2014-11 NovDec

November-December, 2014

State Deputy

Use K of C plates to promote our membership

By Ken Girt State Deputy

I am very happy to report that the special “Knights of Columbus” Ohio license plates will be available after November 20, 2014, from your local Deputy Registrar’s office. I want to thank all our members who promoted and provided the support to make these plates possible.

We look forward to the day when these license plates will proudly identify our membership in the Knights of Columbus.

Please read the article in this issue of the Buckeye Bulletin to learn more about purchasing these special plates.

And maybe the KofC license plates can help promote membership in our Order.

These KofC license plates would make an excellent display of public relations on our streets and highways. (Of course, having these plates can be detrimental when we cut someone off on the roadway!) We should always be looking for ways to proudly show who we are, especially when we are doing our “good deeds”.

Ohio K of C license plates now available The formalities for Knights of Columbus vehicle license plates have been completed and they now are available for purchase.

They may be issued to any Ohio motorist and can be issued for passenger vehicles, non-commercial trucks, recreational vehicles and non-commercial trailers.

Requests may be made at any Deputy Registrar’s office, online at PLATES.com, or by calling 1-800-589-8247. Renewal

your vehicle while your plates are being manufactured.

Special license plate applications are available at all Deputy Registrar license agency locations.

When purchasing the Knights of Columbus plates, applicants will be charged an initial fee of $8.25 (the new plate fee), plus an extra fee of $20.00 in Continued on Page 2

A Knight & his Buford

Jim Sieber has been entertaining children and adults alike with his ventriloquism

Until last summer during the July Diocesan Tour Programs, few Knights of Columbus knew that one of our members has a special talent.

When Past State Deputy Gary Eckstein got up to speak about the annual Football Sweepstakes program, of which he is chairman, Brother Knight Jim Sieber rushed down the aisle with a little friend to join the conversation – and bring a little levity to the meeting.

You see, Jim is a ventriloquist, and as he scampered down that aisle he had his dummy, Buford, in his arms. Eckstein told him, “just follow my lead and jump in wherever you can”. It was all ad-lib.

It was the first time that Jim, a member of State Deputy Ken Girt’s staff, used his talent at a Knights of Columbus event. He has performed through the years at various churches, schools, civic events, Boy Scout events, other private events, and at Children’s Christmas Parties sponsored by the Knights of Columbus – but never at an actual K of C event.

Jim got interested in ventriloquism while in high school. He bought a book on the subject, and thought that the only thing he had to do was read it – and just like that he would become a ventriloquist. But

Continued on Page 3

PSD Ken Toigo passes away See Page 2

of plates also can be done at any Deputy Registrar’s office, online at OPLATES. com, by phone at 1-866-675-2837, or by mail.

All plates will be mailed directly to the address on your registration card unless the customer requests otherwise. The Deputy will issue your registration card and stickers, and will provide you with a permit which will allow you to operate

Jim Sieber and his dummy, Buford

Continued on Page 4

January 1

It’s time for a council evaluation!

By Ken Gardner, State Membership Director In just a short time, the year 2014 will be history and the year 2015 will begin.

January is a great time for all councils to review what they have done for the first six months of the fraternal year, and if expectations have not been met, plan for more success to meet goals before July 1.

The Knights of Columbus fraternal calendar of July 1 to June 30 each year offers councils a unique opportunity to evaluate where they have been and where they can go.

But most of our personal and business goals are based on the calendar year. If I made a New Year’s resolution on Jan. 1, 2014, to lose 15 pounds and I didn’t hit that goal Continued on Page 7

OR CURRENT RESIDENT Ohio State Council Knights of Columbus Buckeye Bulletin 32649 Surrey Lane Avon Lake, OH 44012-1642

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Page 2__________________________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin________________________________________________November-December, 2014

Guest Column

We must set our standards high

The following thoughts were submitted by Nathan Helmstetter, Grand Knight of St. Henry Council 2640 (Cincinnati Archdiocese). Nathan is the son of Past State Deputy Dave Helmstetter.

In November we, and many Knights of Columbus councils around the world, annually honor our departed Brother Knights by holding a Memorial Mass in their memory.

While this gesture is a prayerful way to express our gratitude once a year shouldn’t we be honoring each of them all year?

A couple things that happened recently have caused me to think about how this is so true.

First, I received an email from a man that I have been recruiting to join the K of C. In the email this man expressed his reasons for not wanting to join. First and foremost was his perception of our group in my community. He said, “The K of C is not what it used to be; they need to be out in the public eye, showing that they are an active group that takes pride in making this community a better place. I don’t feel the K of C takes as much pride in the community as the older generation used to …” In many councils, mine included, we have not always been vigilant in promoting our message to our communities. I would like to think that as men of faith we would like to remain humble in our actions, not seeking self-promotion for fear of being accused of pride, but I know that is not always the case. We get lazy and don’t take the extra moment to promote the good we do and then it gets forgotten.

Two days after receiving that email I attended a talk by John Horvath II, author of the book “Return to Order”, at the St. Charles (located near St. Henry) Men’s Conference.

Mr. Horvath, in his talk focused on “building a legacy of honor” with in the family to return the family to a position of respect in America. Unexpectedly, Mr. Horvath’s talk, though focused on the family, turned out to be very applicable to our Order.

According to Mr. Horvath, honor is esteem and respect toward someone. It is obtained by holding ourselves to the highest standards and by providing for those under our watch no matter the situation. We gain honor by holding fast to these standards of excellence and by being an individual of virtue.

These principles for which people are honored are many of the same principles Fr. McGivney espoused when founding the K of C -- help the less fortunate in their time of need, nurture the faith, and encourage our families to be good practical Catholics.

Every day as Knights, and more importantly as Catholics, we should strive to live out the Gospel in these principles.

