6318
Our Lady of the Lakes - Council No. 6318
  10 Fair Street   Carmel, New York 10512  (845) 225-6318
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Breaking News Alerts

Updated February 20, 2012

 

 

Brendan Toohey Breakfast - Update!

Brothers,

We currently have 88 guests pre-registered for the breakfast. There will be an additional 5 or 6 Color Corps members, 20 volunteers and approximately 40 guests arriving at the door. Therefore, our current guest count is approximately 154 guests.

All volunteers will meet at the Council Saturday, February 25, at 4:00 p.m. to set up for the event.  We should be complete within two hours.

All cooks will meet at the Council Sunday February 26, 2012 at 5:30 a.m. to begin preparing the breakfast.  All other volunteers will meet at the Council at 7:00 a.m.

The Mass is held at St. James Church at 9:00 a.m.  The breakfast will be served immediately following Mass at our Council.

Thank you for your support,

Joe Mansfield,
Grand Knight
Our Lady of the Lakes Council #6318
10 Fair Street
Carmel, New York 10512
Home/Office: 845-259-3801
Cell: 210-822-3935

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Newsletter

The February 2012 edition of our newsletter, The Lake Current, is now available. Click on the "Council Activities" button in the left frame of this or any page to access.

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Charity Auction Fundraiser - Donations Needed 

Join us for our exciting fundraiser auction on May 19th!

      Our auction committee is currently in the process of collecting donations. They are looking for the following items:

       * Furniture

        * Home Furnishings

        * Antiques & Collectibles

        * and other items suitable for auction.

      If you or someone you know would like to make a donation, please contact Darren Higgins at (845) 224-7936, or via email at dhiggins.tbot@gmail.com.

      The auction committee also needs assistance with picking up and delivering donations. Please contact Darren if you would like to volunteer.

      More details will follow as the date approaches, but for now, SAVE THE DATE and please donate generously!

 

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Smoking Policy Action Plan & Interim Policy Adopted

At our regular members' meeting held on Wednesday, February 8th, the membership discussed at length and voted to approve two motions: 1) an Action Plan that will result in the adoption of a Permanent Smoking Policy after notice to the members and thorough discussion; and 2) an Interim Smoking Policy that will remain in effect until we vote on Permanent Smoking Policy.

The Action Plan calls for: 1) the substitution of the complete ban on smoking with an Interim Smoking Policy; 2) reports from the Smoking Policy Committee to the membership with proposals for a Permanent Smoking Policy; 3) discussion of the issue at the March, April, and May members' meetings; and 4) a vote on a Permanent Smoking Policy at the May 9th regular members' meeting.

After adopting the Action Plan, the membership adopted an Interim Smoking Policy that provides: 1) smoking is permitted in the Lounge on Thursday evenings; 2) cigarette smoking is permitted in the Lounge on even-date Friday evenings (for example, Feb. 10 & 24, March 2, 16 & 30, and April  6 & 20); 3) no smoking indoors at any other time, except as authorized by the Council Officers for special events; 4) smoking permitted outside the front and Lounge entrances at all times; 5) a request that brother Knights who smoke in the Lounge be considerate of others who have health problems or cannot tolerate smoke; 6) activation of the ventilation systems in the Lounge when smoking is permitted; and 7) replacement of the Interim Smoking Policy with a Permanent Smoking Policy, scheduled to be voted upon at the May meeting.

To be clear, the Interim Smoking Policy will only be in effect for three months, until we vote on a Permanent Smoking Policy on May 9th.

Please let GK Joe Mansfield know if you would like to serve on the Smoking Policy Committee.  A full copy of the text of each of the motions adopted is also available to members upon request.

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Grand Knight's Message -  Feb. 10, 2012

Brothers:

I hope you are enjoying the mild weather we have experienced so far this winter.  I pray we finish this season with continued warmth and very little snow.  The reduction of our heating bills would be a great gift for all of us.

The New Year has brought us many challenges and many successes.  Our recent smoking policy change reinforced the importance of Unity within our Council.  Through great struggle, open discussions, and continued compromise, we have established an interim smoking policy that respects the needs of our membership.  Over the next few months, the smoking policy committee and our membership will draft a permanent policy.  I am certain this policy will reflect the opinion of every member of our great Council. 

Thank you Brothers for removing the St. James creche, assisting with our First Degree, supporting the Conference raffle, attending the Conference meeting, representing our Council at the Seminarians' Dinner, and attending our Super Bowl party.  Your dedication to our Council is a great inspiration to us all.

On January 17th, our First Degree Team initiated nine new brothers into our Council.  They are Gerald Porteus, John C. Arcuri, John Dicioccio, Owen Sullivan, Stephen D. Kladis, Christopher Dillon, Michael Hoffmann, Kevin Heis and Philip Montana.  The next evening, John C. Arcuri and Stephen D. Kladis made their Second Degree.  On January 22nd, Brian Repko was knighted as a Third Degree member of our Council.  Please welcome these new members and congratulate all of them on their entry to Knighthood.

