Florida State Council Website - Articles with Photo(s): Articles with Photo(s)Faith, Fraternity and Family

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Faith, Fraternity and Family

Posted by flabuckeye on October 22 2009

The Florida State Council held it's "Faith, Fraternity and Family" event on Friday, October 16th at Christ the King Catholic Church on 821 South Dale Mabry in Tampa at 6 p.m. The event proved to be a great and exciting night full of information for everyone. The stormy evening didn't hamper the spirits of those who attended.
As one entered the building hosted by Christ the King Council 12165 and Father William Terrell Assembly 0161, Grand Knight David Jones and Faithful Navigator Don Nehrig were on top of things. One noticed the emotional feelings that stirred the air. There were tables of the Wheelchair Foundation, the Squires, Benefits on others full of information, brochures , videos and brothers there to answer any and all questions. The council had plenty of beverages and snacks to hand out.
Douglas Murray, Florida State Deputy opened the evening by thanking everyone who came. Dave Tebo, Past State Deputy and Past Master, also gave a speech and the agenda of the night's activities. The State Diocese Chaplin Father Paul Harvey offered the opening prayers. He first handed out prayer cards entitled, "A Prayer for Priests and Priestly Vocations" and Father McGivney lapel buttons.
PSD Bill Sukel, Supreme's Membership and Programs Coordinator was first up at the podium. He gave a brief mention of the history of Father McGivney and how he started the Knights of Columbus. He mentioned why it was started and why it's still important today. He went on about some of the things the Knights do today.
Next was General Agent Brent Labreche, with his outstanding lecture on why Father McGivney started the Knights of Columbus on an insurance level. How when a member died back at the beginning that it was devastating to a family. He proudly boasted of today's Knights insurance investments and returns and how it compares to other insurance companies.
Dennis Stoddard PSD and Supreme Director came in next. He introduced a video of Supreme Knight Carl Anderson at the Supreme Convention. Anderson mentioned the our Pope said that our church is charity, like the Knights. The Knights charitable contributions were up 3.5% to $150 million dollars. Volunteer Hours were up 68.5 million hours contributing to $1.3 billion dollars to charity. Anderson also mentioned our participation for 40 years to the Special Olympics, the fast growing Wheelchair Foundation, and the Boy Scouts. He mentioned a new charity that the Knights have taken on called KC Kids for Coats where the Knights are getting coats for underprivileged children. The Amour of Faith, started for our troops in the military. He finished by talking about all of the youth events the Knights put on. Stoddard continued by asking if you have a need? He asked the Knights to help the church. He said the KofC helps you get new ideas to help the church and community, if anyone was looking for a challenge, then the Knights was the place to join. Today's youth is looking for that challenge and the Knights have benefits, scholarships and help those who help others.
PSD Jose Jimenez, Supreme Coordinator for the Hispanics, who covers 14 states came from Oklahoma to speak. He mentioned that there are 158 Spanish Councils in the United States. He invited councils to offer a hand to start more Spanish councils in their areas. Jose then spoke to the Spanish in Spanish to invite them to join the Knights of Columbus.
General Agent Michael Aun gave a spectacular presentation on the screen saying that there were many famous people who were not only Knights, but were competitive Knights. He said the KofC has a wonderful history in American texts. He said that we as Knights need to be informed of our benefits and brag to our churches, our communities and everywhere the things we do as Knights. He mentioned how most churches being built are getting loans through the Knights, how we donate millions of dollars to the Vatican each year and to families around the world in times of hardships. Aun said we were the only company who insured the stillborn and the very young where no other insurance companies would.
Dave Tebo followed by introducing the state officers: Doug Murray, Florida State Deputy; James Shonefeld, Immediate Past State Deputy; Robert Read Past State Deputy and the Florida State Wheelchair Foundation Chairman; Dave Tebo, Past State Deputy; Dennis Stoddard, PSD; Don Kehoe, State Warden; Chris Kernan, State Programs director; Don Vettral, State Secretary; Paul Koppie, State Treasurer; Bill Sukel, PSD; Father Paul Harvey, Michael Aun and Brent Labreche general agents.
Father Paul closed saying he wanted to add to the Faith, Fraternity and Family, with Feel, Felt and Found. We as Knights tonight should feel a sense of pride, felt that we have done good and found a new strength in our order.
Doug Murray mentioned that after the event was closed that he would take questions.
Afterwards, This writer found a non-member who came from Brandon. Samuel Miller said he was recently a convert and took the R.C.I.A. classes. He had heard about the Knights and what all they did. He admitted he was a little skeptical when he came in. He was totally blown away once the event was over. He stated that he was overwhelmed at all the things the Knights had to offer and was definitely going to join the Knights. Sam was brought over by two past grand knights, Tom Babiarz and Don Clark.