Throughout his talk Mr. Horvath summarized several ways to “honor thy forefathers” that we can apply as Knights. First, we must be “beacons for those who are searching”.

We must be examples of good Catholic living for those around us as Knights doing what is right in view of our community. We need to be the “light of the world”.

Second, we must “change the attitude of individualism.” Do all that we do for God’s greater glory and put aside our own personal desires, becoming more Christ-like. As Knights we can live the Gospel through our councils and in our programs, evangelizing the message of self-sacrifice by helping those in need and speaking for the defenseless.

The final way, Mr. Horvath explains, is that we are able to honor our forefathers to become a “dynasty of tradition trying to outdo the previous generations.” This last way of honoring our forefathers sat with me most after reading that email two days prior.

As I reflected I asked myself, have I been honoring those who came before me or am I disrespecting them by trying to get away with doing the least amount I can, still expecting to live off of the respect they earned?

The conclusion I have come to is this: we must set our standards high and live up to and beyond the standards our brothers, uncles, in-laws, fathers and grandfathers set and then, and only then, will we truly be honoring those that came before us as Knights.

So, the next time your council calls on you to help, ask yourself: “How can I honor my brothers, uncles, in-laws, father or grandfather by helping this council?”

I know I will.

Washington March for Life set for Jan. 22

The Annual March for Life in Washington D.C. will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, once again calling for overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s infamous Roe v.

Wade decision that legalized abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy.

Supreme Council encourages local Knights of Columbus councils to subsidize marchers or organize a bus for Knights and others who want to participate in the march.

Any Ohio councils already are planning such bus trips.

For more information on the Annual March for Life, visit marchforlife.org.

Obituary

Ken Toigo, State Deputy in 1991-1993, dies Kenneth V. Toigo, who served as State Deputy of the Ohio Knights of Columbus in 1991-1993, passed away on Oct. 19. He was 75.

Past State Deputy Toigo was a Knight of Columbus for 51 years, joining the Order in 1963. Before being elected to state office, he served the Ohio State Council as State Program Director, State Community Director and State Membership Director.

He also served as chairman of the annual Measure-Up Campaign, and was a District Deputy for four years (1973-1977).

PSD Toigo, a bachelor, was a member of Immaculata Council 3767, serving as Grand Knight in 1969-1971. He was a charter member of the Fourth Degree Archbishop Hallinan Assembly.

He was raised in Euclid (Cleveland Diocese), and was graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1957. He attended Borromeo Seminary College, graduating in 1961 with a degree in English. He also did graduate studies at both John Carroll University and Cleveland State University.

PSD Toigo attended St. Christine Church, Euclid, where he was a commentator, was on Parish Council, and was a CCD teacher.

He was a teacher in the Catholic school system until accepting a position in the Cuyahoga County Department of Social Services in 1966. As a social worker, he was involved with children placed in foster homes, institutions and placed for adoption.

K of C license plates are now available Continued from Page 1

addition to the regular vehicle charge.

Then, every year of renewal, applicants will pay the regular vehicle charge, plus $20 (no new plate fee). The $20.00 fee is divided as follows: $10.00 goes to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles for the administrative cost for maintaining the specialty plate program, and the remaining $10.00 is placed into a charitable fund created for the Ohio State Council. The state council’s tentative recipient of all the $10.00 fees collected will be donated to the Ohio Special Olympics.

Issuance of the Knights of Columbus license plates culminates years of discussion and processing of the proper paperwork.

Legislation authorizing the special plates was passed by the Ohio Legislature in early 2014, and was signed into law by Governor John Kasich on March 11.

The Buckeye Bulletin

State Chaplain

State Deputy

State Secretary

Fr. William Kraynak 409 W. Main Street Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 296-9193 wkraynak@youngstowndiocese.org

Ken Girt 6433 Lutz Ave. N.W. Massillon, OH 44646-9341 (330) 837-6670 girtken@sssnet.com

Robert 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@columbus.rr.com

Robert Byers 565 Indian Run Rd. Marietta, OH 45750-6693 (740) 373-7154 robert_byers@hotmail.com

Mark Siracusa 1310 Markey Dr. Bryan, OH 43506 (419) 553-9552 cuzza@roadrunner.com

State Treasurer

State Advocate

State Warden

Immediate Past State Deputy Chief of Staff Buckeye Bulletin Editor

Dave Helmstetter Jack Campbell Harding Christ

5421 County Road 33A 1630 34h St. NE 32649 Surrey Lane

St. Marys, OH 45885-9658 Canton, OH 44714 Avon Lake, OH 44012-1642

Tel: (419) 394-1180 Tel: (330) 453-0872 Tel: (440) 933-8986

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Editorial Content Forward all editorial content to Harding Christ, Editor, 32649 Surrey Lane, Avon Lake, OH 44012-1642.

Subscription Status Address Change Forward all requests for new subscriptions, changes of address or cancellation to Harding Christ. New subscriptions must include the full 9-digit Zip Code.

November-December, 2014_________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin_________________________________________________________________ Page 3

Pennies for Heaven: Keep collecting those pennies, nickels, dimes and dollars for the Pennies for Heaven Campaign, encourages Past State Deputy Dave Helmstetter, chairman of the 20142015 Pennies for Heaven.

“They all add up,” he says.

Helmstetter has set a goal of collecting $125,000 in this fraternal year’s campaign.

Last year, collections went over the $100,000 mark for the third consecutive year, ending up at $103,287.

Councils in the Columbus Diocese historically have led the state in collections, last year with $51,375 – and Columbus Diocese St. Brendan Council 11208, Hilliard, was tops with $9,143.

One of the reasons for the Columbus Diocese’s successful is Ed Olenhouse, who has established a winning tradition among councils.

