April 2017 Voice of the Spirit

IN SERVICE TO ONE. IN SERVICE TO ALL MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR THE OHIO STATE COUNCIL

YEAR 2 MONTH 10 APRIL 2017

Matthew 28:6 “THROUGH HIM, WITH HIM, IN HIM ”

2015-2017 1

STATE DEPUTY Brother Knights, 118th State Convention: The 118th Ohio State Convention dates will be Friday, May 26th, Saturday, May 27th, and Sunday, May 28th.

We are very fortunate this year to have as our guest for the weekend the Supreme Council Treasurer Ronald F. Schwarz. Brother Schwarz is a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and a Past State Deputy of the State of Oklahoma.

The convention will take place at the Columbus Airport Marriott Hotel with the nearby Embassy Suites serving as the overflow hotel.

The 2nd and final call to the State Convention by the State Secretary is just a few days out. Make sure your Council is prepared to register for the State Convention when your information packet arrives. This convention returns to Columbus but will feature a new location and several other facility changes that weekend. Please as always read over all material sent to you for this convention.

One other note on the convention, we will be electing a new State Warden that weekend. Four Brother Knights have announced their candidacy for the position of State Warden. They are in alphabetical order: •

•

•

•

State Web Master Robert Gilliland of St. Dominic Fenwick Council #13586 State Membership Director Nicholas Gresko of Brook Park Council #13984 State Retention Director – East Michael Jordan of Campbell Marian Council #3813 State Church Activities Director Jeffrey Kiliany of Leetonia

Council #1569 Please make every effort to invite them to a Chapter Meeting or a Candidates Night to hear what each has to offer our State Council.

A little about membership…

Brothers we are back on track in Ohio; let’s keep the momentum going!

We will have several Membership Incentives working this month. The current month’s incentive, the Traveling State Deputy incentive, and the second leg of the Special Spring Bishop’s Incentive for March and April that was previewed at all of the Super Cash Bonanza Road Show stops. Be sure your Council Membership Director is fully aware of the contest and what is at stake for a good intake in new members.

Please see the State Membership Director Nick Gresko’s article for details or look for his Membership E-blasts earlier this month.

Gross Intake: April 1st numbers (New Member Recruitment) We are currently 37th of 74 Jurisdictions in the Order with a 60.18% of intake goal. To date we have recruited but 1354 new members in the first nine months of the Fraternal Year. This places us 5th among the Division 1 Jurisdictions, but only about 4% behind them. To put this into perspective we should be at 75% of gross intake or 1687 new members.

We will have to continue to step up our recruiting pace to get back on track this month. In real numbers we will need 300 new members per month over the next 3 months to retain our Circle of Honor status.

With just a little extra effort I know that together we can make this happen.

Net Intake (New Member Recruitment less Suspensions and Withdrawals) We are currently 35th of 74 Jurisdictions in the Order with a 64.38% of intake goal. To date we have retained but 1015 of those new members in the first nine months of the Fraternal Year. This places us 4th among the Division 1 Jurisdictions but again just about six percentage points behind. Again to put this into perspective we should be at 75% of our net goal or 1162 members retained.

Net/Net Intake (New Member Recruitment less Suspensions, Withdrawals and Out of State Transfers) We are currently 53rd of 74 Jurisdictions in the Order with a 35% of intake goal. To date we haven’t retained any of the new members in the first nine months of the Fraternal Year and have lost an additional 35 members. Again most of losses this month were due to member deaths. There was an unusual amount of deaths recorded again in March. This again places us 4th among the Division 1 Jurisdictions. Again to put this into perspective we should be at 75% of our net/net goal or +75 members retained.

(Continued on page 3)

2

New State Website feature: I have instructed State Web Master Robert Gilliland to release the needed software to allow Councils to file the Fraternal Survey Form 1728 on the State Web site. The feature will allow a fillable form with routing to the Supreme Council and State Deputy. Please take advantage of this new feature on our web site.

As always the best policy please Keep scheduling those 1st Degrees.

Every District Deputy is required to print a copy to retain for your schedule and conduct a 1st Degree in Council Records. his district every month. Our Degree Page on the State Website should be Lingering Paperwork: “Busting’ Out” and overflowing with Supreme Council records indicate degree information. Right now I see that several councils have not completed and submitted their Form a good number of Admission 185, their Form 365, and their Form Degrees scheduled in the month of April; I should see 83. This tells me 1728. Look for a call in the near future from someone at the State still need a little work setting up Admissions Degrees in the majority Council to assist in completing these of our districts. Successful Councils, three forms.

