Jan 18,  2006 - Council 4140

Opening Prayer:   Led by Bishop Tom Flanagan

Award of the Knight and Family of the Year

Chapter President Mike Nishimuta made presentations of the Knight of Year  to John Polhemus, Council 7965, St Helena Church. 

The family of the year was presented to the Family of Wayne and Amy Pipes, with daughter Mary  from St Brigid Catholic Church Council 11596.

Dinner

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chapter President Mike  Nishimuta at 7:40 pm

Pledge of Allegiance. Led by Diocesan Deputy Jim Wade

Warden’s Report:  Given by Roy Ball

Recognition of Dignitaries and Guests

All former Chapter officers, state committeeman, and state officers were recognized.

First Time Attendees were recognized

Minutes.  Minutes of the November meeting were approved as published.

Chapter Chaplain Bishop Tom Flanagan.   Bishop Flanagan spoke of a article from a Canadian priest father James Martin. Someone asked him if thee would be an 11th commandment what would it be? He said that it was a matter of God and not his but after praying about he said that it would be "Be Kind." That is what all of us are looking for. I reflect back on 2005 and think of all of the funerals and all of the brother knights and their wives who are sick or recovering.

I reflect back on one of my best friends and brother knight Leisadro Gamez knew the brothers. He would pick me up and I would talk all the way to the meeting. At the meeting Brother Gamez would have one beer and he would visit with every brother knight and he would listen to them, he was a man of great love for everyone especially his brother knights, he was a man fill with a great love and kindness. Going back home he would do all of the talking. He would tell me who was sick who was having challenges in their lives who needed pray. So I encourage all my brother I request that all councils stress the social activities and to be kind and listen. I ask all my brothers to be like my friend and brother Leisadro Gamez and be kind and caring.

President’s report - Chapter President Mike Nishimuta

Upcoming events:

• Religious Appreciation Dinner.  Several councils donated, including $900 from Council 786.

• Golf Tournament and Auction Party. We have a new tournament director Rusty League.  If anyone is interested in helping in providing personal leadership please let me know. We need  all councils to sponsor and participate.

• State Convention. Need to think about providing a hospitality room.

Treasurer’s report (Wayne Pipes): 

General Agent:    Richard Gaona reported that in 2005 the Knights of Columbus set records in insurance sold and in dividends paid. Last year we had over 22,438 new insured members.  Newsweek magazine reported that the Knight of Columbus Insurance was one of the strongest in the country.  He requested that any council that wants to be the star council that he and any of the agents would do everything they can to help.

Correspondence -    None

Chapter Committees:

1.  Golf Tournament.    Rusty League. The next planning meeting will be Feb 6 at the library of Holy Spirit School, 7 pm. One of the things that I noted is that there are only ten councils that are active in a significant way. There is one very special man who has been knight for 50 years and he has been priest for 50 years, Bishop Flanagan, and we want to make this a successful tournament for him. I am renegotiating the contract with Hyatt Hill Country golf course.  We are going back to Pat O'Brien, and we are talking to Outback to provide dinner again.  If I can get one new first degree knight from every council to work on my committee, we will have the volunteers that we need. We need to gross about $75,000 to pay for the tournament and build a house.

Bishop Tom will be signing over 500 letters which will go out to businesses requesting sponsorships. The website for the tournament is http://sagolf.org 

2. Habitat for Humanity.   Sam Szalwinski and Mike Nishimuta attended the Faith in Action meeting at San Pedro Presbyterian church. Habitat has a lot of new faces. The price of the house for 2006 will still be $50,000, although the actual cost is around $60,000.

3. Coordinator of Religious Activities. Rudy Escamilla.

Religious Appreciation Dinner will be at Council 4140- Feb 26, 2006. Ray Neumann was asked to be the chairman of this event Rudy will be the co-chair and Ernie will be the chairman for the bar.  Five years ago Bishop Flanagan requested that the Knights recommit to two things: one was the Religious Appreciation Dinner and the other was Habitat for Humanity. We are the only Chapter in the country that has a golf tournament for Habitat for Humanity. We have a number of people who have  volunteered to work on this function.  

