Worthy Brother Knights,
Doctor his pressure is dropping.
As I lay in the Cardiac Catheterization lab and heard those words, I remember thinking, I should have gone to confession more frequently.
God has granted me some additional time for this life and as Grand Knight I want to share some thoughts that may be helpful to all of us.
Since I did not die I followed up on the confession. I tried something new with a face to face confession with Father Sunny in his office. It was more relaxed than the confessional and allowed for some discussion. I highly recommend it even though memorizing the new testament as a penance was a little harsh. Seriously, we pray Give Us This Day and all of us are lucky we get that much time to prepare to meet God.
Now for some practical thoughts about preparing for dying. These actions are for those you leave behind.
Have a current will written under Georgia law. A will 20 years old from another state may cause problems. Give signed copies to wife and any other executors.
Prearrange your funeral. You do not want your wife and children the day after you die trying to deal with a professional funeral salesperson and guessing what you wanted.
If you are young get at least term life insurance on yourself and your wife while you are insurable at a low cost. After my second child I bought term insurance on myself and my wife. A few years after that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and became uninsurable. The KOC has great insurance products and you need to check them out.
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Document all savings accounts, income sources, and bills that you pay. Involve your wife/children in all the monthly finances. Remember, you are dead and cannot answer questions. I have seen too many times the widow is left with a mess because her husband “ handled the money”. This also applies in reverse if your wife pays the bills.
As men we seem to assume we will die first. That did not happen in my case so plan as if you are the one left behind.
Lastly, as you all know I had a Cardiac Catherization a few months ago and it showed some minor blockage, about average for 64 years old. On Halloween I was taken to the emergency room with my left main heart artery (widowmaker) 98% blocked. I was blessed that day with a series of events that kept me alive, not the least of which was being in the emergency room quickly. I am not sure why the additional blockage happened or if the original diagnose was incorrect.
If you feel anything unusual with your body, particularly with your chest, arm, neck, or jaw have it checked out immediately. If it is serious pain call an ambulance, people have died while friends drove them to the hospital and could not provide treatment in route. Don’t try to tough it out or “not be a baby”. Time is critical and they can work wonders in the hospital but you have to make it there first.
Thank your for your prayers. They were needed.
Vivat Jesus,
Mike MacFarlane
GK7923
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Business Meeting Highlights
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Treasurer Report
Treasurer, PGK Tom Marasco reported:
- Checking Balance
- $17,650.77 in checking includes:
- $2,569.80 in Peterka fund
- $36,685.18 in Assets
Financial Secretary's Report
The Financial Secretary, PGK Jim McHugh reported:
- 281 total members
- 169 associates
- 93 insurance members
- 19 Inactive
- 11 Honorary
- 37 Honorary Life
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Program Director Highlights
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- Breakfast on November 3, made a profit of $735.98 for the SJN Prison Ministry.
- Next Knights Family Breakfast will be held on Sunday, December 1, with proceeds going to the SJN Young Adults Ministry.
- A flag retirement ceremony was conducted by BSA Troop 522 at 6PM prior to the November Business Meeting. Following the ceremony, the Council served refreshments to the boys and leaders in the Neumann Center.
- Breakfast with Santa is scheduled for Saturday, December 14. Admission will be $10 per family for breakfast and picture. The plan is for Council to get the food, and the school will pay the Council back. Menu will again be pancakes, sausage, and donut holes; Kroger will donate the milk.
- Dedication of the smoker and social night did not happen October 26 due to the deck roof not being complete. The deck roof is now complete and the smoker dedication and social night will be planned for a later date.
- BK Dave Werve continues with Christmas Card and Monastery sales. Current sales are up to about $2,300. In addition to selling after Masses, he plans to sell at Breakfast with Santa.
- PGK Steve Brischler reported that the smoker has been seasoned and is ready to go. Keys have been given to the Smoker Committee. No immediate use is planned since the deck dedication has been postponed, but PGK Steve has purchased some pork butts that will probably be cooked as a test run and served at an upcoming open house. BK Todd Eaton requested that he be informed whenever the smoker is going to be used so that if there are any softball games the kids can be told to stay away from it.
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In last month's business meeting, the following items were included in the Good of the Order:
- PGK Brad Burnett won $34 and donated his winnings to the Peterka Fund.
- BK Gary Rudebeck’s name was picked, but he was not in attendance. No award was made. The award would have been $125.
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Due to Grand Knight being recently in the hospital and excused from this month’s meeting, no Knight of the Month or Family of the Month for September were chosen. Two awards for each will be selected next month to catch up.
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Prayers for Knights in Need
Please pray for the following Knights in need:
- All BK’s - For all our military and first responders who keep us safe every day.
- Mark Dallas – For wife Tricia for surgery soon for breast cancer.
- Mark Davis – For Mike MacFarlane recovering from heart attacks.
- Larry Hoffman – For his niece with brain tumor and cousin with liver cancer.