Olenhouse has some suggestions for a successful campaign: • Meet with the diocesan vocations director and ask how he distributes the funds.

• Then organize these facts and schedule a meeting with your church pastor. Ask if he has enough help to provide all the services needed by the members.

• The answer invariably is “No, I need more help.” Your reply is, “The Knights can help. We can raise funds to support our seminarians. Our effort will not affect any church funds normally collected at Masses.

Keep collecting those pennies and dollars, and try to get the support of your pastor

The lack of seminarians is not a Knight’s issue. It’s a church issue and we have a way to support each and every seminarian. Doing this should keep each seminarian in school and thus becomes the pastor’s replacement or needed help.

• Tell the pastor that the Knights would like to make collections after each Mass on a particular weekend. The Knights will provide all the manpower and be very visible. Tell him that we would like to hold collection baskets near the exits and simply say, “Support Our Seminarians”.

• Ask the pastor for his support. Ask him if he would make an announcement from the pulpit, stating that the Knights are collecting at the doors for our seminarians.

Ask that he mention that “these men are going to be our future and they cannot hold any employment during their education process. Can you help?”

• Suggest to the pastor that you would like to collect after Masses three times during the year.

• Be thankful for whatever considerations you get from your pastor. Be consistent in your support and always keep communications open between him and the Knights.

For those who do not know, Pennies for Heaven is a campaign to support our seminarians and for the recruitment of future seminarians. Funds collected in a particular diocese stay in that diocese and are given to the diocesan vocations director.

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The Cure Starts Now Knights have a part in a special fundraiser for cancer victim’s charity

One of the dreams of Lauren Hill, a 19-year-old freshman at Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, has been to raise money for cancer research.

Lauren is a victim of a rare and inoperable brain cancer – called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Her courage and fundraising campaign have been featured on many national media outlets, and she recently received the ultimate recognition for an athlete – her photo on a Wheaties box.

She’s a basketball player, and on Nov. 2 she realized her dream to play in a game for Mount St. Joseph. She scored two layup shots as her team beat Hiram College in the game played at Xavier University, Cincinnati.

Her appearance in that game sparked an idea for a special fundraising event by Pat Moeller, mayor of Hamilton (Cincinnati Archdiocese) and Sir Knight of the Fr. Butler Assembly 814 in Hamilton. It would be a “Layup 4 Lauren” contest, whereby people are asked to spin five times and shoot a layup with their nondominant hand to understand some of what she experiences suffering from DIPG. Moeller recruited members of the Hamilton City Council to participate, and issued a challenge to Steve Miller, mayor of nearby Fairfield, to participate with his city councilmen. In addition, Moeller recruited basketball players from Hamilton High School, Fairfield High School and Stephen Badin High School in Hamilton. And Moeller recruited Sir Knights of Fr. Butler Assembly to volunteer with registration for the event and being in charge of the registration fees collected, which eventually would be given to The Cure Starts Now Foundation.

The one-hour fundraiser was held at Hamilton High School on Nov. 13, with 43 participants.

“In just one hour we raised $2,000,” commented Tom Montgomery, one of the Assembly volunteers.

Besides that sum, Lauren presented a $58,000 check to The Cure Starts Now Foundation, money raised from T-shirt sales and ticket proceeds of the Mount St. JosephHiram basketball game, which was played before more than 10,000 fans. She also has presented a check for $176,186 from money she has raised to the Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute of Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati. And on Nov. 21 she traveled with her team and scored on another layup in a game between St. Mount Joseph and Bethany College at the Baldwin-Wallace Invitational Tournament in Berea (Cleveland Diocese).

It has fulfilled the dream of Lauren to make a difference for others who suffer with brain tumors.

State Deputy Ken Girt’s message Continued from Page 1

Do you read the “Knights in Action” section of the Columbia magazine? I read through the numerous pages of charitable activities each month to see how many are from Ohio. And what do you do with your Columbia magazine when you are finished reading it? I might suggest that you give it to a potential new member where you work, maybe in your neighborhood or even a family member at a gathering of relatives.

Another thought might make an excellent Church Activity. Why not collect the Columbia magazines from your members when they are finished reading it, and put them in the church pamphlet rack at your local parishes? I strongly suggest you get the pastor’s approval (give him one if he is not a member) and make sure the magazines are in good condition. And remove the address label. Or keep the address label, and write in “For more information, contact:” and your phone number. Or possibly use a generic label covering the address that lists who to contact for anyone interested in joining. It’s a great magazine and we should share it!

With the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, our thoughts should be on the gratefulness of God’s gifts to us and the birth of our Savior.

But world and national news keeps our thoughts focused on conflicts and wars, the sufferings of our fellow Christians in the Middle East, the deaths of our unborn, the struggles for our religious freedom and the efforts to redefine marriage. But God continues to show His love for us and gives us spiritual leaders like Pope Francis and our bishops and priests, to guide us and to show us how to be the “Light of World”.

On behalf of your state officers, directors and staff, I want to wish you and yours a very Blessed and Joyous Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Be the Light!!

Page 4__________________________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin________________________________________________November-December, 2014

New Ukrainian bishop is installed

A Fourth Degree Honor Guard from Ohio District 1, including Master Bill Studenic, took part in the ceremonies on Nov. 15 when Most Rev. Bohdan Danylo was installed as Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma on Nov. 15 at the Cathedral of St. Josaphat in Parma (Cleveland Diocese). The principal consecrator was His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Jim Sieber and his buddy, Buford Continued from Page 1

that was wrong. On the very first page of the book was the statement, “If you do not intend to spend 30 minutes a day developing this skill, put the book down, because the rest of it will not do you any good”.

So that’s what he did. He set the book aside and forgot about it for about 15 years.

But then he decided to open the book again, and take it seriously this time. And, yes, he spent 30 minutes or more reading it and practicing each day.

