Grand Knight's Message for January, 2010

Brothers, I wish you and your families a very Happy New Year.  It’s been a while since the last newsletter.  I hope the Christmas celebration for your family was a happy and joyous time.  The first half of our fraternal year is in the books and we start our next six months ambitious as ever.  I am asking all of you to help make all our sponsored events a success and plan to attend at least one of them.  Don’t worry there are more than enough events to choose from.  I know we are all busy and have other obligations, but I am looking for each brother to participate in at least one event.

First, I want to thank Des Brennan and his elves for making Santa’s arrival a great success.  We almost ran out of toys but with the help of the Fire Department’s back up bag of toys, every child received a toy.  Thanks to our Fire Department for helping us out.  In addition, I want to thank our Santa Claus, who did an excellent job on his first visit to the annual Tree Lighting and toy giveaway.   Finally, we now have the recipe for hot chocolate for years to come.

I would like to also thank Greg Donofrio, his wife Toni, their daughter Brianna, Tony Giuliano, Des Brennan, Larry Colasurdo, Frank Nolan, Rich Truzzolino, Neale Baxter and Frank Vilaflor for making this Christmas a very special for the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home in Sevierville, Tennessee and some very needy parishioners of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  With the help of the St. Rose of Lima Religious Ed Outreach Program of collecting coats, scarves and gloves, 120 pounds of coats and accessories were shipped to the Smokey Mountain Children’s Home and 105 pounds of coats and accessories were shipped to Holy Cross Catholic Church.  Everything arrived allowing for a distribution in time for Christmas.  The knights provided manpower, support and funding as our contribution for this worthy project.

The turn out for our annual Christmas party was wonderful.  Forty-five brothers enjoyed good food and company in a festive Christmas gathering.

In December Fred Donatelli took pictures of some Past Grand Knights.  Unfortunately, we will have to schedule a retake.  Some of us would like the pictures taken over again.  I will be setting up another date in the next few weeks.  I will let you know when it will be.

Our first event of this year is our annual Spelling Bee, to be held on Saturday February 6th at 10:00 AM at the East Hanover Middle School.  It is open to all eight graders from the Middle School as well as St. Rose of Lima Academy.  Please try to attend to see how well our eight graders can spell. 
 
Also on February 6th, we celebrate Wives Appreciation Night.  For our new members, this is when we thank our wives for all those nights we are at meetings and they are home alone waiting for our return.  We present them with a rose and we also have door prizes and dancing.  This year’s event will be held at Ravello’s Restaurant.  We will begin with a Cocktail Hour at 7:00 PM, which includes Hot and Cold Hor’dovers.  Larry Colasurdo and Rich Truzzolino are co-chairs for this event.  See Flyer for more details and to make reservations.

We will also have a First Degree on Monday February 8th at 8:00 PM.

This year we are going to have something new, a Pancake Breakfast.  It is scheduled for Sunday February 28th in Fahey Hall.  It will be from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM.  We want this to be a family event, so bring the family to our Pancake Breakfast.  Andy Liebhauser has offered to chair this event, and I know from the sign-up list he has a good start on brothers who are willing to work.  If you did not sign up and wish help, give Andy a call.

We will start to begin to sell our Super 50/50 raffle tickets soon.  The cost of the ticket is $20.00 and based upon selling 400 tickets, first prize is $ 2,400.00, second prize is $1.200.00, and third prize is $400.00.  Joe Pasquarosa and Tony Giuliano are in co-chairs for this.  The drawing with be held at our Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance on Saturday March 13th.  Chris Virginio has offered to co-chair the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance, but we are still looking for other brothers to help out in the kitchen.  Please give me a call.

In April, we have our Handicapped Citizens Drive.  I am looking for a chairman or co-chairs for this program.  Please give me a call if you are interested.  Again, we are also looking for all the help we can get.  This is our main event of the year.  All we ask is two (2) hours of your time in collecting for various organizations that need our help.  Please sign up.

This year we are starting a visiting the sick program, chaired by Deacon Vinnie Leo.  We are looking for brothers to sign up and visit not only brothers that are sick and homebound, but also members of our parish.  Deacon Vin, is currently putting together a list of people to visit.  We are looking for brothers to volunteer and visit on at least a monthly basis.  The schedule is not set up yet, but if you wish to volunteer for this program please let Deacon Vin or myself know.  Also if you know of anyone in the parish that would like to be visited, also let us know.

Remember the principles of our order:  Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.  We are committed to charity by, easing the plight of those less fortunate.


Upcoming events:

January 25th Regular Meeting at 8:00 PM Labrecque Hall
February 6th Spelling Bee 10:00 AM at East Hanover Middle School
February 6th Wives Appreciation Dinner – 7:00 PM Ravello’s Restaurant
February 8th Regular Meeting at 8:00 PM Labreque Hall and First Degree
February 22rd Regular Meeting at 8:00 PM Labrecque Hall
February 28th Pancake Breakfast Fahey Hall 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM
March 13th St. Patrick’s Dinner/Dance and Super 50/50 Raffle- 7:00 PM Fahey Hall
 

Here is this month’s quote:

“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”
— Confucius

Fraternally yours in Christ,


Ron