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A Spiritual Thought
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We start each day with a prayer and we should start each Columbian Year that way also. In fact, our whole day should be a prayer. As St. Josemaria de Balaguer states in the Forge: “Your life must be a constant prayer, a never-ceasing conversation with our Lord: when things are pleasant or unpleasant, easy or difficult, usual or unusual. In every situation, your conversation with your Father God should immediately come to life. You should seek him right within your soul.” (page 706 of the Way/Furrow/the Forge by St. Josemaria de Balaguer).
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Repeating again what I stated last month, THANK YOU for allowing me to continue to serve you as District Deputy for the 2008-2009 Columbian Year. This year will have a San Diego flavor to it. Our new State Deputy, Bob Villalobos is from the San Diego area and the State Convention in May, 2009 will be held in that city. Bob’s patron for the State this year will be St. Anthony. You can view the new State logo at www.kofc-california.org.
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This Columbian Year, I’m going to encourage all of you to take a more active role assisting in District matters in a number of areas. Here are five that immediately come to mind:
- Recruiting Blitz Drives – in addition to the recruiting that we should be doing every single day, we can and should be doing a better job with holding blitz drives at our various parishes. Several of the councils have been very faithful to the blitz drives while others could improve their participation. Let’s really make this a banner year for recruiting new members!
- Round Tables – Round Tables have been set up in each of the parishes to assist non council parishes with help that the pastors might need from the Knights. Each of you Brother Knights are the eyes and ears in those parishes. Please pay attention to any needs that arise and bring those needs back to the Council so that we can provide help where needed.
- Wheelchair Sundays – those of us who attended the State Convention in May learned about the great need for wheelchair donations to those who need them (the poor in Mexico, Veterans, etc.). The California Knights have developed a great program called Wheelchair Sundays in which the need is presented via a video, short talk and a chance for parishioners to make donations. I’d like to have as many parishes in the district participate in one of the Sundays. Please talk to your pastors and get his approval for this worthy cause.
- Basketball Free Throw Contest – we were the only District in the Chapter who did not participate in this contest during the last Columbian Year. Let’s make sure to do it this year.
- Tootsie Roll Drive – This drive occurs in October and our district has been among the lowest contributors to it for a number of years. We can improve that. Let’s make every effort to do so. I would like to see all councils participating and doing all they can to obtain funds for the intellectually challenged in our community.
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The above list is hardly inclusive. I’ll have more ideas to report on after the District Deputy’s Convention that as of this writing will be occurring on June 28-29.
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Degrees
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- Council 10067 will be holding their next 1st Degree at Sacred Heart Church on July 2 just prior to their business meeting. If anyone is interested in attending the degree, please let me know and I’ll pass on the details.
- Council 5300 will be holding a 1st Degree at their business meeting on September 8.
- The next 3rd Degree in the district is tentatively set for September 21, 2008 at Serra Hall in Santa Barbara. I’m still awaiting confirmation from the State and as soon as it arrives, I’ll pass the information on and will start advertising the details of the event. We will have a 2nd Degree in September just prior to this 3rd Degree in order to accommodate all 1st Degree members in the District.
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Awards:
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The following councils qualified for awards for the 2007-2008 Columbian Year by equaling or exceeding their quotas:
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Council 1684 qualified for the Founders Award by attaining over 100% of their insurance quota for the year.
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Council 5300 qualified for the Star Council Award by attaining over 100% of membership and over 100% of insurance for the year.
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Council 10067 qualified for the Double Star Council Award by attaining over 200% of membership and 100% of insurance for the year.
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Programs:
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Council 1684 had a quiet month of June. On June 25, the officers will be installed in a joint ceremony with Council 5300 at St. Raphael’s Hall.
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In addition to the joint installation mentioned above, Council 5300 held their usual pancake breakfast and handed out St. Joseph prayer cards on Father’s Day.
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Council 10067 hosted a special Mass for a visiting Bishop from Ghana (Fr. Francis Baykor’s Bishop). As mentioned in my previous reports, Fr. Francis is here to study the Knights in order to possibly start a Council in Africa. Council 10067’s officer installation is set for Sunday, June 29.
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Finally, Council 13756 (Carpinteria) continues to be busy with projects around the church.
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Other Notes:
- Right now, the district is at 141% of membership and 117% of insurance. However, what the above numbers don’t reflect are the potential drops due to nonpaying members. Right now, Council 1684 has 6 potential drops, 5300 – 2 potential drops, 10067 – 16 potential drops and as mentioned in my last report, Council 13756 has about 30 nonpaying members. Obviously, the above potential drops show how much work is still to be done.
- As I state every month, there are plenty of potential members who can join our Order. All we have to do is ask. When you are recruiting, mention to potential members that they will be joining a fraternity that was founded by a future saint. At the State Convention, our Supreme Director, Emilio Moure gave us a challenge. Emilio asked each Brother Knight present to recruit 2 new Knights before the end of the Columbian Year. In line with Emilio’s challenge, I’m adding a challenge of my own, between now and June 30, 2009, I would like each one of you to recruit 2 new Knights into our Order. If you do, you may be eligible for the Shining Armor Award.
- The following forms are due soon: 365 – Service Program Personnel Report – August 1, 1295-Semi Annual Audit – August 15.
- The next Chapter meeting is on Wednesday, July 2 in Ventura. The Chapter will be having elections that evening, so be sure to attend.
- I’ll be following up with the Santa Ynez Mission about starting a council at that parish shortly. We already have 3 Brother Knights who joined Council 5300 with the plan of transferring to Santa Ynez as soon as a council can be formed there.
- Our new District # is 62 since there have been three new districts added recently. The same councils are still in the District so the only change is the number.
- The position of District Warden is still open to anyone who wants to apply. Prior Grand Knights are especially encouraged to do so. I’ll only be serving as your District Deputy until June 30, 2009, so now is the chance for a Brother Knight to step up and learn the job. The job does require work but the rewards are well worth it!
- Please continue to pray for all of our sick and deceased Knights in the district including Judy Klinge (PCP Brian Klinge’s wife) who is suffering from various illnesses and PGK Jack Nelson (Council 1684) who died recently.
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