Brother Knights, Wives, Families, and Friends,

 

Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving you this year. 

 

As your Program Director, it is my privilege to bring to you the opportunity to be involved with our council.  As a fellow knight, council and parish, we are family.  As important as it is for our membership to grow in brotherhood, it is equally important for our families to grow in fellowship.  Whether it is to volunteer to assist in these activities or to attend them as a participant, it will be your presence at the activities that will allow our existence to flourish.    

 

So new, fun and enriching events are gifts we seek and share.  As with any loved family member, I respect your feedback.  Please let me know if you have any ideas to improve in our opportunities this fraternal year.  My contact information is below.

 

Thank you for your anticipated support during the course of the fraternal year!  Please check out the reports of the following Program Area Directors! 

 

God Bless you throughout this fraternal year,

Vivat Jesus!

Thomas "Junior" Rivers, Deputy Grand Knight

(703) 763-3817

Junior_Rivers@yahoo.com

CHURCH ACTIVITIES

PGK Buck Brenton

Church Director

FIRST FRIDAY ALL (K)NIGHT ADORATION:  March 5th & 6th... from Friday evening into Saturday morning our priests will expose the Blessed Sacrament and offer us the chance to sit in quiet prayer, contemplation, and reverence with our Savior. All He asks is that we give a small portion of our time to keep Him company. Jesus, awaits us.  Will you accept His invitation to spend an hour with Him?

The goal of Council 8183 is to have a minimum of two Knights or a Knight and a member of his family for each 1-hour time slot in the First Friday adoration schedule (8:00 PM to 8:00 AM).  

 

Ideally, we would like to have three Knights or Knights and members of their family for each 1-hour time slot.  Sometimes unforeseen events prevent an individual from making it to adoration for his scheduled hour.  With three Knights on the schedule, it is less likely that someone will be in the chapel alone or that someone will have to call one of our priests to cover a “gap” in the schedule.

Watch for the e-mail announcement that includes a link to the on-line sign-up.  If you would like to have a specific time on a recurring basis, it is easy to arrange.  It will make your scheduling process much simpler and easier and ensure that you have your own special hour each month.  For more information, contact Br. Les Krogh at lkroghs@comcast.net or (703) 491-2339.

 

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COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Br. John Puglisi

Community Director

 

Council Blood Drive, March 20, 2010...The Knights of Columbus Council 8183 is sponsoring a blood drive at SEAS on Saturday, 20 March 2010 in the Parish Hall (lower level) from 7:00 to 11:30.  We will be signing up donors after all Masses during the weekends of 6/7 and 13/14 March.  Please consider helping with sign-ups or during the blood drive.  Best of all, please consider donating blood which will be used to save lives.  Contact Brother Tom Stanton at 703-328-3680 or stanton.home@comcast.net if you can help in any way.

 

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COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

Br. Tom Fitzpatrick

Council Director

 

KOVAR April 15-18, 2010... This information is for our many new members who have joined our council in the past year as well as to update our veteran members.  It helps to understand “how” and “why” we give away tootsie rolls to solicit funds to help citizens with intellectual disabilities during our KOVAR fund drive each year.

 

When we hear the name of certain organizations, we tend to immediately identify them with what they stand for and their main service project.  For example, we may identify MASONS with raising funds to build and maintain hospitals for crippled children.  JAYCEES may be identified with selling fruit to raise funds for recreation camps for those with intellectual disabilities and or we may identify LIONS with the blind. 

 

Knights of Columbus councils, for many, many years have been donating to various charities, including those assisting people with intellectual disabilities.  In the last few years the Knights of Columbus in many states within the Union have followed the Knights of Virginia and have adopted helping citizens with intellectual disabilities as their major service project.

