Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, July 15, 2025

St. Mark’s Parish Hall (1011 Eastwood Rd), Wilmington, NC

Opening Ceremony

• Faithful Navigator Larry Greer opened the meeting at 7:02 pm in the Saint Mark’s Parish Hall, 1011 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC. There were 19 Sir Knights with ID cards and rosaries in attendance.

Call of Officers

Opening Prayer

• Meeting’s opening prayer was led by the SK Deacon George Keenan.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Opening Ode

• The Opening Ode, America the Beautiful, was sung.

Call for the Approval of the Minutes of the Prior Meeting

• Minutes approved as posted on website.

Report of the Faithful Friar - report by SK Deacon George Keenan

• Discussed the 60 foot-long rosary ceremony that Deacon George uses at Camp LeJeune in which 20-30 families are needed to hold the rosary.
• We are encouraged to ask our pastors to promote an after-Mass rosary to pray for the parish and the children that have left the church.

Report of the Faithful Comptroller - SK Frank Bio

• 150 total members with 5 suspended for non-payment, and one death reported (SK Tom Rice).
• The financials reported can be requested by contacting the Faithful Comptroller.

Report of the Faithful Purser - SK Tom Sullivan

• The financials reported can be requested by contacting the Faithful Purser.

Report of Committees

Membership Report / Reading of Applications / Balloting

• No upcoming exemplifications.
• Faithful Navigator Larry Greer wants to increase the number of men in the Assembly.
• SK Bio suggested that we host a Fourth Degree exemplification.

Veterans Report – SK Ludgate

• July 22; 6:00 to 7:30 PM – PTSD Awareness program at American Legion Post 10.
• 50/50 Drawing – Money used for our veterans programs. Tonight’s 50/50 winner is SK Joe Damitz.
• Veterans Day Parade – November 8
• SK Greg Decker reports:
  • We will launch the annual Veteran Support Raffle in September. Like last year's raffle, there will be three monetary prizes of $500, $250 and $125 with winners drawn at our November meeting.
  • The budget for veteran-related activities is being actively worked. If you have a special interest, please make it known to SKs Greer, Bio or Decker. Under consideration are donations we've made in the past such as:
  • Paws for Vets
  • Save a Vet Now
  • Purple Heart Dinner sponsored by the Purple Heart Association
  • Volunteer opportunities at the VA Clinic Canteen
  • Wreaths Across America
  • Our Assembly is an affiliate member of the New Hanover County Veterans Council. We will attend their bi-monthly meetings and report on relevant activities.

Color Guard Report - Corps Commander Bob Gabel

• Next events will be in September for Flag Instruction at St. Mark’s and St. Mary’s Catholic Schools.

Uniform Reimbursement

• Apply for reimbursement to offset 50% of the cost. Contact the Faithful Navigator for more information.

2025 Collegiate Scholarship Report – Co-chairs: SKs John Reynolds & Jack Murphy

• The Cape Fear Deanery and Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Msgr. Christopher Dennen Assembly 2017 have selected recipients of the year's $4,000 Gold, $3,000 Silver, and $2,000 Bronze scholarships to Catholic students enrolling for the first time in a university or community college beginning Fall 2025. The three winners are:

  • Lucy Congema of St. Therese was the Gold award winner;
  • Parker Gosselink of St. Therese was the Silver award winner; and
  • Pennington Frelke of the Basilica of St. Mary was the Bronze award winner.

  The presentations can be seen in the News tab of this website.

• Scholarship Raffle Drawing – The winner for tonight drawing is SK Jack Murphy.
• Remarks by SK John Reynolds about the Scholarship Program. There were eleven applicants and 3 scholarship winners. Two checks were presented today after the regular meeting with the recipients' plaques presented this Sunday at St. Therese. The 3rd place winner will receive their award in August at the Basilica of St. Mary.

Fraternal Socials - No director currently.

• None

Trustees Report - Report by One Year Trustee Caleb Strittmatter

• Audit essentially completed for the last fraternal year. Retired Comptroller Decker did a great job preparing for the audit.

Unfinished/Old Business

• None

New Business

• Attend the New Hanover Veterans council meeting on July 17.
• Budget will be available in August to be voted on in September. Let the Navigator and/or Comptroller know if you want anything added to next year’s budget.

Report of Third-Degree Councils

• 1074 Wilmington

  • 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month at 6:30 pm – COR meets at Immaculate Conception Church – Suspended until September.
  • June 22 – Exemplification Ceremony at Immaculate Conception Church – Three new members.
  • June 27 – Immaculate Conception Church – American Red Cross Blood Drive, collected 50 units of blood.
  • June 29 – Corporate Communion Immaculate Conception Church – The Knights recited the rosary before the 8:30 AM Mass followed by breakfast at the Basics Restaurant.
  • July 3 – Sharks Baseball Game followed by fireworks after the game.
  • July 12 – Food Drive.
  • July 19 – Attending State Council Leadership Training at St. Mark’s Church.
  • July 20 –Officer’s Installation Ceremony, Immaculate Conception Church.
  • September 8 – Charity Golf Tournament.
  • Football Books 2025 now on Sale for $20.

• 12017 St. Mark

  • COR continues every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Thursday at St Mark’s at 7:00 pm.
  • July 19 – 12017 is hosting the State Council Leadership Training.
  • July 28 – Exemplification.
  • August 2 – Movie Night at 6:30pm.
  • Football books also on sale for $20. Buy ten, get one free.

• 12885 St. Therese

  • July 19 – Attending State Council Leadership Training at St. Mark’s Church.
  • July 24, Mass at noon for SK Pete Baxley, with Rosary at 11:30 am.
  • September 20 – Semi-Annual Shrimparoo.
  • September 20 – Bocce Tournament.
  • September 27-28 – Recruitment Weekend.
  • Please visit new council website.

• 11817 St. Stanislaus

  • July 1 – Officer installation attended by Chaplain Fr. Steven.
  • 3 new brother Knights in the new fraternal year, looking for an exemplification in the next two months.
  • July 26 – LAMB "Tootsie Roll" Drive at the Food Lion in Leland.

Brothers in Need

• Bishop Herb Brevard
• SK Bob Benazzi
• SK Gary Wool

Presentations

• Certificate of Appreciation to Past Faithful Comptroller SK Greg Decker.
• Past Faithful Navigator Mini-Medal presentation to Past Faithful Navigator SK Frank Bio.

Good of the Order

• As we just celebrated Independence Day, let us pause to thank God for the gift of freedom – not just political freedom, but the deeper freedom to live our faith openly and boldly. Our nation was founded on the belief that our rights from God, not government. As Catholic men, we are called to protect those rights – especially the right to life, to truth, and to religious liberty. Let us remember those who gave their lives for our freedom and commit ourselves to using that freedom well – in service to God, our family, and our country.

Closing Prayer

• Conducted by SK Deacon Keenan.

Closing Ode

• Sung the Star-Spangled Banner.

Adjourn

• Next regular meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 19 at St. Mark's Parish Hall.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:49 pm.

Minutes submitted by SK Mike Apicella, Faithful Scribe.