The Knight's Shield - June 2021

Summer is almost upon us, and with the pandemic easing up a little, I am looking forward to visiting with family and friends more...including my brother knights. I hope all of you and yours are doing well.

Our officers for the 2021-22 fraternal year were elected at our May general meeting, they are as follows:

• Grand Knight:               Tom Gray
• Deputy Grand Knight:   Phil Mularski
• Chancellor:                    Kevin Kennedy
• Warden:                         Tony Quido
• Advocate:                      Ken Krause
• Recorder:                       Rob Tusset
• Inside Guard:                 Joe Kish
• Outside Guard:              Vince Ursini
• 3 Year Trustee:               Paul Parker
• Treasurer:                       Ray Coughlin

Thanks to all the brother knights who accepted these officer positions!

The road cleanup was 4/24. We had about 10 men help out with this event. It took about an hour and a

half, the garbage was pretty heavy this year.

I have delivered our donation to the church from the fish fry proceeds.

 

The MI Drive funds are turned into the State, and we are awaiting the checks to disperse to our selected

charities.

The state convention at Mackinaw is virtual again this year. I mentioned at the general meeting and there

was some interest that they are opening up the meeting to outside people to attend. There will be a

different login for the delegates as we have some voting to do, but anyone can login and view the activities. Friday May 28th start time is 6pm, it opens with mass. The start time Saturday starts at 9am with a Rosary. The links are below if you wish to view this event.

Friday:

    YouTube: https://youtu.be/w7uzUfmz5xc

    Facebook: https://fb.me/e/1xX2YJxAl

    Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86352999023

Saturday:

    YouTube: https://youtu.be/5 lyoP8Hly4

    Facebook: https://fb.me/e/dcFxxir3W

    Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86479546420

Our next general meeting we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of our council! There will be a representative from the State Council to present a plaque from Supreme. Please try to make this event

as we will recognize the charter members and the Past Grand Knights.

We are going to possibly do a baby bottle drive soon, so stay tuned as we iron out the details. From my family to yours, we wish you a happy June!

Vivat Jesus!

Tom Gray

DID YOU KNOW

In the beginning God created the night and the day and with in it He provided 24 hours with two great lights to separate the night and the day. All of God’s people have 24 hours each day to accomplish their goals. That gives each of us 8,760 hours a year to live out God’s plan. That gives everyone 2,920 hours of sleep each year if they sleep 8 hours a day. Working 40 hours a week uses another 2,080 hours for the year. That leaves 3,760 hours for personal time whatever that may be. Can you please spend 5,10,15,20 or 24 hours a year making a difference by supporting the Knights of Columbus programs? That’s all it takes 24 hours or less out of 8,760 hours each year. Be the difference. Your time is the most valuable gift you can give. Please consider joining our council today. You are so much needed.

The Knight's Shield - May 2021

Spring is here! I for one am glad to have the warmer weather and to see nature waking up from winter.

I hope this finds you and your families happy and healthy.

We had our first round of nominations for officer elections at last month’s meeting. The nominations are posted later in this newsletter. If you will not be attending the next meeting, I will be glad to accept nominations via email or phone call. There will be one more round of nominations...then elections will be held at the next meeting. Also, please remember that it is acceptable and encouraged to self-nominate if you would like to be involved in helping to run your council.

There is an online seminar by Tom Henga about retirement called "Paychecks and Playchecks" coming up. He is an author and very good presenter. I really enjoyed his last one. The flyer is attached to this newsletter. Please consider attending this as the council will get credit toward the Star Award if we get enough participation. Please let me know if you are going to attend so I can follow up and ensure that we get the credit that is due us. See the attached flyer for more information.

The road cleanup is coming up 4/24. We will meet in the North parking lot at 8am.

I just received word that the convention at Mackinaw is cancelled and will be virtual again this year.

This month. we recognize Memorial Day, (note I intentionally say recognize instead of celebrate). This is the holiday where we remember those who gave their lives in service brate, lets just make sure that we do remember and give thanks to God for the soldiers who made the greatest sacrifice for our freedom. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them."

From my family to yours, we wish you a happy spring. As things ease up with vaccines getting in arms, I hope to see each and everyone of you soon!

Vivat Jesus!
Tom Gray

Mobile Assistive Technology Training - Resources for Blind and Low-Vision

TECH JV

The Knight's Shield - April 2021

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen! Happy Easter all!

I hope this finds you and your families happy and healthy.