Districts, and Diocese have a good practice of frequent degree work, and Council contributions to the I have the records to prove it. This is “Voice of the Spirit”: One feature of this monthly not the practice as laid out and publication needs are events, requested of me rather by the Supreme Knight. We also will need programs, and human interest events from the local Councils throughout each of those degrees to be productive so everyone may help us Ohio. Any Council wanting to submit an article of interest to the reach our goal of 2,250 new “Voice of the Spirit” for publication members. each month should send a finished article and photo if applicable to A thought on Degree Work: PSD David Helmstetter. Brother I have attended some degree work throughout Ohio and need to address Dave will then edit and decide which articles are to be include in each one observation. An Admission, Formation, or Knighthood Degree is month’s issue. Brother Dave’s email no place for a Stranger, Candidate or address is: dhelmstetter@bright.net Brother Knight in t-shirts and shorts.

Please have the respect to the Order More names and emails needed: We have the ability to reach every and the Ceremonials to dress Brother Knight in the state with this appropriately. Golf or polo shirts monthly electronic newsletter, the with Dockers type slacks are a minimum dress that should be worn “Voice of the Spirit”. If you are a Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, to any one attending these degrees. or District Deputy receiving this Please inform all attending degrees publication you may obtain a list of to dress the same. email from your council or councils and forward them to State Media State Council Finances: At the present time the State Council Chairman Brother James Maslach at finances are in good shape. The only his email address; kofcdd19@gmail.com. Brother Jim liabilities we have to date are the will place you on the email list and current “Pennies for Heaven” then be able to receive this contributions. publication along with other Again on the positive side we still have another 3 months to recover our losses. With a good membership plan and an aggressive approach to church drives and new council development we can get back on track. It does however raise the bar each month now to try to rundown and catch up with our goals.

important and informative memos from the State Council.

District Deputy On-line Training I would ask that any of the District Deputies that have not completed the Orientation Seminar please do so as soon as possible. This training is available on demand at the following web address. Simply copy this text below, paste it in your browser, and complete the required curriculum. http://goo.gl/AYjbgf In closing…

May God continue to Bless you as you continue to 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. God Bless Brothers, have a good month and a better month than the one before.

Let’s all work to “Make Ohio Great Again”.

Bob Collins State Deputy

3

STATE CHAPLAIN

Reflections from Our Worthy State Chaplain Father Edward J. Janoch

O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Opening Collect Mass of the Day for Easter Our celebration of Easter is the most solemn Christian feast, considered the center of the liturgical year.

However, when you ask people what is the Christian feast that is their favorite, it usually is Christmas.

Our celebration of Christ’s Incarnation is important for it is how God wanted his Son to come into the world; to experience the entire human condition, but the ultimate reason for his coming was to be completed by his Paschal Mystery.

I understand why many people thinks this way. All of us have seen and experienced the miracle of new life in the birth of a baby, so we can relate to Christmas and the birth of Jesus the Christ. It is different with Easter. Who has experienced Resurrection? None of us have seen and experienced the Risen Christ in our daily life. The Apostles, the holy women, and the selected few that Jesus the Christ chose to show himself to are the only ones who have experienced the Risen Christ in his glorified state. Our experience is based on their testimony which has been recalled each year since 33 A.D. How do we experience the Resurrection in our daily life? Our experience of the Resurrection

comes in our celebration and partaking in the Sacraments. When the Sacraments are administered validly and the recipient is properly disposed, the

Christ is Risen! Christ is truly Risen!

Sacraments attain their ends infallibly, that is, grace is automatically communicated to the recipient. Thus, the Sacraments perpetuate Christ’s Redemptive

Action, making it present and effective throughout the ages. For this reason, the Bride of Christ, the Church, spends much of her efforts to help the faithful to receive and participate in the Sacraments.

