REMINDER: Luau for MR this Saturday!

The first big event for the MR fund this fraternal year is coming up this Saturday, August 1--the 7th Annual LUAU. The fun starts this Saturday at 7pm at the hall. Admission is $15 a person. Plan now to come and get your island funkiness on with dance music from DJ Plum Krazy. Or, if you prefer tropical chillin', check out the LIVE acoustic set on the back patio. Island-themed food will be provided with admission prepared special by Chef Steve. ALSO there will be a BEST ISLAND OUTFIT award and the infamous LIMBO contest! This is THE par-tay of the year and a big fundraiser for the MR Foundation and our supported charties--Signal Centers, Orange Grove Center and AzUwer.

Brothers -- Meet Klara Collins!

Please allow me to introduce you to the new little joy of my life -- Klara Regina Collins (note the cleverly placed "K" and "C"). She was born on Friday, July 10 at 3:15pm, and weighed in at 7 lbs, 13 oz. and a whopping 20 inches long. Unlike her old man, she's tall, thin and a little bit blonde. All is well at birth +3 right now. Her only issue is a bit of a cleft palate, a common affliction among children, particularly girls. It is a genetic thing that can be repaired nicely with some surgery in a few months, and fortunately, Chattanooga is THE best place in the world to get that kind of thing done. In the meantime she's got a lot of other stuff to accomplish! After the parents get our sea legs under us, we'll start showing her off. Thanks to all of you for the prayers and well-wishes, and we hope you'll continue to offer prayers for us and her as she explores her new world!

PS: Find out more about the Craniofacial Foundation of America at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital: http://www.craniofacialfoundation.org . A fundraising opportunity? You bet!

Players, Sponsors Needed for Golf Tournament

The 19th annual John Knight/Don Kohl Charity Golf Tournament is coming Saturday, September 12. Your help is still needed to help make this tournament the best it can be. Last year, the council almost broke the $10,000 fundraising barrier. This year, we can do better. But we can't do it without YOU! Here are some ways you can help:

• PLAY ON A TEAM OR RECRUIT A TEAM: There is room for 144 players in the tournament and the faster it fills up, the better. $80 per player entry fee


• FIND A SPONSOR OR BE A SPONSOR: Recruit a hole sponsor or become a cart sponsor yourself (just $50!). Email Ron for more info.


• HELP!: Volunteer your time to help on the day of the tournament. We need help with organization of prizes, food, etc.

There is plenty of room for you to be involved. Remember, tee time is 8 am. To play, sponsor or volunteer, e-mail tournament chairman Ron Schleifer.

Let's Get Busy!

It's the first quarter of the new fraternal year and we have a big schedule coming up. Mark your calendars for the following dates:

• July 18: Mass and Officer Installation Banquet (5:30 Mass/6:30 Social Hour. FREE!)
• July 25: State Council Kickoff Meeting in Lenoir City
• July 25: Farewell Cookout for Frs. Mike and Alex at OLPH (6pm)
• July 29: District Kickoff Meeting at 6099 (7pm)
• Aug. 1: Council Luau for the MR Fund, at the hall.
• Aug. 22: Brewfest to benefit Kids on the Block (Downtown Riverfront)
• Sep. 12: John Knight/Don Kohl Golf Tournament (Brainerd GCC)
• Sep. 13: Exemplification of 2nd Degree, at the hall, 2pm
• Sep. 19: Exemplification of 3rd Degree at 610

That's a load of stuff to do, and we need YOU to be a part! Don't forget you can always check the calendar on the website (below this blog) for the latest on event times and locations.

Family of the Month for July

Congratulations to Brother John Vannuci and his family for being named Holy Family Council's "Family of the Month" for July. The Vannuci's were celebrated for going above and beyond the call of duty in volunteering to work the Riverbend Festival in June, working double-shifts and even stepping up to help when they weren't scheduled to do. Thank you, Brother John and family for doing MORE than your share!

Meet your Program Directors

With the new fraternal year comes new Program Directors for the council. This year's Directors are:

Youth: John Vanucci
Council: Isaac White
Family: George Ames
Church, OLPH: Joe Reinert
Church, St. Stephen's: Warren White
Community: John Stamoulis
Membership: Jim Costello
Pro-Life: Clarence Bodnar
MR Foundation: Ken Stroop
Hall Rentals: Walt Vamprine
Wheelchair Fdtn.: Moe Rivers
Food for the Poor: Rich Castle
52 Club: Earl Reicke
Devotionals: Richard Smith
Golf Tournament: Ron Schleifer
Faith Program: George Bercaw
Chef: Steve Reker
Interactive: Richard Smith/Wayne Collins

BUILDING AND GROUNDS Director is still open and a volunteer is needed. Please contact Deputy Grand Knight Victor Williams if you are willing to take on this critical position.

Happy New Year!

That's right. A new fraternal year begins with Monday's July business meeting (starting with Rosary at 7pm. Don't miss it!). We have a new set of officers and lots of activities coming up to fill out the summer and the remainder of 2009. One of the first official functions of the new year will be the Officers Installation Banquet, which will be held Saturday, July 18, at the hall. There is NO CHARGE for the meal, so bring the family for a Chef Steve Special on the council! Social hour starts at 6:30 with dinner and installation at 7:30. Please be there and start the new year right!

OFFICERS FOR 2009-2010:
Grand Knight: Richard Buske
Deputy Grand Knight: Victor Williams
Chancellor: Corky Evers
Warden: Wayne Collins
Recorder: Steve Horten
Advocate: Ray Fox, Jr.
Treasurer: Earl Riecke
Inside Guard: Chuck LaPlante
Inside Guard: Joe Salamone
Outside Guard: Isaac White
Outside Guard: Richard Smith
Trustee 3 Year: Jason Randall
Trustee 2 Year: Mike Doyle
Trustee 1 Year: Rusty Phillips

New Feature: Church in the News Podcasts from Catholic Answers

Check out the top box on the right side and you'll see a new blog feature. I've added the Catholic Answers "The Church in the News Roundup". If you're familiar with Catholic Answers, you know it's one of the best apologetics and education programs on the radio (or internet at http://www.catholic.com/). Host Patrick Coffin hosts a bi-weekly compendium dealing with Church and the media, and many times there are stories you will hear nowhere else. The program is an hour long, but worth your time. The program will be updated as they are produced. To listen, just click on the play button (the little green triangle by the green bar) on the audio player under the box headline.

Thoughts from a KofC High Seas Hero for Independence Day

Francis X. Castellano, the commanding officer of the USS Bainbridge, directed the operations that resulted in the dramatic rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips from Somali pirates who took him captive from his ship, the Maersk Alabama, on Easter Sunday this year. Cmdr. Castellano has been a Knight of Columbus for more than 20 years (starting in Memphis and Germantown in Tennessee). Click here to read about his experiences, his thoughts on family, faith and being a Brother Knight.

KofC Targeted for Supporting Church Teaching

KofC is once again a target for all the right reasons, this time in a "man-bites-dog" kind of way. Rogue priest attacks KofC. Click here for full story from CNA. Thanks for Brother Richard Smith for pointing it out. Official response from Pat Korton, VP of Communications at Supreme Council, and I think he speaks for all of us:

“We proudly stand with Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops and priests who are in communion with him, and stand with him on marriage,” Korten told CNA. “Not only is that not ‘dirty work,’ it is, in fact, the work of Christ and his Church. We have been supporting the Pope and our bishops for 127 years. We have no intention of changing that.”