We had our March meeting in person as a hybrid meeting. We had almost 50 men in person and a dozen on the Zoom portion. We also had an exemplification before the meeting. We had two new members and two 1st degree knights make 3rd degree. Thank you all who helped with the exemplification. I had many compliments on how well it went. I would like to welcome our two new knights Michael McKinnon and Jake Lueck.

We are through with a crazy couple of weeks. We had the fish fries throughout all of Lent. We had the Ham and Kielbasa sales. We had the Easter Egg hunt. Finally we had the MI Drive. I don't have final numbers for these events at the writing of this newsletter so stay tuned for results either in the next newsletter or at the next meeting. Without the dedication and hard work of knights and their families we would not be successful. So from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank each every one of you! I cannot list you all by name but you know who you are…

There is an online seminar by Tom Henga about retirement called "Paycheck and Playchecks" coming up. He is an author and very good presenter. I really enjoyed his last one. The flyer is attached to this newsletter. Please consider attending this as the council will get credit toward the Star Award if we get enough participation. Please let me know if you are going to attend so I can follow up and ensure that we get the credit that is due us. See the attached flyer for more information.

The road cleanup is coming up 4/24. We will meet in the North parking lot at 8am. See the attached article for more information.

From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed Easter. As things ease up with vaccines getting in arms, I hope to see each and everyone of you soon!

Vivat Jesus!
Tom Gray

The Knight's Shield - March 2021

I hope this finds you and your families all well.

We are into the Lenten season now, a time to reflect, sacrifice, and get closer to God. Please consider volunteering at one of our many upcoming events such as fish fries, MI Drive, Ham and Kielbasa sales, or Easter Egg hunt.

We had our February meeting online as a Zoom meeting due to the restrictions. We had around 30 participants and were able to complete all required business with no issues. I am looking forward to meeting in person again. I have reviewed the guidelines and think that we can meet in person at our next meeting on March 11th. I have submitted my plan to the church and am awaiting their response at the time this is being written. I will send an update as to what the plan will be. I am hoping to have a hybrid meeting with both Zoom and in person to accommodate everyone's comfort level. We will possibly be having an exemplification before the meeting at 6:30. We currently have one, maybe two new members attending. We also have one 1st degree member to attend for 3rd degree. If anyone is not a 3rd degree member and would like to attend, please let me know so we can be prepared.

We have completed our 1st day of fish fries at the writing of this newsletter, and it went pretty well considering it being two years since we have had one. It was a great turnout, and we sold out by 5:15. We did get into a groove after a slow start. We have a couple of things to tweak to be more efficient. We don't think that we can get much more food out of the kitchen but we are going to try to add some meals for next week. Please consider helping out with this, our biggest fund raiser of the year.

From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed Lent. Let us hope and pray that 2021 brings an end to this pandemic and our lives can return to normal.

Vivat Jesus!
Tom Gray

The Knight's Shield - February 2021

We had our January meeting online as a Zoom meeting due to the restrictions. We had a much better turnout then the December meeting and were able to complete all required business with no issues.

We closed the Casey the Teddy Bear program. We raised around $750 profit from the program. PGK, FDD Jeff Gapczynski delivered the 4-1/2 cases of bears to the hospital. We now have funds to run it the rest of the year also. Hopefully we will get back to the Casino trip fundraiser next year.

Our next general meeting is currently planned to be in person on February 11th at 7:30. We will possibly be having an exemplification before the meeting at 6:30. We are planning to record this exemplification so we can post it online. We currently have one new member attending. If anyone is not a 3rd degree member and would like to attend, please let me know so we can be prepared. I will be monitoring the rules set out by the State and the Archdiocese for any changes. If we have to pull back the number of people, we could have a Zoom meeting or a hybrid meeting with some in person and some Zoom. I will send out updates if there are any changes.

You should all have your state raffle tickets. Please sell these, as the proceeds fund some state programs. The council also receives a kickback from each ticket sold.

Lent is just around the corner, and you know what that means! Fish Fries are back! Please prepare to help out with this, our biggest fund raiser of the year. We will be doing something whether we have to do carry out only or drive through or something. We are working out the logistics for the kitchen work to happen safely and within state guidelines. Stay tuned...

From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed Lent. Let us hope and pray that 2021 brings an end to this pandemic and our lives can return to normal.

Vivat Jesus!
Tom Gray

The Knight's Shield - January 2021

It was 25 years ago this month that our council was chartered! With the strong leadership and dedicated membership we have had through the years this council has thrived. God willing we will be able to have a celebration this spring with an awards night and dinner.