We need to take the time to participate in the Sacraments and in those devotions that encourage us to participate more fully in the Sacraments. There are also sacramentals that are liturgical actions, sacred signs, and objects introduced by the Church, not instituted by Christ as the Sacraments were, that resemble the Sacraments by signifying spiritual effects achieved through the intercession of the Church. In other words, sacrementals lead us to the Sacraments which lead us to the Risen Christ. As members of the Knights of Columbus we are men who are to regularly celebrate and participate in the Sacraments. We are men who promote the use of sacramentals, especially the prayer of the Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration. I would like to encourage as many brother Knights of Columbus to participate in the Sacred Triduum [Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday] liturgies as a way to experience the Resurrection in our 4

limited time and space of our earthly experience so as to share in the timeless and limitless of God for all eternity. Continue to participate in Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Hours; 5th Sunday Rosary; the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Divine Mercy Sunday; May Crowning and Corpus Christi Processions; and the

Holy Family Icon program for those Districts that still have the opportunity to present this icon to their councils and parishes. These devotions help us to experience the Mystery of the Resurrection.

You may have heard that the Silver Rose will be coming to the State of

Ohio, this year, in May instead of July. Please schedule a date and time to have this Supreme Council program at your council or parish. If you are not able, participate in one ceremony that is already scheduled in your Diocese.

Mother of Good Counsel Prayer

By Venerable Pope Pius XII

O Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are led by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking you by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel, we beseech you to come to our assistance, when, along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray. O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good; render them steadfast in the face of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin. O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from your Divine Son a great love of virtue, and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation. If your hand sustains us, we shall walk unmolested along the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus, our Redeemer; and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the Sun of Truth and Justice under your maternal Star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with you in the haven of salvation. Amen.

This year I will be taking Matters of Faith and Catholic Knowledge from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is formatted into a question and answer format. I will give a question or two and its answer to matters of faith that are relevant for this month. For this month the six questions are part of my monthly reflection.

Question 126. What place does the Resurrection of Christ occupy in our faith?

The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ and represents along with his cross an essential part of the Paschal Mystery. [See CCC #631, 638] Question 127. What are the signs that bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus?

Along with the essential sign of the empty tomb, the Resurrection of Jesus is witnessed to by the women who first encounter Christ and proclaimed him to the apostles. Jesus then, “appeared to Cephas [Peter], and then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time.� (1 Corinthians 15:5-6) and to others as well. The apostles could not have invented the story of the resurrection since it seems impossible to them. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself upbraided them for their unbelief. [See CCC #639-644, 656-657] (Continued on page 6)

5

(Continued from page 5)

Question 128. Why is the Resurrection at the same time a transcendent occurrence?

While being a historical event, verifiable and attested by signs and testimonies, the Resurrection, insofar as it is the entrance of Christ’s humanity into the glory of God, transcends and surpasses history as a mystery of faith.

For this reason the risen Christ did not manifest himself to the world but to his disciples, making them his witnesses to the people. [See CCC #647, 656-657] Question 129. What is the condition of the risen body of Jesus?

The Resurrection of Christ was not a return to earthly life. His risen body is that which was crucified and bears the marks of his passion. However it also participates in the divine life, with the characteristics of a glorified body. Because of this the risen Jesus was utterly free to appear to his disciples how and where he wishes and under various aspects. [See CCC #645-646] Question 130. How is the Resurrection the work of the Most Holy Trinity?

The Resurrection of Christ is a transcendent work of God. The three Persons act together according to what is proper to them: the Father manifests his power; the Son “takes again” the life which he freely offered (John 10:17), reuniting his soul and his body which the Spirit brings to life and glorifies. [See CCC #648-650] Question 131. What is the saving meaning of the Resurrection?

The Resurrection is the climax of the Incarnation. It confirms the divinity of Christ and all the things which he did and taught. It fulfills all the divine promise made for us. Furthermore the risen Christ, the conqueror of sin and death, is the principle of our justification and our Resurrection. It procures for us now the grace of filial adoption which is a real share in the life of the only begotten Son. At the end of time he will raise up our bodies.

[See CCC #651-655, 658] Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, USCCB Publishing, Washington, DC, 2006, pp 38-40.

HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS Offered in Solidarity with Pope Francis April 2017 Young People: That young people may respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.

Starting in 2017 the Pope will present only one prepared prayer intention per month, rather than the two presented before this year. He plans, however, to add a second prayer intention each month related to current events or urgent needs, like disaster relief.

6

STATE MEMBERSHIP

Commit to Membership Nick Gresko

I Need HELP From NonRecruiting Councils

new member as of 4/4/2017 in chronological order by diocese.

