Council 5301

Grand Knight’s Message: St. Mary Magdalen Council 5301 and KayCee Auxiliary elected the following officers for the new term (July 2005-June 2006), and they will be installed on Saturday, July 9^th, in St. Mary Magdalen Church after the 4 pm Mass, followed by a pot luck supper in the cafeteria. All brother knights and their families (and prospective members) are invited to participate. The council will provide the meat dish; all other items will be coordinated by Grand Knight Bernard Woods.

Church Activities: The quarterly KC Mass will be at 4 pm on Saturday, July 9^th. The rosary will be recited prior to the mass, starting at 3:30 pm. We encourage Members’ wives and families to attend. Parishioners requested that our KC Council lead the recitation of the rosary prior to the Saturday 4 pm mass each week (starts at 3:30 pm). If you can volunteer, please contact Brother Chuck Ferry at 455-8928.

On Sunday, July 10^th, the Council will sponsor an hour of Eucharistic adoration from 1:30 to 2:30 pm in the Chapel.

Membership Recruitment and Retention: Welcome to transfer member, Brother Henry Knoll, Jr, from council 10156, and new members, Brother Lynwood Smith, Rev Fr John Azar and Brother Elias Khalaf. The next first degree installation is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20^th, at Council 9240, 395 Lafitte St, Mandeville, LA. A Major (2^nd and 3^rd Degree) exemplification is not currently scheduled for July. Please contact our team Captain, Walter Laderer (469-2047), to serve as back-up team member on our District First-Degree Team.

Council Activities: The next meeting will be on Thursday, July 21^st; in the Lodge (third Thursday of each month). To accommodate speakers, we invite them to join us at mealtime. We start the meal promptly at 7:00 pm, with rosary at 7:45 pm, followed by business at 8 pm and conclude by 9 pm. Please come early enough to avoid delays when you sign in and buy 50/50 drawing tickets. Speakers will start during the meal and end the question period prior to 7:45 pm.

Community Activities: District 13 Deputy Keith Lawson still manages and coordinates the KC expense management services program for disabled social security recipients, and Carolyn, his wife, prints the checks. This program is very beneficial, but it is time consuming and is being phased out by attrition. Members are encouraged to bring staple food items to meetings for distribution by St Mary Magdalen Social Apostolate.

KayCee Auxiliary: KayCee Auxiliary past President Carolyn Lawson extends an invitation to any lady (related to a Knight by blood or law) to attend the next meeting at 7:00pm in the Lodge on Tuesday, July 26^th (normally the fourth Tuesday each month). If you are not sure, just come and visit. We assist the Knights in their efforts to be an extended arm of the Catholic Church and we have a lot of fun doing it.

The State KayCee Council of Auxiliaries named Sr. Gina Geraci, STJ, as Nun of the year for 2005 in the State of Louisiana. Our KayCee Auxiliary named Jude Nanyumba as Seminarian of the Year. At the Installation supper, the Knights and Ladies will also honor Jude Nanyumba and Sr. Gina Geraci, S.T.J., along with CYLA (Catholic Youth Leadership Award) recipients, Dustin Andressen and Lindsey Madary.

The St. Mary Magdalen Kaycee Auxiliary presented a check for $1,200.00 to Seminarian Jude Nanyumba to help with his summer expenses. Thanks to the SMM parishioners and friends who made very generous donations to the recent collection that was coordinated by the Kaycee Auxiliary. Jude was also presented with a used computer to help with his continuing education. Jude expressed unending gratitude and devoted prayers and blessings to the many wonderful people who were so kind and inspirational to him during his assignment at St. Mary Magdalen.

Call Carolyn Lawson at 885-6028 or Millie Laderer at 469-2047 for more information.

At the last meeting, Brother Buddy Ruckstuhl won the 50/50 drawing and we enjoyed an excellent meal of BBQ Chicken & jambalaya.

Prior to the meeting, the rosary was led by Brother George Brignac from 7:45 to 8:00 pm. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 pm by Grand Knight Bernard Woods and opened with a prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be), pledge of allegiance and roll call of officers. The minutes of the prior meeting of May 19^th were accepted as published in the June Knights in Action, the monthly bulletin.

Grand Knight’s Message: Grand Knight Bernard Woods introduced new transfer member, Brother Henry Knoll, Jr, who was member of council 10156 since 1989, proposed by Deacon Angeles Robin. He also welcomed new absent members Brother Lynwood Smith (installed in the first degree on May 5^th), Rev Fr John Azar and Brother Elias Khalaf (installed on June 9^th). Grand Knight Bernard Woods thanked members for their support during the past two years. Council 5301 sponsored a breakfast at the Treasure Chest on Saturday May 28^th; and received $740 (plus $20 still outstanding). Council 5301 sponsored a blood drive on Sunday, June 5^th, at St. Mary Magdalen, and collected 8 units of blood from 10 donors (2 were rejected). The new officers for St. Mary Magdalen Council 5301 and KayCee Auxiliary (July 2005-June 2006) will be installed on Saturday, July 9^th, in St. Mary Magdalen Church after the 4 pm Mass, followed by a pot luck supper in the cafeteria. All brother knights and their families (and prospective members) are invited to participate. The council will provide the meat dish; all other items will be coordinated by Grand Knight Bernard Woods.