 

More and more people in Virginia and throughout the United States are coming to identify the Knights of Columbus not only with charity, fraternity, unity, and patriotism but also with helping citizens with intellectual disabilities.  In the state of Virginia, the Knights are the second largest contributor to this worthy cause, State Government being the largest contributor.  All over this great country of ours, Knights don bright yellow aprons blazoned across the front and back,  “HELP CITIZENS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES – KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS”.  More than not, a Knight will contribute two hours of his time standing in front of the store handing out tootsie rolls and collect contributions to aid those with intellectual disabilities.  People usually respond generously.

 

Among many other things, to be a good Knight is to serve worthy causes sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.  Knights have long wanted a national project that associates them with a worthy cause.  We now have it in the tootsie roll drive to raise funds to assist citizens with intellectual disabilities.  Like those in other service organizations, we have a cause with which our members can be proud to be associated.  Will you do your part to support Knights of Virginia Assisting Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities?

 

Brothers, KOVAR time approaches.  KOVAR weekend is April 15 through 18, Thursday through Sunday.  Quoting from the Higher Authority – “That which you do for the least of my brethren you do unto me…”  We are asking you to participate.  We are not asking for money, but we are asking for your time (2 hours or more if you’re willing). 

 

We can promise you a most heart-warming experience for your efforts knowing that our success ensures that the winners are the citizens with intellectual disabilities.  Surely, they deserve our best efforts.

 

With the state’s budget cuts, our efforts are needed more than ever.  Please reserve some time for KOVAR weekend and respond affirmatively to the station captain when you get the call for help.

 

In that regard, I need four (4) Knights to step forward to serve as station captains for the Giant supermarket at Hedges Run, two Safeway supermarkets, both at Merchant Plaza and Tackett’s Mill and the ABC store at Merchant Plaza.  This additional effort requires a little more time but still not difficult.  For example, the station captain will be given a list of names to call; he will monitor the station, provide the aprons and canisters to his station’s volunteers, collect and count the money periodically, then lastly return the collections to me. 

 

In closing, I ask that you please consider this truly needed ministry in any way that you can. 

 

Fraternally yours,

 

Vin Donahue,

KOVAR Chairman

703-494-9940

vindonahue@verizon.net

 

 

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MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES

PGK Phil Kennedy

Membership Director

 

Today, we face multiple commitments to our family, work, community, and Church. The time we spend trying to take care of those responsibilities can at times be overwhelming. What if I told you the time commitment to support these various council events or activities is only 24 hours a year. Considering the fact there is 8,760 hours in a year. Twenty-four hours does not seem like many hours in the scheme of things but that is all we are asking of you. Here is the breakdown for a 24 hour a year commitment:

 

• Six hours a year supporting a council sponsored event (Church, Community, Council, Family, Pro-Life, or Youth project).

• Four hours a year attending two meetings.

• Four hours a year enjoying a council social function.

• Four hours a year volunteering to support a council’s drive (KOVAR, KCIC, Flea Market, Free Throw, Poster, and Soccer Contest, etc.).

• Fours hours a year attending, with your family the Annual Council Memorial Mass or All (K)night Adoration on first Friday’s.

• One hour a year reading the council bulletin and web site and the Supreme Council web site.

• One hour a year visiting with your field agent to ensure you and your family is protected now and in the future.

 

Looking at the 24-hour breakdown, it does not seem too unreasonable to fit this amount of time into your schedule. With this amount of time, think what you can do to make an impact in our community, Church, and council. It takes a little of your time to make a difference – just 24-hours a year.

 

By the way, this weekend after all Masses on 5 and 6 December, I will have a council information table set up in the Parish Hall. So if you know of anyone interested in joining the Knights of Columbus, please bring him by the table to find out more about our Order.