“It took me a year before I developed the skills I needed to become a ventriloquist,” he said.

Then he purchased his first “dummy”, Buford, which had been handmade in Colorado. Today his collection includes about 30 dummies, all handmade, worth in the neighborhood of $8,000. And, of course, he has memorized different programs – and different voices – for each of them.

“Buford still is my favorite,” Jim says. “I suppose my other favorites would be Leo, Corkey and George.”

Jim still remembers the first program he gave as a ventriloquist.

“It was with Buford in front of my daughter’s first grade class,” he said. “I was scared to death for weeks before getting up in front of those six-year-olds and performing. But wow, I was a big hit!”

Jim explained that all his programs are clean-cut.

“This is what I love to do, entertaining people with my dummies in a clean-cut way to show my Christian values. I love seeing the faces of the people in the audiences; to see them laughing.”

Jim has lived in Canton his whole life. He was graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School, then took selected college courses and home study in electrical engineering. He worked 31 years at the Timken Company as an electrical power distribution operator (in charge of all electrical power and air systems). He also served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, also in the electrical field.

Jim joined the Knights of Columbus in 1963 at Canton Council 341, where he held almost all of the officers positions. He transferred to Massillon Council 554, serving in all the elective positions, including Grand Knight two times. In 1964 he became a Sir Knight of the Fourth Degree, first with an assembly in Canton and then with Massillon Assembly 820, where he served as Faithful Navigator.

He also served as a District Deputy for four years, and has been on the Degree Team for Fourth Degree exemplifications for many years. In 2013 he was Class Honoree at the Youngstown Diocese Spring Exemplification. And he has been a First and Second Degree Team captain, and has been honored as Knight of the Year, and his family was honored as Family of the Year.

Jim and his wife, Florence, have been married 49 years. The attend St. Joan of Arc Church in Canton, where he has been an Eucharistic Minister and Lector for 35 years.

He also has served on Parish Council and has been on the RICA team for eight years.

And he holds a master’s certification in CCD.

Dates set for Charity Campaign Road Shows

Plans are being made for the 2015 Super Cash Bonanza Charity Campaign Road Shows, according to State Treasurer Kevin Miller, chairman.

State officers will conduct the Road Shows – when the campaign will be explained and the tickets distributed – in each diocese on the weekends of Feb. 12, 14 and 15, and Feb. 20, 21. A list of times and locations will be published in the January-February issue of the Buckeye Bulletin.

Ohio Knights in Action

The goal of this Buckeye Bulletin feature is to incorporate activities that Ohio Knights and Ohio Councils do throughout the fraternal year. We invite councils to send information for inclusion in this feature. Send to: Harding Christ, Editor, Buckeye Bulletin, 32649 Surrey Lane, Avon Lake, OH 44012-1642. Email: harding.c@oh.rr. com. Councils that submit articles for the Buckeye Bulletin can claim credit for Public Relations Activities Program Step #40.

When a member of River East Mother Teresa 14344 became ill and fell behind in his financial obligations, the council, led by Grand Knight Matt Stapleton conceived a plan to help him.

Rather than the council taking money from its treasury for a donation, a “Passing the Hat for a Brother in Need” project was implemented. And it worked. According to Stapleton, plenty of donations were received to assist with the bills of the Brother Knight in need.

“Our current State Deputy Ken Girt’s theme, ‘We Are the Light of Ohio’, to us means as Catholics we are the leaders, the bright future of what lies ahead for our faith, council, family and church community,” said Stapleton. “We as members of River East Mother Teresa Council 14344 are committed to fulfill the dream of Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney by taking care of the widows and orphans and fellow Brother Knights in any situation that may arise before us.” *

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Members of Our Lady of the Light Council 14891, Kettering, is proud of its achievement of attaining Double Star Council. Deputy Grand Knight Ed Hiehle wrote this report: “Scientists estimate there are as many as 400 billion stars in the Milky Way, but the (Church of the) Ascension Knights of Columbus know this number to be WRONG! There are two new stars shining over our K of C council after earning one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Knights of Columbus headquartered in New Haven, Conn. – the coveted Double Star Award.”

Father Ragan Council 3269, Avon, this year is financially supporting the Gabriel Project, an organization staffed by volunteers who are at the ready to supply all manner of help to pregnant women who are experiencing difficulties. The Gabriel Project is an Indiana-based group ….. Members of St. Jude/South Toledo Council 3904 participated in the Third Annual Crawl, Stroll and Walk for Heartbeat last September. Heartbeat’s mission is to be the best source of information and support for women who are pregnant and to provide assistance to mothers, fathers and babies in need.

New Washington Council 1718 has been celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year with various special projects and events. The council was founded Jan. 26, 1914 ….. Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Assembly 1767, Cleveland, last May 31 assisted the VFW with a Veterans Appreciation Day. A local member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen was honored ….. Members of Prince of Peace Council 14111 gather to pray the Rosary before each of their council meetings ….. North Ridgeville Council 7970 had a gravestone memorial to the aborted unborn dedicated at St. Peter Church Nov. 2 ….. Heights Council 3087 teamed up with the Gesu Respect Life Committee to sponsor a Respect Life event Nov. 12 at the Church of the Gesu in University Heights, across from John Carroll University. Theme of the event was “Forgiven, Not Forgotten”, Three Perspectives of Prison Ministry.

Our Lady of Carroll County Council 15401, Carrollton, has donated funds to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, located in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The sisters conducted a summer mission in Carrollton for the children of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception churches ….. The Knights of Eaton Council 3698 have donated 30 school backpacks to the Once Around Shop.

The Knights support charitable causes in Preble County as well as helping their home parish, Visitation Catholic Church ..... North Ridgeville Council 7970 has placed Keep Christ in Christmas signs in front of two Catholic churches in the city.

