Meeting Minutes April 2025

04/01/2025

Dining Room

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:35 P.M.

OPENING PRAYER:  by MIKE FITZGERALD

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  by PAUL RYAN

OPENING ODE:  by MIKE FITZGERALD

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED

CHAPLAIN:  VACANT                             

GRAND KNIGHT:  MIKE FITZGERALD:  P               WARDEN; ADAN LUNA: EX

DEP GRAND KNIGHT: MARC EVANS: EX              INSIDE GUARD: GAMALIEL HERNANDEZ: P

CHANCELLOR: PAUL RYAN: P                               OUTSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P

FINANCIAL SECRETARY:  PETER PERTA:  EX          ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P            

LECTURER:   JAMES RUSSELL: P                          1^ST YR TRUSTEE:  JORGE RUIZ: P

TREASURER:  JAMES SMITH:  EX                         2^ND YR TRUSTEE:  DAN MURPHY: P

RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: EX                          3^RD YR TRUSTEE:  JIM RUSSELL: P

ARE ALL PRESENT IN POSSESSION OF A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD:  per Outside Guard: Yes

Approve Minutes of the Prior Meeting – The minutes of our March 4^th 2025 General Membership Meeting were posted on the Council’s website on March 19^th.  A motion to accept the March meeting minutes as posted was made, seconded and approved.    

GRAND KNIGHT’S REPORT: by Mike Fitzgerald

1. Are there any New Knights who are attending their first General Membership Meeting:  None
2. PNC Bank has required a copy of the March minutes as a prerequisite to the Council opening a CD at the bank.   
3. There was a good turnout for the Members Appreciation Dinner on March 8^th.  Many couples who took the opportunity to dance with their spouses!
4. With the Youth Faith Formation’s Fat Tuesday event preempting our use of the dining room, although a bit cramped, we were able to hold our March General Membership Meeting in room 221.  Fr. Uchi stopped by to thank us for our annual gift to the parish of $3,500.00 and the one-time donation of $1,500.00 to the Capital Campaign Fund.  And, to lead us in prayer to start our meeting. 
5. Lenten Fish Fries – On March 7^th, (which was our 1^st Fish Fry) one of the friers malfunctioning putting us at a huge disadvantage in keeping up with cooking all the food.  Every round of fish was allowing us to serve only seventeen (17) meals of fish; six (6) meals for each of the two (2) functioning friers and five (5) meals for the two (2) Dutch oven pots that we were forced to put into service.  On the following Monday, March 10^th, Dan Murphy informed me that the costs associated with purchasing a new frier would be approximately $1,100.00.  I authorized Dan to purchase two (2) new friers.  Although the quoted unit price was $1,100.00; after applying a church discount and no sales tax the actual price the Council paid was far less under $2,000.00 for both units combined.   
6. The turnout of Knights and their wives to work the 1^st four (4) Friday Fish Fries has been a great blessing.  We will be missing two (2) key people this Friday, both Larry Balagna and Marc Evans will not be able to work this Friday.
7. Nominating Committee – Russell Gully, Jack Ramsden and Jorge Ruiz have agreed to be our Nominating Committee charged with the important duty of working to provide the Council with a slate of Officers for the 2025/2026 Fraternal Year.
8. Please plan on attending the June General Membership Meeting as we will be voting on Knight of the Year.  
9. Installation of the 2025/2026 Slate of Officers.  I have called Kebran Alexander and sent a follow-up text asking for his availability the last two Saturdays in June.
10. Bible Study – Although Marc Evans has a family commitment and is not able to be with us this evening. Reminder: Our next Bible Study meeting will be held here in the Dining Room on Saturday, April 12^th at the very early hour of 6:00 am.  The Bible Study group meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of each month.
11. The GK asked Paul Ryan to report on the Catholic Brothers for Christ.  Their most recent event took place at St. Anne Seton’s Parish, and it was a full house.  Four (4) Knights from our Council were able to attend (along with Isahi Arellano who is seeking to join our Council). It was a wonderful event.  Paul also mentioned the Catholic Brothers for Christ will be having a half day program in the Fall.

Although Peter Perta is unable to be with us this evening he provided the following report:

Membership: stands at 245

Dues Collected: stands at 36%

We are current on all form submissions

Knight in Need Fund: stands at: $ 6,600

Our District Deputy, Kebran Alexander, won the meeting drawing in January which he graciously donated to our Knight In Need Fund.

Treasurer’s Report – Worthy Treasurer, Sir Knight James Smith, provided his report.  James advised the Council of last month’s ending balance, the overall deposits made this month, the overall expenditures for this month and the resulting ending balance.

4^th Degree – SK James Smith – No report

Knight Hands – S/K Allen Reitmeier – Since our last meeting we completed:

1. Thanks to Peter and Bimbo Perta for taking Rita Collier to Church each Saturday evening.
2. We installed a washer (donated by Joe Eubank)for Lovis Miller.  We also bought a dryer and installed it for Lovis Miller.  We received donation from Knights of $138.00.  The Council paid the remaining cost of the dryer $336.14.  Dan Murphy, John Owen and Allen installed the washer and Jorge Ruiz and Allen installed the dryer.  We also told Lovis Miller that we would not repair her walls.
3. Zach Cazares and Allen replaced two (2) lavatory sinks for Cynthia Poole.
4. Zach Cazares and Allen installed a new commode for Nancy Amarillo.  Dan Murphy followed up by repairing the leaking tank.
5. Hector Rubio and Allen transported goods for Jesse Ann Nobles and repaired her electrical problem.
6. David Ybarra, Mike Fitzgerald and Allen removed a leaking fishpond liner for Pat Scholl and installed a new one.
7. Dan Murphy, Mike Fitzgerald and Allen installed replacement shingles and sealed down loose shingles for Hanne Harber
8. Mike Fitzgerald cut up a fallen tree for Herene Franco.
9. Dan Murphy and David Ybarra built and repaired a couple of commodes for Diane Lightbody.

