some point have an opportunity to cash in on a membership incentive. No council would be left behind or out of the membership contest. Councils that may Continued on Page 6
June, 2016
State suspends publication of Buckeye Bulletin
Publication of the Buckeye Bulletin, which has been Ohio’s official Knights of Columbus newspaper, is being suspended, State Deputy Bob Collins has announced. ”The Buckeye Bulletin has been a cornerstone of reported information in regard to membership, programming, special events and human interest stories from all over Ohio for many years,” Collins wrote in his Annual Report. “It has, though, seemed to have outlived its relevance in today’s electronic world. Even with the fastest of turnarounds many times
articles are written too far in advance, or are ‘old news’ by the time they reach our readers.” Other factors include escalating costs of printing and mailing. The State Deputy said an electronic version will be considered which can be produced at no cost and delivered to all in a much timelier fashion. Brother Knights interested in receiving the Buckeye Bulletin electronically should send their name and email address to State Social Media Chairman James Maslach at kofcdd19@gmail.com.
State Convention
Supreme official praises Ohio’s membership effort
State Deputy Bob Collins and Supreme representative Joseph Pietruszynski
Changes are coming to the 2017 Football Sweepstakes. State Deputy Bob Collins and PSD Gary Eckstein, Sweep-stakes chairman, introduced potential changes at the State Convention. Details will be given at the June District Deputies’ Meeting and July Diocesan Tour Programs.
Joseph Pietruszynski came to praise the Knights of Ohio. Pietruszynski, a Supreme Council Membership and Program Consultant from Illinois, was a special guest attending Ohio’s 117th Annual State Convention held at the Kalahari Resort and Spa in Sandusky on the weekend of May 20-22. “I want to congratulate you on a great year in membership,” he told the delegates and guests attending the Opening Business Session on Saturday afternoon. “You are very close to being number one in the Order in membership. It’s a great job you have been doing in all of your programs, and especially in membership. But don’t stop now. You can put Ohio on top of the Order.” At the Saturday night State Deputy’s Banquet, Pietruszynski directed his thoughts to the ladies. “Our ladies are some of the best recruiters,” he said. “So I want to say ‘thank you’ to them. He said Supreme is hoping to bring in 90,000 new members this fraternal year, noting that “Ohio plays a big part in that”. Then on Sunday, before leaving for his Continued on Page 4
OR CURRENT RESIDENT Ohio State Council Knights of Columbus Buckeye Bulletin 32649 Surrey Lane Avon Lake, OH 44012-1642
CLEVELAND, OHIO PERMIT NO. 229
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Resolutions
Delegates reject effort to ask Supreme to reverse Squires decision An effort to ask the Supreme Board of Directors and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson to reverse their decision to reduce the Columbian Squires program failed during the Business Sessions of the State Convention. At issue is Anderson’s statement given to State Deputies last November that “councils should seek to more closely integrate the activities of Squires Circles and their other youth activities within the youth ministry goals of the parish. Councils and assemblies in the United States and Canada that do not presently sponsor Squires circles are encouraged not to institute new circles. Instead, these local units are encouraged to support existing parish-based youth ministry programs.” In a resolution submitted by Bellevue Council 752 (Toledo Diocese), it was stated that “parish-based youth programs rightfully focus on religious education and deepening of
faith but do not typically involve the development of individual leadership skills.” The resolution asked that the convention delegates “express our support for the Columbian Squires program ….. and encourage the Supreme Knight and Board of Directors to recant the abandonment of the Squires program and recommit to supporting the Columbian Squires ….. and encourage Supreme “to return the Columbian Squires program to its roots of leadership development and circle-based achievement and abandon the Boy Scout style activity-based advancement program.” \Joining Bellevue Council in presenting the identical resolutions were St. Charles Council 14995 and Massillon Council 554. But the delegates, based on a Convention Resolutions Committee recommendation that the resolutions be rejected, defeated a floor vote on the measure.
2 Measure-Up awards in memory of the late PSD Bob Sears are approved Delegates to the State Convention passed a resolution citing the fact that the late Past State Deputy Bob Sears was founder in 1976 and coined the phrase, “Measure-Up” for one of Ohio’s premier charitable undertakings. The resolution calls for establishing two annual awards: The “Robert E. Sears Measure-Up Award -- Highest Amount Per Member”, and the “Robert E. Sears Measure-Up Award – Highest Amount Collected by a Council”. The Measure-Up Campaign celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2016. In other action on resolutionns: • A resolution calling for the State Deputy to assess whether the current structure for membership activities is suitable for all councils and to implement changes as needed was rejected. The resolution was submitted jointly by five councils: Council 1597, Council 12772, Council 671, Council 5534 and Council 1056. A similar resolution also was rejected. • Delegates passed a resolution calling for the Knights to continue speaking in support of all men called to Holy Orders; that the Knights continue to support bishops, priests and seminarians; that the state council establish programs, services, events and/or activities which will support our clergy and permanent deacons, and that Knights commit themselves to prayer, fasting and almsgiving to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was submitted by St. Joan of Arc Council 15905, Toledo. • Delegates passed a resolution asking that state officers “call upon Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati “to prayerfully consider opening an investigation for a Cause for Canonization of the Most Rev. Edward Dominic Fenwick”. It was submitted by Bishop Fenwick Council 13586, Youngstown. A similar resolution was submitted by Cross Roads Council 13371, Summitville. • A resolution by Immaculate Heart of Mary Council 472, Wintersville, was passed, calling for an Order-wide program of Healing Masses invoking the intercession of Fr. Michael McGivney, be initiated.
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Ohio welcomes seven new councils
Seven new councils had been formed this fraternal year as of the State Convention. They include: • Rosary Cathedral Council 16264, Toledo Diocese (District Deputy Michael Saine). • Mary Queen of Peace Council 16279, Cleveland Diocese (District Deputy Tom Buehner). • St. Isidore Council 16348, Cincinnati Diocese (District Deputy Robert Young). • St. Beernadette Council 16373, Cleveland Diocese (District Deputy Kevin Cornelius). • St. Ladislas Council 16376, Cleveland Diocese (District Deputy Kevin Cornelius). • Wright State University Council 16425, Cincinnati Diocese (District Deputy Frank Carchedi). • Corpus Christi St. John Neuman Council 16461, Cincinnati Diocese (District Deputy Andrew Nuckols).
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Resolutions honoring veterans of the Armed Services and of first responders were passed, asking that the convention rise for a moment of silence in respect for these men. Those resolutions were implemented immediately. A number of honorary resolutions also were approved, for the cause of sainthood for Fr. Michael J. McGivney; supporting Pope Francis; honoring Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori; supporting the Bishops of Ohio; honoring State Chaplain Fr. Edward J. Janoch; honoring Squires Father Prior Fr. Nicholas Droll; honoring Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson; honoring special convention guest Supreme Membership and Program Consultant Joseph Pietruszynski; honoring State Deputy Robert Collins Jr.; honoring Immediate Past State Deputy Ken Girt; honoring Vice Supreme Master Don Hall.