Los Angeles to host Special Olympics World Games

The Special Olympics World Games will be held in Los Angeles beginning July 25, 2015. More than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries around the world will participate.

Knights of Columbus councils are encouraged to work with their state/local Special Olympics organization to determine what is needed to help them succeed. The K of C always has had a close relationship with Special Olympics.

November-December, 2014_________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin_________________________________________________________________ Page 5

State Church Activities

Keep Christ in Christmas

By Don Prall

State Church Activities Director

Keeping Christ in Christmas is keeping the very heart and meaning of the Christmas celebration alive. At Christmas we honor the birth of Jesus Christ.

As we are called to be champions for Christ, there is a need each year to remind each and every person that Christmas is a Holy Day. The Knights of Columbus sponsors ”Keep Christ in Christmas” to remind everyone that Christmas is more than shopping, baking or decorating. It’s a joyous celebration of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.

There are a number of ways councils can promote projects during the Christmas season: • Feeding the needy.

• Dinner for senior citizens of the community.

• Children’s Christmas party with Santa.

• A council or assembly Christmas party.

• A community Bulletin Board proclaiming “Keep Christ in Christmas”.

• Distribution of coats to needy children.

Christmas is not an event for celebrating just once a year, but rather a daily revealing of the character, love and spirit of Christ that dwells in every person -- especially we Knights of Columbus, as we allow the love and generosity of Jesus Christ to shine through all that we do and all that we are as servants of our Lord.

Don’t forget to submit a Christmas season program to obtain your well-deserved points.

And remember: It is okay to say “Merry Christmas”.

Youth Activities

It’s time to order your Free Throw Kits

The Annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw contests will begin in January, and if your council hasn’t yet ordered its Free Throw Kit from Supreme, it’s time to do so.

Council competitions are to be held during the month of January, with District, Regional contests to follow. The State Finals will be held at Bishop Ready High School in Columbus on Saturday, March 21.

For councils that have participated in the Annual K of C Essay Contest, your judging should be completed by now and your winning essays should be sent to your District Deputy or Diocesan District Deputy Coordinator for their judging. They, in turn, will send their results to me during the month of December.

Also, please think about the Substance Abuse Poster Contest. If your council is going to participate, your kits should be ordered in December.

And don’t forget our other youth activities, including Activity No.64, Breakfast/ Lunch with St. Nick, and Activity No. 52, Youth Food and Clothing Drive.

With the Christmas season coming up, Activity No. 61, Youth Religious Activity, certainly would fit in well.

Bob Walsh, State Youth Activities Director

It’s time to think about the 2015 Measure-Up Campaign

By State Warden Mark Siracusa, 2015 Measure-Up Chairman It’s time to kick start the 2015 Measure-Up Campaign. Council Financial Secretaries are putting together dues notices for the 2015 year. Included in the dues notice will be a request to donate to the “Gimme 5” portion of the Measure-Up Campaign. That means members will donated $5.00 to help the special population of Ohio. Members in turn will receive a special Gimme 5 sticker to be placed on their membership card in recognition of their donation.

District Deputies already should have determined the ruler count for their councils.

If he hasn’t yet done so, councils are asked to remind their District Deputy to do so.

The rulers and the 2015 Measure-Up program materials will be delivered by the District Deputy in January, 2015, to their councils. Dates for the 2015 campaign are April 24, 25, and 26; and May 1, 2, and 3. *

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It has been brought to my attention that some councils may be still using old Measure-Up materials. Please discard such materials – can labels, posters, aprons and rulers – that do not have the phrase “Help Citizens with Developmental Disabilities” on them. No items in reference to “Mentally Retarded” should be used. If you need new Measure-Up materials, contact your District Deputy, or me at: 1310 Markey Dr., Bryan, OH 43506.

Field Agents Mark Mandel and Nathan Frazee give part of a presentation at a District Deputy Training program hosted by the James Valent Agency on Sept. 20.

Information was shared and after the meeting everyone enjoyed a steak dinner. The event is held annually for the District Deputies served by the Valent Agency.

Knights of Columbus Insurance

The Retirement Balancing Act

By James Valent, F.I.C.F., General Agent State Insurance Liaison

Think of retirement as a three-legged stool. In order to maintain balance, you need all three legs … or there is a real possibility of a crash!

One leg consists of the benefits the government offers you. Debate rages about the viability of future benefits, and our best advice is to stay tuned to the discussion and make sure you are aware of what is planned for those benefits. Any change in future promises should be accounted for when we get to the third leg.

The second leg is your company’s pension plan, either defined benefit (such as a traditional pension: you work so many years and the company provides you with so much monthly benefit) or defined contribution (such as the popular 401K plans). Some of these plans, particularly traditional ones, are under stress, have been frozen or pared back. Learn how yours works; read the plan description; stay on top of the news coming from the company. On the 401K side, become a good investor. Teach yourself the fundamentals and know how much you have and when you will need it.

Finally, the third leg is the saving you do yourself, and this is the only aspect you can control completely.

Everyone needs this third leg. It consists of the money you personally set aside on a disciplined basis to help in retirement. You don’t directly control government benefits and you don’t directly manage your company’s pension plan, but You must manage Your money and Your life.

Establish a retirement plan of your own. Here at the Knights of Columbus, you can open a retirement annuity for as little as $300. Consistent and disciplined savings placed into that annuity over time can GUARANTEE you an income that you cannot outlive at retirement. That’s right – Guarantee You an Income You Cannot Outlive.

As you ponder all the things that may not work out as you proceed toward retirement, think about the one thing you can do to help yourself. It’s reasonable, guaranteed and controlled by someone you trust: YOU! Who do you trust?

We’re here to help.

