MINUTES OF COUNCIL GENERAL MEETING
Dining Room
08/01/2023
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.
OPENING PRAYER : Our Father by Grand Knight
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND OPENING ODE: by Grand Knight
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED
CHAPLAIN: VACANT
GRAND KNIGHT: MIKE FITZGERALD P WARDEN: EFRAIN OCHOA: P
DEP GRAND KNIGHT: MARC EVEANS: P INSIDE GUARD: GAMALIEL HERNANDEZ : P
CHANCELLOR: PAUL RYAN: EX OUTSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: PETE PERTA: P LECTURER: JAMES RUSSELL
TREASURER: JAMES SMITH: P 1ST YR TRUSTEE: DAN SCHNIEDER: EX
RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: P 2ND YR TRUSTEE: DAVID DYBALA: P
ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLY: P 3RD YR TRUSTEE: TOM GRECO: EX
ARE ALL PRESENT IN POSSESSION OF A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD: per Warden: Yes
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
The June and July Meeting minutes are posted on the website. There was a motion that the June and July meeting minutes be accepted as written which was seconded and passed.
GRAND KNIGHT’S REPORT:
Spanish Speaking Members -This is our first general membership meeting where we are utilizing Google Translate which allows us to project the Spanish translation of the meeting in real time on the screen behind our Grand Knight. There were two new Knights present and who were attending their first general membership meeting, Jorge Perez and Horacio Hurtado. They both took the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves.
Academic Scholarship Program –Two scholarships will be awarded this year. The two recipients are daughters of two current Knights. The scholarship committee consists of Dan Murphy, Mike Fitzgerald, and Steve Zehnder. The committee recommended giving preferential consideration to high school seniors in the future. The 2 winners for 2023 are Lisa Ramsden Perkin and Monica Nieto. Congratulations!
Rummage Sale –On Saturday, we had a good turnout of knights who showed up to help set up tables, bookshelves, and clothing racks for our annual Rummage Sale. The Rummage Sale will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the weekends of August 4th and August 11th. Thank you to all the knights who helped with this Knight Hands project.
Knights of Columbus Diocese of Dallas Organizational Meeting – was held on July 22nd. Mike Fitzgerald and Marc Evans were in attendance.
Several awards were presented including:
Chaplain of the Year: Fr. Rudy Garcia of St. Francis of Assisi, Frisco, TX
Knight of the Year: SK Dan Stoffel, Prince of Peace, Plano, TX
Council of the Year: St. Jude, Allen, TX,
and Texas State Council Award
English and Spanish Exemplification: St Mark the Evangelist, Plano, TX
Tom Clark is the Diocese Pro-Life Chairman. He handed out prayer cards and then led those attending the meeting in praying three Hail Marys:
The first Hail Mary – for the unborn;
The second Hail Mary – for the Moms of unborn babies that they allow their babies to be born; and
The third Hail Mary – for those in the abortion industry that they turn away from evil and seek the face of God.
Tom went on to ask that we pray three Hail Marys at our General Membership Meeting.
In the future, our Life Program Director, Mike Moloughney, will lead us in these prayers.
Safe Environment –This was a major topic at the Diocese of Dallas Operational meeting. The Knights of Columbus will need to do our own background check to vet prospective new members. This will be at our expense. The only exception will be a prospective Knight who has already passed the parish’s background check prior to becoming a member.
Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention –members from around the world will gather in Orlando, Florida on August 1-3, 2023. Our Jorge Ruiz will be in attendance.
Bowl for the Knight of the Year 2022-2023 –Jim Russell states the engraving was finally completed.
Installation of Officers – We will have the Installation of Officers on a Saturday evening in August. Date to be announced.
Exemplification Event for August – Although our team leader, Tom Greco, will be out of town, the plan is for the Council to conduct an Exemplification Ceremony on 08/08/2023.
Allen Reitmeier –He is present at the meeting, and we are glad he is doing better. Past Grand Knight, Jim Richardson, called and asked how Alan was doing. Jim also asked that we pray for his wife, Denice, who has recently suffered a mild stroke.
