Arizona District, John H. Reddin Province

Knights of Columbus 4th Degree

Sir Knight Michael Kingman, Master of the Fourth Degree

From The District Master

To: Worthy Faithful Navigators and Sir Knights all

From: Sir Knight Michael Kingman, Master of the Fourth Degree

Thanks

The 4^th Degree Exemplification on January 16^th was a resounding success. At the beginning of the year I challenged all of our Faithful Navigators especially those in the Southern Region of Arizona to meet or beat a goal of 100 candidates. The new Sir Knights added to the Patriotic Degree in Arizona was 99 new Sir Knights. You are all to be commended in meeting the challenge.

Much like last year we had some visiting dignitaries with us, Supreme Master Larry Costanzo, Past Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant, Supreme Director of Ceremonials, Gary Nolan and 8 newly appointed Vice Supreme Masters. Like last year they were duly impressed with the John Kingsley 4^th Degree Team and the job they did. As always it makes me proud to be part of this great team.

The success of an exemplification takes much time and effort to make it a success and it is no different now. I want to take the time to thank Exemplification Chairman SK Pete Karculias and the Msgr. James T. Weber Assembly 2152 Sir Knights, wives and friends for putting on such a great exemplification. From the Friday Night Chili Cook Off to Registration, the Ladies Luncheon and the Saturday Banquet, fun was had by all. For those of you who attended I hope you took the time to thank them for a job well done. I also want to take the time to thank Jerry De Puma and his wife Janet for hosting the District Master’s Hospitality Suite you did a great job and made everyone feel right at home. To Joyce Fleck and the ladies that helped out at the Ladies Luncheon, thank you for the wonderful job done. We received a lot of compliments on the luncheon and how much fun was had. To the Color Corp team from the Henry Miller Assembly 2308 and of course to Marshals Antonio Otero, Robert Holsinger, Kevin McCarthy, and  CCC Chris Holsinger for helping out in the Ante-Chamber.

Let us not forget to welcome the 99 new Sir Knights to the Patriotic Degree of the order of which one was a Priest. 

Next Exemplification

Our next 4^th Degree Exemplification will be on June 5, 2010 and will be held at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix Arizona and will be hosted by Rev. Msgr. Paul Koscielniak Assembly 2736. The Honoree for this exemplification will be the IPSD Stanley Schroeder. Stan has contributed much to the success of the Knights of Columbus in Arizona and we are honored to have him accept our invitation to be our Class Honoree. Registration packets have already been sent out. We will have information on the 4^th Degree website. Click HERE for details..

I am asking all Faithful Navigators to get with your Comptrollers and make sure you get the Form 4’s submitted by May 23, 2010. I am also asking all our Sir Knights and their families to make this a weekend in which you come and meet your Brother Sir Knights and share ideas and get to know each other, after all one of the principles of Our Order is Fraternity and what better way is there than to socialize with one another and family. If you can I ask you to please stay at the hotel on Friday and Saturday as they have given us some great rates and sign up for the Saturday night dinner. I would love for you to socialize with our Class Honoree IPSD Stan Schroeder, State Deputy Herb Maddock, Supreme Master Larry Costanzo and Vice Supreme Master Jerry O’Connor.

Last year at the June Exemplification we brought in 218 new Sir Knights and this year I am challenging the Arizona District to bring in 300 new Sir Knights. This may seem like a large number but if we work with the 130 plus active councils and have each council provide us with just 3 candidates each we can easily meet this goal. I am asking each Faithful Navigator and or his representative to attend each of your councils, business meetings and start the recruiting process over the next 3 months. I know that this is a surmountable amount but let’s do our best and see what we can do.

Last year we had 600 attend the Saturday Night Banquet and hopefully we will have just as many if not more. So make your room and meal reservations soon. Don’t be left behind.

Fraternal Survey Form 1728

Just a reminder to those assemblies that have not submitted your Annual Fraternal Survey Form to Supreme, the form is past due as of January 31, 2009. If you submitted electronically you need to make a copy of the form and send a hard copy to Supreme as they are having some issues with getting the forms. Please submit asap.

District Assembly Bi-Annual Meeting

When: Saturday March 27, 2010

Where: Corpus Christ 3550 E. Knoll Phoenix AZ

Time: 8:00am to 3:00pm

Purpose of meeting

• Review meeting minutes of last Bi-Annual Meeting

• Review any resolutions for changes to the By-laws

• Selection of 3 recommendations for Master

• Election of Master’s Audit Committee

All Faithful Navigators must attend as a delegate or his alternate and one delegate for each 100 members or major fraction there of. If an Assembly has over 100 members then a delegate will need to be voted upon in February or March time frame. Assemblies shall have the right to elect alternates for the Faithful Navigator and for any delegates to which they are entitled.