2016 Diocesan Tour Program Schedule
Friday, July 8 – Toledo Diocese Tiffin Council 608, 49 E. Perry St., Tiffin, 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9 – Cincinnati Diocese Dayton Council 500, 267 Bainbridge St., Dayton, 1 p.m. Sunday, July 10 – Columbus Diocese Fr. Hohman Council 6263, 1051 Wagoner Rd., Reynoldsburg, 2 p.m. (Sunday Mass at 1 p.m.) Friday, July 15 – Steubenville Diocese Our Lady of Peace Council 4243, 466 National Rd., St. Clairsville, 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16 – Youngstown Diocese Massillon Council 554, 988 Cherry Rd., N.W., Massillon, 1 p.m. Sunday, July 17 – Cleveland Diocese St. Hilary Council 14551, 2750 W. Market St., Akron, 2 p.m.
The Buckeye Bulletin State Chaplain
Fr. Edward Janoch 5891 Ridge Road Parma, OH 44129 (440) 884-3030 ejanoch@stcharlesonline.org State Treasurer Robert Byers 565 Indian Run Road Marietta, OH 45750-6693 (740) 373-7154 robert_byers@hotmail.com Immediate Past State Deputy Ken Girt 6433 Lutz Avenue N.W. Massillon, OH 44646 (330) 837-6670 girtken@sssnet.com
State Deputy
State Secretary
Bob Collins Jr. 10181 Tracy Trail Parma, OH 44130-5310 (216) 410-7174 rfcollinsjr@gmail.com
Kevin Miller 1101 Arbor Oaks Lane Galloway, OH 43119-8507 (614) 853-2642 km8007@att.net
Mark Siracusa 1310 Markey Dr. Bryan, OH 43506 (419) 553-9552 cuzza@roadrunner.com
Larry Droesch 1758 Prairie Road Wilmington, OH 45177 (937) 383-3680 ldroesch@msn.com
State Advocate
Chief of Staff
Richard Royle 12942 Olde Orchard Road Strongsville, OH 44136-8342 (440) 572-2506 rlroyle54@aol.com
State Warden
Buckeye Bulletin Editor Harding Christ 32649 Surrey Lane Avon Lake, OH 44012-1642 Tel: (440) 933-8986 harding.c@oh.rr.com
The Buckeye Bulletin is published by the Ohio State Council Knights of Columbus and is mailed via Third Class Non-Profit Postage, Permit No. 229, at Cleveland, Ohio.
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Award presentations made to individuals and councils at 2016 State Convention Note: 81 councils completed the administration requirements and received certificates.
BEST ACTIVITIES OF THE YEAR
Best Vocations Activity Statewide Cardinal Bernadin Council 12359 Div. 1: North OlmstedCouncil 4731 Div. 2: Maria-Joseph Council 4022 Div. 3: Cardinal Bernadin Council 12359 Div. 4: Bishop Fenwick Council 13586 Div. 5: Our Lady Guadalupe Council 11831 Best Church Activity Statewide Holy Martyrs Council 4733 Div. 1: Fr. Kunkler Council 2158 Div. 2: Brunswick Council 4847 Div. 3 Van Wert Council 6034 Div. 4: Holy Martyrs Council 4733 Div. 5: Carroll County Council 15401 Best Community Activity Statewide Archbishop Purcell Council 2798 Div. 1: Archbishop Purcell Council 2798 Div. 2: St. Hilary Council 14551 Div. 3: Our Lady of Charity Council 14406 Div. 4: Hicksville Council 10043 Div. 5: Carroll County Council 15401 Best Culture of Life Activity Statewide River East Mother Teresa Council 14344 Div. 1: Fairborn Council 3724 Div. 2: Blessed John XXIII Council 14502 Div. 3: River East Mother Teresa Council 14344 Div. 4: None Div. 5: St. Dominic-Delhi Council 15553 Best Council Activity Statewide St. Joan of Arc Council 15905 Div. 1: Archbishop Purcell Council 2798 Div. 2: St. Hilary Council 14551 Div. 3: St. Joseph of Three Rivers Council 11550 Div. 4: St. Joan of Arc Council 15905 Div. 5: St. Charles Borromeo Council 16137 Best Family Activity Statewide Perrysburg Council 7978 Div. 1: Harrison Council 2633 Div. 2: Perrysburg Council 7978 Div. 3: St. Malachy Council 5128 Div. 4: Fr. O’Donoghue Council 3369 Div. 5: Holy Family Council 15056 Best Membership Activity Statewide Bellevue Council 752 Div. 1: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council 11187 Div. 2: St. Brendan Council 11208 Div. 3: Bellevue Council 752 Div. 4: Hicksville Council 10043 Div. 5: St. Margaret of Cortona Council 12939 Best Membership Retention Activity Statewide St. Joseph Austintown Council 13977 Div. 1: Msgr. Lang Council 1039 Div. 2: Dover Council 1973 Div. 3: St. Patrick Council 11207 Div. 4: St. Joseph Austintown Council 13977 Div. 5: St. Charles Borromeo Council 16137 Best Youth Activity Statewide Father Butler Council 968 Div. 1: Father Butler Council 968 Div. 2: Brunswick Council 4847 Div. 3: St. Joseph of Three Rivers Council 11550 Div. 4: St. Joan of Arc Council 15905 Div. 5: SS Cosmos & Damian Council 11831 Best Newsletter Award Statewide St. Henry Council 2640, Cincinnati Diocese
State General Program Director Bob Walsh announces the winners of general programming awards.
