February 2003

MONSIGNOR O’CONNELL COUNCIL 8072
 Business Meetings

3^rd Thursday of each month

7:30 P.M.--Officers/Committee 8:15 P.M. Rosary    8:30 P.M. General Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Knight’s Message—January/February 2003

Grand Knight’s Report

January 2003

 

 

 

My Brothers in Christ,

There is a lot of information to cover, so, I will organize my report by council program.  First I want to announce the appointment of BK Louis Ruiz to the honored position of Financial Secretary of Monsignor O’Connell Council by our Worthy Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.  Thank you Brother Louis for accepting this responsibility and we thank God for your service.  We also give thanks to our Lord for the dedication and service of our outgoing FS, SK Gene Morrow.  Gene and Delores, we will always be grateful that you stepped up to the challenge and helped hold this council together. 

Terry Lilly, another one of our “go to” men when we need some help fast, has offered to step up to the plate and take over as Warden for Louis.  Thanks again Terry!

 

Regarding Church Activities:

My deepest thanks go to all of our members who contributed prayers, time, and financial assistance to remodel St. Jude’s sanctuary.  We all must give special recognition to our council’s spiritual advisor, Deacon Joe Manion and his wife Carol.  Deacon Joe was on the construction site daily helping to keep the project on time and within budget.  I know that Deacon Joe would be quick to point out the efforts of others on his team, and rightly so, but I just wanted to shine our ‘fraternal spotlight’ on Joe and Carols’ efforts.  I serve a small role on the executive building committee, and I know that they were an essential part of the church being completed on time by solving dozens of significant problems that our parish community never even knew about. 

Let’s also remember Frank Campana and our other committeemen last year who put together the Horizon Singers fund raising concert for the building fund!  Way to go 8072!

 

Regarding Council Activities:

Brother Michael Conley, our Chairman, despite much personal adversity, has been moving forward with our council PR procedures.  Lets all be aware that any contact with parish offices regarding bulletin announcements and the like should go through Michael.  We want to establish a consistent relationship with our church administrators.  The only other council members who might contact the parish offices directly on council business are the Grand Knight and the Warden (for facility scheduling).  Everyone else, please go through Brother Conley.

I want to thank the newsletter team again for getting the Knight Lights out last month.  We finally accomplished both an e-mail and hard copy mailing.  Special thanks to Brother John Zitzelberger for doing the hard copy mailing. Please remember that this takes money, so, please consider becoming a Knight Lights patron and send our Financial Secretary, Louis Ruiz, your donation (minimum $10 for one year…there is no maximum).

Everyone received a mailing from me regarding this year’s Survey of Fraternal Activity.  Thank you for your response.  I sent out about 150 surveys and have received to date about 50.  Please take a moment and return the survey in the pre paid envelope.  I will report the results next month.

 

Regarding Retention/Membership:

Well, the big news here is that Duke (chairman) and Brenda Ehrhardt are relocating their family to Louisiana.  Everyone agrees that it is “a Holy Spirit thing” and will be a great benefit to their family and to some lucky council and parish in Louisiana, but lets face it WE ARE BUMMED!!  Our Council is currently at 170% of our Supreme membership quota for the Star Council award.  This is due in great part to Duke’s efforts and the enthusiasm he inspires in others.  Last year, hoping to spark a fire that would renew and enliven our council, I met with Father Bill and asked him to point me toward some men in our parish that might be willing to help.  He said, simply, “I want you to call Duke Ehrhardt”.  Our Pastor has great insight.  I met with Duke and he unreservedly signed on and got busy.  Duke and Brenda, I thank you personally and on behalf of our council for all that you have shared with us.  We wish you all the best and pray that you will continue in the peace of Jesus.

 

Regarding Pro Life Activities:

I have to keep writing about retention and membership because our Pro Life chairman, Bruce Gorman, has agreed to take over for Duke.  This means two things, first, we can all breath easy because, with Bruce leading the way, the retention/membership efforts will not even skip a beat. Second, Bruce wants to strengthen the Pro Life committee to keep this effort moving forward.  This is the 30^th anniversary of Roe vs Wade. We have the most Pro Life slate of federal government officials since the law was enacted.  We need to seize this opportunity to make lasting change in our country’s moral awareness of the culture of life.  Brothers, please call Bruce and ask what he needs!

 

Regarding Family Activities:

In the coming months we will be getting underway with our three on three basketball tournament and family retreat. There is more to come on that from Kevin Larkin (chairman) and David Griffin, DGK.

 

Regarding Community Activities:

Chairman Bill Chiaro and I are in the planning stages of two service areas.  Bill is very passionate about increasing our services to those in need because of infirmity or isolation.  He is designing an educational program to inform our community about long term care needs and resources as well as end of life planning.  The other service area is feeding the hungry.  Our local Catholic community is blessed to have a top notch, highly effective food distribution program in place.  This is the Loaves and Fishes program.  I am sure many of our members are participating in this already.  I feel we can dramatically increase our involvement.  Brother Mark Paris just joined our council.  He has been very involved with this program and has agreed to be our council’s liaison.  I have asked Mark to assess our current level of involvement and work with Bill Chiaro to educate our members about this program and get us all on board.  I know this will be just the thing for many of our members who have wanted a way to support the councils charitable efforts but feel ‘tapped out’ from the demands of family, work, or other volunteer activities.  In the Loaves and Fishes program, participants can be organizers, callers, drivers, or simply place groceries once a quarter on their doorstep to be picked up and distributed to the needy.  It is a great program.  Look for Bill and Mark to contact you about it.

 

Regarding Youth Activities:

Thanks to Bob Tarn and the Free Throw Competition crew for a successful event (see Bob’s report).