Each month I put into my monthly update with all the winners, top diocese and top councils the following statement, “Remember the goal is +250 for the month. Inspector Membership knows we can do it! What are you going to do for February - keep the same from last or go out pound the pavement helping Team Ohio be #1 again? Will your diocese make a leap towards being #1? That is all up to you! There is still 96 councils that still have not recruited a new member since July 1st. Our Worthy State Deputy and I need these councils to jump on board and bring in a new member. If they did just think what our numbers as a state would look like. A lot of times getting that first member in is all you need to get a few more especially if you promote the Shining Armor Award. This encourages the new members to bring in a new member and if you make a big deal at your council about it trust me the new members will come!!! If you need help as a council in recruiting new members please don’t hesitate to ask a State Officer, Your DD or anyone on the Membership Team. Any of these people would be glad to help your council out.

That is what we are all here for!

Between now and the end of April I want to see this list under 65 councils that have not recruited a new member. Four of these councils on this list just need to turn in outstanding Form 100’s they have and they will come off this list. Below you will find all of the Councils that have not recruited a

Form 450 is like GOLD!!!

District Deputies please make sure within 3-7 days of holding a degree in your District the Form 450 is turned in. 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 hard work and effort. The Form 450 can be filled on line at the State Website and then it automatically sends it to who it needs to go to. Take advantage of this!!!

Form 100’s Within 3-7 days of a degree any Form 100’s should be emailed to the Supreme Council at membershiprecords@kofc.org and the State Membership Director Nick Gresko should be CC’d on this email at greskon@sbcglobal.net 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.

and maintain a net of +5 in your membership numbers and you must also complete 3 Retention Programs. Last year a ton of councils completed the 5 Membership Programs and were a net +5 but did not complete the 3 Retention Programs. This is happening again this year. I want all of the councils to be up for the Top Councils across the state. You must complete both the five Membership and three Retention Programs.

If there are any questions on this please call me at 440-479-0354 or email me at greskon@sbcglobal.net.

REPORTING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT Remember to completely Max the Membership part of the State General Program you need to complete 5 Membership Programs 7

Every Council Active by Diocese—4/4/2017 Non Recruiting Council-No Gains for the Fraternal Year Cincinnati (15 of 85) - 17.64% Mike Felerski- DMD Larry Droesch – State Warden Springfield Greenville Fr. Sourd Eaton Saint Remy Fr. Anthony Wolf Lasalle Saint Martin Deporres Glenmary Saint Mary Saint Paul Saint Benignus St. Lawrence - Price Hill Fr. Gustav Brotzge St. Isidore

Cleveland (14 of 72) - 19.44% Jerry Nowesnick- DMD Bob Collins- State Deputy 624 1796 2423 3698 3890 4378 5621 5624 5674 10149 13874 14092 14545 14665 16348

Stuebenville (15 of 26) - 57.69% Tom Offenberger- DMD Bob Byers- State Treasurer Immaculate Heart of Mary Bellaire Mother of God Fr. Jessing Fr. Frank Patala Toronto Saint. Anthony Our Lady of Peace Saint Catherine Saint Mary's Our Lady Assumption Pieta Bishop John King Mussio Saint Francis Cabrini Saint Gabriel

Akron Northeast Brooklyn-Parma Bishop Hagan Southeast Northeast Akron Trinity Don Bosco John F Kennedy Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton Saint Peter's Lasagrada Familia Saint Vincents St. John of the Cross

Columbus (13 of 72) - 18.05% Keith Dunnigan- DMD Kevin Miller- State Secretary 547 2786 2803 3126 3222 3529 4217 4801 5506 11464 13601 13640 14054 15737

Toledo (19 of 69) - 27.53% Jim Collins-DMD Mark Siracusa- State Advocate 472 1246 1421 1664 1716 2187 2262 4243 4590 5174 5250 5583 9804 11195 11380

Bellevue Rosecrans/Willard Saint John Neuman Clyde Bryan West Toledo Infant of Prague Blakeslee Fr. Deveaux Saint Lawrence Vermillion Holy Cross Van Wert Walter Keppler Our Lady of Lourdes Saint Joseph Saint Joseph St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns Holy Trinity Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

DVD Admissions Degree Worthy Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries it is extremely important that you are talking to your District Deputy and that he knows when you are planning these because he needs to submit a Form 450 and this is not happening all the time right now. Please get this information to your District Deputy so that he can do what he needs to do and to insure you get credit for the work that you are doing when it comes to degrees.

