Rubberducks game | Luau Potluck | State Campout | Fish Fry Volunteer Dinner

Grand Knight’s Message

June is my 12th month, and the end of my first year, as the South Akron Knights of Columbus Grand Knight. It has been a big learning curve for me and I am still learning. I really didn’t know what I was getting into and I want to thank Brothers Tom Goodhart, Don White, Shawn Needham and Mike Herhold for helping me out this year with all the details and deadlines. Thanks to Damian Sedlock for getting our stuff out on social media. Also, thanks to everyone for your words of wisdom throughout the year.

In this month’s newsletter, I want to highlight some things our council accomplished last year. Membership, membership, membership. One of my goals was to increase our membership. As of May 2023, in the Cleveland Diocese we are in 2nd place with 18 new members for the year. This is with recruitment at 3 parishes. As I said, I learned many things this year, and one was that we have 5 parishes, not 3, in our council. I am hoping with next year’s membership recruitment at the 5 parishes we can beat that number.

The Knights of Columbus has an award called the Star Council. Some of you may have heard of it and know what it is about. The requirements include activities in the areas of faith, family, community, and life, as well as membership recruitment and insurance meetings. The goal is 100 points in each of the 4 areas. Here is how we did this year. Faith: 80 pts, Family: 60 pts, Community 60: pts, Life: 40 pts, and membership: 20pts. Now that I better understand what it takes in each of these categories, I think we can get 100 points in each one in the next year.

A few weekends ago we attended the Ohio Knights of Columbus State Convention. Missy and I, along with Kathy and Mike Prebonick, represented us as our council delegates and guests. Tom and Mary Lou Goodhart attended as District Deputy and guest. We saw what other councils in the state do to achieve star council. At our June 6 meeting, I will have some ideas on how we can achieve star council. I would like to ask my Brothers from South Akron Council #3410 to consider becoming the lead of a committee. I’ll have sign-up sheets at the meeting. We will also need more Brothers, wives, family members and social members to get involved. Last month I asked you to think about giving your time and talent to our council, and this is one way to do that. Make sure to attend our next Knights of Columbus council meeting on June 6 to hear more. The rosary is at 7 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

2,070 Super Cash Bonanza tickets were turned in by our council at the state convention. No winners from our council were chosen. As we often say in Northeast Ohio, wait ‘til next year! Thanks to all that bought and sold tickets. A big thanks to Don White and his wife, Mary, for all their hard work with the committee. Next month’s newsletter will show how much was raised for local charities and how much was given back to the 5 parishes that welcomed us to sell tickets.

We had some great social events this past year. I hope to continue those into this upcoming year and maybe add some new things. Watch the newsletters, Facebook page, and the K of C website for details.

Let’s have a Luau! Come out on the last Wednesday in June for our “Luau” potluck dinner. We will be roasting a pig! Wear your favorite Hawaiian clothes. Hawaiian leis will be provided.

I encourage everyone to come out on Wednesdays at the hall starting at 6 p.m. Sign the book for a chance to win the weekly drawing. Enjoy a hotdog and other delicious potluck items, plus socialization.

Please keep reading, as more information and events are listed later in the newsletter.

Be Good Everyone.
Steve Dort, Grand Knight