Second Quarter 2009 - 2010

Grand Knights Message:

Vivat Jesus Brother Knights and Merry Christmas! 

It’s hard to believe but it has already been six months since I was elected as your Grand Knight.  I guess time flies when you're having fun?  When I first became Grand Knight, I had many goals; including increasing fraternalism, diversifying our fund raising efforts, and strengthening our membership participation.  I am glad to report that much has been done in effort of reaching these goals. 

 Specifically, we had a social meeting on 10/27/09 at the Conference Center and our attendance was great.  Approximately 30 members were present and it was great to share fraternity with fellow Knights in an informal setting.  Another social meeting will be planned again for mid next quarter 2010.  To diversify our fundraisings, we also had a “celebrity server” fundraiser on 10/26/09 at Big Boys in Troy.  We raised about $160.00 that night and will be doing another “celebrity server” fundraiser in mid-January.  Exact dates and times of these future events will be known soon. 

 n addition to these new activities, we also completed our Fall MI drive the weekend of 10/10/09.  With many volunteers helping, we raised $1,339.84 over the weekend.  This is much more than last year and as such is a credit to the strength of our council.  The distribution of these funds was voted on and as such distributed in the following ways: $267.99 State Council, $401.98 Mary’s Children, $267.99 Special Olympics, and $401.98 Down Syndrome Guild.   

 We also completed our annual Food and Sweatshirt Drives this year as well.  We collected approximately 500 pounds of food, which was donated to Our Lady of La Salette’s food pantry.  Thank you to Brother Knight Timothy Langan for organizing this event.  This years Sweatshirt Drive was another roaring success as we collected approximately 70 sweatshirts that were donated to Holy Cross Children’s Service (Boysville).  Thank you to Brother Sir Knight Joe Chase and his sister Mrs. Gmeiner for organizing and promoting this event.

 Finally, I would like to briefly address our current membership participation.  As many of you know, Brother Sir Knight Frank Roche resigned as the Council’s Membership Director in September of this year.  Brother Knight Sean McCarthy is now the Council’s Membership Director and has been doing a great job.  Upon Mr. Roche’s resignation, I have discovered many inactive members who were confused on several aspects of membership in the Knights of Columbus.  Slowly but surely, these confusions are being addressed and resolved.  However, I know there are many members who I have not yet spoke with.  If you are one of these members, please call me any time at 313-300-6080 to address this or any other issue.  It is evident that as a result of resolving these confusions our meeting attendance and participation have dramatically increased.  It’s a great feeling to start a meeting and see new faces in the crowd. 

In addition, I have also been made aware of a growing faction inside the Council, taking umbrage due to the means of Council operation and leadership.  I also know much of this fraction has been propelled by the stories of a few individuals.  I will not use the office of Grand Knight to publicly defend or excite any of these stories.  Rather, as the Grand Knight, I would ask everyone to think back and remember why they became a Knight and also, to ask if their actions better the Council or better their own agenda?  Decades of civic volunteering and leadership have taught me rather simply,  that no one person makes an organization great….it’s the collective spirit of the many that make an organization great.  Always remember the three tenants of being a Knight; charity, unity, and fraternity.  Thank you to everyone for your help and keep making us great! Vivat Jesus. 

Tadd R. Klimmek – Grand Knight

Council Officers for the 2009-2010 Fraternal Year:

We have many future events planned in hope of increasing our membership and membership activity. When permitted, the business meeting will be the first meeting of each month and a round table style meeting will be the second meeting of each month.  This change is in effort to increase meeting efficiency and meeting attendance. 

Council Recognitions:

September

Knight of the Month: S.K. Norman Brault

Family of the Month: S.K. Sean McCarthy

October

Knight of the Month: B.K.  Tim Langan

Family of the Month: S.K. Matthew Kennedy

November

Knight of the Month: S.K. Joel Karboske

Family of the Month: S.K. Joe Chase

December

Knight of the Month: S.K. Matthew Kennedy

Family of the Month: S.K. Tony Recchia

Happy Birthday!!

