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The first Chair Officers elected to lead the new council were as follows: Grand Knight Ralph Colucci Dep. Grand Knight John Glinka Chancellor Stephen Rice Warden Tom Leach Installation of Officers were conducted on October 2, 1985, after a
special Mass. District Deputy Murphy installed the officers and presented the
Council with a set of jewels. We
formed a First Degree Team and by January 7, had initiated 17 new members and
held 3 first Degrees. Through the generosity of our members, we were able to
buy robes and one member donated the Officers’ stations. The Budget Committee gave its first
report in October, the Tootsie Roll Drive had been completed and all other
Committees were busy planning future programs. We initiated the first
Children’s Christmas Mass at St. Michael’s. The “Baby Jesus Birthday
Party” that being at the 7 PM Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by cake
cutting and refreshments for the children. This program has continued for the
past 16 years. In 1986, we held
our First Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance, held our First Annual Golf
Tournament which is still one of our best find raisers. One of our members offered the Council
$ 250, if the Council would match it to start a scholarship fund for a
deserving student of St. Michael’s parish each year. We also had our first Christmas Dinner
Dance. One member gives talks on
Pro-Life at many of our meetings and still continues to do so. The Prayer against Abortion is still
said at all of our meetings. The
Council earned three of five awards that State Council gave for the Fraternal
Year 1987-87. The Council
sponsored Christmas Parties for the children at Miss Ruby’s School and
also Halloween parties. These
turned out to be annual affairs until Miss Ruby’s death several years
later. As a result of our work with Miss Ruby’s school we were in the
top ten of Supreme Council’s National Award on publicity. Since many of our members were 4
Degree, our members contacted State Master James Nettles for permission to
start an Assembly in Garden City.
It was granted and Grand Strand Assembly was chartered June 14, 1987
and now has over 80 members.
A Vocational Fund was started by the Council. With the intention of
giving $500 each year to a seminarian .In 1988 we gave for the first time and
have continued to do so. We
have a member of our council who entered the seminary in 1995. The Council
did support him and Father Farrell was ordained in July, 2000. Council activities not yet mentioned
include the Marian Hour, Memorial Mass for deceased members, Living Rosary,
Communion mass and Breakfast, and Catequiz, Assistance to CYO Picnic, help
with CCD Parties, Halloween Party for handicapped children, the Giving Tree
for boys at Tara Hall, and Free Throw Contents. For our members and wives, Wine
and Cheese Party (members night), Pig’Pickin, Italian Night, Polish
Night and Covered Dish Dinners.
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo struck Garden City Beach; fortunately none of
our members suffered serious loss. But we were able to help others. St.
Michael’s Church became a center for helping the Red Cross, assisting,
the victims of the storm. Many of our members assisted in the cooking,
serving and delivering food for about ten days . A member of our council and
former, Mother Seton Council No 5427 in New Jersey prevailed upon them to
help in our efforts. We received a check for $5,000 from them. The Council
added $1,000 and presented Father Hanley with $6,000 to help the victims of
Hurricane Hugo. In a
contest, the Editor of our Newsletter chose the name The Compass for our
monthly publication. In
1990. The Council seeing the need to have our own building brought about the
formation of a building corporation a short time later we were chartered by
the State of South Carolina as the Compass Club. Money in our building fund
was transferred to the corporation. In 1993, the Council raised
$1,900 to help with the medical expenses of a family in the community whose
child had to have surgery.
Since our existence we have had Christmas Parties for the residents in
a nursing home. We have also provided transportation for our disabled members
to medical appointments. In
1993, the Council won two of the five State awards for activities and also
instituted a Squires Circle.
Many of the activities and accomplishments have not been mentioned as
well as the ones who have made these accomplishments possible in this brief
history. To do so would have to include the Council Roster. All members of
the Council have contributed to the success and many have done more than
their share Through their
efforts, The Council has qualified for Star Council Award eight times in the
past ten years. From the time our First Grand Knight took the gravel, and
under the able leadership of succeeding Grand Knights namely John Glinka,
John Barett, Francis Sanker, Nicholas Galante, Bill LaGue, David Corbett,
Enrico Caggiano, Henry Carpenter, James Meyers, John Giardino, Al Barker,
Michael Downs, James White, James Sullivan, and the present Grand Knight Russ
Bartholomew. St. Michael’s Council #8980 has grown from its humble
beginning of 46 members to its present membership of 200 plus members. We
have also been blessed by the cooperation and support of our four chaplains,
Father Edmund McCaffrey, Father Joseph Hanley, Father Bill Bleiler, and Msgr.
Thomas Duffy. guest, this site is a member of the WebRing View a complete list of WebRing memberships here |
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© Copyright 1999 - 2001 by Knights of Columbus.
All Rights Reserved. Send comments or questions to the web page editor, knights8980@sc.rr.com. |