Coshocton MacGahan New Philadiphia Santa Maria Assumption Fr Holtzapfel Holy Trinity Buckeye Lake Holy Family Fr. Raymond Bauschard Christ the King St. Mark's Fr. Charles Griffin at St. Peter's

994 1065 2372 2898 3727 10284 13081 13379 13428 13581 13705 15447 15793

Youngstown (20 of 59) - 33.89% - DMD Ken Girt-Immediate Past State Deputy 752 885 1117 1175 1915 3122 3617 3883 4169 4539 5139 6034 8357 10063 11370 12224 14155 15043 16264

Youngstown Canton Wellsville Carroll Warren Kent Niles Louisville Girard Fr. Joseph Gallagher Lisbon Jefferson Fr. Lambert J Andrews Our Lady of Lourdes Saint Peter's Saint Mary's Saint Paul the Apostle Saint Robert Bellarmine Saint Dominic Fenwick St. James

274 341 507 509 620 1411 1681 2530 2935 3144 4049 4212 4433 4533 5173 5589 11551 11646 13586 14491

STATEWIDE TOTALS 96 OF 383 COUNCILS NOT RECRUITING

25.06% 8

Mission #22: Calling the New Council Development John Brown IRS! TO: Great State of Ohio FROM: Inspector Membership Do you have members that are inactive?

Can these members be reactivated, reinstated or reapply?

Who Are You Going to Call?

THE INTERNAL RETENTION SERVICE !!!

Brothers, as the graphic at the top indicates, the end of this fraternal year is fast approaching. You still have time to start that new council this year, but we have to act quickly. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to talk with that Pastor – now is the time. Do not delay.

I have only had one request for help with a council revitalization this year. I guess that means all our councils are recruiting and doing programming. If only that were true! If your council is struggling with membership we have a way to help with that. If your council is having problems filling all the officer positions please let me know – we have a way to help with that. The first part of the solution is to ask for help. The state team is good, but we aren’t mind readers.

The process works for developing new or established councils. We have seen it all over the state.

I want to wish everyone a blessed and happy Easter. As a convert, the Easter season holds a very special meaning to me. I pray you all feel the joy I do at this time.

This is a special division of Inspector Membership's department that handle the tough cases. They are out there looking Vivat Jesus! for those members that want to come back and add to the service and fellowship that our Order has to offer.

And...Inspector Membership is making it worth your wild to help the IRS out.

Checkout the flyer and linked video below for your Mission with the IRS and continue to help to grow our Order. To claim to your share of the mission rewards, the three Form 100s that complete the mission MUST be, either, emailed or US mail to the Inspector by April 30, 2016.

Retention, Because They Joined to Make A Difference Michael Jordon / Bill Wirtz

Life of the individual council, as well as the much wider Order, is dependent both on new membership and retention; therefore, the best time to start those Retention Program activities will always be now! Three of six activities is all that is required, but please try them all…it will change life within the council.

All our retention related activities involve personal contact and the impact of that contact will be felt for years to come. Retention is Fraternity and Fraternity is one of our four basic principles. Subsequently, retention will certainly extend the life of the council and may even extend the active “membership” life of the individuals within the council.

As always we recommend the councils get way out in front of retention by contacting every member of your council on a regular basis. Retention is separate from the billing process, so if we wait too long our members may become hard to reach and even harder to recover. Call them several times a year and let them know they are needed and important to the mission of the Knights of Columbus. They joined the Knights to make a difference, so let them.

For questions and assistance please don’t hesitate to contact your Ohio State Council Retention Directors.

9

10

11

STATE GENERAL PROGRAMS

General Service Program Robert Walsh

The end of the program year is fast approaching! April 15th is the end and you have until April 20th to submit your reports. At 12:00 A.M. you will not be able to submit any reports as this page will be turned off.

Make sure you check the box on the left side of the designated program.

With all Supreme Assessments current. I recommend that you try and send in your form by the middle of May just in case Supreme returns

Have you been reviewing your program points?

Please make sure they match with what you have turned in? If you have any question please check with the appropriate Director or myself.

You can start sending in your Form SP-7 for the Columbian Award. Have you submitted the Service Program Personal Report (#365), the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728), along with four programs in each of the six reporting areas? Remember at least four programs should be designated as Domestic Church.

Church

Jeff Kiliany From the recent reports that I have been seeing, I am sure that everyone had a very meaningful Lenten experience and will have a most Blessed Easter. I really appreciate all of the reporting from councils across the State of Ohio. Lately I have been seeing a lot of reports on Religious Devotions during Lent, especially Rosaries, Corporate Communions, and Stations of the Cross services.

The deadline for submitting Chaplain and Religious of the Year nominations has passed. The

it for some reason, that way you will still have time to resubmit it.

