March 2017 Meeting Minutes

Pope John Paul II Council Business Minutes for 14MAR17 Meeting
 
Pope John Paul II Council Business Meeting Agenda  

• Call to Order by GK Andy Sciacca at 7:03
• Warden’s Report (acting Warden Willie Towell)
• Opening Prayer (Our Father & Hail Mary)
• Pledge Of Allegiance led by FS Mike O’Kane
• Roll Call of Officers conducted by Recorder Don Williams

   

• Opening Ode was sung

 

• Chaplain’s Message (message of Pope Francis for Lent 2017 from Supreme website).  Included in minutes but not read.

     
 Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God “with all their hearts” (Jl 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and to grow in friendship with the Lord. Jesus is the faithful friend who never abandons us. Even when we sin, he patiently awaits our return; by that patient expectation, he shows us his readiness to forgive (cf. Homily, Jan. 8, 2016). … At the basis of everything is the word of God, which during this season we are invited to hear and ponder more deeply. I would now like to consider the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (cf. Lk 16:19-31). … Lazarus teaches us that other persons are a gift. … Each of us meets people like this every day. Each life that we encounter is a gift deserving acceptance, respect and love. The word of God helps us to open our eyes to welcome and love life, especially when it is weak and vulnerable. But in order to do this, we have to take seriously what the Gospel tells us about the rich man. ... The rich man dresses like a king and acts like a god, forgetting that he is merely mortal. For those corrupted by love of riches, nothing exists beyond their own ego. … The Gospel of the rich man and Lazarus helps us to make a good preparation for the approach of Easter. The liturgy of Ash Wednesday invites us to an experience quite similar to that of the rich man. When the priest imposes the ashes on our heads, he repeats the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” As it turned out, the rich man and the poor man both died, and the greater part of the parable takes place in the afterlife. The two characters suddenly discover that “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Tim 6:7). … The rich man’s real problem thus comes to the fore. At the root of all his ills was the failure to heed God’s word. As a result, he no longer loved God and grew to despise his neighbor. The word of God is alive and powerful, capable of converting hearts and leading them back to God. When we close our heart to the gift of God’s word, we end up closing our heart to the gift of our brothers and sisters. Dear friends, Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ, living in his word, in the sacraments and in our neighbor. ... Let us pray for one another so that, by sharing in the victory of Christ, we may open our doors to the weak and poor. Then we will be able to experience and share to the full the joy of Easter.
 

• Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Motion made to approve minutes as distributed electronically.Motion seconded and approved.
 
 

• Report of Admissions Committee and Reading of Applications (SK Dave Kuboushek)

Application read for Paul Andrews.
 

• Balloting for Membership

Council voted unanimously to invite candidate Paul Andrews into our Order.   He will be invited to attend our planned 1 ^st Degree ceremony Sunday, 19MAR17 at 5:45 PM.  The Hillsborough and Maria Immaculata council #3390 may have up to 10 candidates for this degree.  Degree will officially start at 6:30. 
 

• Grand Knight’s Report (SK Andy Sciacca)
  • Special Olympics Basketball Tournament at Riverside HS – February 25, 2017, 11 AM – 5 PM

9 Knights participated as score keepers and scoreboard operators across the 9 games played in the two gyms.Due to council’s OpLAMB donation of $1935 we became the tournament sponsor for the event.Event was very much in doubt due to insufficient funding prior to our donation.Discussion about whether council could fund food for event next year, as this year there was no budget available to Durham Parks and Recreation for food for the athletes.Question discussed about liability and whether our insurance would apply.

• Council has sold all 50 crosses purchased.

We had them for sale after Masses on 25MAR17 , 26MAR17, 04MAR17 and 05MAR17.Crosses were available for distribution after Mass on 11MAR and 12MAR.Proceeds from the sale of these crosses benefited Christians in the Middle East.

• Lenten Fish Fry (Brother’s Tom Clifton and Don Williams)
  • 3/17/2017
  • 3/31/2017

1 ^st fish fry on 03MAR17 was successful with ~145 plates purchased and we cooked 60 lbs of fish.Plans underway for 2 ^nd fish fry on 17MAR17 which is actually a seafood meal.We will be serving shrimp and grits and 2 types of seafood salads (shrimp or salmon).Cost is $10, $5 for child’s fish stick/mac cheese plate.Serving from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM.We are budgeting for ~100 plates (40 salmon and 60 shrimp).Due to how these plates will be prepared we will need dedicated staff who can be assigned to various prep stations throughout the event.

• State Raffle Ticket Sales (FS Mike O’Kane)

Brother Mike referred to ticket sales as “soft”.He has received purchased tickets from ~13 Knights so far.Tickets were distributed to all 70 members.All ticket sales must be finalized and tickets and monies turned into our FS by 11APR17.Tickets have been sold after Masses for 3 weeks now and will be sold after Masses for two more weeks.Our proceeds from the State Raffle are budgeted to be > $1000 and so far we’re only received around $500.This is a major part of our funding so Knights need to participate in either selling or purchasing of these tickets.

