Meeting Minutes for September 17, 2024

Opening Ceremony

  • Faithful Navigator Frank Bio opened the meeting at 7:00 pm in the Saint Mark Parish Hall, 1011 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC. There were 20 Sir Knights with ID cards and rosaries in attendance.

Call of Officers

Office Holder P/E/A
Faithful Navigator SK Frank A Bio Present
Faithful Friar Rev SK Greg Spencer Excused
Captain SK Larry Greer Present
Pilot SK G Colin Simpson Present
Comptroller SK Greg Decker Present
Admiral SK Frank Weisgerber Excused
Purser SK Tom Sullivan Present
Scribe SK Mike Apicella Present
Corps Commander SK Bob Gorman Present
Inner Sentinel SK Joe Damitz Present
Outer Sentinel SK George Schadt Present
1st Year Trustee SK George Plarre Present
2nd Year Trustee SK Caleb Strittmatter Excused
3rd Year Trustee SK Michael Breit Excused

Opening Prayer

  • Meeting’s opening prayer was led by the Faithful Navigator, Frank Bio.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Opening Ode

  • The Opening Ode, America the Beautiful, was sung.

Call for the Approval of the Minutes of the Prior Meeting

  • A call was made for changes or amendments to the August 2024 meeting minutes. There were no changes or amendments suggested. The previous minutes are accepted.

Report of the Faithful Friar

  • No report.

Report of the Faithful Comptroller - SK Greg Decker

  • The financials reported can be requested by contacting the Faithful Comptroller.
  • Thank you notes for donations from the assembly were read.
    • Wilmington Catholic Radio
    • St. Mark priest, Father Cong Le

Report of the Faithful Purser - SK Tom Sullivan

  • The financials reported can be requested by contacting the Faithful Purser.

Report of Committees

Membership Report / Reading of Applications / Balloting

  • 4th Degree Exemplification, St. Francis of Assisi Assembly, Raleigh, NC, October 12
  • Voted on three new candidates for the Exemplification into the 4th Degree – all accepted. These were: Bob Spiegel, Michael Fitzpatrick, John Danchisko.
  • Two 4th Degree transfers – SK Bob Carter and SK Ronn Franczkowski.

RSVP Report

  • No report.

Color Guard Report

  • 3 Honor Guard events asked for participation by the District Master:
    • November 8 - Centennial Mass Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh
    • November 16 - Catholic Committee for Scouting Mass St. Andrew the Apostle in Apex
    • November 23 – Monsignor Wall’s 90th birthday Mass in St. Michael the Archangel in Cary
    • Email should be sent out with further information
  • Old Regalia Capes – If you bring your obsolete cape to the meeting, we will send it to Angel’s Unaware. They will take the silk lining from our old capes to create linings and garments for children's funerals. To date we've collected seven capes. You can also send your cape directly to: Angel's Unaware c/o Jeffrey Crouch 6 Leacroft Drive Greenville, SC 29615-2234.

Patriotic Reports

General

  • Veterans Mass on November 11, 8:30 am at St. Mark Catholic Church. Mass will be followed by recitation of the Rosary led by assembly officers.. Wear Assembly/Council Shirts.

Veterans Support - SK Sean Murphy

  • In reworking the Veterans Support budget, the possibility of providing gift cards to veterans at the Ashley House to cover minor expenses as they transition to permanent housing was discussed and is the primary "spend" of the program. The main fundraisers are the Veterans Support Raffle, and the 50/50 drawings at assembly meetings.
  • Veterans Support Raffle launched today with a request to affiliated GKs to support our raffle within their council. They will be provided tickets as well as a means of purchasing tickets online. The assembly will also sell tickets online this week. Tickets are $5 or three for $10. The drawing will be held at our assembly meeting on November 19 for three cash prizes: $500, $250 and $125.
  • The first 50/50 at assembly meetings was held tonight. Tickets were $5 each or three for $10. Today’s raffle collected $200 with $100 going to the winner - 1074's GK Bob Spiegel who was a visitor and candidate. Bob donated the money to the 1074 LAMB Collection. Starting the next meeting, the 50/50 tickets will be sold before the meeting. Then the winner will be drawn at the end of the meeting.
  • Veterans Day Parade, Saturday November 9. Starts at 11 am, but line up at 10 am in the Downtown Assembly Area. The dress code will be Regalia, tuxedo, or assembly/council shirt with khaki pants. More info to be available at the October meeting. General information about the parade can be found here.