Last month I sent out a letter from Supreme with the requirements and recommendations for the Domestic Church Programs, if you need to deadline for Church Program activities is April 15th, so there is still time to report on those last couple of activities for the year.

Upcoming activities can also be submitted during this reporting period.

If you have any concerns about receiving credit for all of your Church Activity reports, please call or email me ASAP. We want to be sure that all councils who have done the required 5 activities and maxed the Church Program receive the proper credit. More importantly, we want to be sure that your council has 4 qualifying Church activities to list on your Supreme Columbian Award Form #SP7 which will go towards

review it again, click on the link below. You can always give me call 216-533-1134 or email at rewalsh731@aol.com.

Congratulations to the Bradley Blumberg Family from Council 5534 for winning Family of The Month for February. Councils 7978 and 11828 this is a great program from Supreme and a great way to honor all the work families are doing in your Council.

Looking ahead as a reminder in June on the first your Measure up check and form are due.

As we near the end of Lent, let’s continue doing the service activities for the Church and Community.

Have a Blessed Easter.

achieving Star Council.

Please call or e-mail with any questions. I will be happy to assist you and your council.

Jeff Kiliany – State Church Director (330) 427-9874 home (330) 853-6099 cell jtktg@yahoo.com “As We continue to Build Up His Church”

12

Community Tom Forsthoefel

As we head into the month of April spring has finally come and is all around us. The time has come for us to clean up what the winter months have left behind after a long grueling 3 months. There is the checking on our spring flowers, putting away our winter tools of snow shovels and snow blowers.

We will need to check out our deck furniture and our spring and summer tools as well. It is a time to assess what our yard and garden will need for the coming seasons.

Likewise it is a time to assess what our council has done for the past 9 months. Has your council met all of its goals for the fraternal year? Has your council completed all the projects you set out to do at your planning meeting in early to midJuly of 2016? Some of the councils

have had a bang-up year of helping the less fortunate within the community, helping our veterans both near and far, helping to support the local food pantries whether with financial help or manpower to feed those in need. Have you completed all the projects totally by reporting them to the state web site as well?

It is not too late to report all the good works and hard work individuals and groups of council members have completed. If your council has projects that will be completed after the final reporting period of April 15th, but prior to the close of the fraternal year of June 30, 2017 you can still report them.

Case in point is your annual Measure Up Program to help those that are developmentally handicapped. Even though your council will not complete the project until the 1st weekend in May 2017 you can report them now. This as well as any other council activity

Council

Tom Buehner

can be reported prior to the actual activity. Go through a final check list to see if your council is ready to complete the fraternal year. Your council needs to spring into action to complete their final push as we move along through the month of April.

If your council is planning to submit a Blue Coat of the Year or a Volunteer Of the Year you must submit the entry to the State Community Director by April 15, 2017. All reports received by this date will be considered for the best of the best at the upcoming State Convention in Columbus.

Vivat Jesus, Thomas Forsthoefel State Community Director 937-623-1844 tjf042074@sbcglobal.net

Vocations Joe Mackos

Progress Report: RSVP Here is an update on where the State stands Many council have claimed RSVP program. But I have not received in regard to reported Council program the form 2863. Please be sure to submit this form to me so I can have activities. a record of you donation.

As of April 5, 2017, there are 166 councils that have reported at least one Council program activity – only 40% of all councils in Ohio. 22 councils only need one more Council program activity to max out the Council program – Please get these in!

Roundtable We have surpassed our State Council goal as of today I see 108 councils with a round table. Thank you for helping me achieve this goal. There are still a few council that had promise me a round table that I haven’t heard from, you still have time to send in your form to supreme.

Please remember to take the time to submit your activities on the State website as soon as possible and reach out to me with any questions!

Thank you to all of you that submitted nominations to me for Knight of the Year and Lady of the Year!

SURGERY Please, keep me in your prayers, on April 18th I will be having my 3rd heart procedure this time their talking about removing the appendage from my heart. I will be having this done at Cleveland Metro Health Medical Center.

Vivat Jesus!

Tom Buehner State Council Director

Joe Mackos

13

Culture of Life Brett Gissel

Many of the specific activities in the Culture Of Life program revolve around certain activities that fall at certain times of the year.

Most of these have passed. If your council is looking for a Culture Of Life activity to complete the program this year, there are still some possibilities.

Plan an activity with the Fortnight For Freedom campaign in late June.

