Greetings Brother Knights,

Grand Knight’s Report

With the end of the Lenten season approaching, I pray that you are all having a blessed Easter season in preparation of spending time with family and friends.

Please remember that our council has committed to assisting with the community meal at the BPNN(Badger Prairie Needs Network) the first Saturday of each month. Thank you to all that helped in April. Please see the sign up for the shifts needed and hope to see many more of you in the future.

There is an upcoming Fourth Degree Installation planned for June 3rd at St. James in Madison. If you are interested in taking the next step in your Knighthood, contact Erin Kennedy @ 608-445-6051 or eksports2001@yahoo.com. More details to come.

We will be having an Admission Degree at 7:00 p.m. at our Council Meeting followed by a short meeting and a presentation by Jeff Hoeben the Executive Director from Camp Grey. He wants to introduce us to the works of Camp Grey. Also, we are in need of 3 more new members to make Star Council. If you know of anyone that might be interested in becoming a member contact myself or Mark Heyde.

We need to start to think about the Nomination of Officers for the 2017-2018 terms. We will be voting at the May meeting. Thank you to the Knights that have offered to continue in their positions and to those stepping forward to take an open position for the coming Fraternal year. Please give some thought to becoming an Officer (3rd Degree required) and let me know if you wish to retain your current position or are interesting in making a change.

Doug Ulaszek is chairing the Tootsie Roll Drive this year and will be getting information out soon for the locations, times and shifts needed for sign up.

Thank you to Knight Jim Esser for again organizing our council’s group of 8 men that participated in the KC State Bowling Tournament in Sparta and Tomah, March 25-26.

Awards

Knight of the Month – Matt Thiel
Family of the Month – Clem & Karen LaMere
Certificates of Appreciation – Jim Esser, Bob Bauer

Call for Prayers

Let us pray for all of our fellow Knights and their families that are in need of our thoughts and prayers while they are facing difficult times in their lives, especially Brother Jim Bosch’s Daughter Jill, Brother Mark Smith’s Mother-in-Law, Pam Heyde and Sonia Liboy.

Happy Birthday to Knights celebrating in April:

• Mel Baumgartner – April 2
• Louie Joseph – April 3
• Brad Stiner – April 10
• Christopher Pauly – April 17
• Jon Pepper – April 25
• James Tormey – April 25

Respectfully,
Clyde Hellenbrand
Grand Knight

Message from our field agent

Growth of the Order

Today, I want to address the growth of the Order. Membership growth is the fuel that keeps this great fraternal engine running. All of our charitable works at the council, state, national and international level are thanks to our hard-working members. And more mem-bers equals more charity.

We know that the membership blitz is a tried and true way for councils to get more men to join. We see these pushes often in Spring, in celebration of Founder’s Day, and again in October. These drives are successful because brother Knights have increased visibility speaking or presenting during and after Masses and at special events. We must remember that we have a duty to ask each and eve-ry Catholic gentleman to join our ranks for the good of the Church, the community and the Order.

During the rest of the year, we often “forget” to ask men to join and to bring their families into the Knights of Columbus family. You probably know an eligible Catholic man you could ask today. A friend, new member, or others who are in your social circle. What if the only reason he hasn’t joined is because no one has asked him yet? Let’s work together and get STAR COUNCIL!
When telling a prospect about the strengths of the Order, don’t forget our greatest fraternal benefit: our insurance program. This is often a “selling point” to a potential member who is on the fence. Many members become Knights simply to be able to buy coverage to protect their family. Soon after, they realize the good our charitable works do for their community, and they are proud to be members.

As your professional Knights of Columbus insurance agent, I look forward to helping us grow in fraternity in any way that I can.

God Bless,
James Froh, Fraternal Brother KOC
Field Agent KOC

Program Director’s Report

I pray you all are doing well this Easter season. A number of Knights have taken the opportunity this Lent to commit to the monthly Eucharistic Adoration March 3rd, April 7th, and May 5th 2017. Sign up links were sent to members. This is a great way to free up some quality time during Lent and to draw closer to our mother Mary and her Son through the mysteries of the rosary and prayer. The shifts are 1 hour 6/7 pm and 7/8 pm.

Thanks to all who helped support the PLC and our Parish family with the Knights soup supper in March. We served 53 people and the donations exceeded the cost of the food. Many hands made light work and it was again a success.

Upcoming 1st degree: We will be doing another first degree prior to our April 20th meeting, so please make contact with those you have invited or are thinking about inviting. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to contact membership director Mark Hyde or GK Clyde Hellenbrand for assistance. We have a couple of people interested already. We have a great council and have a lot to offer, so let’s see who else we can get involved!
The 2nd and 3rd degrees were held on April 8th at St James in Madison and we had two Knights take that step. They will also be hosting a 4th Degree on June 3rd.

August 12th is the Knights Mallards Game and KC Tailgate. Tickets will be $13.00. Bill LaBerge will be running this event but tickets must be bought as soon as possible as the proceeds must be submitted by the end of April so please pick up your tickets or contact Bill ASAP if interested. $2.00 from every ticket sold goes to the Women’s Care Center in Madison.

We are still selling raffle tickets! Special thanks to Knight Mark Rayha as he continues to coordinate this effort. So far we have 728 tickets returned and returned uncounted around 55 equaling 780. Thanks to those Knights who have volunteered to staff these times. Tickets need to be returned to Mark by the April meeting so that they can get turned in by the deadline. If you are unable to attend, please drop them in the mail. They can be sent to Mark at the following address. Please keep in mind that Mark will need to have received them by 4/21.

 
Our Tootsie Roll Drive is right around the corner. The Tootsie Rolls have arrived, the dates have been set, and you should have received the sign-up information. Please look at your calendar and see which shift(s) you would like to staff. We again are collecting outside of Millers, Walgreens, and Culvers, as well as St. Christopher parish. This is one of the largest fund raisers our Council undertakes!

Verona Hometown Days will be June 4th so please set aside time to volunteer to man the KC Brat Stands.

Please remember to log your volunteer hours at the following link. Click Here to Enter Hours
Another option is to email them to me at iceabg@aol.com or hand them to me at the meeting and I’ll get them logged for you.

Respectfully Submitted,
Knight Tony Grant – Program Director