 

Here are some future dates regarding degree exemplifications in and around District 12:

 

• For New Candidates, the next 1st Degree is:

  • SEAS Council, Tuesday, January 5, 7:30 PM

  • John Paul I Council, Wednesday, January 6, 7:30 PM

• For 1st Degree Knights, the next 2nd Degree is:

  • John Paul I, Tuesday, December 8, 8:00 PM

   

• For 2nd Degree Knights, the next 3rd Degree is:

  • Fr. Francis J. Diamond Council 6292, Saturday, January 30, 11:00 AM

 

If you know someone interested in joining the Knights of Columbus, please ask him to join the largest Catholic lay organization in the world. If you need help signing up your friend, do not hesitate to contact someone from the Membership Team for assistance:

• PGK Gary Lee, gleesr@comcast.net or 703-490-5394

• PGK Tom Walton, sktomw@gmail.com or 703-680-6588

• PGK Phil Kennedy, pkenn95798@comcast.net or 703-490-5822

  Have you invited someone you know to join the Knights?

 

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FAMILY ACTIVITIES

VACANT

Family Director

 

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YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Br. Jerry Zadnik

Youth Director

YOUNG MAN & YOUNG WOMAN OF THE YEAR... application for the 2010 Young Man & Woman of the Year is now available. Any Brother Knight who would like to nominate a Young Man or Woman for this award should pick up an application and have the individual complete it and return it to PGK George Clark (703-588-7740 or gclark169@verizon.net) or GK Jay Schaeufele (703-497-2226 or jay_elaine@yahoo.com).

 

Applications must be turned in NLT March 1, 2010. Council officers will then select the best Young Man and Woman of the Year from the applications received. You can download the application form by clicking>>>  APPLICATION.  This is a MS WORD format document.

Or for a ADOBE PDF version, click here>>> PDF APPLICATION

 

 

K of C ANNUAL FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST... The 2010 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship Contest is open to all boys and girls in ages 10 to 14.  To get the word out early to potential participants, the Council will have its Free Throw Championship Contest competition from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 23 January 2010 at Holy Family Parish Gym, Dale City.

So it’s not too early to start practicing those free throws shots to get ready for the January contest.  This is a great opportunity to get involved with our youth and interact with them on the court.  If you are interested in helping with this event, contact either GK Jay Schaeufele at 703-497-2226 or email at jay_elaine@yahoo.com or Bro. Paul Severance at 703-494-7726 or email at severancep@comcast.net for more information about this fantastic youth program.

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS POSTER CONTEST... Each year the Knights of Columbus sponsors a Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest, which is open to all young people ages of 8 and 14.  SEAS Council poster contest is 1 January - mid-February 2010.  Contest entrants compete in one of two age groups; ages 8 - 11, and ages 12 - 14.  This year’s theme will be about Drug Awareness and Abuse.  Each poster should be the original work (including concept, layout, slogan and any visual images) of a single person reflecting the Drug Awareness and Abuse topic.  Only Drug Awareness and Abuse poster will be accepted.  No cut ups or pasted pictures will be allowed.

 

So don’t delay, now’s the time to start thinking of those great ideas for a Drug Awareness and Abuse poster.  One of the main reasons this contest is so effective because it facilitates discussions between children and parents about the inherent dangers of drug abuse in our world today.  Poster winners will receive a cash prize for their age group.

 

Final details about this fantastic youth activity will be in January’s newsletter.  For more information about the poster contest contact PGK Phil Kennedy at 703-490-5822 or pkenn95798@comcast.net.

 

BASKETBALL REFEREES NEEDED... SEAS Council 8183 has provided volunteer Basketball referees for the Deanery V High School Coed Basketball Program since 1998. However, with the decision to move from 2-man to 3-man officiating teams and the departure of several veteran officials, we need to bring in new officials for the upcoming season.

 

The seasons runs from mid-January through the end of March. Games are played every Sunday afternoon at Holy Family, St. Francis, and Our Lady of Angels.

 

Brother Paul Severance serves as the league's Director of Officials and Interpreter and would like to invite Knights, spouses, and teenage children to become officials for the upcoming season. Rules and case books will be provided and clinics will be conducted for new officials. First-year officials will be teamed with veteran partners during the season.