2015-2016 Honorees of the Year
Knight of Year Statewide Mike Malinas Cincinnati James F. Herweh Council 3123 Cleveland Mike Nalinas Council 7970 Columbus Ron McCarty Council 10820 Steubenville Mark Valenti Council 5583 Toledo David Degener Council 14344 Youngstown Paul L. Eckinger Council 4733 Family of Year Statewide Chuck & Christine Shuey Cincinnati None Cleveland Brian & Michele Bizzi Council 15056 Columbus Chuck & Christine Shuey Council 14093 Steubenville Tony & Mary Colabella Council 4361 Toledo Jim & Elizabeth Ravas Council 7978 Youngstown Joe & Karen Almasy Council 4733
Chaplain of Year Statewide Fr. James Coleman Cincinnati Fr. Timothy Ralston Council 1991 Cleveland R. Richard Gonser Council 7970 Columbus Fr. James Coleman Council 11188 Steubenville Fr. James M. Dunfee Council 4361 Toledo Fr. Ron Brickner Council 4539 Youngstown Fr. Donald Feich Council 558 Volunteer of Year Statewide Herman Karhoff Cincinnati Herman Karhoff Council 3724 Cleveland Marian Vozar Council 13984 Columbus Roy McCarty Council 10820 Steubenville David L. Romel Council 472 Toledo Brian Kanney Council 14344 Youngstown Ray Morelli Council 1569
Division 1: St. Henry Council 2640 Division 2: Marian Council 3754 Division 3: St. Patrick Council 11207 Division 4: St. Jerome Council 11450 Division 5: Prince of Peace Council 14111 Patriotic Award Statewide Honoring Our Heroes – Fairborn Council 3724
Religious of Year Statewide Rev. Edward Brienz Cincinnati Sr. Susan Marie Pieise Council 13608 Cleveland Deacon Frank Wilson Council 13984 Columbus Sr. John Paul Council 11445 Steubenville Sr. Joan Van Beck Council 15569 Toledo Very Rev. Michael Geiger Council 14344 Youngstown Rev. Edward Brienz Council 3813 Youth of Year Statewide Julie Didinger Cincinnati Brian C. Petachi Council 3724 Cleveland Josh Andrews Council 13984 Columbus Julie Didingeer Council 910 Steubenville Taylor Bennington Council 4361 Toledo Austin Carr Council 1039 Youngstown Lucy Peloso Council 4733
Lady of Year Statewide Denise Fresh Cincinnati Pat Cooney Council 7981 Cleveland Denise Fresh Council 14551 Columbus Tessa Pinkerton Council 11445 Steubenville Marsha Chrisagis Council 5583 Toledo Mary Jo Roggelin Council 14344 Youngstown Linda L. Lutz Council 1569 Bluecoat of Year Statewide Keith Feeney Cincinnati Austin Hardin Council 3724 Cleveland James Franey Council 15023 Columbus Timothy Schmitz Council 11188 Steubenville James Raha Council 4361 Toledo Keith Feeney Council 7978 Youngstown Joseph Iwasky Council 3813
Cinn. Diocese: Fairborn Council 3724 Clev. Diocese: St. Mary’s Council 15942 Cols. Diocese: Portsmouth Council 741 Steu. Diocese: St. John Newman Council 11828 Tole. Diocese: Bellevue Council 752 Youn. Diocese: St. Joseph Council 13977 Best Special Interest Story Award Statewide
Fr. Kunkler Council 2158 District Deputy of the Year District Deputy-45 Brett Gissel District Deputy Awards – Second Half Cinn. Diocese: DD-8 Robeert Burns Clev. Diocese: DD-27 Michael Kalal Cols. Diocese: DD-45 Brett Gissel Steu. Diocese: DD-56 Anthony Offenberger Tole. Diocese: DD-64 Matthew Smith Youn. Diocese: DD-78 Robert Simon Special State Officer Award State Deputy Robert F. Collins Jr. Kirwin Award Field Agent John Spencer “In Him” Programming Awards St. Charles Borromeo Council 16137 St. Charles Council 14995 St. Hilary Council 14551 Prince of Peace Council 14111 St. Anthony of Padua-Parma Council 15614 St. Marys of the Falls Council 14416 St. John the Evangelist Council 13608 Blessed John XXIII Council 14502 “With Him” Programming Awards North Olmsted Council 4731 Brookpark Council 13984 St. Francis of Assisi Council 10792 Brunswick Council 4847 Msgr. Gilligan Council 14882 Marysville Council 5534 Holy Trinity Council 6373 “Through Him” Programming Awards St. Brendan Council 11208 Boardman Council 11915 Dover Council 1973 Fr. Francis X. Hoffer Council 14504 Fr. John Roettele Council 8115 Miraculous Medal Council 11188 St. Joan of Arc Council 15905 Dayton Council 500 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council 11187 Geneva-Madison Council 5286 Fr. Schumacher Council 1801 Fairborn Council 3724 Oak Harbor Council 1944 Msgr. Joseph Dooley Council 4361 Bellevue Council 752 St. Ambrose Council 11801 Fr. Andrew H. Hohman Council 5253 Holy Martyrs Council 4733 Gilmore Council 310 Fr. Sheldon Kelly Council 11224 Marian Council 3754 St. James Council 2299 Westerville Council 5776 MacGahan Council 1065 Perrysburg Council 7978 Garfield Heights Council 4130 St. Henry Council 2640 Top Overall Divisional Award Division 1 North Olmsted Council 4731 Division 2: St. Francis of Assisi Council 10792 Blessed John XXIII Council 14502 St. John the Evangelist Council 13608 Brunswick Council 4847 St. Hilary Council 14551 Division 3 Brookpark Council 13984 St. Charles Council 14995 Holy Trinity Council 6373 Marysville Council 5534 Division 4 Msgr. Gilligan Council 14882 St. Marys of the Falls Council 14416 St. Anthony of Padua-Parma Council 15614 Division 5 St. Charles Borromeo Council 16137 Prince of Peace Council 14111
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Supreme official praises Ohio in talks at State Convention Continued from Page 1
home in Bolingbrook, Ill., the Past State Deputy of Illinois told delegates that “You make a big difference in our world. It’s incumbent on us to grow the Order”. Pietruszynski had some other thoughts about membership recruiting in his weekend convention talks. “We need to be more active in our parishes,” he said. “Knights of Columbus families must be totally integrated in the spiritual work of the parishes. The closer we work with our parish priests, the more your councils will grow. “Ours is a charity that evangelizes. When a man sees the charitable work of a council, he will be become more interested in the Knights of Columbus.” Bob Collins was a proud State Deputy at the convention. “It has truly been an honor to be your State Deputy this fraternal year,” he told everyone at the banquet. “We’re headed in the right direction. Thank you for all the work you’ve done this fraternal year.” Another special guest was Most Rev. Daniel Thomas, Bishop of the Toledo Diocese, who was the main celebrant at the Sunday Mass and speaker at the banquet. He remembered his respect for the Knights that has grown over the years; remembering, for instance, that when he was working in Rome, the Knights paid
State Deputy Bob Collins was named winner of the Special State Officer Award on behalf of the Cleveland Diocese Knights. The award is presented annually to the state officer whose diocese had the most participation and highest percentage of new members for the fraternal year.
Toledo Diocese Bishop Daniel Thomas, with State Chaplain Fr. Edward Janoch (left), State Deputy Bob Collins and his wife, Linda.
It’s not a record, but Pennies for Heaven raises $115,250 Toledo Diocese Bishop Daniel Thomas, after celebrating the Sunday Mass.
for cleaning the filth and dirt from the basilica. “We are called to clean the dirt – sin – from the world.” Also giving remarks at the banquet was Fourth Degree Vice Supreme Master Don Hall. *
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As of the convention weekend, with six weeks remaining in the fraternal year (which goes until July 1), Ohio needed 252 more new members to reach its membership goal of 2250 new members. There were several activities available to those attending the convention on Friday. The annual Msgr. Krispinski Golf Outing attracted 60 golfers ….. Thirty-six persons went on a fishing charter on Lake Erie, with little to show for their efforts ….. The Field Agents of Ohio sponsored a Euchre tournament ….. On Friday afternoon “Catch 22” Seminars were scheduled on the topics of programming, membership, Squires and insurance ….. There was the traditional Friday Night Party, with much fun at “A Night at the Races” that included a live band, “Rick and the Cutting Edge”. The final drawings of the Super Cash Bonanza Ohio Charity Campaign didn’t interfere with the Friday Night Party this year. Instead, it was conducted on Saturday morning after Mass and before the Awards Session. And, of course, there were the hospitality suites hosted by the state officers of each diocese. *
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The 2017 State Convention will be held in Columbus, at the Columbus Airport Marriott, on the Memorial Day weekend of May 26-28, according to State Secretary Kevin Miller.
