The Golden Plume
Sir Knights & Brothers,
As we start our 2nd month, I would like to thank all of you for the congratulatory messages and best wishes this past month. They were very nice and very much appreciated! Now it is time to knuckle down, get to work and with your continued help and support we will get the job done! District Marshal Paul Spire and I had the opportunity to install the Officers of Fr. Stanley Grubitz Assembly 2379 in Elizabeth City following Mass on 9/18/16, while Tropical Storm Julia was still in the area. Thank you Sir Knights & Brothers for your hospitality and no rain all the way back to Burlington, you kept it in Elizabeth City.
Many thanks to FDM Dave Onofrio and PDM Rick Lewis for all their planning strategies for the Charlotte Diocese Eucharistic Congress. The VSM assigned me to a DeSoto Province meeting in Orlando that same weekend, requiring my presence in Florida. However, FDM Ron Carney was able to attend and led the 4th Degree Brothers in their support of the event. Dist. Marshal Paul Spire and ADM Matt Dimock did a fantastic job to insure all 4th Degree Knights were at their assigned location at the proper time for each of the day’s events. Thank you Brother Sir Knights for all your help, especially those taking the time from their busy schedules to be there in support of the Bishop & Diocese of Charlotte.
We would like to call your attention to the State Website at www.kofcnc.org, specifically the 4th Degree Section. Our plan is to insure there is plenty of updated information there for you to review and use, as needed, in support of your Assemblies. We are currently working with the Communications Director to insure all our programs are listed as well as awards and their guidelines. Talking about awards Brothers, “you got to be in it to win it”!
As mentioned above, I attended the Vice Supreme Masters annual meeting in Orlando and naturally all agendas always led to membership and numbers discussions. Naturally, we as SK’s are encouraged to ASK 3rd Degree Brother Knights to seek membership in the 4th Degree with a reminder – new members are the lifeblood of the Order. Average ages were discussed and we, in NC, are next to lowest in average age in the DeSoto Province with an average age of 64. We need to bring that down and the only way is to encourage our younger Brother Knights to join us. How do we become members of the 4th Degree – glad you asked, for that information will follow next.
The next 4th Degree Exemplification will be on Sat. Nov. 19, 2016 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Fayetteville, hosted by Cardinal Gibbons Assembly 783. My Brother Sir Knights – please ASK a 3rd Degree Brother to become a Patriotic Member of the 4th Degree and then bring him to the Exemplification and attend yourself as an Observer. Required Forms: a form 4 from the Assembly Faithful Comptroller and a signed Exemplification Dress Code Form required for all Candidates and Observers. There is an Exemplification Information sheet and the Dress code Form on the State Website under the 4th Degree heading. The hotel information is also listed, should you need a room. Cutoff for reservation at the hotel is 11/1/16 as well as all required forms and remittance sent to me. All checks are to be from your Assembly made out to the “Master’s Fund”. Individual checks cannot be accepted.
NEVER FORGET – “SIR KNIGHT IS NOT JUST A TITLE, IT IS AN HONOR”
Please note – all Knights of Columbus Degrees are known by the spelling of the Degree, i.e First, Second, etc. For the purposes of brevity and saving space in the THK, I have used numbers.
Right behind October is November and a very special day for all Veterans, November 11. This is the day set aside to honor all Military Veterans for their many sacrifices, especially those who gave the ultimate with their lives, so we may enjoy liberties and freedoms as Americans. Assemblies should already have their planned events in place for a remembrance as we are the Patriotic Degree. If you are planning an event, invite the public to be a part of your tribute and make sure the media is also invited. It is not too late to prepare for Veterans Day, if you start today to plan your event!
Also for the month of October – Happy Birthday to the US Navy, established Oct. 13, 1775.
Do not forget the 4th Degree Patriotic Coupon Program for our active Military Families. Cut out national product or manufacturers coupons and please bring them to your Assembly meetings. Working with our Insurance Agents, the coupons are brought to SK Joe Bailer, our coupon chairman. Brother Joe works with his contacts at Ft. Bragg to distribute these coupons to military families in the US and overseas.
Many thanks to all of you for all your help and continued efforts in support for the Patriotic Degree and making the “Visible Arm of the Order” more visible every day with your patriotic programs and wearing of the Regalia. Working together as a T.E.A.M. we can do better and more!
God Bless You, God Bless Our Church and God Bless America
Jack McMurray
IPSD, DM
District Marshall
Worth SK’s and Brothers All,
I would like to thank all of you that I have had the opportunity to work with over the past month or so. I was honored to be at our Brother and SK Haden Ware’s funeral at St. Francis in Raleigh and assist in honoring a SK that touched many lives during his life and was humbled by the participation in that event.
