If you recall on February 28th an EF2 tornado swept through the small town of Harveyville, Kansas. On March 3rd PSD and Charities Aid President Don Wagner along with State Treasurer Vince Melvin III and State Advocate Pat Winchester along with volunteers from Osage City Council visited the community to give out EDAP claim vouchers in the amount of$150.00 to the victims of the tornado. During the initial visit 28 vouchers were given out, then on March 6th an additional 18 vouchers were given out making a total of 46 vouchers disbursed. I along with Charities Aid President Don Wagner wish to thank you all for your calls and offers to help. At this time we feel that we have adequate funds to cover these vouchers so additional donations are not being requested at this time. I have attached a link to an article in the Jefferson County Newspaper highlighting our program. Please visit http://www.jeffcountynews.com/2012/03/harveyville-residents-receive-help-from-locals-after-struck-by-ef2-tornado/
Can your Council offer membership to two men and their families between now and June 30? Can you host one more first degree? Finish the year strong; look for men on the parish roster who would make great Knights, find a man who was initiated into the Church at Easter or bring in that high school senior or college student home for the summer.
A major emphasis at the state convention in Topeka was the attack on religious freedom taking place in our country right now. Past Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant gave a moving talk at the Saturday evening banquet in which he stated, “Today we find a new hostility to the roles of religious institutions in American life at a time when government is expanding its reach in extraordinary ways.” Click here to read a summary of his talk.
Michael Schuttloffel, Director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, spoke of the attack on religious freedom and gave an explanation of the historical definition of religious freedom and the way the current administration is trying to change that definition. He also explained the “exemption” made by the administration and mentioned a comment by a bishop that, “Jesus Christ himself would not qualify for this ‘religious’ exemption.” Click here to read a summary of his talk.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, also spoke of the attacks on religious freedom. All of the Bishops of Kansas are asking all Catholics and peoples of all faiths to come together in Topeka on June 29 at the State Capitol and show our solidarity at the Religious Freedom Rally. A flyer is available by clicking here. Please make copies of this information for you parish, council and anyone else who is interested. Archbishop Naumann encouraged the Knights to help organize the use of buses or vans to help people get to Topeka.
Finally, we, as Knights of Columbus in Kansas, unanimously passed a resolution pledging our support in fighting against this attack on one of the fundamental rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States. The full resolution can be read by clicking here.
The Knights of Columbus does many wonderful things everyday. As members we can be proud of our record of service, support for our priests and the work we do in our parishes and community. The “Did You Know” series is intended to keep the good works done by the Order first and foremost in your minds. Remind your councils of these successes at their business meetings and use them when recruiting new members.
Names and Addresses of Kansas Seminarians assisted by our Adopt-A-Seminarian Program during the 2011-2012 school year. Read More
A new Knights of Columbus Marian Prayer Program dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe (patroness of the Americas) was launched Aug. 3 at the Supreme Convention in Denver. The prayer program will continue through next year. Specially prepared framed images of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be used in the prayer program. The images have unique features: they were touched to the original tilma of St. Juan Diego, which bears the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and were blessed by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. In addition, the frame for the image is sealed with soil from Mexico’s Tepeyac hill, where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared. Click here view a schedule of where each icon will be in the state. Please contact your local council for prayer service times and locations.
Would you like to receive information from the State Council including notices concerning illness or death of current or former state personnel and announcements from the Supreme Council. If you want to sign up, click here to go to the sign-up form.
Larry Reichert
Council #4166-Schoenchen
Mike & Christine Kuestersteffen Family
Council #2296-El Dorado
Wayne & Diane Drouhard Family
Council #3828-Danville
Josh & Christy Kirkpatrick Family
Council #5328-Augusta
Tim & Dora Schroeder Family
Council #10074-Lincoln
Kansas had a great month of membership growth in March with a gain of 163 in the month. This exceeded the target for the month by 5.5%. Twenty three district deputies reached 100% or more of their monthly goal. Congratulations to all of these men for showing us the way and thank you for the work you do for the Knights of Columbus. Remember that the Drive to 1,425 membership contest continues through the end of the fraternal year. Continue to work with your Councils to offer membership to every eligible Catholic man. Details of the division competitions follows:
Division 1
With a gain of 21 members in March DD #10, Tony Muehe achieved 361% of his goal for the month. Tony also leads Division 1 in the overall contest with 140% of his series goal. District deputy #21, John Deters is in second place in the series competition having reached 90% of his goal.
Four other DDs reached their monthly goals; they are DDs 34, Bill Quaney, 29, Marvin Kratky and 50, David Littler.
Congratulations to all these men for a job well done.
Division 2
In Division 2, five district deputies reached 100% of their goal with district deputy #43, Fred Wetter achieving 353% of his goal bringing in 11 new members. The other DDs reaching their goal and leading the way for the rest of use were DDs - 32 Duane Koehler, 9 Joe Globoke, 7 Ed Vogrin and 19, Mike Barnard. District deputy #7, Ed Vogrin has reached 122% of his series goal leading Division 2.
Division 3
Four district deputies achieved 100% of their goal for March. They are DDs - 8 Bill Dickinson, 18 Paul Haverkamp, 37 Jerry Buser and 11 Chris Minchowski with DD 11, Chris Minchowski leading the way with 408% of his goal.
For the series DDs #16 and #11 have reach 100% of their goal with DD 16 John Mazurek leading the way with 128% of his goal.
Division 4
Three district deputies achieved 100% of their goal for the month. They were DD #4 Tom Penning, 49 Bob Venters and 25 Joe Beck. District Deputy #4 lead the way with 277% of his goal for the month. No district deputy in Division 4 has reached their series goal.
Division 5
Two district deputies achieved their monthly goal. They were district deputy #17, Kevin Moore and 47 Frank Mages with DD 47 leading the way with 155% of his goal for the month. No district deputy in Division 5 has reached his series goal.
Division 6
In Division 6 four district deputies reached their March goal. They were DD # 15 Gary Schaplowsky, 30 Alan Green, 6 Scott Jeno, 35 Neil Daugherty and 3 Edwin Dinger. District Deputy 15 and 35 lead the way tied with 237% of their goal for the month. Two district deputies in Division 6 have achieved their series goal. They are DD 30 and 35 each with 109% of their series goal.
The Membership Playbook has been updated! It is now smaller in size to download, but has even more information in it. The addendum contains new information that was presented to the District Deputies at the Mid-Winter State Meeting held the first weekend of December. Information previously found in the playbook has been reformatted and made more readable.The new Membership Playbook can be opened by clicking here. Please contact a member of the Membership Team if you have questions or suggestions for additional information.
Great News! We have the funds to place an ultrasound machine in the LifeCare Pregnancy Center in Ottawa, Kansas! The Machine has been ordered and will be savings lives when you read this message. Click here to read the complete letter from State Deputy Mark Roth.
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