The 2015-2016 Pennies for Heaven campaign didn’t break the record collections of $125,705 set in the 2014-2015 fraternal year, but it did continue for the fifth year in a row the trend of realizing more than $100,000. The 2015-2016 campaign raised $115,249.56, announced Immediate Past State Deputy Ken Girt, campaign chairman, at the State Convention. He said the final figure included funds received as of May 5. Any additional funds will be included with the 2016-2017 campaign. The total collected this fraternal year included $105,965.34 raised by Ohio’s K of C councils, plus $9,384.22 contributed by six assemblies, the Valent Insurance Agency, Columbus Chapter and the Ohio State Council. Girt reported that 212 of Ohio’s 379 councils – or 56% -- participated in the campaign. Pennies for Heaven funds are given to diocesan vocations directors to help seminarians and recruit potential seminarians. St. Brendan Council 11208, Hilliard (Columbus Diocese), led all Ohio K of C units for the second year in a row with $8,513.53. Dover Council 1973 collected $5,276.16, while Fr. Andrew Hohman Council 5253, Reynoldsburg, contributed $5,000. Twenty-nine K of C units contributed $1,000 or more. They include:
Dennison Council 576, $1,521; Fr. William Spikerman Council 671, Marion, $$1,215; St. Luke’s Council 910, Danville, $1,786.79; Leo Council 957, Findlay, $1,200; Fr. Butler Council 968, Hamilton, $1,000; Lancaster Council 1016, $2,729.91; Cambridge Council 1641, $1,264.40; Bellefontaine Council 1782, $2,000; Dover Council 1973, $5,276.15; Fr. Ragan Council 3269, Avon, $2,044.30; Garfield Heights Council 4130, $1,100; Our Lady of Peace Council 4243, St. Clairsville, $1,069.08; Fr. Andrew Hohman Council 5253, Reynoldsburg, $5,000; Westerville Council 5776, $1,001; Perrysburg Council 7978, $1,409.55; St. Anthony of Padua Council 9788, Columbus Grove, $2,776.89; St. Joan of Arc Council 10765, Powell, $1,331.50; St. Brigid of Kildare Council 10863, Dublin, $1,314.46; Fr. Maruskin Council 10936, Hudson, $1,000; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council 11187, Pickerington, $1,000; Miraculous Medal Council 11188, Columbus, $2,650; St. Brendan Council 11208, Hilliard, $8,513.53; St. Andrew Council 11275, Columbus, $2,000; Cardinal Bernadin Council 12359, Cincinnati, $1,014.55; St. Joseph Council 12772, Plain City, $1,599.99; Christ the King Council 13705, Columbus, $2,031; Fr. Francis Hoffer Council 14504, Centerville, $1,300; St. Hilary Council 14551, Akron, $1,795.88; Sacred Heart Council 14571, Cardington, $1,167; Columbus Chapter, $4,000; Assembly 822A, $2,123.45; Assembly 2727A, $1,027.27; Valent Insurance Agency, $1,000.
Spencer wins Kirwin Award for fourth consecutive year John Spencer, a Knights of Columbus Field Agent with the James Valent Agency, received the Kirwin Award for 2016. He joined the Valent Agency in 2012, and has won the award every year since. He currently is the No. 1 ranked Field Agent in Ohio, with seven months to go in 2016. The Kirwin Award was established years ago to recognize the Field Agent who has the highest ranking on Supreme’s “Lancer list at the end of the calendar year.
Kirwin Award honoree John Spencer (left) with General Agent James Valent.
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The 2016 Honorees of the Year
3 Ohioans are International Free Throw champs
Three champions from the Ohio Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest have been honored as International K of C champions, Supreme Council has announced. They are among 23 youngsters who have received the honor. The Ohioans are: Nash Meyer, age 10, of Napoleon, sponsored by Napoleon Council 1344 (Toledo Diocese). D.J. Newman, age 12, of Archbold, sponsored by Archbold Council 7552 (Toledo Diocese). Madelynn Colopy, age 12, of Marysville, sponsored by Marysville Council 5534 (Columbus Diocese). All three made 24 of 25 free throw attempts at the State Finals in Columbus on March 19. Nash and Newman had to survive ties in regulation to win their championships.
K of C gives $20,000 to Ohio Special Olympics
State Deputy Bob Collins and Knight of the Year Mike Malinas
Knight of the Year Mike Malinas Nominated by North Ridgeville Council 7970, Cleveland Diocese
Volunteer of the Year Herman Karhoff Nominated by Fairborn Council 3724 Cincinnati Archdiocese
Chaplain of the Year Fr. James Coleman Chaplain, Miraculous Medal Council 11188, Columbus Diocese
Blue Coat of the Year Keith Feeney Perrysburg Twp. Fire Inspector Nominated by Perrysburg Council 7978 Toledo Diocese
Lady of the Year Denise Fresh Supports parish, council, community Nominated by St. Hilary Council 14551 Cleveland Diocese
On behalf of the Ohio Knights of Columbus, State Secretary Kevin Miller and Past State Deputy Gary Eckstein on June 9 presented a check in Columbus in the amount of $20,000 to the Ohio Special Olympics. That donation brings the Ohio Knights’ contributions to this special project to more than $100,000 this fraternal year. Since the inception of the Ohio Special Olympics program, Ohio Knights have raised and donated more than $4,350,000, according to PSD Eckstein.
State Secretary Kevin Miller (left) and PSD Gary Eckstein present a $20,000 check to Paige Ludwig, marketing director of the Ohio Special Olympics.
We must act now to stop the Middle East genocide
The following are excerpts of remarks by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson to a conference on Christian genocide at the United Nations in April. The world’s greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II is unfolding in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of people in Syria and Iraq have lost their lives, and entire communities have been displaced or wiped out, while neighboring communities and cultures strain to accept millions of people fleeing years of war and terrorism. We face the very real prospect of the extinction of many communities indigenous to the region. This crisis implores all people of good will to unite to build a worldwide effort to save these historic, indigenous minority communities regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. The Knights of Columbus is committed to this great cause. We submitted to the State Department on March 9 and subsequently to members of Congress, a nearly 300-page report that documented the atrocities and laid out the legal analysis supporting the conclusion that genocide is occurring. The United Nations can play a vital role by protecting the victims and refugees by punishing the perpetrators and by supporting the establishment of internationally agreed-upon standards of justice, equality, rule of law and religious freedom.
Silver Rose travels through Ohio in July
District Deputy of the Year DD-45 Brett Gissel
Youth of the Year Julie Didinger Helps school, church, community Nominated by St. Luke Council 910 Columbus Diocese
Neither the Family of the Year – the Chuck and Christine Shuey family of Columbus – and the Religious of the Year, Fr. Edward Brienz
The Silver Rose will be traveling through Ohio again this summer. The Silver Rose program began in 1960 when a group of Columbian Squires in Mexico wanted to show their devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in a unique and public way. They began a relay, running with a Silver Rose from the United States border at Laredo, Texas, to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey, Mexico. That program has been expanded to include Canada, with the relay going from Mexico to Canada one year, and from Canada to Mexico the next year. This year, Ohio Knights will receive the Silver Rose from Kentucky at the border at Cincinnati, and carry it to Knights in West Virginia at Steubenville. The schedule is: July 4-7, Cincinnati Diocese; July 9-12, Columbus Diocese; July 14-17, Toledo Diocese; July 19-22, Cleveland Diocese; July 224-26, Youngstown Diocese; and July 28-30, Steubenville Diocese. The Silver Rose will be transferred to the West Virginia Knights on July 31.