Treasurer’s Report: Brother Buddy Huggins reported an opening balance of $2480.49, deposits and bank service charge credit of $89.00 and checks of $97.42, resulting in a current balance of $2471.87. Brother Chuck Ferry reported payments of $600.00 for Seminarian Jude (dated July 1) and $17.84 for June bulletin expenses. We received a letter from Lindsay Madary, CYLA recipient, thanking the council for the CYLA award and expense money.

Church: Brother George Brignac told members our council will sponsor the vigil during exposition of the Eucharist from 1:30 to 2:30 pm in the Chapel on Sunday July 10^th, and we need volunteers. St. Mary Magdalen started the exposition of the Eucharist each Sunday during the Easter Season and the response was so good that it will be continued with the various parish organizations taking turns sponsoring it. Deputy Grand Knight Louis Costa told members that Congress is debating a bill to require withdrawing troops from the Middle East. Our next quarterly KC Mass and communion will be at the 4 pm mass on Saturday July 9^th, prior to the installation of officers.

Council Activities: Brother Ralph Lozier thanked members for their support of the Kenner Central Lions Club that sold BBQ chicken dinners on Sunday, May 29^th, for the benefit of Children Camp Eye Foundation. They were doing well until they were rained out.

Community Activities: District 13 Deputy Keith Lawson said the Rummel Council in Chalmette will sell spaghetti dinners on June 26^th for the benefit of Grand Knight David Hemelt, who was seriously injured recently. The KC expense management services program for disabled social security recipients is now down to 5 payees. This program is very beneficial, but it is time consuming and is being phased out by attrition

Family Life Activities: Past Grand Knight Lee Landreneau presented the Family of the Month award to District 13 Deputy Keith Lawson and the Knight of the Month award to Brother Buddy Huggins.

Youth Activities: Grand Knight Bernard Woods presented awards on May 22^nd to altar servers who had 3 or more years of service; they were well received and appreciated. Also, we made a hit with the hot dog cook-out on April 25^th for the CCD students.

Old Business: New officers will be installed after the 4 pm Mass on July 9^th. Grand Knight Bernard Woods said we have to complete a solicitation request form and provide a certificate of liability insurance in the amount of $2,000,000 naming Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. and its subsidiaries to get authorization for a can shake at Sav-A-Center for the mentally handicapped. Brother Henry Knoll said he checked on a master policy about 8 or 9 years ago to cover all councils in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes. Brother Jim Call said he checked with Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency. They deal with Lloyds and could cover 5 to 8 events for about $1200. Maybe we could get several councils to jointly get coverage and share the cost. Brother Henry Knoll said he will check on cost and report to council at next meeting.

Brother Buddy Ruckstuhl asked past Grand Knight Lee Landreneau about the status of Council 5301 Bylaws. He said it had been put on hold, but he would get it out and report at the next meeting.

New Business: Brother Ralph Lozier moved that the Council donate $50 to David Hemelt, Grand Knight of Rummel Council in Chalmette, who was injured and needs assistance; seconded by Deputy Grand Knight Louis Costa, and passed.

District Deputy Report: District Deputy Keith Lawson presented a 100-point award certificate to Grand Knight Bernard Woods for the Council. He said August 6-14 will be family week; we need to get families involved in church activities. Membership for District 13 is doing very well.

Good of the Order: Prayers are requested for Brothers Louis Costa (had surgery for pace maker), Don Hoppe, Bob Nicaud (cancer behind eye). The next planning meeting will be on 7/14 and all directors should attend. The next regular meeting will be on 7/21. The new officers will be installed on Saturday, July 9^th. Grand Knight Bernard Woods led the closing prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney. The closing ode was sung and meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Officers for St. Mary Magdalen Council 5301 and the KayCee Auxiliary for the current year (July 2004-June 2005):

NOTE: Several members suggested that we could save money by not mailing the monthly bulletin, Knights in Action, to members who have E-mail addresses. Consequently, we will E-mail the monthly bulletin, Knights in Action, to all members who have E-Mail addresses on file. If you have problems reading the electronic version, advise recorder Buddy Ruckstuhl, and we will mail future copies to you. If you are receiving the bulletin in the mail, but have an E-Mail address and want to receive it electronically, please provide your E-mail address to Buddy Ruckstuhl (887-0519 or cwrucks@cox.net).