Holy Spirit Council No. 11661
11300 W 103RD ST OVERLAND PARK KS 66214
Website: http://kofc11661.com/
Meeting Minutes of January 14, 2021
Call to Order: Grand Knight, Justin Lillich called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Warden’s Report: Because of the corona virus epidemic the meeting was held virtual. No membership cards were checked. However, all attending were recognized as active members by face recognition.
Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Grand Knight Justin Lillich
Roll Call: Mike Conrad, Deputy Grand Knight excused, Bud Maskill, Chancellor, Rod Hoffman, Advocate, Tony Schroeder, Warden, Mike Bergkamp, Inside Guard, Tom Swortwood, Outside Guard, and Second Year Trustee, Tom McChesney, were absent.
Attendance: Present: 18; Total Membership: 341
Approval of Minutes: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes from the December 10, 2020, meeting were approved.
Grand Knight’s Report
Grand Knight, Justin Lillich reported:
1.His thanks for every Knight who helped take down the Christmas Decorations in the Church; and
2.He informed the members the Council would be hosting the Friday Lenten Dinners this year. He said the Council was able to partner with a local restaurant, Tequila Harry’s, wherein Friday meatless dinners would be served all six Fridays during Lent. Each week Tequila Harry’s will be putting out a Special Menu for our event. Any person ordering off this menu our Council will receive 10% of the proceeds from the purchase to go to charity.
Deputy Grand Knight Report
Not present. No report given.
Financial Reports
Treasurer
Tom Gaume reported:
Checking: $24,465.76
Less: earmarked Coats for Kids’ fund $2,284.13
Less: earmarked Donations for Seminarians fund $4,992.00
Remainder $17,189.63
Also, he said he had been called upon to prepare the Annual Survey which is due to go to Supreme by January 31. He informed he was working with Bob Long, our Webmaster, to devise an electronic version of it to go to each of the members. He called upon the Council to promptly return their replies to the survey to allow him time to calculate the results and timely report to Supreme
Financial Secretary
The Grand Knight gave the Financial Secretary’s report informing the Council the dues statements had gone out and over $5,000 in membership dues had been collected to date.
LECTOR’S ADDRESS
The Grand Knight called on the Lecturer to address the Council with his Program. Greg Brown, the Lector, gave his prepared remarks on “Consecration to Joseph” since the Church has dedicated this year to St. Joseph. He informed the Council he borrowed much of his Program from Mike Scherschligt’s presentation titled “The Benefit of Turning to Joseph.” He ended the Program with Pope Francis’ Prayer to St. Joseph.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
The Grand Knight called on the Membership Director to give his report. Chad Eickholt, the Membership Director, said there has been no change in our membership numbers. They are currently at 341 with two new members having joined this year against our goal of 17. He said the State Chapter has continued its incentive Program into 2021 offering a $5 gift to each Knight for any new member.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR:
The Grand Knight called on the Program Director to give his report. Rich Triola was present, but had no report.
FAITH DIRECTOR:
The Grand Knight called on the Faith Director to give his report. Everett Fritz was present. He reminded the Council of the need to complete the “Spiritual Reflection” segment of the “Faith in Action” program to be eligible for the Columbian Award. Last year the Council participated in the annual “Men Under Construction” event to fulfill this requirement. Because of the corona virus this event is not being offered this year. He let the Council know he will bring this up at the Officer’s Meeting this month to discuss what we might do to substitute for the “Men Under Construction” event to fulfill this requirement.
FAMILY DIRECTOR:
Not present, no report given.
LIFE DIRECTOR:
The Grand Knight called on the Life Director to give his report. Dave Boone was present. He said the 40 Days for Life which was conducted earlier this year was very successful. He said many Knights turned out for the Life Chain and the day designated for prayer in front of the abortion clinic.
He said this month the Council typically conducts the “Life Savers Fund Raiser” and hands out the baby bottles which are collected between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with the proceeds from both events going to the Pregnancy Center. He announced because of the corona virus we would not be doing either event this year. Instead he made a motion the Council donate $1,000 to the Wyandotte Pregnancy Center. The motion was seconded and there was a discussion.
During the discussion an amendment was made to distribute the proposed $1,000 evenly with $500 going to the Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center and the Wyandotte Pregnancy Center. Both of these charities serve the same cause. The amendment was seconded and it was passed to give $500 to the Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center and $500 to the Wyandotte Pregnancy Center.
COMMUNITY DIRECTOR
Not present, no report given.
YOUTH DIRECTOR
The Grand Knight called on the Youth Director to give his report. Don Watson, the Youth Director was present. He reported because of the corona virus the Free Throw Contest normally held this time of year was officially dropped.
Unfinished Business
There was no old business conducted at the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
With Unfinished Business being concluded the Grand Knight asked whether anyone had any new business to bring up with the Council.
Greg Brown was duly recognized. Greg raised the question again what we should do with the old Nativity set owned by the Knights which was replaced with the new Nativity set constructed by the Scouts with the aid of Knights a few years back.
After a discussion within the Council it was decided to table this subject and take it up at the Officers Meeting to be held later this month. The Grand Knight will report the Officers’ suggestions to the Council at the next meeting
FOURTH DEGREE REPORT:
The Grand Knight called upon the Faithful Navigator and inquired whether he had anything to report to the Council. Dan Hageman, the Worthy Navigator, was present.
He announced the Assembly was not having any meetings because of the corona virus epidemic. He informed the Council the Fourth Degree dues were waived this year and the Faithful Comptroller had issued new membership cards for 2021. If any Fourth Degree member has not received their 2021 card, they should contact him.
Lastly, he informed the Council our Assembly would have a Color Guard at the State Capital for the annual January for Life March.
KNIGHT AND FAMILY OF THE QUARTER
There is nothing to report under this section as the nomination for the Knight and Family is being done quarterly now and not monthly. The Knight and Family of the Quarter were recognized in the November 2020 minutes.
DISTRICT DEPUTY COMMENTS:
The District Deputy was not present. There was no report.
INSURANCE AGENT REPORT
Our Field Agent, John Rodriguez was not present at the meeting.
Mr. Rodriguez’s e-mail address is John.Rodreguez@kofc.org His phone number is (913) 403-9400 or (855) 356-4859. His address is P.O. Box 265, Gardner KS 66030. Anyone having Insurance needs is asked to reach out to him.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Prayers Requested
Before closing the meeting the Grand Knight asked whether any Brother Knight wished to request prayers for the sick and distressed. Names for which prayers were requested were:
1.Phil Fowler is having knee surgery;
2.Barbara Hageman, Dan Hageman’s wife, is having rotary cuff surgery; and
3.For the lady who fell and broke her hip on the altar helping take down Christmas decorations.
ADORATION
Although Jerry Gerstberger was not present, it was reported all slots at the Adoration Chapel during the hours the Knights are responsible are full. Anyone wishing to be put on the Adoration Chapel list either for a Wednesday or Friday evening is asked to contact Jerry for availability.
50 / 50 DRAWING
There was no 50/50 drawing as the meeting was virtual.
The meeting closed at 8:00 P.M. after a prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Everett Fritz, II, Recorder