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State Deputy Bob Collins’ Annual Report for the fraternal year 2015-2016 Continued from Page 1
have had a slow recruiting month would be able to get back in the game the following month. I believe this plan has been not only effective but has turned membership around in Ohio. One key aspect of our success in membership is the monthly Admissions Degree in every district. Every District Deputy is required to schedule and conduct an Admissions Degree in his district every month. The State Website Degree Page should be overflowing with the posting of degree work in Ohio. It is still the belief of the State Council that if you schedule them they will come. At the Midyear State Deputy Meeting in San Antonio, I had a personal interview with the Supreme Council Vice President of Membership Growth, Brother Lou Barbour. Brother Lou could not thank me enough on behalf of the Supreme Council for all the work in membership being accomplished throughout Ohio. Needless to say it was extremely gratifying to sit with a Supreme Council representative and accept his gratitude on behalf of all our hard-working members in Ohio. I don’t believe there was a prouder State Deputy there that day than me; and it showed. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, by a unanimous vote of approval from the State Deputies gathered that weekend in San Antonio, approved the Supreme Per Capita Star Council Incentive Plan for another year. Achieve Star Council status at your council and be exempt from Supreme Per Capita payments for one year. I have to take this opportunity to thank State Membership Director Brother Nick Gresko for accepting the challenge of this task. His work began nearly three years ago working with me to buy into the program he presents today. A positive attitude and a new thought process in regard to recruitment was underway. He took a new and at times a very aggressive approach to membership and the documentation of new members. He has been determined to obtain the goal he has worked so diligently for, the quest of the Circle of Honor for Ohio. Membership Retention The job of a State Retention Chairman resembles that of a long distance runner. Many times he is working alone, always at his own pace, but determined to finish the race. His race, though, is never ending. Each Saturday they obtain a list of Brother Knights from the Supreme Website that are a log of “Intent to Retain” submitted for suspension. It is their job to make one last attempt to retain this Brother Knight as a member of our Order. I’m sure they grow weary from the endless hours spent trying to locate and speak with these Brother Knights. I cannot begin to thank them enough for their dedication and determination in the retention efforts they make. Thank you Brothers William Wirtz and Michael Jordan for a job well done. New Council Development As I am preparing this document for the State Convention we have successfully started six new councils in this great state of Ohio. They are as follows: • Rosary Cathedral Council 16264, Toledo Diocese, District Deputy Michael Saine. • Mary Queen of Peace Council 16279, Cleveland Diocese, District Deputy Thomas Buehner. • St. Isidore Council 16348, Cincinnati Diocese, District Deputy Robert Young. • St. Bernadette Council 16373, Cleveland Diocese, District Deputy Kevin Cornelius. • St Ladislas Council 16376, Cleveland Diocese, District Deputy Kevin Cornelius. • Wright State University Council 16425, Cincinnati Diocese, District Deputy Frank Carchedi.
Although we were able to obtain our Supreme Council quota of six new councils, the opportunity to establish many more council in Ohio still exists. I want to thank State New Council Development Director John Brown and his associates throughout Ohio for an outstanding job this fraternal year. We can only now look forward to exceeding our goals and once again becoming a leader in new council development. State General Program The State General Program was written with several new requirements. Councils now are expected to report and additional activity in each of the six reporting areas. That additional activity was a nomination for one of the “Honorees of the Year”. Councils also had an extra program to report to, Retention. Our two State Retention Chairmen asked to be a part of the reporting process to evaluate a council’s retention activity. This has worked well and has taken some of the work load off of the State Membership Director. Councils were also required to bring in a new member for each Membership Activity reported. It was always my opinion that if you conducted any type of Membership Drive its success would be measured in new members. State General Program Director Robert Walsh and State Directors were up to the challenge. They collectively wrote a new program, worked with a new Website, and presented their programs in a professional manner. Our State Program directors are as follows: • State Church Activities Director Jeffrey Kiliany • State Community Director Thomas Forsthoefel • State Council Director Thomas Buehner • State Culture of Life Director Gary Anderson • State Family Director M. Stewart Vetter • State Membership Director Nicholas Gresko • State Youth Director Michael Nau • State Retention Directors William Wirtz and Michael Jordan • The support cast of State Chairman included: • State Vocations and Round Table Chairman Joseph Mackos • State Insurance Liaison Jeffrey Hearty, GA • State Squires Chairman Martin Schumacher • Buckeye Bulletin Editor Harding Christ State General Program Contest The breakdown of councils reporting an activity in a given area is as follows: Church – 190 councils; Community – 183 councils; Council – 177 councils; Culture of Life – 149 councils; Family – 168 councils; Membership – 123 councils; Retention – 92 councils; Youth – 173 councils. A total of 218 councils participated and reported at least one activity. Special Events The State Council had two “Special Events” this past fraternal year. They were the State Camp Out and the State Bowling Tournament. The State Campout was hosted by Delphos Council 1362 and the State Bowling Tournament was chaired by Tony Russo of Archbishop Moeller Council 3861. We would like to thank everyone associated with the events and their respective committees for a job well done. Insurance In June, just before the start of the fraternal year, the State Officers met with the five General Agents of Ohio in an informal day-long meeting discussing how we can assist one another. We are truly blessed with a great group of men dedicated to our Order and the financial protection of our families. Each and every one of them is a full time employee of our Order and day in and day out live Father McGivney’s dream. The five General Agents of Ohio are Brothers James Valent, Dave Roberts, Jeff Hearty, Chad Osterholt, and Patrick Murphy.