Dates set for Charity Campaign Road Shows

Plans are being made for the 2015 Super Cash Bonanza Charity Campaign Road Shows, according to State Treasurer Kevin Miller, chairman.

State officers will conduct the Road Shows – when the campaign will be explained and the tickets distributed – in each diocese on the weekends of Feb. 12, 14 and 15, and Feb. 20, 21. A list of times and locations will be published in the January-February issue of the Buckeye Bulletin.

Page 6__________________________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin________________________________________________November-December, 2014

State General Program

Active councils are successful councils

By Jeff Kiliany

State General Program Director

Ask members of any councils that received “Star Council” recognition this past year what their secret to success is, and their answer no doubt will be “ACTIVITIES”.

Activity breeds success. The more activities and charitable works that your councils do in your parish and community, the more people will see and appreciate all that your council does.

Doing activities generates interest among your existing members, and makes your council more desirable for new members to join your council. New members bring new life to a council by bringing new ideas with them. It’s a circular process where everyone wins because it benefits the council and its’ existing members, the new member, the parish, and community.

Our “Light of Ohio” State General Program can be a huge help to Grand Knights and councils throughout the State of Ohio. It has great ideas and suggestions for numerous council activities that have been done by some of the most successful councils in the state. A few of the activities that councils across the state are doing: • Msgr Gerdes Council 3123, Amelia, helped with the Parish Pig Roast at St. Mary’s in Bethel.

• Council 6373 helped a seminarian who is a member of the council obtain a special vestment for the installation Mass for Bishop Thomas in the Toledo Diocese.

• Saint Joan of Arc Council10765, Powell, raised $7,450 to put towards the Supreme-featured Culture of Life Ultrasound program that is being sponsored by the council’s chapter.

• Defiance Council1039 hosted its Annual Ladies Appreciation Dinner held at the council’s hall.

• Fr. Charles Mentrup Council 14400, Cincinnati Archdiocese, held a fall social at Valley Vineyards in Morrow, Ohio, that was attended by Knights and their wives.

• Council 947, Painesville, recently held its 4th Annual “Used Corvette Raffle”. The money raised will be used to fund the council’s Charity budget, which has grown from $300 a year to more than $8,000 last year.

• North Ridgeville Council 7970 runs a program called Hooked on Fishing. The program is meant to teach youngsters the fun of fishing rather than the abuse of drugs.

These are all active and vibrant councils, that are not only doing some very noteworthy council activities, but they also are reporting them on the State Website as well. The list of the top councils in each division and diocese is not quite finished, but will be posted soon on the State Website and in next month’s edition of the Lighthouse, the Ohio State Council’s E-newsletter.

Spread the Light of Christmas: Knights and their families throughout the Order are invited to help spread the Light of Christ on Dec. 2 by lighting a Nativity scene and/or Christmas tree at 8:00 p.m. The Knights of Columbus’ Keep Christ in Christmas campaign helps to remind us that Christmas is, above all, a holy day celebrating the birth of Christ. Our Light of Ohio State General Program encourages councils to do activities promoting Christmas as a religious time of year. Any council activity of this nature can be claimed in the Church Program under Activity #3.

With that in mind, I would like to wish you and your families a very merry and blessed Christmas!

State Community Activities

Gifts for Seniors is a great Community program

Brothers, please remember Activity #22, Christmas Gifts for Seniors as we approach the Christmas season. And keep up the good work, as many councils are just one report away from maxing the Community Program!

Here’s a tip for all those council and assembly Knights who dress up in suits and regalia when doing community activities for the K of C. The ladies will appreciate this tip also. The tip is: apply witch hazel with a cotton ball on your neck and collar area just before you put on your white dress shirt or tux shirt. It keeps the sweat stains from discoloring the collar in your shirts! One of my parish Deacon’s wife told me about it and …. Woo Hoo ….. it really does work!

From my wife, Bonnie, and myself, Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

Larry Droesch, State Community Activities Director.

Squires at the Leadership Seminar, with State Squires Director Marty Schumacher (lower left) and State Secretary Bob Collins (upper right).

Ohio Squires

Leadership seminar hosted by Danville Circle

By Marty Schumacher State Squires Director

The State Squires of Ohio held a statewide Leadership Seminar on the weekend of Nov. 15-16, hosted by Danville St. Luke’s Circle 3676. Representatives from seven circles were present. A special guest was State Secretary Bob Collins, a former State Squires Director.

The Squires spent Saturday afternoon socializing and participating in some leadership activities. A prayer service was conducted after dinner, followed by writing letters about faith and what Mary Our Mother means to us. They will be judged by State Father Prior Fr. F. Richard Snoke.

The Squires’ next event will be a State Dodge Ball Tournament on Jan 31-Feb. 1. It will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Circle 4891 in Pickerington.

I have been very encouraged by the interest in councils wanting to start new Squires Circles. We as Knights need to work hard at looking into starting new Circles and being leadership models for our youth. We have the capabilities to make our councils grow through the Squires program by working with our youth and supporting them with our sponsorship.

What better way to get a new Knight than by mentoring him through the Squires; then, when he turns 18 he can join the ranks of the Knights of Columbus and become a great leader in your council.

If you are thinking about starting a circle but are not sure what to do, please contact me at 63084 Barnesville-Hendrysburg Rd., Barnesville, OH 43713; email martyschu@ hotmail.com; cell phone (740) 310-0314.