 

This is an especially great opportunity for young people who want to get into basketball officiating. Officiating in the various Northern Virginia associations pays very well.

 

Contact Brother Severance by email at severancep@comcast.net or call him at (703) 494-7726.

SEAS Knights of Columbus Service Programs

2009-2010 Fraternal Year

Church Activities (Buck Brenton, PGK)

• New Knights Spiritual  Events (Jerry Zadnik)

• All Knight Adoration (Les Krough)

• Marian Devotion (Russ Slater)

• 4th Degree Participation (Tom Nowicki, PGK)

• Living Rosary (Gary Lee, PGK)

• Keep Christ in Christmas (Ernesto Flores)

• RSVP (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Lenten Soup Kitchen (Jerry Ring)

• Pro-Life Couple (Eric & Laura Lenz)

Community Activities (Br. John Puglesi)

• March for Life Parking Support (Eric Kasiski)

• KOVAR (Vince Donahue)

• Food for the Needy Collection (Mike Crecca)

• Food for the Needy Distribution (Hector Dittamo, PGK)

• Highway Cleanup (Juan Cardenas)

• Blood Donors (Tom Stanton)

• Lake Ridge Parade (Hector Dittamo, PGK)

Council Activities (Br. Tom Fitzpatrick)

• Newsletter (Tom Nowicki, PGK)

• Council Directory (Tom Nowicki, PGK)

• Knight of the Month/Year (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Family of the Month/Year (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Speaker Programs (Lecturer Larry Kane, PGK)

• Monthly Rosary (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Organ Donation (Dr. Bill McCarthy)

• Degree and K of M/F of Y Certificates (Eric Johnson, PGK)

• Memorial Mass  (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Hoagies (George Clark, PGK)

• Flea Market (Tom Nowicki, PGK)

• First Degree Team (Gary Lee, PGK)

• Officer/Program Director meetings (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• PGK Dinner/Social (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Quarterly Socials (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Fraternal Benefits Open Meeting (Dan Garrigan, FIC)

• Socials - Officer Elections & Ceremonies (Hector Dittamo, PGK)

Family Activities (VACANT)

• Pot Luck Socials (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Memorial Mass  (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Family of the Month/Year (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Picnic (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Cannons Baseball Game (Bob Scheller)

• Valentine's Day Dinner/Dance (Tom Nowicki, PGK)

Youth Activities (Jerry Zadnik)

• Children’s Christmas Party  (Jerry Zadnik)

• Children’s Easter Egg Hunt (Jerry Zadnik)

• Cub Scout Organizational Rep  (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Boy Scout Organizational Rep  (Tom Nowicki, PGK)

• Young Man of the Year (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Young Woman of the Year (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Fr. Bader Scholarship Fund (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Substance Abuse Poster Contest (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Altar Server Appreciation  (Joe Arango)

• Advent/Lent Youth Breakfast  (Tom Pedagno, PGK)

• Free Throw Competition (Paul Severance)

• Deanery 5 Basketball Referees (Paul Severance)

Membership Activities (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Recruitment (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

  • Recruitment Committee

    (Gary Lee, PGK & Phil Kennedy, PGK)

  • Membership Pitch

    (Phil Kennedy, PGK)

  • Interviews

    (Gary Lee, PGK & Phil Kennedy, PGK)

• Degrees Coordinator (Gary Lee, PGK)

• Shining Armor (Gary Lee, PGK)

• Retention (Jay Schaeufele, GK)

  • Retention Committee

    (Jay Schaeufele, GK, Bill Bassett, PGK, Phil Kennedy, PGK & Buck Brenton, PGK)

Insurance  (Dan Garrigan, FIC)

• Fraternal Benefits Night (Dan Garrigan)

Communications  (Larry Kane, PGK)

• Newsletter (Joe Malinowski, PGK)

• Webmaster (Joe Malinowski, PGK)

• YAHOO Group Coordinator (Kevin Mundy)

• Public Relations (Larry Kane, PGK)

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