On February 3rd, Charter Member Russ Lavan was installed as the 2012 Grand Marshal of the Northern Westchester Putnam St. Patricks Day Parade.  Brother Lavan was lead into the room by the Stephen Driscoll Memorial FOP Pipers, the Parade Committee and the 2011 Parade Grand Marshal.  Surrounded by his family and friends, brother Lavan was installed, receiving his ceremonial sash and commemorative plaque.  He impressed those gathered with an impassioned and memorable speech.  Thanks to all those who supported brother Lavan that evening.  Please join us as we march together in support of brother Lavan at the 2012 St. Patricks Day Parade.  The parade will be held on Sunday March 11, 2012 in Mahopac, New York.  Following the parade, our Council will host a celebration of Irish music, dance, song, food and drink.

Other upcoming events include the Brendan Toohey Memorial Mass and Breakfast on Sunday, February 26th; the March 13th Albany Prayer Rally; the March 25th 9:00 a.m. Mass for the Unborn Child at Our Lady of the Lake Church; the Conference Awards Banquet Honoring our longtime Worthy Treasurer, Joe Groneman on March 25th; and the Founders Day Mass on March 29th at 7:30 a.m. at the St. James Chapel of Life.  Please support our Council by attending these events.

With great sadness our Council grieves the loss of Letitia Driscoll, Madeline Sinisi and brother Giacomo "Jack" Porcelli.  Letitia is the mother in-law of brother Knight William Silke and the mother of Gail Silke.  Madeline is the mother of our Deputy Grand Knight Joe Sinisi.  Jack is a 35 year member of the Knights of Columbus.  At 95 years young, he is the second oldest member of our Council.  Please remember these fine people and their families in your prayers.

May God bless you, your families, our Council and our Country.

Fraternally yours,

Joe Mansfield, GK
 
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Take Action for Religious Freedom

The Knights of Columbus stands with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in opposition to the recent decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force Catholic employers including hospitals, universities, and charities to provide health insurance that covers contraception and sterilization.

The new rule from HHS gives Catholic institutions until August of 2013 before it begins forcing insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive methods and sterilization procedures, including several drugs that induce abortion. The mandate will force individuals and groups with religious or moral objections to purchase and provide such coverage. More information is available on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldnt happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights.

The U.S. bishops are urging all Catholics to let their elected leaders know they want religious liberty and rights of conscience restored and the administrations contraceptive mandate rescinded. Answering the call, the Knights of Columbus is asking every member and his family to take immediate action.

Please send a message to your elected representatives in Congress by visiting the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment Action Alert. Urge them to co-sponsor the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179 / S. 1467), bi-partisan legislation would ensure that federal mandates do not violate the deeply-held moral and religious convictions of our citizens.

Religious freedom is, as Pope Benedict XVI has said, the most cherished of American freedoms, and the first of human rights. No persons or institutions should ever be forced to act in a manner contrary to their moral and religious beliefs.
 
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Empire State Bulletins Now Available Here

The New York State Council has begun producing an all new edition of the Empire State Bulletin. Until they are available directly online from the State Council website, we will provide a page with links to them here.

 

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SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY AND HELP YOUR COUNCIL!

Dear Brother Knights,

We have sent out letters and emails pertaining to our Affiliate Fundraiser Program. The response has been slow coming in.  In order to make this work, we need your help. I reiterate the importance of this gift that will keep giving and giving, not only to the council, but to you and your family as well.

So please take the time to send your electric and gas bills, along with your phone number, email address, and POD # to:

Donny Ricker
c/o KofC Council 6318
10 Fair St.
Carmel, NY 10512

If you require more information, please contact me at (914) 316-2957.

Thank You, and remember, what we can't do alone, we can do TOGETHER!!!!

Fraternally,

Donny Ricker SK,
Affiliate Program Director

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Good of the Order - February 2012 

Dear Brothers,

Please take a moment to remember our sick and recently departed brother Knights and their families. Please pray for them.

Sick:
- Gina Aurisicchio
- Dan O'Hare
- Gloria Antoci
- John Carrick
- Linda Albano
- Kevin O'Connor
- Andrea O'Brien
- Mirella Messina
- Morgan Albano
- Theresa Ruggiero
- Thomas Higgins
- Christopher Murray
- Charlie LaBarbera, PGK, FDD

Recently departed:
- All deceased members of Council 6318
- All deceased American Veterans
- Brother Knight Giacomo "Jack" Porcelli
- Madeline Sinisi
- Letitia Driscoll
- Myra Martorano
- Michael McDonald (father of Mike McDonald, PGK)
- Mary Drumm
- Ethel Scott
- James W. "Willie" Evers
- Angelo Giovannello

Please contact me if you have additional intentions you'd like to share with our brother Knights. God bless you, your families, our council and our country.

Fraternally yours, 

Joe Mansfield,
Grand Knight

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Please Support our Sponsors!

We have added a list of sponsors to our "Links Page" on this website. These are the fine businesses who have generously supported our Council by taking ad space in our 2011 Awards Dinner Journal. Please support those who support our Council!

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