Scholarship for Future Saints

  • SK John Reynolds and SK Jack Murphy co-chairs will be taking over from SK Caleb Strittmatter. Donations will start in January to fund this program. Program update next meeting.

Honor Guard - SK Bob Gorman

  • Flag Instruction were held at the two Catholic elementary schools.
    • Monday, August 26 at 8:15am at St. Mark Catholic School (at flagpole)
    • Thursday, August 29 at 8:15am at St. Mary Catholic School (at lower school flagpole)

Fraternal Social Report - SK Frank Weisgerber

  • Christmas Party venue reserved for December 17 at South Beach Grill.
  • The rescheduled Bocce Challenge will be on September 29 at 2:30 pm at Empie Park. We will be playing against Assembly 3952 of Hampstead headed by SK Gene Ziemba. SK Larry Greer will captain our assembly's team and is looking for players and spectators. If you would like to be part of our team, please contact him at larrygreer165@gmail.com or 910-471-1574. All spectators/supporters are welcome. Practices are held Wednesdays at 10am and Sundays at 1pm at Empie Park.

    Trustees Report

  • No report.

Unfinished/Old Business

  • Budget will be presented for approval at the October meeting.
  • At the presentation last month by Thomas Marcinowski, founder and president of the Veterans Memorial Reef, a question was raised as to whether the site was a blessed burial reef. Waiting for this issued to be resolved by Deacon George Keenan.

New Business

  • Approved purchase of banner for parades such as the upcoming Veterans Day Parade.
  • Approved the color of royal blue for the assembly shirts that can be pruchased through SK Jack Murphy. More information here.
  • Assembly web site now has the Wreaths Across America (https://kofc2017.org/wreaths-across-america) active if you want to purchase wreaths.

Report of Third Degree Councils

  • 1074 Wilmington

    • September 4 – Start COR program at Immaculate Conception Church, future meetings the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month starting at 6:30 pm
    • September 7 - Food Drive – Leland
    • September 8 - Faith Formation Kickoff – ICC
    • September 14, 15 – Lamb Collection, Ft. Blackeslee AF Recreation
    • September 29 – Corporation Communion ICC
    • September 30 – Golf Tournament at Pine Valley Country Club – Please call Lou Mattes if you have any questions at 910-200-8928. For further information click here.
    • October 5 – Council Picnic, Longleaf Park
    • October 18 – ICC Blood Drive. For further information contact SK Mike Apicella.
    • October 19 – Basilica St. Mary Blood Drive. For further information contact Richard Boccard
  • [11817 St. Stanislaus]

    • November 2 - The Polish Festival will be held this fall! 11am – 5pm
    • COR group meets every Saturday. 8-10 men at 8.
    • Stations of the cross in the back of the church after Sunday 9 am Mass.
  • 12017 St. Mark

    • September 7 and 8 – Coats for kids’ donation weekend. Collected enough money to purchase 264 coats.
    • September 21 - Knights Quarterly Mass this Saturday at 5 pm.
    • September 28 - Joint fundraiser with Saint Vincent DePaul Conference on a French dinner in Paris, RSVP to Financial Secretary
    • October 5-6 Weekend begin Baby Bottle Campaign
    • Sunday Oct 6, 2:30 to 3:30 pm Life Chain on College Road by Old Kmart
    • September 23 - Exemplification, 6-7 new Knights expected
  • 12885 St. Therese

    • September 21 – Shrimparoo, after 5 pm Mass, $25 per person, all you can eat shrimp
    • October 4 - Ministry Appreciation Cookout (Father’s Bill Birthday)
    • November 9/10, 16/17, Turkey Sales
    • November 30 -Christmas Basket Sales Start November 30
    • December 10 - Council Christmas Party – South Beach Grill
    • UNCW Blessed Virgin at the Neuman Center, repair cement statue
    • Coats for Kids campaign

Brothers in Need

  • SK Jim Bilisoly’s brother, Tom, having major back surgery
  • Christian Decker
  • Bishop Herb Bevard
  • FN Frank A Bio son’s father-in-law – Richard Calcaterra (ICC member), recently passed away

Good of the Order

  • SK Greer – The good repent knowing their sin: the evil become angry when discovered. This from The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen.

Closing Prayer

  • Conducted by Faithful Navigator. Hail Mary, Glory Be

    Closing Ode

  • Sung the Star Spangled Banner

Adjourn

  • Next meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 15 at St. Mark's Parish Hall.
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.

Minutes submitted by SK Mike Apicella, Faithful Scribe