Treasurer’s Report:
James Smith advised the Council of the amount of the monthly deposits, expenditures and resulting final balance as of the end of July 2023. James said a baseball camp took place 2 weeks ago and it was both very hot and very busy! He does not have the final income numbers for baseball camp.
Financial Secretary Report:
Peter Perta
Membership stands at 220
We have 3 new members who joined on 06/08/2023
Daniel Kendall, Horacio Hurtado and Jorge Perez – Horacio and Jorge are present at this meeting.
Pat McLain achieved the status of honorary member for 25 years of service.
Membership dues collected stand at 63%
Star Council Award –Our goal is to bring in 13 new members; currently we are at three new members
Knight in Need Fund – The Council assisted the Eric Conner family with some of Eric’s funeral expenses. Due to the generous donations of several Knights, the Knight in Need Fund is now more than when Eric passed away.
Semi-Financial Audit is due on August 15, 2023
Program Directors Reports
Community – Dan Murphy – Absent, No Report
Faith – Deacon Al Evans – Absent, No Report
Family – Jose Montoya will be assuming this position
Life -Mike Moloughney – Absent, No Report
Membership/Admissions– SK Russell Gully – prior to tonight’s meeting, the committee met with one candidate, Efrain Perez, who is a painter. Russell made a motion that the Council approve Efrain’s application, which was seconded and passed.
Baseball Concessions- Miguel Hernandez, who helped with the gym set up for the Rummage Sale, was recognized for his service to the Council as the Concession Stand Scheduler and makes sure the Baseball Concessions are properly manned. James Smith reported that a baseball camp took place 2 weeks ago and it was both very hot and very busy! He does not have the final income numbers for the baseball camp.
Health –Robert Nieto will plan another blood drive in October. No date has been set.
Knight Hands- SK David Dybala- The team completed 2 projects. A wheelchair ramp was built for a family that is visited by our own Jack Ramsden while serving with the Meals on Wheels program. Materials were left over. Jose Montoya and David Dybala took down the iron gate to prepare the parking lot for new surfacing of the back parking lot.
Recruitment – Jim Kowalski has great news! Our pastor, Fr. Uche, has signed the paperwork to become a member of the Knights of Columbus. Jim said they also discussed scheduling 2 dates for Knight recruitment. September/October 2023 and March 2024. Fr. Many is already is a first-degreeknight. It is necessary but it is suggested that our priests can go through the exemplification process.
Retention – SK Paul Ryan- No report
Director for Church Activities: David Ybarra will assume this position
Old Business
Annual Scholarship Program – There was discussion on whether or not to roll over the one 2023 unawarded $1,000 scholarship into the available 2024 scholarship funds. This would allow the Council to potentially award up to four $1,000 scholarships in 2024. There was a concern expressed/discussed about having any unawarded scholarship funds being automatically rolled over to the following year. A motion was made that the Council reserves the right to vote/decide each year what will be done with any unawarded scholarship funds. The motion was made, seconded, and passed.
New Chalice and Ciborium -Jim Russell will work on the special wording for the new chalice and ciborium for Fr. Manny. Fr. Manny will be celebrating his 31st anniversary in August. The 4th Degree Assembly 2799 will award the chalice. Our Council 8157 will award the Ciborium.
DISTRICT DEPUTY REPORT- DD KEBRON ALEXANDER – Absent – No Report
GOOD OF THE ORDER: Presented today by Marc Evans
FAMILY OF THE MONTH- Doug and Kim Karpan
KNIGHT OF THE MONTH: Robby Zablan
GRAND KNIGHT’S SUMMARY-
PRAYER REQUEST– We prayed for the Men’s Acts Team, first responders, and several special requests.
CLOSING PRAYER-and KNIGHT ODE: Hail Mary
50/50 Raffle Drawings:
Meeting Drawing: Jose Montoya won $30!
Must be Present to Win: Mario Espinosia, Not Present
Council Meeting Schedule