The activity is Stand Up For Religious Freedom (Activity #46).

In order to get credit for this, you should plan to have a Fortnight For Freedom promotion in June, a Memorial Mass for SS. Thomas More and John Fisher on June 21 (vigil) or June 22 (their Feast Day) to open the Fortnight For Freedom, have a speaker at your council to talk about religious liberty, or an outreach event to promote the Fortnight For Freedom. This can be reported in advance of the activity, but you should plan to do it if you report it.

If your council is in an area where a group of councils regularly bring funds together to purchase an

ultrasound machine and you have not already contributed to a purchase this year, you can contribute to one of these and report it under the Ultrasound Initiative (Activity #45). Even if the machine is not purchased before June 30, by contributing to a group purchase of an ultrasound machine, your council is participating in the activity in this fraternal year.

being the fight to end legalized abortion. We also need to remember to inform ourselves and others about our beliefs on such things as assisted suicide, the death penalty, and how to make a living will according to our faith. Hold or plan an event to occur before July 1 dealing with end of life issues and report it as Council Choice (Activity #53/54).

Pregnancy centers always have needs for their clients. If you are able to help them through donations of needed items or cash, you can report it as a Council Choice (Activity # 53/54). Make sure to contact them in advance to find out what their needs are so you can help them where they need it most.

Speaking with the staff of a local pregnancy center informed me and continues to remind me of their needs whenever I meet with them.

Even with twin toddlers, I forget what some of the needs are for expectant mothers.

If you need help in coming up with Culture Of Life programming, please contact me. The guide I use for Culture Of Life programming is what I have found on Supreme’s website. The activity should be one that focuses on “defending the right to life of every human being, from the moment of conception to natural death” and involve volunteering, educating, advocating, donating, and praying.

This should be your guide on what constitutes a Culture Of Life program. If you ave any questions about Culture Of Life programs, please contact me at BrettGissel@gmail.com.

Another Council Choice activity you can do is hold an event or host a speaker talking about end of life issues. When we speak about the Culture Of Life, it is easy to remember our biggest fight, that

Brett Gissel Culture Of Life Director Ohio State Council

14

Youth

Mike Nau The Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest is over. State winners are as follows: • • •

Age 5-7: Amalia Ward, Council 16137 from Parma Age 8-10: Bea Dumadag, Council 16137 from Parma Heights Age11-14: Angelina Warner, Council 15793, Chillicothe

State Free Thrown was held on March 18 2017. The following are the State of Ohio Free Throw Champions for 2017: Winner's Name

Council

# Made

Girl Age 9

Gracie

Cosgrove

8115

22

Girl Age 10

Brooke

Richmond

4212

20

Girl Age 11

Alyvia

Lindeman

1362

23

Girl Age 12

Emily

Pate

13608

20

Girl Age 13

Claudia

Pifher

1718

22

Girl Age 14

Melanie

Meyers

5669

20

9

Noah

Haggerty

1801

19

Boy Age 10

Justin

Smith

11464

24

Boy Age 11

Drew

Doseck

5239

22

Boy Age 12

Anthony

Ruffolo

10215

21

Boy Age 13

Tayt

Birnesser

9788

22

Boy Age 14

Jacob

Salazar

2158

22

Boy Age

Don’t forget Activity #60 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Poster Contest. This is a Supreme Program to help bring the abuse of drugs and alcohol to the attention of the children in our communities. It gives them the chance to discuss these problems with each other and support each other not to use drugs and overuse alcohol. You need to order your Drug and Alcohol Abuse Poster Contest kit from Supreme Council in November to have everything in place for the council level completion in January. The age groups are 8-11 and 12-14. This contest consists of two different contests. One is for Drug Awareness and Abuse and one for Alcohol Awareness and Abuse. Local level should take place in Feb. Check with our DD Coordinator to see if there is a Diocesan level contest. If so that needs to take place by late march. I need all local/Diocesan winners to me by early April as to pick the State winners and submit to Supreme by 4/30/2017.

Activity # 58 Ohio Foundation Scholarship Fund. Don’t forget this important Activity. To date very few Councils have claimed this under the Youth Program. Please encourage your council to make a donation to the Ohio Charity Foundation Scholarship Fund to help students continue with their Catholic Education.

It is time for Councils to submit their nominations for Youth of the Year. Last year saw a very low turn in for nominations. I’m sure that each council has at least one youth that is worthy.

Keep up the good work and take time to report those great activities under the Youth Program.

