April 2021 Bulletin: Christ Is Risen!

Lead article from the April 2021 bulletin, online now.

Happy Easter!!! The Lord is risen Alleluia! As Lent is over and we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord the Knights in person activity is starting to pick up. As Holy Week is during the first week of the month the council meeting is in person at the St. Albert’s Parish Hall at 7:00 pm on April 8th. As Minnesota is starting to open up following the lock downs, we are hoping to have more in person events soon. As of the writing of this article the status of if Albertville Friendly City is going to happen is unknown. We are waiting to see when the Albertville Friendly City Days will know the status and will plan council activities in relationship to the festival accordingly. As of the writing of this article there was not a decision from the State Council as to if the tootsie roll drive was going to happen. As each day passes without a decision from the State the likelihood of a tootsie roll drive decreases. Scholarship applications were due into gaming by April 1st. If you are reading this article and your high school senior has not submitted their application for a scholarship please make sure that it gets in. Thank you for all you are doing in these strange times. Please continue to pray for one another, our church and country. Remember to keep the faith!!!!

God bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight   

March 2021 Bulletin: Lenten Activities

Lead article from the March 2021 bulletin, online now.

The great Lent season of fasting and praying is upon us preparing our hearts and souls for Easter Sunday. The activity of the council has been slow, but will hopefully pick-up steam soon. As of the writing of this article, Stations of the Cross are going to be at St. Michael’s Catholic Church during the Friday’s of Lent. The fourth degree voted to suspend all Honor Guards for Stations for this Lenten season. The council will be leading a Stations of the Cross during Lent. Please look for an e-mail with details on when the council will be leading Stations of the Cross as the date has yet to be determined. The Knights will not be sponsoring a fish fry this year.

The bars have been open and gaming is starting meat raffles at Dittos again. The gaming managers are looking for help with the meat raffles. If you are able to help please contact Dan Laird. Many thanks to Dave Miodus who has already volunteered to help out.

The March council meeting will be held at St. Albert’s Parish Hall on Thursday March 4th at 7:00 pm. Please remember to keep the church and each other in your prayers, please watch out for each other and remember to Keep the Faith!

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight  

February 2021 Bulletin: Farewell to Gary

Lead article from the February 2021 bulletin, online now.

Happy February!

The tree lot has wrapped up and in previous years we would be preparing for the Father-Daughter dance followed by Lent. Well Lent is still coming but there will not be a Father Daughter dance this year. With the prospect of limiting the number of people that could attend and possibly turning people away at the door as well as trying to abide by who knows what kind of restrictions there may be, the best path this year is to cancel the dance. While thinking of previous years dances, I remember all the time and work put in by former Grand Knight Gary Frandsen. Gary has put in many hours helping people out over the years through the Knights of Columbus organizing and working multiple activities including, but not limited to, spaghetti feeds, Father – Daughter dance, Father – Son events, dinner and dance the night before the Fall Festival, and working on the Albertville Friendly City Days council. Gary will be relocating out of state in the near future. Thank you Gary for all of your work for the Knights, the church and the community – please know that you will be missed. With Gary’s relocation there is an opportunity for someone to step into the role of working with the AFCD council on behalf of our Knight’s council. Please let someone on the officer’s council know if you have an interest in helping out the council in this very important role. Remember in normal years the beer tent is the major fundraiser for council funds. Hopefully this year will be returning to a normal year.

The Knight’s February council meeting will be an online meeting. We are going to work on planning meetings and activities on a month-to-month basis. Hopefully we will be able to see each other in person at a Knight’s activity soon. Remember to pray for each other, our country, and our church and watch out for your neighbor. Keep the Faith!!!

God Bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

 

January 2021 Bulletin: Keep the Faith with a Weekly Rosary

Lead article from the January 2021 bulletin, online now.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you and yours enjoying the Christmas season. Thankfully we had another great year at the tree lot. Thanks to all who helped out this year especially our Financial Secretary Don Legatt!

In what looks like a continued time of canceled activities Don proposed having a weekly rosary led by the Knight's. This rosary is going to be prayed once a week and led by a Knight. There is a Zoom link for joining the rosary found on page 2. Dates will be Wednesday’s in January: the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th at 7:30pm. 

It is uncertain at this time where and when we will be able to get together. The December Chillin' with the Priests was canceled and depending on how long the current lockdown continues, other previously planned activities are in danger of being postponed or canceled including the Father Daughter dance. As we enter a new year please try to focus on all of the gifts God has given to us and pray that the current state of affairs of our world can be put in right order. Please remember to pray for each other and keep the faith!

God Bless,
Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

 

December 2020 Bulletin: Tree Lot, In-Person Meetings and More

Lead article from the December 2020 bulletin, online now.

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas to you and yours. The Knight’s tree lot is up and running. There was a great group of guys who showed up to set up the tree lot and unload the trees. Many thanks to all the guys who showed up to work on the tree lot on November 14. Special thanks to Don Legatt who is the brains and organizer behind the tree lot. Please consider helping out the Knights by working for a shift or two at the tree lot selling trees and purchasing your Christmas tree at the tee lot which is in the parking lot of the St. Michael Catholic school. As mentioned before the proceeds from the tree lot are going to be used to support a number of different areas including the youth group, churches, as well as other groups. With all the craziness going on this year and possibly into next year, the planned budget for the remaining Knights year is going to be revisited by the officers and adjusted based on current and anticipated conditions.