Rudy Escamilla thanked Holy Spirit for  the $900 cash donation and District 39 donated $400. Those councils which have not budgeted for the Religious appreciation dinner,  please add this function to your budget and keep it there. I know that the priests, deacons, nuns, seminarians all like to be served at this function.  We are there to serve. We need everyone involved.

Ernest Saldivar is in charge of the bar, and we are soliciting donations of wine, spirits, etc.  All knights will pay $15 a person. We will be there to work, not to socialize with our wives.  Tickets will be ready on Saturday at the Mid-year meeting.

The schedule for the dinner starts at 4 pm with a social, 5 pm for introductions, followed by dinner, and bingo about 6 pm.

Bob requested that councils donate gifts for the clergy: fruit baskets, bottles of wine, gift cards, food and drink that can be shared within the house are favorites.

4. Trustees.  No report.

Diocesan Deputy Report -   Jim Wade

• Holy Trinity Council 9967 will host a Major Degree  on March 11, 2006. Registration begins at 7am in the Faith Formation Building.  Mass will be at 8 am. Degree begins at 9:30 am. Cost is $10 per Candidate (includes lunch) Sponsors are $5.00 for lunch. Contact Al Wussler at 481-5767.

• The Diocesan mid-year meeting will be this Saturday.  Every GK, DGK, FS should be there. It will be at St. Marks, lunch will be included for a donation of $5. Registration will start at 8 am, meting starts at 9 am.

• Every council should be donating to the State Charities and there is no excuse for not doing so.

• Diocesan free throw contest will be on March 11 at Central Catholic. We need volunteers to help with the free throw tournament. The State free throw tournament will be on March 18 at UTSA. Again we need volunteers for the State tournament.

State Directors and Committee Reports:

Education and Training: Ken Martinez.    Absent

Star Council: Dean Murphy.    Absent

Council Growth: Jerry Janecka.  I want to congratulate Joe Cortinez who brought in a new council in Lemming, Texas.  We are short of our goal of 28 round tables. We need all GK to look around and see where you can have a round table. we are looking forward to reaching 100%.

All Councils Active: Mike Urrutia.  We are working to get all councils to recruit one new member for this year. We need to focus on those councils which have not recruited any new members. It is not the responsible of the GK or one person in the council to recruit. It is the  responsibility of everyone. 

Church Liturgy: Joe Lopez.    Absent.

Awards/Reports & Forms Chairman:  Ken Boone.  Council reports are due at the end of this month, please get them in.  

Membership Retention Committee:  Chuck Green.   No report.

Special Olympics.  Don Smallwood.   Absent.

Round Table:  Bob Stegge.   Absent.

State Soccer Chairman:   Carl Bernal.  Order your soccer kits now.

Fourth Degree.    Ken Boone. There will a district meeting at St. Brigid on where a new grand master will be elected.  We have a Veteran group and they need your support. Saturday will the Right for Life Rally in Milam Park.  April 29th is the next Exemplification at Pius X.

Old Business.     None.

New Business. None

Guest Speakers:  

Council 7386 St. Thomas More will be having their annual Valentine Dance on February 10, 2006 at the La Villita Assembly. The cost is $13 per person or 2 for two $25 for ticket information call Dean Lansing 657-6596 or Al Gonzalez at 654-9206.

Brother Henry Gonzales announced that Project Moses large  ten commandment/Beatitude Monuments will be increasing in price as of March 1. Monuments are available in Spanish. Contact him or Project Moses in Omaha, NE 68131.

Oscar Gutierrez from Council 5262 reported they will have a Valentine Dance on February 11 starting with a social at 6 pm. Cost $25 per couple.

Ruben Alvarado from Council 13041 reported they will have a Valentine Dance on February 11. The cost is $12 per person or $20 per Couple.

The GK of Council 4140 invited everyone to their Valentine Day Dinner/Dance on February 11.

The Next meeting will be Feb 15, Council 6358, Schertz.

The sick and in distress were remembered.

Closing Prayer   

Respectfully submitted,

Brother Louis Benavides, Council 7770, Chapter Secretary