We had our December meeting online as a Zoom meeting due to the restrictions. It went better than I thought it would.

Our next general meeting is currently planned to be in person January 14th at 7:30. We will possibly be having an exemplification before the meeting at 6:30. We are planning to record this exemplification so we can post it online. We currently have one new member attending. If anyone is not a 3rd degree member and would like to attend please let me know so we can be prepared. I will be monitoring the rules set out by the State and the Archdiocese for any changes. If we have to pull back the number of people we could have a Zoom meeting or a hybrid meeting with some in person and some Zoom. I will send out updates if there are any changes. The meeting format will be changing slightly due to new guidelines from Supreme.

The Ham and Kielbasa was successfully completed. Thank you to all who helped! This was the first fundraiser we had this year that the funds are coming into the council so it was well needed.

Ken Krause will be needing some help removing Christmas decorations, there will be an update with timing and how to volunteer to help.

You all should have your state raffle tickets. Please sell these as the proceeds fund some state programs as well as the council receives a kickback from each ticket sold.

Casey the Teddy Bear will have been completed by the time you receive this. I will report final numbers when they become available. Thank you to all who supported this effort!

The free throw contest is still on for now. It is 1/30 at St. Thecla in the morning. We will be sending out details soon.

Lent is just around the corner and you know what that means! Fish Fries are back! Please prepare to help out with this, our biggest fund raiser of the year. We will be doing something whether we have to do carry out only or drive through or something. Stay tuned.

From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed New Year. Lets hope and pray that 2021 brings an end to this pandemic and our lives can return to normal.

Vivat Jesus!
Tom Gray

The Knight's Shield - December 2020

I hope this finds everyone is safe and healthy during these trying times.

Our MI Drive is over and the final results are $4,145.00.

Mike Hartel and I delivered 35 coats to Erie elementary for coats for kids.

We are still working on timing for the wheelchair ramp for the lady moving from Arizona. The closing on her home has been delayed due to Covid.

Attached is a flyer for the fraternal benefits meeting December 2 at 7pm. Please let me know if you sign up for this. If we get 10 non-insurance members, it will qualify as one of our insurance events for Star Council next year.

Our next general meeting is currently planned to be in person, December 10th at 7:30. We will be having an exemplification before the meeting at 6:30. We currently have one new member attending. If anyone is not a 3rd degree member and would like to attend please let me know so we can be prepared. I will be monitoring the rules set out by the State and the Archdiocese for any changes. If we have to pull back the number of people we could have a Zoom meeting or a hybrid meeting with some in person and some Zoom. I will send out updates if there are any changes.

You will find the Ham and Kielbasa order form attached if you wish to order. We will be at the masses 11/28-29 and 12/5-6. If you can work it, check in before and after your Mass to see if if help is needed. We will not be doing samples because of Covid.

I am saddened to inform you of the passing of Sir Knight Leon Eggers. He passed away Wednesday, November 18. He passed away one day before his 89th birthday. May he have eternal rest in peace with the Lord. Let's keep his wife Lorrayne and their family in our prayers.

From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed Christmas. I pray that you and your families and friends all stay safe during this pandemic.

Vivat Jesus!
Tom Gray

Leon Eggers 1931 - 2020

Leon was born in Wausau, WI of parents Charlotte Sucharski and Fred Eggers, Jr. on Nov. 19, 1931. He is survived by his wife Lorrayne Thielemans. He had four children with now deceased first wife Jacqueline Scherr. They are; Sharon Okray (Mickey), Sandra Hill (Robert), and deceased Judith Sprecher (Dennis) and deceased Leon Eggers (Debbie). He has 5 living grandchildren and one deceased. He has 8 great-grandchildren. Leon attended Pershing High School and Chrysler Trade School. He was manager at Schlitter Tool for many years. He had a great love of music and loved boating on Lake St. Clair and in earlier days was a hunter in Northern Michigan. The family will be gathering for a Funeral Mass. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Leon originally joined the Knights of Columbus on August 1, 1964 and was a member of St. Paul of Tarsus Council 11689. He rejoined the Council on January 12, 1996. He joined our Assembly on March 22, 1998. He had regalia, so I assume that at one time he was a member of the Color Corps.

Eternal rest grant onto him, Oh Lord. May his soul and the soul of all our faithful departed Knights rest in peace. Amen.