Meeting Minutes July 2024

02
Jul

MINUTES OF COUNCIL GENERAL MEETING

Dining Room

07/02/2024

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.

OPENING PRAYER:  by MARC EVANS

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  by PAUL  RYAN

OPENING ODE:  by MIKE FITZGERALD

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED

CHAPLAIN:  VACANT                                      

GRAND KNIGHT:  MIKE FITZGERALD:  P                       WARDEN:  ADAN LUNA: P

DEP GRAND KNIGHT:  MARC EVANS: P                        INSIDE GUARD:  GAMALIEL HERNANDEZ:  P

CHANCELLOR:  PAUL RYAN:  P                                       OUTSIDE GUARD:  RUSSELL LEROY: P

FINANCIAL SECRETARY:  PETE PERTA: EX                    LECTURER:       JAMES RUSSELL: P

TREASURER:  JAMES SMITH:  P                                   1ST YR TRUSTEE:  JACK  RAMSDEN: P

RECORDER:  ROBERT NIETO:   EX                                2ND YR TRUSTEE:  DAVID DYBALA: EX

ADVOCATE:  RUSSELL GULLY:  P                                3RD YR TRUSTEE:  TOM GRECO:  P

ARE ALL PRESENT IN POSSESSION OF A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD:  per Outside Guard: Yes

Approve Minutes of the Prior Meeting –  The minutes of our June 4th General Membership Meeting have been post on the Council’s website.  The minutes were approved.

GRAND KNIGHT’S REPORT:

The Council welcomes two (2) New Knights who were attending their first General Membership Meeting:

                     Moise Martinez

                     Danda Ruiz

  1. The Council had a very busy past weekend.
    1. Our Corporate Communion Mass was very well attended.  I do not have an exact headcount, but I believe those processing into Mass were sixty (60) or more.Every one of our slate of Officers for the 2024/2025 Fraternal Year were present at the Dinner and participated in the Induction Ceremony.  Dan Murphy comment that this was the first time he can remember that all officers were present at the Induction Ceremony. Thanks everyone!Father Uche had returned from Houston earlier on Saturday afternoon, attended and participated in the Induction Ceremony.  He also led us in blessing the food and stayed to enjoy the meal.Jose Montoya sent out invitations to several Knight widows.  Diane McCorcle was able to attend.  Barbara Cadman called me to thank me for the invitation and to let me know she was not able to attend due to another commitment.  I received a third call from Juanita who also thanked me for the invitation but said she had a family commitment that night.  José, keep up your good work because the widow invitees are appreciative. There are many people we wish to thank for making the dinner a big success. 
      1. First and foremost, thanks to James Smith, who bought the food and beer and helped prepare and warm the foodLarry and Sheila Balanga and Jack Ramsden helped Susan and Mike Fitzgerald set up the dining room.  The set up included taking down more than ten (10) rectangular tables.  We then set up the room for ninety (90) people, by arranging fifteen (15) round tables which were decorated with white table clothes, Knights blue accent pieces, center pieces tied with Knights gold ribbons and  candies.Several Knights helped serve the food, and at the risk of forgetting someone, I would like to personally thank Efrain Ochoa, Jose Montoya, David Ybarra, John Espree, Jack Ramsden and Larry Balagna.There were also several people, including Jeff Traub, who stayed behind to help set up the dining room in the configuration needed for the following day.  
      Wheelchair Mission Drive – Bill Weber summarized the successful results of our 2nd annual drive.
      1. Holy Spirit Council #8157 in Duncanville, and the Dallas Diocese, held a successful Wheelchair weekend. They collected $10,086.  In addition, the Council had been credited with $400 in contributions which were received before the weekend for a total of $10,486 which represents seventy (70) wheelchairs.It is estimated that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of ten (10) lives.  The seventy (70) wheelchairs will have a positive impact on the lives of 700 people.There were five (5) Our Lady of Guadalupe lithographs given out to those whose donated $500 or more.
      At the dinner, we recognized and presented  Academic Scholarship Certificates to four (4) or our five (5) very deserving scholarship recipients. There were two (2) who were able to join us at the dinner in person; Jagger Kubin the daughter of PGK Chris Kubin and Rylie Via who is the granddaughter of Dan Murphy.  Gamaliel Hernandez and his wife were able to accept the Certificate on behalf of their son and our Brother Knight José. Jack Ramsden accepted the Certificate on behalf of his  Grandson Keddie Ramsden. Unfortunately, neither Sandra Echeveste Martinez nor her dad, Brother Knight Jorge Echeveste, were able to attend the dinner.  Last but not least, we were able to recognize our night of the Year for 2023 – 2024.  From among the three (3) very deserving finalists, the Council chose to recognize David Ybarra as our Knight of the Year.
    1. Marc Evans then gave the Council an update on plans for future Bible studies

Financial Secretary’s Report – Peter Perta provided the Grand Knight with his report as follows:

Membership currently stands at 248

Dues Collected YTD: 58%

Star Council Quota 13 – a total of 27 members were recruited for the 2023/2024 Fraternal year so we met the goal of Double Star Designation; we have 4 members for the 2024/2025 Fraternal year.