Mike Nau

15

STATE WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA

You’re One Click Away Robert Gilliland

New Measure Up Forms.

Brother Knights, the Measure Up page has been updated and now has the new apron Order form (see picture below). It also has the 2017 Measure Up Form, Booklet, and Special Population Free throw program material in PDF form so that you can download it and print everything on your printer.

State Convention Material.

Brother Knights, the State Convention 1st Call information is on the website for you to download and use. Each link takes you to a downloadable PDF of the item.

As more information becomes available, it will be added to the website.

If you have any problems, or need any help, please feel free to email me at bobgkofc@gmail.com.

Robert Gilliland State Website Director

16

17

INSURANCE

David W. Roberts General Agent (330) 614-2063 david.roberts@kofc.org The Pitfalls of Replacing Coverage

You know the old saying, “the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence,” but we all know that it rarely is.

The same holds true when it comes to replacing your existing Knights of Columbus life insurance with coverage offered by another company. Perceptions are deceiving. A move to the “greener” grass on the other side of the fence might seem like a good one, but it can leave you with less green in your wallet — in some cases, a lot less.

That’s why it pays to remember another old adage, “Read the fine print.”

There are many reasons to keep your existing coverage in force, whether that coverage is with the Knights of Columbus or with another company. I’ll focus on the potential pitfalls of replacing coverage here — pitfalls that an agent trying to convince you that the grass actually is greener might neglect to mention.

First, all life insurance contracts contain a contestability period, which allows the insurer to contest claims made for a period — typically two years — after the contract is issued. Chances are this is no longer an issue with your current coverage.

Second, it’s unlikely that you can obtain the same amount of coverage, for the same premium, that you were able to obtain with your existing contract. The two factors that determine how much you’ll need to pay for life insurance coverage are age and health. Certainly, you’re older now than you were when you took out your current coverage.

There’s no way around that. And you have to ask yourself, has your health changed during that time? Is your blood pressure the same? Your cholesterol? Have you gained weight? All these factors can affect the amount of coverage you’ll get for your premium dollar.

Jeff Hearty, General Agent 18

MEASURE UP CAMPAIGN

19

SUPER CASH BONANZA

Plant the Seed to Grow CASH for Charity The 2017 Super Cash Bonanza Charity Campaign

The First Harvest is coming up and are you ready!! The tractor is warming up and we are expecting a great first crop. Remember, that your harvest is due to “Farmer Bob” Byers by April 15.

Significant income for charity can be earned by your council (far surpassing the basic rebate of $2.40 per ticket), but you must adhere to the “rules” as presented in the information booklet.

Some rebates require meeting attendance, while others require meeting First Phase and Final Phase quotas. Here are some of the key points: •

A minimum of two members from your council must attend the Diocesan Ticket Distribution Meeting. The two-member requirement does not include the District Deputy, State Directors and Chairs, or a State Officer to qualify for these rebates.

•

The sold tickets and one check from your council must be sent to the State Treasurer by the published deadlines. The two turn-in dates are Saturday, April 15 (2017) and Friday, May 13 (2017). Your council must meet these deadlines with the required number of sold tickets per member in order to qualify for the different rebates.

•

Most methods of shipping are acceptable. UPS, FedEx or the US Postal System all have good record of timely delivery of small packages. Please do not send your package by a method requiring my signature.

These often go back to the delivery agent’s warehouse and await pickup. Please use durable-strength envelopes or cartons to avoid damage during shipment.

•

Please make every effort to have all of your council’s tickets submitted by the second turn-in deadline.

Tickets brought to and delivered at the convention might create a processing problem. With the drawing taking place that weekend, there is very little time for late arrivals. We cannot guarantee your rebates on tickets received more than a few days after the final turn-in date of May 13, 2017.

Extra materials and tickets can be obtained from your District Deputy or Diocesan Officer. Any questions concerning the 2017 Super Cash Bonanza Campaign should be directed to me, Robert Byers, State Treasurer and Chair, by email at robert_byers@hotmail.com or by calling me at 740-706-0044 cell or 740-373-7154 home.

Plan early, promote, and partner! We are here to help you work toward the success of the 2017 Super Cash Bonanza charity campaign at your local council.

Thank you to all my brother knights for helping me “Plant the Seed and Grow CASH for Charity.” Additional information is also available on the Ohio State Council state website at www.kofcohio.org.

Fraternally,

Farmer Bob Bob Byers, State Treasurer

20

21

22