I would like to thank Sir Knight and Past District Marshall Rick Lewis for his leadership and his assistance in setting up the Charlotte’s Eucharistic Congress event. I would also like to thank ADM Matt Dimock and CCC Greg Rachel for their assistance in this event. Without their commitment and leadership it would have been impossible to make this event the success that it was. I would also like to thank all SK’s that participated in the march, assisted in carrying the canopy and providing the honor guard for the canopy and everyone who assisted in the adoration of the blessed sacrament throughout the day. The opportunity to escort a priest to a communion station is one we as Knights are honored to be able to do so and for those who assisted in the communion of the approximately 5000 faithful in as little of a time that was done so is to be commended. Job well done Sir Knights.
As I look forward to the planned events that are scheduled for the next several months please know that I will be requesting assistance from the local Assemblies for any events that are scheduled in your area. As always, I am certain that you will respond as you always do and make our District Master proud of leading the best group of honorable Sir Knight’s that there is.
Vivat Jesus
Paul Spire
District Marshall
VAVS - Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service
Greetings Brother SK and FN,
Vivat Jesus!
As we transition from summer to fall season, we need to begin to think about the programs that will assist our Veterans in the coming months of October through January.
Holidays: You and your family will be planning for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year celebrations. These are times of great excitement and personal joy. Our Veterans who are confined to the VA Medical Centers in the Community Living Center (CLC), Hospice Unit and Military Retirement Communities often times will not have family members to celebrate these holidays. Our Chiefs of Volunteer Services at the VA Medical Centers are looking for support and programs for entertaining the Veterans during these times. As an example, the Asheville VA Medical Center has a program of which they give 500+ Veterans a gift bag for the Christmas holiday season. This cost $25,000. Without this program, these Veterans would not have a Merry Christmas. Any donations for this program would enable them to complete their project for the Veterans.
Salisbury VA Medical Center is looking for a Santa to go through the wards and give a little cheer. They too, do a gift bag program for each Veteran. Another need is people to come and sing Christmas songs. This would be a great program for families or choir groups to do.
Think outside the box—what can your Assembly do to make someone else forget their situation and have a little cheer? Contact the Chief, Voluntary Service at your local VA Medical Center to coordinator and schedule this event.
Coats for Veterans: As the days turn colder, many of our Veterans will not have an adequate winter coat to keep them warm. As in the past several years, the Knights of Columbus in NC have purchased and donated over 2,500 coats to Veterans of need. Again this year, I’m asking each Assembly and Brother SK to participate in this very important project. Suggestion for the purchase of these coats: Sam’s carries ZX(ZEROXPOSUR-stock # L82120S) MSRP $120.00 can be purchased for $29.88 + tax. ALL COATS MUST BE NEW—“OUR VETERANS DESERVE NOTHING LESS!” See flier for more details. Please bring either cash or coat to next Assembly meeting. Any questions about this program, please contact me at twdupree@aol.com
Report of Activities: As we approach December 31st, each Assembly and Council will be required to complete form 1728 for the year 2016. In addition to this report, the FN will be require to complete an additional report on his Assemblies’ participation in support of Veterans programs, USO and VAVS activities for the year 2016. This report is available on the State website under “Forms”. This information is provided to the District Master, Vice-Supreme Master and Supreme. Goal for 2016 is 100% participation!
Thank you for all you do in supporting our Veterans. “Serving Those Who Served”
Looking for Reps and Deputy Reps for the four VA Medical Centers: Your main function is communicating the needs of our Veterans with the Assemblies and Councils under your region. Individuals with good leadership skills and a willingness to give a little extra time will enable us to assist the Veterans in our State. Brother SK who are interested, contact me for more information. The rewards are priceless!
SK Thomas W. (Tom) DuPree Jr. PGK, PFN,
VAVS Representative Durham VA North Carolina District VAVS Representative VA, N C State Council Veterans Affairs and VAVS Chairman St. Francis of Assisi Assembly # 3552 Faithful Navigator
CELL #: 919-302-5550
2016 Wounded Warrior Program Brother Knights,
Again this year the Knignts will raise funds to send the Wounded Warriors in the hospital in N.C. so they can enjoy the holidays with their families.
The N.C. Knights began this program in 2006, when we were asked if we could assist with this program. In the past 10 years we have raised over $760,000. All of this money was used for the purchase of plane tickets for their trips home.
I hope you can help with this years drive for funds.
All correspondence should be handled through: Robert Singer, PSD, FDM, FVSM 2506 Canal Drive Wilson, NC 27896 252-237-8007 Cell 363-363-8007
I will keep all aware of how we are coming a long with this project. Bob Singer, PSD,FDM. FVSM