Assemblies shall pay the expenses of their representatives and delegates to the District Assembly meeting.

Membership

The challenge is on! Colorado District Master Joseph Tafoya challenged Arizona District Master in membership. He stated that Colorado would beat our district in membership and make us eat crow. I do not care to eat crow nor do I think that we in Arizona want to come in second to the Colorado District.

This brings me to the membership goals set by Supreme for our district. Arizona needs to bring in at least 372 new 4^th Degree members into our ranks. But I think that Arizona can do better. Last year we brought in 462 new Sir Knight and I see no reason why we cannot attain 500 new Sir Knights this fraternal year.

In the outlying areas if you have some potential candidates that will not or cannot travel call the District Master and we can discuss alternatives.

I am in the process of working with our Bishops to establish March or April as the “Year of the Priest” and work to have special 4^th Degree Exemplifications throughout the State of Arizona in order to provide the opportunity for our Clergy who want to join the 4^th Degree but have been unable to do so due to their weekend duties. More to follow

In Arizona we have the potential of starting 3 new assemblies this fraternal year. One in Anthem, associated with Council 13719, Vail, Councils 7521 and 14230 and Buckeye, Council 9467. Vail Council 7521 will be conducting an Organizational/Open House meeting to solicit the 30 members needed to start a new assembly. Buckeye is scheduled to have their assembly ready to go by mid June at the latest.

Programs

Programs are lacking in many ways. For instance we have 2862 assemblies yet only 287 assemblies sent in their paper work for the Civic Action Award. I know that many assemblies do not like tooting their own horn but how else can we tell what your assemblies are doing. Your members deserve recognition for their efforts and hard work. It only takes four assembly patriotic events to qualify, so let’s make sure we submit our paper work and be recognized for all that you do.

Arizona Civic Award Winners

San Xavier Del Bac Assembly 14      FN Rudy Cavolina

Sun Cities Assembly 1673                FN Gerald J. Thomsen

Fr. Juan De Padilla Assembly 1989  FN John A. Bock Jr.

St Fracnis of Assisi Assembly 2058  FN Octavio C. Perez

Fr Henry Miller Assembly 2308         FN Gerard C. DePuma

San juan Diego Assembly 2836        FN Dennis E. Russell

St Timothy’s Assembly 3029            FN Larry Becker

Other programs to get involved in are

• Serving Those Who Served (VAVS) - working with the VA and other veteran organization in support of veterans.

• Wheels for Vets - Raising funds to purchase wheelchairs for our vets in Arizona, who do not meet the VA requirements.

• Flag presentations at schools covering, Flag protocol, history of Pledge of Allegiance, demonstration on folding and the distribution of handouts.  

Other projects that we are working on at Supreme level are; creating a new pin that will incorporate emblem of the 4^th Degree and the flag of one’s country. Create 4^th Degree website, Eliminate paper work by mailing out CD’s to Faithful Navigators instead of packets.     

Wheel Chair Fund Drive

The Wheels for Vets project has been a great success and we now have enough funds to pay for the wheelchairs that were sent to us earlier in the year and to order 110 more chairs so congratulations to all of the assemblies and councils that donated to this worthy cause. On behalf of the Co-chairs FDM Armand Brooks, DD, Sir Knight Pete Karculias, and FDD, FDM Jim Maino we thank you for your support. This project is now over and we will be delivering the 110 wheelchairs we are about to order when they are received in about 90 days.

We have delivered 20 wheelchairs to the Veterans Hospital in Tucson and 15 wheelchairs were shipped to Sierra Vista, to assist the VA in that part of the state.

Put there are other needs that we can get involved in so if you need any documentation to assist you in running a successful drive please contact Dan Moberg as he is willing to come and assist at one of your fund raisers as well.  When funds are raised checks should be made out to American Wheelchair Mission and mailed to the following. Just let me know what the check number will be and the amount of the check.

Dan Moberg, PGK, PFN, FDD
American Wheelchair Mission
2600 E. Seltice Way Suite A172
Post Falls, Idaho 83854

208-457-0745

dmoberg@amwheelchair.org

Reminder of the Goals of the Patriotic Degree

Stand firm in support of the Order
Stand firm and support our Country
Stand firm and support our Faith
Stand firm and support the Legacy of Knighthood

Yours in Christ

Michael H. Kingman
Arizona District Master, IPSD
John H. Reddin Province