We are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether we are giving out Coats for Kids, donating wheelchairs, lending a helping hand in disaster relief efforts, supporting local pregnancy centers or providing top-quality financial products.
Meeting Minutes
03/03/2026
Dining Room
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.
OPENING PRAYER: by FATHER UCHE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by Art Rodriguez
OPENING ODE: by ALL
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED
CHAPLAIN:
GRAND KNIGHT: MARC EVANS: P WARDEN: JESUS RADILLO: P
DEP GRAND KNIGHT: PAUL RYAN: EX INSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P
CHANCELLOR: EFRAIN OCHOA: EX OUTSIDE GUARD: JOEL LOPEZ: P
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: PETER PERTA: P ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P
LECTURER: JOEL LOPEZ: P 1ST YR TRUSTEE: JIM RUSSELL: P
TREASURER: JAMES SMITH: P 2ND YR TRUSTEE: DAN MURPHY: P
RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: P 3RD YR TRUSTEE: MIKE FITZGERALD: P
ARE ALL PRESENT IN POSSESSION OF A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD: per Outside Guard: Yes
All persons who are not Knights (or honored guests) shall please retire form the chamber. The doors shall now be closed and the guards assume their positions.
Approve Minutes of the Prior Meeting – The minutes of our February 3rd General Membership Meeting were posted on the Council’s website on February 20th. A motion was made to accept the minutes as posted. The motion was seconded and the minutes were approved as posted
Grand Knight’s Report
Will Robinson -He joined the Knights in 1988, and he is now -re-activating his membership; he is married and raised 4 children; he worked on missile defense systems for National laboratory many years. Glad to be an active Knight again
This was grand success. We received 83 RSVPs and Fr. Uchi was able to attend. We also highlighted all the activities that the Knights have sponsored throughout the year. There was a DJ and dancing and Marc was able to show photos prior to the meeting of our social event. We spent around $1,400 for the event but had budgeted $2,500 for this event.
Jim Kowalski is passing out a sign-up list for Special Olympics that is coming to Desoto High School on March 24th
Tues, Mar 24 – South Basketball Skills
Desoto High School
600 Eagle Drive,
Desoto, TX 75115
Two award areas. One shift: 9:00AM – 1:30 PM 12 men needed
The Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the 2026 scholarship program. These scholarships are given to high school seniors or college students for their educational costs. The amount is $1,000 per student. Children and grandchildren of Knights are encouraged to apply. The check is made directly to the school. There are three short essays to fill out on the application. The application is on the website.
Financial Secretary’s Report – Worthy Financial Secretary, Peter Perta
Membership 232
Will Robinson reactivation
Dues:
We just started collecting the 2026 dues as they run calendar year; 40% collected
You can pay your dues online, at Council Meeting, or to Pete Perta 5:30 Saturday Mass
Star Council:
Membership Quota 13
Year to date 14 (7/1/25 to 6/30/26)
Progress 100%
Knight in Need Fund:
$4,137
We issued a donation in the Knight in need fund after the Officer’s meeting
Recent Donations:
$400
Money Paid:
Semi-Annual Supreme Per Capita
Liability insurance
Forms Submitted:
Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity, Due 1/31
RSVP Program -We sponsor 5 seminarians per year. We provide them $500 for books, emergency travel, etc. We are sponsoring: Matthew Biaggi, Esteban Alaman Gilabert, Miguel Rodriguez, Xavier Rendon; this year we are picking up a new seminarian, Luis Alves Fernandes; Deacon Allen-Michael Muench was sponsored last year; he is now Fr. Muench!
Treasurer’s Report by Sir Knight James Smith
James reviewed our beginning balance, monies received, expenditures. We also received the balance of our CD fund
4th Degree – SK James Smith – No report
Knight Hands – SK Allen Reitmeier
We completed 5 projects; we replaced 2 commodes for Russell Leroy. Thank you, Ray Rivera. Allen drove Alex Sabo to an appointment in Fort Worth. Thank you, Allen. We trimmed some trees for Gabby Harding. Thank you, Joe Eubank and Mike Fitzgerald. From that project we received $190. We trimmed a tree for Julie Kutil. Thanks again, Joe Eubank and Mike Fitzgerald. We repaired a door bell for Norma Ortiz. Thank you, Arthur Rodriguez.
We have one Knight Hands project on deck. We received a wheelchair donation from Laza Dahl. We now have 8 wheelchairs and one power wheelchair. Let us know if you know of anyone who is in need of a wheelchair.
Allen likes making wooden toys. He recently visited the autobody shop of fellow Knight, Geraldo Terron. He was able to get a clear coat finish on one of his wooden toy projects.