September Birthdays:

October Birthdays:

November Birthdays:

December Birthdays:

Insurance Update:

Our Field Agent is Sir Knight Kevin W. Murphy – Please make every effort to contact our new agent to discuss your “Future Needs.”  He can be reached by e-mail at kevin.murphy@kofc.org or by phone at (248) 439-0409

Pray for our Troops

Please say a prayer for the safety of those men and women who protect our freedom with their lives.

Future Dates to Remember:

1/08/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

1/12/10 @ 7:30 PM – Council Meeting in Conference Center

1/16/10 to 1/17/10 – Membership Blitz Drive at Shrine Church after every mass.

1/17/10 @ 9:00 AM – Corporate Mass with Color Corp

1/23/10 @ approx 8:30 AM – Free Throw contest at Shrine High School

1/25/10 @ approx 7:00 PM – Fraternal Benefits Night at Clawson K of C Hall

1/26/10 @ 7:30 PM– Council Meeting in Conference Center

2/9/10 @ 7:30 PM – Council Social Meeting in Conference Center

2/12/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

2/17/10 Ash Wednesday

2/19/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

2/23/10 @ 7:30 PM – Council Meeting in Conference Center

2/26/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

3/05/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

3/09/10 @ 7:30 PM – Council Meeting in Conference Center

3/12/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

3/19/10 - @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

3/23/10 @ 7:30 PM – Council Meeting in Conference Center

3/26/10 @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

4/02/10 GOOD FRIDAY - @ 4:30-7 PM – Fish Fry at Clawson Council 4188 – 870 N. Main St. Clawson, MI

Sunday April 4^th, 2010 – EASTER SUNDAY

From our Financial Secretary:

By now all dues-paying Brother Knights should have received his letter notifying them of 2010 council dues that we request are to be paid by the end of the year. The dues received from Brother Knights represent a significant portion of the council funds, which we use to support several religious and community organizations throughout the year. The council is required to pay the State and Supreme Knights of Columbus councils a fixed amount per council member, whether that member has paid their dues or not. Therefore those Brother Knights who do not timely pay their dues place the council under significant financial strain. Please respond to the dues notices if possible (if you are unable to pay please contact a council officer), as well as any past dues for council year 2009. Payment is due January 1, 2010 and the council thanks you for your prompt payment.

All Payments can be remitted to our Financial Secretary:

B.K. Ryan Rosevear

304 S Kenwood Ave

Royal Oak, MI 48067-3993

Meeting Reminder

If you have not been to a meeting in a while, here’s an opportunity to have a say so in the operations of the council. Our meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

 Meetings are held in the Conference Center located in the Plaza with YaYa’s Chicken, on Woodward Ave. Just North of the Church. Park in the Northwood Church Parking lot and enter through the rear of the building. It is mandatory that you present a current membership card to enter the meetings.

One Nation, Under God

Did you know? In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.

News submissions are invited from all our Brothers, Officers, Directors and

Committee Chairs to be included in our newsletter.

Address all information to:    

Matt Grosodonia (248) 588-3469   Email: thedonatthemac@gmail.com

Council  Meetings

Our meetings are held in the Church Conference Center.

North of the church in the commercial strip center, across Northwood Blvd. Near Ya-Ya’s Chicken.

Park in the Northwood parking lot and enter thru the rear of the building.

Meetings are the 2^nd & 4^th Tuesday of the month

At 7:30p

 U

Our Little Flower

Published by

 Knights of Columbus

National Shrine of the Little Flower

Council No. 12408

A Parish based Council

2100 West Twelve Mile Rd.

Royal Oak, MI 48073

_________________________________________

When you visit www.kofc.org, our official website, spend some time on the insurance portion of the site.  This will help keep you well versed on this fraternal benefit offered to all members.

 Vivat Jesus

Send comments or questions to the web page editor, admin@kofc12408.com.