Diocesan Top 5 Councils in Membership as of November 1, 2014

Cincinnati Diocese Council Location Net Fairborn 3724 Fairborn 10 (tie) Archbishop Elder 1195 Cincinnati 6 (tie) Fr. Kunkler 2158 Minster 6 St. Joseph 3 Rivers 11550 North Bend 5 (tie) Archbishop Purcell 2798 Cincinnati 4 (tie) Fort Recovery 3324 Ft. Recovery 4 (tie) /St. Margaret 13429 Loveland 4 (tie) St. Charles 14995 Kettering 4 Columbus Diocese Council Josephinum 15009 St. Brigid of Kildare 10863 (tie) St. Jude 5801 (tie) New Albany 10941 (tie) Immaculate Heart 5899 (tie) St. Catherine 11354 Toledo Diocese Council Ottawa 1757 St. Joan of Arc 15905 Gibsonburg 2280 Blessed John XXIII 14502 (tie) Fremont 591 (tie) Norwalk 526 (tie) St. Francis 1234 (tie) Carey 1925 (tie) Sacred Heart 2850 (tie) St. Jude 3904 (tie) St. Patrick 14155

Location Net Columbus 14 Dublin 8 Gahanna 7 New Albany 7 Columbus 6 Columbus 6 Location Net Ottawa 10 Holland 8 Gibsonburg 7 Perrysburg 6 Fremont 5 Norwalk 5 Galion 5 Carey 5 Swanton 5 Toledo 5 Toledo 5

Cleveland Diocese Council Location Net St. Adelbert’s 15901 Berea 11 Our Lady of Charity 14406 Broadview Hts. 9 John Carroll Univ. 8320 University Hts. 6 James Martin 637 Lorain 5 (tie) Wooster 789 Wooster 4 (tie) Don Bosco 4801 Mentor 4 (tie) North Ridgeville 7970 North Ridgeville 4 (tie) Immaculate 13517 Cuyahoga Falls 4 (tie) St. Mary of Falls 14416 Olmsted Falls 4 (tie) Holy Family 15056 Parma 4 Steubenville Diocese Council Location Net (tie) Cambridge 1641 Cambridge 4 (tie) Fr. Klueber 2565 Caldwell 4 (tie) Bishop Watterson 1405 Ironton 4 St. Ambrose 15569 Belpre 3 (tie) Bellaire 1246 Bellaire 2 (tie) Our Lady Carroll Co. Carrollton 2 Youngstown Diocese Council Location Net (tie) Msgr. Mears 3930 Youngstown 4 (tie) St. Michael 15458 North Canton 4 (tie) St. Francis Cabrini 4484 Warren 3 (tie) St. Ambrose 11801 Garrettsville 3 (tie) Holy Family 15573 Youngstown 3

November-December, 2014_________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin_________________________________________________________________ Page 7

It’s time for a council evaluation Continued from Page 1

by Dec. 31, I have failed in my attempt. But if a council’s membership GOAL is One Member … Per Month (which should be the GOAL of every council in the state) and on Dec. 31 my council has only brought in two members, I can still reach my goal with better planning and execution.

One of the biggest obstacles with the Knights of Columbus’ fraternal year beginning July 1 is that this is the time of year for spending time with kids on summer break; time for family vacations, and time for extra yard work. These all take time that cannot be devoted to our K of C responsibilities. As personal time consuming tasks slow down in the late fall and winter, we have more time to give. We have more time to plan and execute our goals set at the beginning of the fraternal year.

I challenge each council to review where they currently stand with membership and other fraternal goals. Has your council done everything it can to recruit new members?

Have you been active in the parish and community? Have you invited non-members to council events to show them the good works of our order? Have you challenged each and every member of your council to search for the treasure of a new member?

When you do this review, set monthly goals that will help you reach your membership goal for the fraternal year. At the very least, set goals to reach your membership quota.

One number that always concerns me is the number of councils that have not recruited a single member for the year. As of Nov. 1, 2014, that number stands at 225 councils.

If you polled these councils and they gave an honest answer, they would probably have to say NO to most of or all of the questions listed above.

As of this date, the remaining councils in Ohio have recruited a total of 518 members.

For the State Council to reach its statewide goal of 2,500 new members for the fraternal year, that number should be closer to 1,000 members recruited as of Nov. 1. If those 225 councils brought in only two members each for the first five months of the fraternal year, we would be much closer to our statewide recruitment goal.

Again, I challenge every council to hold an Officers Meeting to review the status of their council. I googled “Planning and Execution” and found a website that shows these steps for success: • Develop the strategy • Plan the strategy • Align the organization • Plan operations • Monitor and learn • Test and adapt How can these steps be implemented into your councils membership recruitment plan? Here is how I see it: 1. Develop the strategy- Look at your quotas and goals and see where you currently stand. Set monthly goals for membership growth.

2. Plan the strategy- Decide what programs and recruitment tools can be used to be successful. Think outside the box. If it hasn’t worked in the past, if no changes are made, it probably won’t work in the future.

3. Align the organization- Put together “Membership Teams”. Challenge Officers to lead by example and recruit at least one new member in the last six months of the fraternal year. Make sure that your council Membership Director is not just a name on a piece of paper, but a dedicated knight who wants the council to grow.

4. Plan operations- Plan specific programs, with set dates and goals. Make absolutely sure that this plan includes a March Church Drive. Use the Fraternal Leader Success Planner to align your council’s effort with order-wide programs. Some of these items include order-wide Corporate Communions the weekend of January 24-25, 2015, Church Drives the weekend of March 14-15, 2015, and First Degrees the week of March 16-22.

5. Monitor and learn- As scheduled programs are executed, review the success of them and learn from mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, learning from them is the key to getting better at execution.

6. Test and adapt- After each event is held, have a team of members make recommendation on how to improve on it. Make changes to improve on results.

Even if the program was a success, what can be done to make it better?

I would love to hear from councils that complete this review and come up with a plan.

Let me know what you are doing to hit your goals at kpgardner@fuse.net and I will share it with other councils around the state. Thank you for all you do to grow our Order, and remember, the treasure of a new member is out there, we just need to go find them!

