April 2007
My Brother Knights:
I hope that you and your families had a nice Easter despite the winter-like weather that we’ve been having.
As our Council begins the journey towards the end of another Columbian Year, we find that our Council has come to a critical crossroads, which will either let us continue our status as one of the great councils in New Jersey, or mark the beginning of the end of our Council. After the St. Patrick’s Day Dance, two of the individuals who have made this event a success decided that they are no longer able to perform the tasks that make our dance the success that it is. Our dance chairman, Mark Kearney, and A-Team Leader, Col. Coppola, will be stepping back. While I can certainly understand why they need to do this, our Council members must now band together to take up the slack.
While their departure from this event will be a void that our next Grand Knight, Dennis Fashano, will have to fill, their departure takes on a more serious meaning for the Council. In reviewing the two main fundraisers that our Council has, we have found that there is a core group of members who do a majority of the work. 80% of the work is done by 15% of the people. If our Council is to survive – we need to have 100% of the work done by 100% of the people. If these two fundraisers are not supported, our Council will not have the funds to continue the good deeds that we do. If we are unable to do this, there is a strong possibility that within the next five to ten years our Council will cease to exist. Do you want this to happen? I do not, and in order to make sure that this does not happen, first and foremost, we need our officers to support our functions. If the officer’s do not support our functions, why should the members? I would ask all of our officer’s to support all of our functions – now and in the future.
Our Council also needs to have our new members become involved in all aspects of the Council – from helping with various events, to chairing the events, to proceeding through the chairs. I would ask all our members to make our new members feel welcome – talk to them, get them involved. It’s through your involvement that our new members and Council will continue to succeed.
One of our new members who has jumped in feet first is Richard Koch. Not only has Richard completed his Third Degree since joining our Council in November, he has become a staple at all our events since then. From helping out at the Dinner Dance (before he was a member), to serving and setting up at the Christmas Party, to helping out at the Blood Drive, to being a ‘runner’ for the St. Patrick’s Day Dance, Richard has shown that he has what it takes to be a Knight. So please join me in congratulating Richard on being named the Knight of the Month for April. Richard, keep up the good work, hopefully it will rub off on others!
In closing, let’s make the last three months of the Columbian Year the best they can be. We need one new member and five insurance members to achieve Star Council. With your help, we can do it! Our Council has proven time and again that we’re second to none. By getting the new members, existing members and officers involved, we can continue to show the State that we are the true embodiment of what the Knights should be. At this critical time in our Council’s history, we need to come together to continue the success that our charter members instilled in us. The only way that we can do this is with your help. The future of Council 6904 depends on it. Are you up to the challenge?
May His Peace be with you,
Derek J. Jess
Grand Knight
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
4/26-29 – Mentally Challenged Citizen’s Drive 6/21 – Turnover Meeting
5/6 – 4th Degree Communion breakfast 7/6 – Council Golf Outing
6/1 – Tricky Tray 7/29 – Trip to Camden Yards
6/2 – Eva’s Kitchen 10/29 – Council Dinner Dance
WELCOME ABOARD !!!
On 4/19, we held a 1st Degree and inducted six new members into our Council. Many thanks go to the East Hanover Council 1st Degree Team and Mike Czuchnicki for putting on an excellent show. We would like to welcome our new Brothers Frank Mares, Bob Smith, Patrick Byrne, Leonard Deo, Jeffery Hall, and Shawn Rice to our Council.
EVA’S KITCHEN
On June 2nd, we will be making our annual trip to Eva’s Kitchen in Paterson. We need cooks and helpers. See Bob Flieger for info 887-6752.
F Y I
By Bob Flieger
≈ Brother Rusty Driscoll helped one of our widows and she was very, very grateful… Nice Going Rusty!
≈ Which reminds me… if you hear of any of our widows needing help, let me know and we’ll do our best to help. We used to have quite a crew doing such things and I’m sure we can activate them again… Call me 973-887-6752.
≈ Brother Dan Aloia got a well-deserved standing ovation at “his” Communion Breakfast on April 15th.