The General Insurance Agents, with the addition of many new Field Agents, continue to respond to the insurance needs of our members and their families, to provide a great product of insurance benefits, and to assist in the exploration of potential new growth within our state. Please take every advantage of these fine gentlemen with not only your insurance needs but with Parish Drives and Membership Promotion within your council. All of them are excellent cold call recruiters; well versed and able to help secure that new member. Administration Administration, or paperwork, is always an area that needs more attention. Forms are required and due dates are requested but somehow year after year we spend a lot of time chasing down forms. It doesn’t seem to matter how we present or showcase our efforts to receive forms on time, the plan fails. Please, Brothers, upon the return to your councils you make every effort to complete and submit the required Supreme Council forms legibly and on time. I would like to recognize the work completed by my Administrative Staff. They were always willing and able to meet the challenge whenever I called. They are: • Executive Secretary Richard Royle • Administrative Assistant Bruce Mac Means • Administrative Assistant Jose Rivera • State Social Media Chairman James Maslach • State Webmaster Robert Gilliland • State Fundraising Chairman Past State Deputy Gary Eckstein • State Special Warden Thomas Atkins Pennies for Heaven The Pennies for Heaven program continues to be one of the shining stars of the State Council’s fundraising efforts. From its conception in 1991 beginning as a simple “pass the hat” pocket change collections, it has become the pride of our efforts as Brother Knights in the funding of religious vocations. This year we will realize a statewide collection of over $110,000.00. I would like to recognize State Pennies for Heaven Chairman Ken Girt for another successful Pennies for Heaven Campaign. Measure Up Campaign I would like to personally thank all of the Brother Knights and their families who have made the 2015 Measure Up Campaign another success! There were 248 Councils that participated in the campaign that raised over $400,000.00. Their contributions will benefit over 376 agencies, programs and schools throughout Ohio that provide service to citizens with developmental disabilities. This again is an increase from last year’s Measure Up Campaign. We as Knights of Columbus and charitable men have demonstrated our continued support of our “flagship” charity. On behalf of all the citizens in Ohio with developmental disabilities; thank you for your generosity and dedication to this program. I would like to recognize State Measure Up Chairman Mark Siracusa for another successful Measure Up Campaign. Matching Funds Campaign I would like to personally thank all of the Brother Knights and their families who have made the 2016 Matching Funds Campaign another success here in Ohio. There were a total of 171 Councils and 3 Assemblies that raised $29,091.42. A $25,000.00 Matching Fund Grant was awarded by the Ohio Charity Foundation, bringing the campaign total to $54,091.42. An additional grant of $1,500.00 was also awarded to Byzantine Epicharchy of Parma for its use in religious education. These contributions will support the many agencies, programs and schools throughout the six Catholic Diocese of Ohio
providing religious educational services to the local parishes and schools. We as a brotherhood have demonstrated our continuing support of religious education. The real success of this annual campaign will be measured by the educational materials that the Catholic people of each diocese will continue to receive in the years to come. All of us at the State Council would like to congratulate the councils who put in a little extra effort to significantly increase this years’ donation. Your dedication, foresight and enthusiasm have been an example for all councils to see. On behalf of all the Directors of Religious Education throughout Ohio, I thank you for your generosity and dedication to this program. I would like to recognize State Matching Funds Chairman Mark Siracusa for another successful Matching Funds. Super Cash Bonanza As I write this summary of the fraternal year the 2016 Super Cash Bonanza Campaign is well underway. State Treasurer Robert “Farmer Bob” Byers and his “Road Show” Team did a great job of presenting the campaign to the membership. The idea and rewards of a good partnering program along with council ticket sales was stressed. A record number of 600,000 tickets were distributed at nine “Road Show” stops throughout Ohio. Football Frenzy Sweepstakes The Football Frenzy Sweepstakes program has continued to provide local councils an opportunity to earn money for their general operating funds. The 2015 ticket sales were up over 25% of that of previous year sales. Many of the councils took advantage of a special incentive rebate offered in this year’s program. This incentive gave the top three dioceses that increased their ticket sales by at least 10% an opportunity to earn additional rebates of $1.00, $0.50 or $0.25. As a result of this incentive each diocese had an increase in the football sweepstakes ticket sales. Collectively there were over 14,000 tickets sold. The Cleveland Diocese had a 46% increase in sales and received an extra $1.00 per ticket. The Toledo Diocese had a 32% increase in ticket sales and received an extra $0.50 cents per ticket. The Columbus Diocese showed an increase of 20% in ticket sales and received an extra $0.25 cents per ticket. All in all we improved in overall ticket sales. That’s a good thing. We are definitely headed in the right direction. Even so we still continue to leave a lot of money on the table in the Football Frenzy Sweepstakes Program. There were still 21,800 tickets left unsold. That equates to nearly a quarter million dollars in potential bottom line revenue for everyone to share. I would like to recognize State Fund Raising Chairman PSD Gary Eckstein for running another successful Football Frenzy Campaign. Few of us know what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to chair a program of this importance. I cannot thank him enough for what he does for everyone at the State Council. Look for some very interesting proposals from State Fundraising Chairman Gary Eckstein and myself for future Football Frenzy Sweepstakes programs. I may be Ohio’s sleeping giant of a fundraiser. March Madness Basketball Sweepstakes The March Madness Basketball Sweepstakes was a general mail program that had a limited ticket distribution to a database of prior ticket purchasers. A low key sweepstakes campaign was run as not to interfere with the Super Cash Bonanza Program. A reinvestment of a portion of the proceeds of the Football Frenzy Sweepstakes Program was used to fund the program. With limited sales the State Council earned
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State Deputy Bob Collins’ Annual Report Continued from Page 6
nearly an additional $4,000.00 for general operating expenses. I would like to recognize State Fundraising Chairman PSD Gary Eckstein for taking it upon himself to run this campaign. Buckeye Bulletin The Buckeye Bulletin has been a cornerstone of reported information in regards to membership, programming, special events, and human interest stories from all over Ohio for many years. We have been fortunate to have a true newspaperman in Harding Christ these past 27 years as editor of the official newspaper of the Ohio State Council. It has though; seemed to have outlived its relevance in today’s electronic world. Even with the fastest of turnarounds many times over articles are written too far in advance or are “old news” by the time it reaches our readers. We are not exactly sure how much longer the “Buckeye Bulletin” will be produced in a newspaper format but unfortunately I believe its days are definitely numbered. An electronic version will be considered and can be produced at no cost and delivered to all in a much timelier fashion. Thank you Brother Harding Christ for all of your stories, your articles, and coverage of the Ohio State Council news events over the past 27 years. Voice The “Voice of the Spirit” has proven to be an effective source of information. The monthly production now reaches over 1000 members throughout Ohio. The Voice is also is distributed to each State Deputy and to many of the key personnel at the Supreme Council offices. First, the electronic production gives me the opportunity as State Deputy to reach out to the membership each month covering a variety of topics. Our success and our shortcomings in membership are always first to be reported. I believe the members of Ohio need to be aware of where we stand in the big picture of the Knights of Columbus. State, Division, and Regional rankings are always noted. Percentages and numbers of what we have accomplished and what remains ahead of us paints a clear picture of membership needs in Ohio. Second, it gives me the opportunity to preview many of the State Programs or the State Fundraising Campaigns. We have many great programs and charitable opportunities here in Ohio and who better to give them a little introduction than the State Deputy. Third, it gives the State Officers, State Program Directors and Chairmen a platform for them to present their programs in a more detailed format. Look for a superior quality and most informative “Voice of the Spirit” to be produced in the coming months. Our editor, State Social Media Chairman James Maslach, has done an outstanding job assembling, producing, and distributing the Voice this year. It has been highly regarded by many State Deputies through the Order. I thank him for his efforts. State Council Website I take full responsibility for the State Website. It was my opinion that we needed a change. We needed a website that had the ability to become a working tool and an information highway for every member in Ohio. With this said and confident in his work with websites, I commissioned Brother Robert Gilliland to build a new State Council Website from the ground up. It was first introduced at the State Organizational meeting and then again at the June District Deputy Meeting. A defined series of steps would be put in place to grow the new site. First, everyone had to be able to access the site. Every member in Ohio has that ability to create his own personal logon I.D. and password to enter the site.