Ohio State Council Membership as of November 1, 2014 Diocese

Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Steubenville Toledo Youngstown TOTALS

Year to Date Gain

Year to Date Loss

453 312 286 81 409 209

96 104 144 26 96 59

67 81 91 19 29 93

29 23 53 7 67 -34

6.4% 7.4% 18.5% 8.6% 16.4% -16.3%

424 289 233 74 342 243

1,750

525

380

145

8.3%

1605

Quota

Net

Percent of Quota

Needed

A Special Membership Contest: Council Recruitment Brochure

By Ken Gardner State Membership Director

Supreme Council has plenty of very informative Membership Recruitment material available for local councils; material which tells the Knights of Columbus story in an outstanding way. But does it tell the story of YOUR council?

The history that you are so proud of, the awards that you have won, the programs that serve your specific parish and community so well, and the things that makes your council stand out. How do you tell a prospective member what YOU DO? Luckily, every council in Ohio has the opportunity to create a custom brochure that tells the story of YOUR council. Supreme Council has the items you need to make that brochure special to that prospective member.

Start with the full-color brochure paper, available from Supreme Council as item #4242 at a reasonable cost of $5.00 for a package of 250 sheets. Next, go to the link below to learn how to create the best brochure that you can: http://www.kofc.org/un/en/service/council/brochure/ Flyer #4125 also gives tips on putting together a top notch brochure: http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/membership/brochuredesign.pdf Once your brochure is created, give a few copies to every member of your council.

Put them on display in the back of your parishes. Use them at recruitment drives. In other words, put them to work!

I am sure that quite a few councils in Ohio already have a custom brochure. We want to see them all! We want to recognize those that stand out among all others!

We are asking all councils to send a hard copy of your council brochure to State Membership Director Ken Gardner. All brochures submitted by Feb. 28, 2015, will be placed in a contest to pick the best brochure in each division and in the State of Ohio.

This program was originally rolled out with a deadline of Nov. 30, but we decided to extend it to give all councils a chance to send us their brochure.

Here is all you need to do: • Create a council brochure using the ideas listed above, or update your current brochure with the latest information about your council.

• Mail a copy of your brochure to State Membership Director Ken Gardner, 321 Greenwell Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45238 by Feb. 28, 2015.

One brochure from each division will be chosen by a panel of judges as the best, with one of these divisional winner chosen as the best brochure in the state. Plaques will be awarded at the State Convention in May recognizing these winners. Don’t delay, send your brochure in today. If you have any questions, contact State Membership Director Ken Gardner by email at kpgardner@fuse.net.

Notre Dame honors K of C, Anderson for pro-life efforts The Knights of Columbus and Supreme Knight Carl Anderson have been named the recipients of a University of Notre Dame institute’s 2015 Evangelium Vitae medal in recognition of their pro-life efforts.

“Since its inception, the Knights of Columbus has protected and supported the most vulnerable among us,” Carter Snead, director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, said last Oct. 5. He noted that the K of C has contributed $1.4 billion to charity in the last 14 years and its members have performed 664 million hours of community service. It has donated more than 268 ultrasound machines worth an estimated $14 million to pregnancy resource centers in 44 U.S. states and in Canada.

Page 8__________________________________________________________________Buckeye Bulletin________________________________________________November-December, 2014

Christmas card courtesy of CARLTON Cards

The Ohio State Council Officers wish everyone a joyful, peaceful and Merry Christmas

State Chaplain Fr. Bill Kraynak

State Deputy Ken & Linda Girt

State Secretary Bob & Linda Collins

State Advocate Bob & Peg Byers

State Warden Mark & Beth Siracusa

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus

Dinner benefits Cancer patient

Prince of Peace Council 14111, Norton (Cleveland Diocese) and members of its Ladies Auxiliary teamed up last summer to host a dinner to raise funds for cancer victim Debbie Cinalt. More than 200 meals were served. The idea for the fundraiser was generated by Bobbi Stansky, Ladies Auxiliary member.

State Treasurer Kevin & Tish Miller

Bobbi Stansky, Prince of Peace Council Ladies Auxiliary member, and Debbie Cinalt.

We’re almost there

Supreme’s Military Chaplain Scholarship Fund should reach its goal of $1 million this fraternal year

The Knights of Columbus’ Military Chaplain Scholarship Fund has almost reached its goal of $1 million. As of the end of October, $885,880 had been raised by the Order’s assemblies and councils throughout the United States.

“What a tribute to the generosity of the state councils and the Brother Knights who have given to such an important and necessary cause,” commented Vice Supreme Master Don Hall, of Wintersville in the Steubenville Diocese, who heads the fundraising efforts in the Fourth Degree Hennepin Province of Ohio and Michigan. “With the dedication and support of Knights throughout the country, we can reach the $1 million goal by the end of this fraternal year.”

Due to a chronic shortage of active duty Catholic military chaplains in the U.S., Supreme Council promoted the raising of $1 million in scholarship money to the Archdiocese of the Military Services U.S.A. over a period of five years. These funds will hopefully help produce a new generation of Catholic chaplains to minister to U.S. military personnel and their families, Hall said.

Contributions are accepted from all sources – individuals, councils, assemblies, church groups, etc. Checks should be made payable to “Knights of Columbus” and have the words “Military Scholarship” on the memo line. Donations should be mailed to: Don Hall, VSM, 301 Garden Dr., Wintersville, OH 43953-4113.

In this age of commercialism during our Christmas holidays, when people and businesses do not even refer to the word “Christmas”, it’s good to look back at the treasures of the past. That is why we’re reprinting that famous writing, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. In this writing, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897.

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says, “If you see it in the Sun it’s so.” Please tell me the truth: is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon, 115 West 95th St., New York City

Virginia: Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus? It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.