I spoke with Rita at St. Albert's and as of the writing of this article in-person council meetings at St. Albert’s parish hall are still planned for the first Thursdays of the month at 7:00 pm. We will space out to keep physical distance at the meeting. Please continue to pray for one another, our church and country. Remember to keep the faith!!!!

Merry Christmas and God bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

November Bulletin: Tree Lot Sign-Up and Online Degree Exemplification

 Lead article from the November 2020 issue of the bulletin, online now.

Looks like with all the craziness we have been experiencing this year winter decided to show up early. November brings thoughts of winter, Thanksgiving and the tree lot. Many thanks to Don Legatt for organizing another Christmas Tree Lot. Please see information below on how you can help out at the tree lot including tree lot set-up on November 14, drilling and setting up trees when they arrive, helping supervise and label trees with the youth on November 21, and working the tree lot between November 27 and December 19 (or until the tree lot is sold out).

The tree lot will be in the Catholic school parking lot, as it has been in previous years. The trees are ordered, and we are hoping that this will be another stellar year at the tree lot. With a majority of activities delayed or canceled because of the coronavirus, the proceeds from this year’s tree lot will be distributed to multiple recipients, including but not limited to the youth group and the Catholic school, as well as others. Please see how to sign up for the tree lot below: 

• For online sign-up, go to www.kc4174.org and click on “VOLUNTEER” to find the Tree Lot staffing sheets. You can also access online signup through this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4aaaa82aa7f49-2020
• For those who do not have access to the on-line sign-up, please call Dan Lhotka at 320-292-1101 to volunteer. 

Remember to vote pro-life. Please continue to pray for one another, our church and country. Remember to keep the faith!

The council meetings are back, and we are meeting the first Thursday of the month at 7 PM at St. Albert’s parish hall. Great job by Erich Kunzman on recruiting members with his bulletin announcements in both the St. Michael’s and St. Albert’s bulletins.

NOTE: We will be hosting an online Degree Exemplification at the November council meeting. This is for new members AND all you who are first-degree members who want to advance to the third-degree. All are invited! It’s a 30-minute video, and we will start at 7 PM.

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

October Bulletin: Fall News and Events...and a Look Ahead!

Lead article from the October 2020 bulletin, online now.

Fall is in the air, Big Ten football is going to start and St. Michael appeared to have a great fall festival—all good things. On the flip side, the invisible enemy, the coronavirus, had St. Albert cancel their fall festival and the latest casualty is the October Pro-life Dinner. Due to limitations on the availability to meet in a large group the Pro-Life dinner group, led by Jim and Marie Shovelain, opted to cancel this years dinner. Many thanks to Jim and Marie for all if the Pro-Life work they have done over the years. Believe they are approaching 30 years of organizing the Pro-Life dinner. Wow!

You may be wondering what the Knight's have on the docket with multiple events being canceled. The leaves are changing color and the weather is getting cooler meaning that the Christmas tree lot is approaching. As the tree lot is outside and it's tough to cancel Christmas we will be looking for volunteers to help set up, work and take down the tree lot. Look in your inbox for information on the tree lot near the end of October and beginning of November. 

Many thanks go out to our fantastic Deputy Grand Knight Erich Kunzman. Erich put articles in both the St. Michael and St. Albert bulletins looking to connect men with our council. If you know of anybody who is interested in joining or has questions please put them in contact with one if the officers, thank you. Remember to keep an eye out for one another, help each other out and keep the faith! 

God Bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

September 2020 Bulletin: A Little Normalcy, an Easier Exemplification

Leader article from the September 2020 bulletin, online now.

September brings the start of school, church festivals, as well as other activities. We continue marching on through an unusual year with the coronavirus altering, postponing and/or canceling activities that had been held in previous years. We had our first in person council meeting in August and plan to have an in person council meeting for September at the St. Albert's parish hall starting at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 3rd. Physical distancing will be practiced at the meeting.

John DeLander celebrated a 60 year wedding anniversary in August, quite an accomplishment, John! Looking forward to seeing you at the next council meeting if you are able to attend. With the Knight's regular calendar of activities being altered by the virus, our stellar deputy Grand Knight Erich Kunzman had a great idea - promote the new online exemplification to bring in new members. The plan is to provide information on how to access the online exemplification in the individual church bulletins as well as other paths to allow people who may be in joining our order the chance to do it in there home. The new exemplification is a way to join the Knights by viewing the ceremony online.

The next planned Knight's activity is the Pro-life Dinner in October. More information for the Pro-Life dinner will be sent out closer to the event. Remember to keep each other in prayer, help out those who need help and keep the faith!

God Bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

August 2020 Bulletin: Planning Around COVID-19, Outdoor Meeting

Lead article from the August 2020 bulletin, online now.

