GK-Column

Grand Knights Message – July 3

New Fraternal Year Starts July 1

I can look back on the 2010-2011 Knights of Columbus year with some satisfaction that the Col. Walter Parsons Council 3205 had a great year.  It was a year that saw our monthly meeting attendance climb admirably, and our members participation increased significantly.  We recruited 16 new members.  Unfortunately, we had to suspend 24 of our Brother Knights for a net loss for the year of 8.  We start the 2011-2012 fraternal year with 271 members in our Council.

I want to lift up the work of Richard Darnell our Council’s Membership Director.  In his first year as a director Richard was responsible for our council recruiting 16 new members.  Our Supreme Council goal was 17 new members and to fall just one new member short in his first year was a remarkable achievement.  I have no doubts that we will blow right past whatever new member recruiting goal we have now that Richard is a veteran membership director.  Thanks also to Gary Richardson and our always reliable first degree team for always being there for our council and all of the other councils in district 117.  I don’t have to tell you that if it were not for the dedication of these brother knights no other council in district 117 would meet their new member recruiting goals.

We had a couple of major achievements this year.  We bought an ultrasound machine for $30,000 and placed it with the Central Texas Orphan Mission Alliance and the Coalition For Life.  We held our first shotgun raffle and raised nearly $7,000 for our council’s charitable activities.  We contributed $2,500 to Fr. Michael O’Connor’s retirement annuity in honor of his 25th anniversary as a priest.  All together we raised more than $20,000 for charity this past fraternal year, and we gave contributions to our seminarians,  the medical mission in Guatemala, St. Vincent de Paul Mission, our St. Thomas Aquinas Youth and their trip to World Youth Day, the new Catholic radio station, Special Olympics, the Boy Scouts, Coalition for Life and Good Samaritan Pregnancy Services.

As we start the new fraternal year we welcome aboard two new council officers, Paul Marvin as our Financial Secretary and Dan King as our Treasurer.  Many, many thanks to Tim Murphy and Adrian Martinez for their ten years of dedicated service to our council.  I would also like to welcome two new directors, Bob McKee will serve this year as the Council Director, and Mike Vidrine will serve as the Church Director.  It’s my pleasure to welcome back all of the other officers and directors for another tour of duty.

This year will be another hectic year as we try to raise even more money and be of more service to our Church and our community.  We will also have a new pastor and a new associate pastor to work with.  I personally am looking forward to the challenges we face and I think we should be nothing less than a Star Council this year.

Ron Gay, FSD
Grand Knight