Dear Brother Knights,
In the first half of our fraternal year we accomplished so much together: provided meals to support Home Works; sponsored Greenville Drive baseball with altar servers and Squires; cooked for the school Poptoberfest and the parish picnic; coordinated the Holiday Bazaar and Soccer Shootout; and delivered 63 Thanksgiving meals to the less fortunate in our community. We will bring joy to 23 children with new bikes this Christmas, and provide new winter coats for another 24. Our annual Golf Tournament allowed us to achieve 100% of our Operation Hope goal, from which the Barbara Stone Foundation will receive more than $4,000. Last week we welcomed our first Squire into the ranks of Knighthood, a major milestone for us and the state of South Carolina. And let us not forget how you serve our church and community daily in so many ways. As Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Educators, Coaches, Apologists, Deacons, and the list could go on and on. As I have said before, you are the hands and feet of Christ, and I am truly humbled as a witness of your charitable works.
Looking ahead I can assure you that the second half of our fraternal year will not get dull for us. We already have many activities in the works: a Greenville Road Warriors family outing; our annual youth basketball free-throw contest; co-hosting a Valentines dance with the Columbiettes; Friday Night Lenten Dinners; and our Spring Yard Sale to name a few.
On top of these wonderful activities, there are still three areas in which I would like to make a personal request for your support in 2014:
Firstly, our golf tournament. Our organizing committee is still in need of help with solicitation, marketing and communications. As I have said before, this is our biggest annual community outreach event and I cannot stress enough its importance to our council. Dick Zurawksi is committed to leading the event again in 2014 and already has some great ideas to make it a bigger and better event. But the committee needs more support.
Secondly, council communications. As mentioned previously, we are looking for ways, electronic and otherwise, to improve our communications to the council. John Olson and Jake Ohlinger have begun the analysis phase of this initiative, but need more support to assist in the development and execution.
Thirdly, membership. Recruiting and retaining members is like cultivating a garden. Preparation of the soil, planting, pruning and weeding is needed to ensure the garden remains bountiful. So it is with our membership. Our retention committee has done a wonderful job working on ways to reach out to members from whom we have not heard in a while. If you know a brother Knight who has been absent, please make contact to see if he needs our support and encourage him to become active. At the same time we all must “prepare the soil and plant seeds” with the Catholic men around us who are not yet Knights, telling of the good things we are doing and simply asking if he has considered joining our ranks. However, I must caution against pressuring someone to join. The men who join our ranks must come of their own accord and for the right reasons. In the end it is not only about the quantity of men in our council, but more so the quality.
Please think and pray about these things. If your heart leads you to become more involved in any of these activities, or if you are inspired to lead a new initiative for the council, please contact the committee chairs or one of our officers. With Our Lord’s and Our Lady’s guidance we cannot wander astray.
In closing I would like to sincerely thank you for your contributions to our charitable works and wish you and your families a joyful and blessed Christmas season.
Vivat Jesus!
Greg
In the first half of our fraternal year we accomplished so much together: provided meals to support Home Works; sponsored Greenville Drive baseball with altar servers and Squires; cooked for the school Poptoberfest and the parish picnic; coordinated the Holiday Bazaar and Soccer Shootout; and delivered 63 Thanksgiving meals to the less fortunate in our community. We will bring joy to 23 children with new bikes this Christmas, and provide new winter coats for another 24. Our annual Golf Tournament allowed us to achieve 100% of our Operation Hope goal, from which the Barbara Stone Foundation will receive more than $4,000. Last week we welcomed our first Squire into the ranks of Knighthood, a major milestone for us and the state of South Carolina. And let us not forget how you serve our church and community daily in so many ways. As Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Educators, Coaches, Apologists, Deacons, and the list could go on and on. As I have said before, you are the hands and feet of Christ, and I am truly humbled as a witness of your charitable works.
Looking ahead I can assure you that the second half of our fraternal year will not get dull for us. We already have many activities in the works: a Greenville Road Warriors family outing; our annual youth basketball free-throw contest; co-hosting a Valentines dance with the Columbiettes; Friday Night Lenten Dinners; and our Spring Yard Sale to name a few.
On top of these wonderful activities, there are still three areas in which I would like to make a personal request for your support in 2014:
Firstly, our golf tournament. Our organizing committee is still in need of help with solicitation, marketing and communications. As I have said before, this is our biggest annual community outreach event and I cannot stress enough its importance to our council. Dick Zurawksi is committed to leading the event again in 2014 and already has some great ideas to make it a bigger and better event. But the committee needs more support.
Secondly, council communications. As mentioned previously, we are looking for ways, electronic and otherwise, to improve our communications to the council. John Olson and Jake Ohlinger have begun the analysis phase of this initiative, but need more support to assist in the development and execution.
Thirdly, membership. Recruiting and retaining members is like cultivating a garden. Preparation of the soil, planting, pruning and weeding is needed to ensure the garden remains bountiful. So it is with our membership. Our retention committee has done a wonderful job working on ways to reach out to members from whom we have not heard in a while. If you know a brother Knight who has been absent, please make contact to see if he needs our support and encourage him to become active. At the same time we all must “prepare the soil and plant seeds” with the Catholic men around us who are not yet Knights, telling of the good things we are doing and simply asking if he has considered joining our ranks. However, I must caution against pressuring someone to join. The men who join our ranks must come of their own accord and for the right reasons. In the end it is not only about the quantity of men in our council, but more so the quality.
Please think and pray about these things. If your heart leads you to become more involved in any of these activities, or if you are inspired to lead a new initiative for the council, please contact the committee chairs or one of our officers. With Our Lord’s and Our Lady’s guidance we cannot wander astray.
In closing I would like to sincerely thank you for your contributions to our charitable works and wish you and your families a joyful and blessed Christmas season.
Vivat Jesus!
Greg