- Ed Dantzer – For Leo Schiltgen dealing with death of his brother.
- Bob Marszalek – For his wife, seizures.
- Ralph Oshinski – For his daughter Marcia, cancer.
- Frank Swider – For Bob & Eileen Stewart, Liver cancer and blood disorder.
- Hugh Gardiner – For wife Anne recovering from surgery.
- Wayne DeGray – For David Andrews.
- John Mangano – For Beth Silver with cancer.
- Woody Lott – Wife Joan undergoing cancer treatment.
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New Business
The new membership billing cycle starts December 15. An effort will be made this year to suspend, following approved procedures, those Knights who have continually not paid their dues. The Retention Committee will assist in this effort.
BK Larry Hoffman made a request for volunteers to assist driving BK Trevor Chen to Mass when needed. He now has four Knights, including himself, to drive Trevor.
PGK Bruce Rago made the following motion:
“In the absence of any specific line item of the Charity Budget allowing payment above the permitted amount, this motion requires to process such a request for disbursement in the manner prescribed in the Council By-Laws.
This does not impede the disbursement, in any amount, of pass-through items of the Charity budget, where credits equal debits, such as ‘Monastery Sales’.
Separate disbursements, each below or up to the permitted amount, cannot be combined to fund the item as this would circumvent the purpose of this motion.”
The motion was voted down.
PGK Dominic Druda made the following motion:
“That any future expenditures in excess of $500 proposed by the Charitable Committee be approved by the general Council prior to executing.”
The motion was tabled for discussion and until GK Mike MacFarlane returns.
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Council 7923 Officers
Chaplain
Fr. Sunny Punnaknziyil - 770-923-6633
Deacon Mike Hayward - 678-787-1972 (Assistant)
Grand Knight
GK Michael MacFarlane - 770-527-9983
Deputy Grand Knight
DGK Mark Dallas - 404-825-2033
Chancellor
BK Harvey James - 770-235-6686
Recorder
BK Glenn Klein - 770-923-8640
Treasurer
PGK Tom Marasco - 404-642-9270
Warden
BK Randy McCormack - 770-564-8708
Advocate
BK Larry Hoffman - 770-972-1180
Financial Secretary
PGK Jim McHugh - 678-925-5811
Inside Guard
BK William Verciglio - 770-722-9190
Outside Guard
BK Alex Naumis - 404-556-1683
BK Dave Andrews - 404-399-3047
Lecturer
BK David Werve - 678-983-6397
PGK Houston Feaster - 404-456-9678
1st Year Trustee
PGK Mark Davis - 770-313-8068
2nd Year Trustee
BK Ralph Oshinski - 678-294-8074
3rd Year Trustee
PGK Bruce Rago - 770-270-0003
District Deputy
DD Mike Basak - 404-218-8987
Insurance Field Agent
BK John Paul (JP) Williams - 678-787-2201
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Happy Birthday Knights
Mike Doering 12/1
Vincent Garofola 12/2
John A. Trudell 12/3
David Hobbs 12/5
Edward F. Gestar 12/7
Kenneth R. Harp 12/9
Chester A. Adkins 12/10
Jerry Bennett 12/10
Tony K. O'Neil 12/10
David Andrews 12/11
Leo L. Schiltgen 12/21
Gary Rudebeck 12/22
Donald S. Pietro 12/23
Albert Bishof 12/25
James A. McHugh 12/26
Eduardo Valdes 12/28
Judson T. Baker 12/29
Gregory R. Ollick 12/31
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Upcoming Council Events
December 1st @ Reynold's Hall - Monthly Breakfast - 8:30am - 1:00pm
December 2nd @ Neumann Center - Officer/Planing Meeting - 7:00pm
December 3rd @ Dillon's - Dogwood and Oak Road - Knight's Lunch 12:30pm
December 9th @ Neumann Center - Member Meeting - Rosary - 6:30pm, Meeting - 7:00pm
December 10th @ Dillon's - Dogwood and Oak Road - Knight's Lunch 12:30pm
December 14th @ SJNRCS - Breakfast with Santa
December 15th @ SJN - Knight's Mass - 8:30am
December 16th @ Neumann Center - Social Meeting - 7:00pm
December 17th @ Dillon's - Dogwood and Oak Road - Knight's Lunch 12:30pm
December 23rd @ Neumann Center - Social Meeting - 7:00pm
December 30th @ Neumann Center - Social Meeting - 7:00pm
January 5th @ Reynold's Hall - Monthly Breakfast - 8:30am - 1:00pm
January 6th @ Neumann Center - Officer/Planing Meeting - 7:00pm
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PGK Mark Davis and BKs waiting for the flag retirement ceremony
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BK Woody Lott and BKs reflect during the flag retirement ceremony
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BK Todd Eaton helping scouts from Troop 522 retire flags
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BK Harvey James coordinating the Memorial Mass
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DGK Mark Dallas, BK Harvey James and Recorder BK Glenn Klein at the Memorial Mass
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