For these projects, we expended sixty (60) man hours of labor had material cost of approximately $840.00 and received donations of $200.00.

Baseball Concessions  – S/K Allen Reitmeier

Baseball began on March 15 with 7 games – we took in $1,437.51 that day.  Thank you to John Espree, Hector Rubio, Robert Nieto, Keith and Mary Archer.

On Saturday and Sunday, March 22^nd  & 23^rd we had 27 games and took in $3,879.28.   For the Knights who worked on Saturday and Sunday the 22^nd and 23^rd, a special “thank you” to Morris Curlee, Nelson Zavala, and Jesus Aguirre who were first time volunteers at the ballpark – you guys rocked.  (I would asked any of these guys that are in attendance to recap their experience at the concession stand). Thanks also to Jim Ouimet, Moises Martinez, Robert Tovar, Chris Kubin, Joe Cuellar, and James Smith.

Church Activities – SK David Ybarra – For the March 16^th Parrish Breakfast we had food costs of $318.00 and we received donations of $236.00 which we will be donating to the Capital Campaign Fund.  Our next breakfast is scheduled for this upcoming Sunday, April 6^th.   There is a signup sheet being circulated.  Volunteers are asked to arrive by 7 a.m. and breakfast will be served after the 7:30 a. and 9 a.m. Masses.     

Program & Committee Reports

Programs

Faith – Marc Evans – Bible study -The first program which focused on the Holy Eucharist has been completed. The next program, we decided to embark on is entitled, “The Wild Goose” which focuses on the Holy Spirit. The ancient Celts were sometimes known to call the Holy Spirit the “Wild Goose.” The Bible Study program will continue to meet from 6:00 -7:30 a.m. on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of the month. You do not need to be a Knight to join in this bible study. Please attend.

Family – Jose Montoya – absent

Community  – Dan Murphy – St. Joseph’s Residence (Assisted Living Facility) – April 26^th – We have former parishioners living there.  Some of the wives who speak Spanish were very helpful as they spoke with the residents there.  We meet around 9 a.m. at Holy Spirit, load the truck with supplies and then go to St. Joe’s to cook lunch for the residents.

Life  – Sir Knight Mike Moloughney was not present.  GK Mike Fitzgerald led us in praying 3 Hail Marys to end abortions.

1. First Hail Mary – for the Unborn
   1. Second Hail Mary – for the moms of those unborn babies – that they allow their babies to be born.
   1. Third Hail Mary – for those in the abortion industry that they turn away from evil and seek the face of God.

Admissions Committee – S/K Russell Gully – The admissions committee has interviewed four (4) candidates:

1. Ricardo Santos
   1. Randy Lampa
      1. Phillip Holifield
      1. Isahi Arellano

All of the candidates were highly recommended for membership.  A motion was made to accept all four (4) candidates for membership, which was seconded and approved.

Awareness Committee – Vacant – Allen Rietmeier looking for help with the website.

Council Activities –  Vacant

Health Director –  Dr. Robert Nieto – Absent – No Report  

Recruitment  – SK Jim Kowalski -no report

Retention – SK Paul Ryan – No report

Safe Environment – SK Russell Leroy who reminded us that he is coordinating with Holy Spirit for those Knight who the Parish is performing the required background checks.

Unfinished Business – The GK asked the membership to vote, albeit, after the fact, on the decision to purchase two (2) new friers.  A motion was made to approve the purchase of two (2) new friers, seconded and approved.  The motion was met with overwhelming approval; as the request of “All opposed” was met with silence.

New Business –  Jorge Ruiz asked the Knight in Need committee to meet to determine what amount, if any, could be awarded to Adan Luna who experienced a minor stroke during the 1:00 pm Spanish Mass on Sunday, March 30^th.

Knights of Columbus State Convention will take place on April 25-27^th in Corpus Christi.  Jorge Ruiz will be attending the Convention in his capacity as Vice President of the Dallas Diocese Chapter (DDC) of the Knights of Columbus. 
DDC).  We will need to have a delegate from our Council 8157 attend the State Convention.

District Deputy – SK Kebran Alexander (Absent).

Field Agent – Eben Fernandez (Absent)

Good of the Order:

            Knight of the Month  –  Allen Rietmeier

      Family of the Month  – Jesus and Leticia Zuniga

Prayer Requests – We need to pray for Jose Montoya who is under the weather and did not want to get any of his Brother Knights sick.  Jose asked that we also pray for his wife, Isabel, whose Dad passed away yesterday, March 31^st.  Al Evans who is having shoulder surgery.  Efrain Ochoa’s sister, Adan Luna, Joel Lopez’s daughter who is expecting, Alex Sabo’s wife and many other prayer requests.   

Closing Prayer

Closing Ode

50/50 Meeting Drawing – Drew Carlson – $36.00

50/50 Membership Drawing – With Peter Perta being absent, it was decided to do two (2) drawing at the next General Membership Meeting.

Meeting adjourned 8:45 p.m.