Knight Geraldo Terron has a beautiful body shop and Allen was able to tour it. His paint and body shop, MGK Autobody and Collision Repair, is on 1517 Freedom Way in Cedar Hill. 972-291-5556
Baseball Concessions – SK Allen Reitmeier – Tim Campbell had 4 tournaments scheduled but he cancelled at the last minute. However, South Metro Baseball did play 20 games. Thanks to Robert Tovar, Larry Balanga, Phil Holifield and his wife, Hazel, and Joel Lopez, Miguel Hernandez, Zach Cazares, Jim Ouimet, James Smith, and John Espree for volunteering for these games. We do have a large number of games planned for this weekend. However, there is a high chance of rain. We should know by Wednesday if the games will take place. Allen asked that when you get a call from our baseball coordinator, Miguel Hernandez, please respond quickly with a yes or no. This helps ensure we are covered.
Allen received a phone call from the City of City Hill Parks and Recs Department, asking if we could run their concession stand at Weaver Park (which has a swimming pool). We receive the same proposal about 4 years ago and declined it then. We would have to man the concession standing from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. We would also need to buy our own equipment, etc. Allen looked at the details and he declined the Cedar Hill proposal again.
Special Thanks to Lupe Hernandez. Every quarter, he prints out our Council Newsletter and also has calendars available for all Knights.
Church Activities – Vacant need a new leader here, but David Ybarra and James Smith will train / support
Program & Committee Reports
The Fish Fry starts at around noon when James arrives and gets things ready for the event. The fish gets defrosted around 8 a.m. The fryers get set up by 2 p.m. We do food prep and table set up. We batter the fish. We use industrial type fryers. The fish gets fried by 4 p.m. We serve from 5-6:15 p.m. To go from 6:15 p.m. -6:30 p.m. $10 per plate
Station of the Cross is at 6: 30 p.m. followed by Adoration
A monitor is used in the kitchen and keeps the fish in the oven. A team leader is needed for serving and for clean-up.
Be flexible; we can find a job for you -if you have special experience with battering fish or worked a restaurant, let us know.
Stand and Pray 3 Hail Marys to end abortions.
No date set on our next Blood drive
Jim would like to thank everyone who has been involved in recruitment. He encouraged us to continue the good work and continue to invite men to join the Knights.
Special Olympics is taking place on Saturday, March 7th at several locations in Irving at McArthur High School, Sam Houston Middle School, and Travis Middle school from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Please sign up for a shift.
Special Olympics is coming to Desoto at Desoto High School on Tuesday, March 24th. We help to present awards to the athletes from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Please sign up. Call Jim Kowalski if you have any questions
Safe Environment – SK Russel Leroy
Once you have completed your training, e-mail a copy of your certificate to Russell Leroy at leroyruss@icloud.com.
The Knights of Columbus State Convention will take place in Dallas April 24-27th at Sheraton Dallas. Every Knight is invited. Every Council is asked to send 2 delegates and sponsor those 2 delegates. The delegates get to vote on officers and we get to vote on a delegate to the national Convention in Denver, Colorado
Safe Environment Training will take place on Thursday, March 26th at 7 p.m. The training is one hour. Go online and log into your Knight account and register.
Next meeting is Saturday, April 11th, at St. Gabriel’s the Archangel Church in McKinney, Texas (where Fr. Eugene is Pastor). Meet your fellow Knights from other Councils at this meeting. Breakfast is provided. This is a great time to share ideas and find out what other Councils are doing.
Fourth Degree -Saturday, April 18th, there is a 4th Degree Exemplification Ceremony. More details to come.
Diocese of Dallas Clergy Appreciation Banquet 2026-Over 200 people attended and 37 priests were present during this event in February. His Excellency, Bishop Burns, and Vicar General Fr. Arthur Unachukwu were present. As a Diocese, the Knights presented to Bishop with a check in the amount of $89,000.
He sent a message to Marc congratulating us on achieving Star Council level. There will be an upcoming Fraternal Event online on March 10th. This program will focus on creating a Knights of Columbus Council charitable account where people can donate into this fund. The Council can then donate these funds to specific charitable causes. On March 31st, there will be a program called “Give Smarter: A Catholic Approach to Generosity.” Marc has information if you would like to sign up for these 2 programs. If Eben calls you, please take time to speak to him regarding your insurance questions and needs and investment questions as well.
Lecturer – SK Joel Lopez
A movie called Bendito Corazón (Blessed Heart) is the top movie in most theaters in Mexico at his time. The movie has become popular here, and it has played in over 500 theaters in the USA (with subtitles). The movie will be coming to Cedar Hill. The movie was made by a priest from Guadalajara, México, and it is based on the Sacred Heart.
Unfinished Business
We have 4 hearing impaired devices that can be used to hear during the Mass. It uses open Wi-Fi and everything that goes into the mic goes into this device. It goes into an ear pod and can be used by an android or Apple phone. The audio is very clear as do not ambient noise but rather what is being talked into the mic. There are pamphlets that explain the process. You must go to settings on your smart phone and connect to the Guest WaveCAST Listening Assist WiFi .
New Business
Come tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4th, to help with the Food Truck distribution. Please help if you can
Good of the Order:
Closing Ode
Closing Prayer – Canonization of Blessed Fr. McGivney
50/50 Meeting Drawing – 7689 Dan Murphy
50/50 Membership Drawing – Efren Perez de la Cruz
Meeting adjourned: 8:40 p.m.