Second, we had to be able to schedule and list degree work. We cannot grow our Order unless we know when and where our degrees are. Third, we needed a Fraternal Calendar to post state and local meeting dates. The calendar needs to be a reminder to everyone when and where all of the State and Supreme Council forms were due. Fourth, we had to be able to submit, grade, store, and process all of the council reports entered across the seven State General Program reporting areas. Fifth, we had to make available to a District Deputy the results of their respective council’s progress in membership and programming. Sixth, I needed the ability to get my message across to everyone entering the site. A State Deputy and State Chaplain page was generated for just that purpose. Seventh, we wanted the site to allow Grand Knights, Financial Secretaries, and District Deputies the ability to generate State and Supreme Council forms from it. The Form 450 and 450C are now in production and seem to be working without issue. Did this all happen at once? No. I felt it necessary to make sure every step of the way was in full working order before we started the next. We have many enhancements scheduled to come on line in the very near future. Supreme Council Forms 185, 365, and 1728 will become a fillable form on our site automatically generating a copy to the Supreme Council and the State Deputy. We are working on the site to automatically generate the SP-7 Columbia Award Application from the activities reported through the State General Program Contest. Several links to the Supreme Council Membership Videos and materials for downloading or viewing will soon become available. A link to the “Voice” will be made available so that everyone can read it. Old issues of the “Buckeye Bulletin” and the “Voice of the Spirit” will be made available to everyone. The entire site needs to become android and smart phone friendly too. It’s just not a website anymore. The site has to have the ability to instruct and inform our members. It has to have the ability to give the members the opportunity to grow as a member, as a council, and as a jurisdiction. If we cannot do that we have missed the boat and it’s just not worth having at all. I would personally like to thank Brother Gilliland for all of his time and efforts he has put forth to make the State Website as functional as possible. We also look to him for greater things to come within the electronic realms of the State council Website. Ohio License Plates The State of Ohio has reduced the annual required number of license plates needed to retain a plate carrying the Knights of Columbus logo. When renewing your plates you must ask the Deputy Registrar for Knights of Columbus plates. Many members continue to request Knights of Columbus license plates here in Ohio. I trust that someday all members will have a vehicle with a Knights of Columbus license plate. Remember, $10.00 of the extra $20.00 license fee is refunded to the State Council and is used as a part of our donation to the Ohio Special Olympics. Our Patriotic Degree Many of the Masters in Ohio over time have asked how they could help me as a State Officer. I simply tell them to recruit new members into the Order. Our Patriotic Degree Sir Knights are always looking for ways to increase not only membership at their assemblies but at the State Councils as well. I had an idea of a way to reward a Sir Knight for the recruitment of a new member into our Order. A special lapel pin would be issued for any Sir Knight who brings in a new member and get him through his Admission, Formation, and Knighthood Degrees. State Social Media Chairman Jim Maslach finalized the design of the pin to encompass the State of Ohio, the American Flag, the emblem of the Order, and the
State Deputy Bob Collins gives his Annual Report. Patriotic Degree logo. This pin is now available for those completing the necessary requirements. We thank the Brother Knights that serve this great State of Ohio with distinction as Masters of the Fourth Degree. They are William Studenic, Jr., William White, and Shawn Ansbro. Columbian Squires I want to be sure to congratulation our State Columbian Squire Circle. They stand near the top of the Order with a percentage net gain of nearly 10%. Congratulations to Grand Knight Donald J. Boron and the Knights of Holy Martyrs Council 4733 in Canton upon the institution of Squires Circle 5823. Congratulations are in order as well to Grand Knight Nathan Helmstetter and Chief Counselor Eric Huelskamp and the Knights of St. Henry Council 2640 upon the reactivation of Squires Circle 3773. If our Squire Circles are to become the future of the Knights that they claim to be, somehow we continue to fail in our ability to attract young men into their ranks. I believe there are as many eligible young men able to enter the Columbian Squires as there are men eligible to enter the Knights. What are we missing in our efforts to attract our youth and train them for the future? Please consider adding a Squires Circle to your Council in the near future. Circle of Mary Marysville Council 5534 has invested a “Circle of Mary” for young women. Congratulations to Grand Knight John Schwendenman and District Deputy-49 Duane Lord for making this circle possible for the young women of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Marysville. The Ultra Sound Initiative I would like to send out a special “Thank You” to Grand Knight John Felton and the membership of Tiffin Council 608 for a successful fundraising golf tournament that netted enough proceeds to purchase two ultrasound machines for the Tiffin area. We also want to recognize Grand Knight Edward Ponder and the membership of St. Leonard Council 10215 for securing funding for two ultrasound machines for the Dayton area to assist in their ProLife cause. One was purchased in October and the second in February. With the addition of these two machines St. Leonard Council has purchased a total of four ultrasound machines. Ohio has raised now $496,975.24 to purchase 33 ultrasound machines since the inception of this program in 2009. May God bless them for their extraordinary Pro-Life efforts. Holy Family Icon Program The Holy Family Icon program began the month of October. The four icons of the Holy Family will circulate through the State of Ohio over the next 20 months. The Icon is scheduled in each district for an entire month. This schedule will give every council and district some time to set up the prayer service
either in a council chamber or in a parish. Please take full advantage of this prayerful opportunity to honor the Holy Family within your council and parish. We thank State Warden Brother Larry Droesch for accepting the chairmanship of this prayerful cause. Finances The finances of the State Council continue to be a challenge. Our job as State Officers should be to find ways to enhance our programs rather than eliminate or cut funding to them. We have taken measures to reduce costs in many areas but still at times find it hard to make ends meet. With an aging membership we again are presented with a significant loss in per capita revenue. We also have had a significant loss in membership over years past; this also has contributes to the loss in per capita revenue. Many times over at meetings the State Officers have discussed the possibility of a State Per Capita Tax increase. The Ohio membership is by far the least taxed of G-11 Jurisdictions. They are, though, one of the most compensated. Very few states pay their delegates as well as we do to attend the annual convention. We do have solutions to our operating income problem. The solution, Brothers, is not to continue to eliminate programs. The solution, Brothers, is not to ask for a per capita increase every several years. The solution, Brothers, is to find alternate ways to raise operating funds. The State Council does have a plan. The Officers and some close advisors have spent countless hours working on a program to solve the per capita problem for not only the State Council but the local councils as well. Our plans will be laid out before you later in the workings of this convention. I ask that you listen attentively with an open mind and allow us to present this program. State Retreat There were 11 Brother Knights who attended the Ohio State Council Statewide Retreat the weekend of February 5-6. The retreat weekend was under the direction of Former State Chaplain Rev. Fr. Ron Williams. The time spent together as Brother Knights proved to be fruitful for all with a clearer understanding of some elements of our faith. Town Hall Meetings The “Town Hall” meetings throughout Ohio began in September in the Cincinnati Diocese and ended in January in the Steubenville Diocese. The 16 meetings all had an open forum. Meetings were scheduled throughout each diocese to give Brother Knights an opportunity to meet State Representatives near their council homes. It gave anyone attending a chance to talk about whatever subject might be on their minds that evening. The meetings were open to all Knights of every degree, age, and time of service. Knights were just asked to attend and bring an
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Page 8__________________________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin_____________________________________________________________ June, 2016
Delegates to Supreme Convention are elected
David Neuzil, who drew the winning ticket for the Super Cash Bonanza top prize, watches as State Deputy Bob Collins (right) announces the winner. At left is State Treasurer Bob Byers, the 2016-2017 Super Cash Bonanza chairman.