• 40 Cans for Lent (DGK Ken Johnston)
  • 3/1/2017 – 3/31/2017

 More than 400 lbs donated so far and appears to be on track for a total similar to last years.

• Council Banner (Chris Cushing)  

     Banner will cost $195 and proofing of image prior to order finalization is planned for this week. 

• Knight of the Month (Knight not present)
• Family of the Month (Knight not here)

 

• Treasurer’s Report (SK Mike Memrick)

 

• Financial Secretary (SK Mike O’Kane)

 

• Auditor’s and Trustee’s Report (SK Art Saraphis)

Nothing to report.  Primary task is to prepare a slate of officers.  Other trustees haven’t been available.
 

• Chancellor’s Report (SK Dave Kuboushek)

Nothing to report.
 
 

• Service Program Reports (DGK  Ken Johnston)

 

• DGK thanked the Knights who participated in the Durham County Special Olympics Basketball game and those who participated in our 1^st Fish Fry.
• Need volunteers for our upcoming Culture of Life event on March 25^th/26^th where we will be leading the Rosary prior to Masses that weekend.
• Regarding Parish Council, plans for the expansion of Parish Center have been surprisingly approved both by Durham County and by the Diocese of Raleigh.Cost is $251,000 and building time is estimated to be 12 weeks from start to finish and they expect to begin in June.
• Father Thanh informed parish about the recent acquisition/donation of a statue of St. Matthew to the parish grounds by a parishioner.Asked Knights though to do some cleaning on the long standing statue of St. Joseph.

 

• Unfinished and New Business (DGK Ken Johnson)
  • Possible fundraiser for Military Chaplain’s fund.

Need suggestions as to menu.GK asks that we table this until we can complete some of our ongoing projects in March, April, May and June due to a crowded calendar.

• Slate of Officers needed. Known positions where current officers will not be accepting extended terms of office are the Recorder and Treasurer positions.  Nominations accepted for all positions.
• OpLAMB/council event table.Brother Chris Cushing hopes to have the table ready for display at the April business meeting.  We will be using this display table for OpLAMB and other events.
• Council will be helping to sponsor upcoming Divine Mercy Novena on April 23, 2017

Council will be pairing with Msgr. William F. O’Brien Assembly to sponsor.Sir Knights in Regalia and social attire are requested to attend and participate in the event.

• 1^st Degree Ceremony – March 19, 2017, 5:45 PM
• Lenten Fish Fry ticket sales – 2 Knights per Mass
  • 3/18/2012 & 3/19/2017
  • 3/25/2017 & 3/26/2017
• 40 cans for Lent:3/13/2017 – 4/7/2017. Keep those food donations coming
• Roadside cleanup: 3/18/2017 @ 9:00 AM.Art will supply great breakfast so arrive early.
• Planning meeting for Fraternal Year 2017-2018 not discussed.
• Coupons for Troops.Brother Mike Memrick delivered to VA rep Tom Dupree.
• Building the Domestic Church kiosk.Tabled for now.
• Divine Mercy Novena:April 23, 2017.
• 5^th Sunday Rosary:April 29/30^th, 2017.   Celebrating Day of Unborn Child.  Please attend.
• State Convention:May 5-7, 2017 at Sheraton Imperial, RTP.  All Knights welcome to attend.
• Regional Training:June 10, 2017 (7:30 – 4:30 PM).  Hosted by our council in Parish Center.

 

• Report of the 4^th Degree (FN Dave Kuboushek)
  • Durham County Special Olympics spring games in April.Need Sir Knights in Regalia for the color guard.
  • Divine Mercy color guard needed on April 23, 2017.
  • Upcoming March business meeting conflicts with Lenten penitence service on 28MAR17. 

 

• Field Agent’s Report (open) 
  • Brother Joe Smolenski is covering open position while position is being filled.

 

• District Deputy’s Report (SK Tim Hall)
  • Many reports/forms due to State Council by 15MAR or 01APR:
    • Necrology report
    • Matrix of program activities
    • Grand Knight report
    • Knight of the Year
    • Family of the Year
    • Credentials for 2 voting council members (this is a year were State officers move up and new State officer is voted in)
  • State Council asking for SP7 Supreme Form to be completed well prior to the Supreme date (30JUN17).
  • Raffle tickets and monies to DD by 15APR

 

• Good of the Order:

          SK John Toohil, SK Chris Cushing, SK Mike O’Kane, Fr. Bob Diegelman, Brother Joe Marro & Family, SK  Jim Godowitch, SK Joel Lipsey, Monsignor Keenan, John Sciacca Jr. & Family, and the Brother Knight from South Carolina who is in area awaiting a transplant  (and we helped move)
 

• Lecturer’s Class (SK Paul Hilchey) – not here

 

• Closing Prayer (GK led us in The McGivney Prayer)

 

• Closing Ode – motion made, seconded and approved to dispense with Closing Ode.

 

• Adjournment at 8:35