Jan 17,  2007 - Council 4140

Opening Prayer:   Led by Deacon Tom Kennedy, GK of Council 13523.

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

Pledge of Allegiance. Led by Master Mike Morrison

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  (None)

Home District Deputy George Terrell, Host GK Al Garza and DGK Andrew Wilburn were recognized and thanked.

Minutes.  Minutes of the November meeting were read and approved.

Chapter Chaplain. Unable to attend.

President’s report - Chapter President

The Region 10 Bishop's conference was held at the beginning of January. I'd like to thank those who helped provide transportation, Sam Szalwinski, Ken Martinez, Tom Kennedy.

A new Assembly is being formed in town, and it will be named after the new Saint Rafael. Assembly 3018 FN is John Thabet.

The San Antonio Express news is continuing with outstanding coverage of the seminary. See the links on the chapter web page.

The chapter is in need of a location for the July 2007 meeting.

Treasurer’s report (Luis Benavides): 

General Agent:    Absent

Correspondence -     

Archbishop Flores sent us a letter requesting help for Nazareth Home, in Piedras Negras, Mexico, operated by a young nun and lay person, housing children from 3 months to 15 years of age. They are in need of financial support, food, or clothing.  Contact Alicia Sarabia, telephone  210-732-9115 or 210-264-7557, or call Archbishop Flores at 210-826-7721.

The Chapter received a letter from Habitat for Humanity thanking us for sponsoring our house in 2006.

Chapter Committees:

1.  Golf Tournament.   

The first planning meeting of the year was held at Holy Spirit church library on Jan 8.  There is $2,538 in the tournament account.  A refund from Hyatt Hill Country for $131 raised the balance to $2669.  A decision was made to again hold the pre-Tournament Gala and Silent Auction at Pat O’Brien’s downtown.  The date for the Gala will be April 15th.  

Rusty raised the idea of making patriotism and the flag as a theme for the tournament.  We are starting a search for about 250 flags on sticks.  Initial investigation finds that the flags can be purchased for about $.27 each.  The search continues.  If anyone has access to flags on a stick, please contact Rusty.

Signage was brought up and a company called Fairway Recognition (who provided our 2006 event banner at no charge) is being considered for new and much higher quality sponsor signage.  The concern is cost.  We will be contacting the Hyatt and inquiring about the cost of having their GPS system (on the golf carts) advertise a sponsor at each hole.  (when you approach the tee box, the GPS will automatically show the sponsors name and ad info if provided) The cost comparison will be our guide to follow up with either Hyatt or Fairway Recognition.

Ernest Rodriguez and John Rutkowski will be meeting with Bill Vick (Deacon George Vicks son) about some player gifts.  We are looking towards a quality collapsible beverage cooler and an all weather poncho and a cap for each golfer.  We will entertain other gift ideas but must make a commitment to items soon, so if you want to suggest an item or items, speak up!

Rusty has contacted Jeff Hood of the Outback Steakhouse and they are confirmed. John McNair is supporting and will be contacting his partners.

A discussion about the number of golfers brought out a tentative decision that we will cap our target number of golfers at 188 and advertise the limited number of golfers.  Given 27 holes to play on, and 6 are par 3’s and there is one short par 4, the 188 number would give us a reasonable expectation of little or no bottle necks or slow play.  We enjoyed an attendance last year of 177 golfers, so getting 11 more wouldn’t be a stretch is we ALL get out there and recruit sponsors.

Rusty is going to break down the sponsor list from last year and ask each committee member to call five sponsors.  Letters of invitation will be sent to last year’s major sponsors and follow calls will be made to those recipients.   

Rusty announced a new sponsor Lawyer’s Title, willing to donate $1000. 

Need to reword the brochure to make clear $1000 is three players and a clergy person. Action: Mike

The golf website is  http://sagolf.org  and anyone can read the minutes of the meetings. There is a link on the right side of the home page.

Council 786 made their donation of $2000 tonight for a down payment on two teams. Thanks 786!

2. Habitat for Humanity.   

3. Coordinator of Religious Activities. Wayne Pipes.

There will be a Pro-life rally in Milam park Sunday, Jan 21, from 2 pm to 3 pm.

4. Religious Appreciation Dinner. Roy Ball

Religious Appreciation Dinner will be at Council 4140- Feb 18, 2006.  Ray Neumann and Roy Ball are co-chairs. This year we are contacting the Catholic Daughters and asking them to support this event. Roy Ball gave a detailed report of activities.

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 distributed on Saturday at the Mid-year meeting.

The schedule for the dinner starts at 4 pm with a social, 4:45 pm for introductions, followed by dinner at 5 pm, and bingo about 6 pm. Volunteers please show at 2 pm.

Roy 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.

Council 4140 raised two issues: the issue of all bartenders needing to have TABC licensing. Roy assured this will be done.  ALso, Council 4140 has a single point of contact for ALL matters regarding this event (and all Chapter to Council) matters, this is Council 4140 Grand Knight Al Garza.  It was further decided that KC Brother Roy Ball, is the single point of contact for the Chapter.  From this date forward, all event coordination between the Chapter and Council 4140 shall be between Roy Ball and Grand Knight Al Garza.

Roy had a drawing for Grand Knights and GK Chris Rodriguez of St Joan of Arc was the winner.

5. VA Support (Wayne Pipes). Wayne invited all Knights to participate in the Annual National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, Feb 16, 10 am to noon at the VA hospital in the Medical Center. Knights will escort dignitaries in visiting the veterans.

Diocesan Deputy Report -   Jim Wade

• The Diocesan mid-year meeting will be this Saturday.  Every GK, DGK, FS should be there. It will be at Council 4140, lunch will be included for a donation of $5. Registration will start at 8 am, meting starts at 9 am.

• Diocesan free throw contest will be on March 10 at Central Catholic. We need volunteers to help with the free throw tournament. The State free throw tournament will be on March 17 at UTSA. Again we need volunteers for the State tournament.

State Directors and Committee Reports:

Special Assistant to the State Deputy Jerry Janecka.   Please make sure Councils have submitted forms 365 and 185.

Membership Retention Committee:  Chuck Green.   There have been 432 suspensions this year. Our statewide goal is to have no more than 1200 suspensions, which is 100 per month. In November there were 70. Please make sure all Knights in your council are being contacted. If they are personally invited to a meeting there is a greater chance they will get involved.

Fourth Degree.    Mike Morrison. We are looking for an Assembly to host an Exemplification in May or June. If in May it would need to be the 3rd weekend because of the State Convention and mother's day.

Old Business.     None.

New Business.  None.

Guest Speakers:  

Mike Buecher Council 11596 spoke on their Golf Tournament honoring Father Peter McKenna, first pastor of St Brigid parish. Canyon Springs Golf Club, 11 am check in. $125 per person includes meal.  Contact Mike at 767-0986 or Dave Hammeren at 681-8149.

Sam Szalwinski spoke about the "Knight in a Day" Jan 27, offering a First, Second and Third Degree all in one day. Will be held at St Mark's Church, co-sponsored by Holy Spirit Council.  Download Flyer

Rudy gave appreciation to the guys from New Braunfels for driving to our meeting tonight when so many others didn't make it.

The Next meeting will be Feb 21, Council 6358, Schertz. The Knight and Family of the Year will be awarded at the February meeting.

The sick and in distress were remembered.

Closing Prayer   

Respectfully submitted,

Brother Mike Nishimuta, Council 11596, Acting Secretary