 

Well, I think three pages is quite enough from your Grand Knight in one newsletter.  Sorry I ran so long.  Keep up the good work brothers.

Vivat Jesus!

Seth Wegher-Thompson, GK, FIC
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                                Basketball Free-Throw Competition

Our basketball free-throw competition had less-than-expected participation, despite heavy promotion.  On the positive side, we did have a ~10% increase in participation over last year (21 vs. 19 contestants).  Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of it all is that Gigi Ghobrial, who competed in our competition as the only girl in her division for the past 3 years, has taken enough interest in basketball (because of our free-throw, according to her mom) that she has placed on the Chaminade Girls Basketball Team, and is now showing an impressive 9 for 15 free-throw performance!  Way to go Gigi!!

 

Below are the results of the 2003 Basketball Free-Throw

 

Thanks go to all of the following who helped with the promotion and with the competition at St. Jude’s:

 

Brother Knights

 

Family Members

Shannon Larkin

David Lilly

Ian Wegher-Thompson

 

 

Bob Tarn

Basketball Free-Throw Chairman

Fred D’Astoli and Seth Wegher-Thompson “getting the word out”

at St. Jude’s on Sunday, January 5, 2003.

 

Fred D’Astoli, Terry Lilly, Al Liddicoat, Ian Wegher-Thompson,

Louis Ruiz, and Seth Wegher-Thompson at St. Jude’s on Sunday,

January 5, 2003

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Report—January/February

 

Membership dues collected through January 22, 2003 is $2,415.50, or 39%.

In addition, we collected $11.oo at the last Council meeting on January 16, 2003, $7.00 from the 50-50 draw and $4.00 from soft drinks donations.

 

A second notice of dues not paid will be sent to members after January 31, 2003.

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All members of the Knights of Columbus, we need you to volunteer ASAP to help with registering attendees at this year’s Lenten adult education classes.  Last year this was called St. Max and St. Jude University. About 1300 people participated.  This year, courses will be offered at St. Max, St. Jude, and St. Paschal’s, St. Julie’s and at La Reina High School.  The name has been changed to: 

The KofC councils in Newbury Park and Westlake Village are excited to join together to support this program. We have committed to assist by running the registration tables for each evening’s classes.  Volunteers will attend class free of charge. You will serve on a team with two or three other knights. Each team will have brothers from both councils so we will get to know our fellow knights across town and serve the community in unity. Please support this worthy Lenten activity.  This is exactly what our Church needs during these difficult times.  Weather you can help for an entire series of classes or just one evening, please call now and get on the contact list.  We will call you to set your schedule well in advance.  This is a highly organized, dynamic program.  We have about 140 volunteer timeslots to fill.  Please call ASAP!

Seth Wegher-Thompson, Grand Knight, Council #8072 (805) 241-6446  kcseth@earthlink.net.

 

 

 

 

Community Activities Director’s Report—January/February 2003

 

We are in the process of preparing a series of informational seminars (with
guest speakers) for the St. Jude's Catholic community (and surrounding
parishes) concerning such topics as "long term care" insurance and
"pre-need" funeral arrangements.  These seminars will be scheduled at a
time, place and date to be determined (our goal is to have such seminars at
St. Jude's parish hall.
Bill Chiaro

 

 

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     KNIGHT LIGHTS

                                                     PATRONS FOR 2003

 

IN THIS SECTION, WE WILL POST THE NAMES OF THOSE BROTHER KNIGHTS WHO MAKE A DONATION OF $10 OR MORE PER YEAR TO HELP PAY FOR THE COST OF DISTRIBUTING THIS NEWSLETTER.

PLEASE CONTACT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

 

 

Monsignor O’Connell Council #8072

  Officers and Directors 2002-2003

 

 

TITLE	NAME	PHONE #
Chaplain	Msgr William Leser	(818) 889-1279
Grand Knight	Seth Wegher-Thompson	(805) 241-6446
Deputy Grand Knight	David Griffin	(818) 991-3039
Financial Secretary	Gene Morrow	(818) 9914773
Chancellor	Duke Ehrhardt	(805) 241-9631
Recorder	Kevin Larkin	(818) 597-2520
Treasurer	Dick Crowley	(818) 991-5353
Advocate	Bob Tarn	(818) 706-3775
Warden	Louis Ruiz	(818) 889-2169
Inside Guard	Bill Wilkinson	(818) 889-2567
Outside Guard	Bryan Bruno
Trustee	Mike McCarthy	(805) 492-3072
Trustee	Terry Lilly	(818) 991-0340
Trustee	Al Liddicoat	(818) 706-3235
Membership Chairman	Duke Ehrhardt	(805) 241-9631
Lecturer	Open
Church Activities	Open
Community Activities	Bill Chiaro	(818) 597-0086
Family Activities	Kevin Larkin	(818) 597-2520
Youth Activities	Bob Tarn	(818) 706-3775
Council Activities	Michael Conley	(818) 389-3577
Pro Life Activities	Bruce Gorman	(805) 376-1377
Webmasters	Bryan, Sharon Bruno
Newsletter Editor	Fred D’Astoli	(818) 889-6899
Newsletter Mail Lists	Bob Tarn	(818) 706-3775
Newsletter Hard Copy Distrib.	John Zitzelberger	(805) 379-1894
District Deputy	Al McKinley	(805) 527-2056
Chapter President	Timothy Carvalho	(805) 306-5950
Insurance Agent	Seth Thompson	(805) 241-6446

 

CHARITY – UNITY – FRATERNITY – PATRIOTISM

Published for, and in the interest Monsignor O’Connell Council #8072 of the Knights of Columbus, P.O. Box 3216 Westlake Village, CA 91359