Family of the Month Form for June has been submitted

The Knight in Need Fund stands at $1,250

Treasurer’s Report  –  Worthy Treasurer, Sir Knight James Smith -James provided the ending bank balance as of last month, Council deposits, Council expenditures and the resulting closing balance.

4th Degree –  SK James Smith -Officer installation will take place on August 8th. More information to come.

Baseball Concessions  – S/K Allen Reitmeier- a total of fifty-seven (57) World Series games were played at Cedar Hill; 2 credit card machines were used along with Apple Pay; no updates on Fall Ball thus far

Viewing and Funeral Mass for S/K Art Senato –  S/K Allen Reitmeier reported 6 Knights were pallbearers and Fr. Eugene celebrated the mass at St. Jude’s

Church Activities – SK David Ybarra  – No Report

Program & Committee Reports

Programs

Faith –  Deacon Charlie Ruelas (and Marc Evans) – jointly provided an update on future Bible Studies More information to come.

Family – José Montoya -no report

Community  – Dan Murphy –  Although Dan and Pat delayed going to Upper Michigan for the summer to participate in our Corporate Communion and Dinner, they are now gone for the summer.   No Report

Life  –  Sir Knight Mike Moloughney -absent; our GK led us in praying 3 Hail Marys to end abortions.

  1. At each of our monthly meetings we will pray 3 Hail Marys:
    1. First Hail Mary – for the Unborn
    1. Second Hail Mary – for the moms of those unborn babies – that they allow their babies to be born.
    1. Third Hail Mary – for those in the abortion industry that they turn away from evil and seek the face of God.

Admissions Committee – S/K Russell Gully -There are three (3) candidates recruited by Adan Luna. The three (3) men were interviewed by the Admissions Committee and were recommended to join the Council. They were approved by the Council and will have their exemplification ceremony on Sunday after the 1 p.m. Spanish Mass.

José Garcia , he is a carpenter, and has 2 children

Jesus Aguirre, works in IT, and has 4 children

Jesus Medina, does remodeling, and has 2 children

Awareness Committee – Vacant

Council Activities –  Vacant

Health Director –  Dr. Robert Nieto – absent;  He is in San Antonio visiting family.  As an update to our June 23rd Carter Blood Drive, there were twenty-one (21) people who donated. Many thanks to all the Knights who showed up to donated blood as many of the donors were Knights.

Knight Hands – David Dybala – No Report

Recruitment  – SK Jim Kowalski -We won DOUBLE STAR DESIGNATION; only 1 of 10 Councils South of the Trinity and 6 Councils of 60 in the Dallas area

Retention – SK Paul Ryan -no report

Safe Environment – SK Russel Leroy -no report, Jorge Ruiz is working at the Diocesan level to coordinate requirements.

Unfinished Business

New Business  

Upcoming events include: Red White and Blue Festival in Duncanville, 07/04-6/2024, Rummage Sale set up in the gym 07/08/2024, and Rummage Sale for 2 weekends on 08/10-11 and 08/17-18, 2024

Snow Cone Sale every Friday from 4-6 p.m. the last 2 Fridays in July and the first Friday in August

District Deputy – SK Kebran Alexander – Not able to attend

Field Agent –  Tom Centarri  -He enjoyed visiting with his Brother Knights

Good of the Order:

            Knight of the Month -Joel Lopez

            Family of the Month – Peter and Bimbo Perta

              We were able to recognize our June Family of the Month John and Anne Owen

Prayer Requests –  We prayed for Art Senato and for several Knights including Bill Dover, Tom Greco, and Al Evans and others

Closing Prayer – The GK led us in a Hail Mary and Glory Be

Closing Ode – The GK led us.

50/50 Meeting Drawing  – #7131 John Owen #33.50

Meeting adjourned: 8:30 p.m.

By: Roberto Nieto|Meeting Minutes