≈ Brother Bob Steiger is doing his best to help out seniors with the planning of suitable housing in Hanover. Thanks Bob!
≈ The K of C Museum in New Haven is having a special, very interesting exhibit on the Swiss Guard until June 30th… Free! We went a few years ago for another exhibit and had a great time with dinner on Long Island Sound… Call me and maybe we’ll get a group together 973-887-6752.
≈ Don’t forget to make a donation to the Tricky Tray… Mail your check to our P.O. Box.
“HELP MENTALLY CHALLENGED CITIZENS”
The Drive will take place on April 26-29. Save the dates. Volunteers needed. Contact Dennis Fashano at 292-9560. We will have NEW VESTS this year !!!
ANNUAL COUNCIL GOLF OUTING
The Knights of Columbus, Elizabeth Ann Seton Council #6904 will be running our annual golf trip to the Water Gap Country Club. The date is Friday, July 6, 2007. Cost is $120 per person and includes bus transportation to and from the golf course, lunch, dinner, golf and cart. The bus will be departing from the Morris County Mall at 10:30 am. This is always a great time and slots are limited. For reservations and information please contact Derek Jess by email at gomezdjj@hotmail.com or by phone at 732-585-8493.
COPPOLA’S CORNER
To all my fellow Brother Knights and especially our very supportive PGK Anthony Mongiovi, who left us with the Little League hot dog legacy, this past Saturday was once again a Huge success. As you may or may not know, this past Saturday was opening day for Little League in Hanover Township. After all the bad weather we had for a couple of weeks, the Good Lord Blessed our Little Leaguers, family and friends with a beautiful warm, sunny day.
Because of the legacy of Mr. ‘Mongioveeee’, the Knights are committed to do all the cooking and preparing of hot dogs for approximately 900 to 1000 people including Little Leaguers, parents and friends. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following Brothers who took the time to make the day proceed as smooth as silk. They are Joe (Killer) Kowalski, Joe and Kevin Ward, Joe Milano, Mike Loia, Ralph and Nick Cetrulo, Richard Koch, Bob Peters, Joe Pissauro, Topsy Tony Lentine, Jim Ruvo, Jerry Martino, Dan - the photographer - Aloia, John Sheridan and Mark Kearney.
I personally had the honor of driving our own Committeewomen Judy Iradi in the LL Parade which each year gets bigger and bigger. I would like to extend a special thanks to Kevin Ward who would not allow me to do anything and is always willing to help me with the incidental errands. He is a fine young man who, little by little, is getting the proverbial hook deeply imbedded into his commitment to the K of C Council 6904. Lastly, our soon-to-be Grand Knight, Dennis Fashano, would have liked to have participated but he, Carmen, Frank and John Guido were at OLM for the Knight's Leadership Training.
Lastly, for those of you who would like to witness a real experience, you have to see how over 1000 prepared hot dogs and soda are totally consumed in approximately 15 minutes. I would say that three quarters of the 1000 dogs are consumed in less than five minutes.
Once again, thank you all and May the Peace of the Lord be with you and your families always......
George Coppola PGK!
Tricky Tray
Our annual Tricky Tray is coming on Friday, June 1st. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and supports many of the charities which benefit from our donations.
Donations of gifts, money, or solicitations are needed NOW !
Brothers, we are in dire need of cash donations… only three Brothers have donated to date. Also, please think about a business or organization that would donate a prize. Please solicit them ASAP !
Contact Joe Milano 973-463-0797 for info.
Attached is our Tricky Tray flyer. Please post it wherever you think it will be most visible.
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4th Degree Communion Breakfast
On Sunday, May 6, the Msgr. Sheerin Assembly will be holding their annual Communion Breakfast. Mass will be at St. Thomas More Church in Convent Station at 8:30am. Breakfast will be at Lenfell Hall (the Mansion), Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., Madison, after Mass. Cost is $17.50 per person… children under 12, $8. Mail checks to J. Milano, 34 Troy Hills Rd., Whippany, NJ, 07981.