Super Cash Bonanza Campaign reaches $825,265; Parma woman wins top prize
Super Cash Bonanza has been gaining momentum. In 2015, the number of tickets sold increased to 158,158 and the funds realized increased to $790,790. This year, total tickets sold grew by 6,895 to a total of 165,053, and funds received increased by $34,265, to a total of $825,265. What it means is more funds available to local councils and the Ohio State Council for their charitable expenses. “I congratulate all those Knights around the state who worked so hard to sell tickets this year,” commented State Treasurer Bob Byers, 2016-2917 Super Cash Bonanza chairman. “The success of this campaign goes down to partnering. It’s never too early to start planning.” After David Neuzil, a member of Holy Family Council 15056, Parma, drew the winning ticket from the giant barrel, Byers announced the winner: D. Allison Sinko, of Parma (Cleveland Diocese), who will receive $49,680 ($414 a month for 10 years). Top council in the state for total tickets sold was Our Lady of Peace Council 4243, St. Clairsville (Steubenville Diocese), with 2887 tickets sold. Other councils in the Top Ten were North Olmsted 4731, 2634; Fr. Maruskin 10936, 2227; South Akron 3410, 2204; Msgr. Lang 1039, 2142; Ottawa 1757, 1955; St. Columban 13813, 1921; Garfield Heights 4130, 1914; Fort Recovery 3324, 1909; Cambridge 1641, 1790. The No. 1 council in Ohio for total tickets sold per member was St. Ladislaus 16373, with 58.7. Others in the Top Ten were St. Charles 16137, 39.5; St. Bernadette 16376, 37.1; Our Lady of Carroll County 15401, 30.6; Mary Queen of Peace 16279, 24.3; Cambridge 1641, 21.8; St. Edwards 15959, 20.5; Fr. Maruskin 10936, 20.1; St. Peters – Loudonville 13601, 18.7; Fr. Gustav Brotzge 14665, 18.3. The complete winners’ list of 25 cash prizes includes: Prize 1 $49,689 ($414 a month for 10 years): D. Allison Sinko, of Parma. Prize 2 $18,780 ($313 a month for 5 years): Dick & Bobbie Johnson, of Stryker, OH. Prize 3 $12,720 ($212 a month for 5 years): R. Hatala, of Poland. Prize 4 Charles Saksa, (no address provided), $4,000. Prize 5 Denny Facklen, of Pioneer, OH, $3,000. Prizes 6-9 $1,500: Laura Froehlich, of Wintersville; John Tisevich, of Wadsworth; Jerry Hill, of Ashtabula; Richard Hauzer, of Sandusky. Prizes 10-13 $1,250: Dottie Lininger, of St. Marys; Perry Booth, of Poland; Mark Ritzenthaler (no address); Quinton Langhals, of Columbus Grove. Prizes 14-17 $1,000: Bethzaidu Rosa, of Cleveland; Abigail Kramer, of Greenville; Timothy Wallace, of Piqua; Lisa Doseck, of Lima. Prizes 18-21 $750: Mary Lihn, of Hillsboro; Donna Dreskler, of Mansfield; Chuck Harmon, of Cambridge; Al Steffen (no address). Prizes 22-25 $500: Donald Offinmeer, (no address); Troy Tesmer, of Hillsboro; Smith Piping, of Carrollton; Larry Karbler, of North Ridgeville.
Eight delegates to the 2016 Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention, which will be held on Aug. 2-4 in Toronto, Canada, were elected in area caucuses at the State Convention. Also elected were alternates. They are: Area 1 Delegate: Robert Warnimont, of Perrysburg (Council 7978). Alternate: Aaron Mier, of Bowling Green (Council 14507). Area 2 Delegate: Stephen Schumm, of Norwalk (Council 626). Alternate: Bill Brooks Area 3 Vance Minter, of South Euclid (Council 3087). Alternate: Brandon Robinson, of Cleveland (Council 2726). Area 4 Michael Jordan, of Youngstown (Council 3813). Alternate: Robert Gilliland, of Boardman (Council 13586). Area 5 Delegate: Samuel Robinson, of Tipp City (Council 5129). Alternate: John Hoffman, of Fairborn (Council 7981). Area 6 Delegate: John Stare, of Newark (Council 721). Alternate: Sean Stone, of Columbus (Council 11208). Area 7 Delegate: Anthony Offenberger, of Lowell (Council 4617). Alternate: Joseph Solomon, of Toronto (Council 2187). Area 8 Delegate: Michael Felereski, of Fairfield (Council 8115). Alternate: Michael Ryan, of Amelia (Council 3123). Ohio is authorized to have 10 delegates. The other two are automatically elected. They are State Deputy Bob Collins and Immediate Past State Deputy Ken Girt.
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open mind, your thoughts, ideas, and ways help each other become a better Knight. In my estimation the “Town Hall” meetings seem to work well. Many of the meetings were very well attended. There has been excellent dialogue and debate among myself, other State Officers, State Directors and the Brother Knights in attendance. These meetings became a great place to learn about the working of your State Council, the State Website, the State General Program, Church Drives, and membership recruiting. Thank you to all the Brother Knights who took the time out of their busy lives to attend one of these “Town Hall” meetings. District Deputies The work of a District Deputy cannot go unnoticed. The job of a District Deputy is not that of a titleholder anymore. They have become an integral part of the State Council. They have been given a great responsibility to present, to promote, and to monitor all of the programs the State Council sets before them. We know all too well that this is not an easy task. We also realize that you sacrifice many evenings away from the family in the workings of your office. I, as State Deputy, and in unison with the State Officers would sincerely like to thank you for all the hours of service you have provided to the State Council. May God continue to give you strength to continue your work and bless each and every one of you in your efforts. Appreciation It has been an honor to serve with such a great team of State Officers, Directors, Chairmen, and Staff. I thank you fellow officers for the continued direction, fraternity, and patience during my first year as State Deputy. I do also realize that I am somewhat demanding and not always the easiest person to work with. I must also continue to thank and appreciate those who put up with me most. They along with their wives are my closest associates. They are Brothers Nick Gresko, George Metz, John Brown and Robert Walsh. I must also thank my loving wife, Linda, for without her approval, support, and understanding none of this would have been possible. I thank God each and every day for the talent and ability he has given me and for the energies necessary to complete my tasks to serve our Order in this capacity. In Closing May God Bless you in your efforts as you continue to do the work you do in Jesus’ name. Dedicate everything you do to Him for the honor and glory of God the Almighty. Stop and then see what changes it has made in your life. “Through Him, With Him, In Him,” O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours for ever and ever. Amen.
Don’t forget the K of C Family Campout
Gary Siesel wants all Knights of Ohio to know about the 2016 State Knights of Columbus Family Campout. It will be held on the weekend of July 29-31 at the Meadowhill Park campground in Bascom (Seneca County in the Toledo Diocese). Siesel is chairman of this year’s campout. Persons interested in attending are asked to contact him for registration and further information at (419) 483-7253. Host councils include those from Attica, Republic and New Washington.