It has been a wild ride so far this year. The officers met in July to go over the budget and activities for this upcoming Knight’s calendar year. With all the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus, a number of activities will take a year off as it is currently unclear when large in-person gatherings will be able to happen. Activities that made the cut and are anticipated to happen include, but may not be limited to, the Pro-Life Dinner in October, the Christmas Tree Lot, the Father-Daughter Dance and the Father-Son Fun Day.

Another event that is in the works depending on multiple factors is a combined Watchmen-Knights of Columbus sandwich-making event. More to come on that event as plans are nailed down. We also need to continue to welcome Fr. Brian Park into the parishes as our new pastor. It is definitely going to be more challenging for Fr. Park to connect names to masked faces.

The plan for the August council meeting on Thursday, August 6, will be to have the meeting outdoors near St. Albert’s parish hall (good weather) or in the St. Albert’s parish hall main room (not as good weather). It is important in this time of mask-wearing isolation to keep your brother Knights in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for all that you do, and remember to keep the faith! 

God Bless, 

Andy Sipple
Grand Knight

Please remember our sick Brother Knights in your prayers, in particular, Adam Roden, Tom Hackenmueller, Elmer Waltz, Joe Perrault and Mike Salonek. Pray for all deceased brother Knights and  for the repose of the souls of all those who passed away,especially Norbert Russell. Lyle Buckingham and Wallace Barthel.

June 2020 Bulletin: Virtual Meeting, Officers and More

Lead article of the June 2020 bulletin, online now.

I hope this message finds you and your family and friends doing very well and enjoying the ability to hopefully go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass soon. The Knight’s activities have been slowed down due to the Wuhan virus.

While following the stay-at-home order the officers met online and thankfully, we have the following gentlemen nominated for officers for the next council year starting in June/July: Recorder – Jeff Eull, Warden – Dave Miodus, Chancellor – Dan Lhotka, Deputy Grand Knight – Erich Kunzman and Grand Knight – Andy Sipple. We are working on getting a council meeting together for June – please stay tuned as it is thought that the meeting will be an online virtual meeting.

The Knights are a co-sponsor of the Albertville Friendly City Days fireworks. As Albertville Friendly City Days is cancelled this year and this event helps fund council activities the officers are going to be going over a proposed budget for next year that will decrease council expenditures.

Please remember to thank Fr. Richards for his service to our parishes. Fr. Richards will be moving on at the end of June and we will be welcoming Fr. Park in July. Looking forward to seeing you out and about.

Thank you for all you do. Keep the faith.

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

May 2020 Bulletin: Happy Easter!

Lead article from the May 2020 bulletin, online now.

I hope that the change in routine has had some positive impact on you and your families. The Knights had a nationwide online exemplification the week after Easter and had a good showing all over the nation. It was so successful that it looks like there will be additional dates added in the future. 

Many thanks to our Worthy Deputy Grand Knight Erich Kunzman and Worthy Financial Secretary Don Legatt who figured out what happened to the check with proceeds of the tree lot that were donated to the youth group and delivered the check to the youth group.

There was a spaghetti dinner benefit planned for Lisa Mueller on May 2nd that will need to be rescheduled after the stay at home order expires. It is unknown at the time of writing this article if Friendly City days will be canceled, changed in some way, or go on as normal. Communication of what is decided with Friendly City days will be sent out via e-mail after the decision on if it will be held or canceled is made.

Many people in our community have been impacted by the slow down in the economy due to the Wuhan virus. An e-mail will be sent out to recruit guys to help out our community, especially Knights and Knights’ families, that have been negatively affected by the current situation. If you are someone who could use some help such a ride to the grocery store, running errands, driving people somewhere, etc. please let us know how the Knights can help. You can e-mail me at andrewsipple@hotmail.com, and we will get you connected with a Knight who can help.

Keep the faith.

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

April 2020 Bulletin: April Meeting Cancelled, Cornavirus Concerns

Lead article from the April 2020 bulletin.

There has been a lot of change that has happened since the last bulletin article. It has been an interesting Lent so far. The spread of the corona virus has limited the ability of people to get together. For the safety of all of our brother Knights and their families the April council meeting has been canceled. The senior citizens dinner normally planned for April has been rescheduled for Thursday May 14 at St. Albert’s parish hall. The Knights council was going to lead the Stations of the Cross during Lent. At this time it does not look like Stations will be done. It is also unclear if the tootsie roll drive will need to be rescheduled. 

There is a spaghetti feed fundraising dinner for Lisa Mueller scheduled for Saturday May 2nd at St. Albert’s parish hall. It is unclear at this time if this spaghetti feed will need to be rescheduled. Many thanks to Erich Kunzman and Brad Altepeter for their work on both the Father – Daughter dance and the Father – Son event. Cory Sommer put on another fantastic event at the Knight’s gala dinner – thank you Cory. Please include in your prayers for an end to come to the spread of corona virus and for all who are sick to recover as well as pray for the people taking care of those who are sick. As the situation changes updates on schedule changes will be sent out. Keep the faith. 

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

March 2020 Bulletin: Lent, Stations ofthe Cross and More

Lead article from the March 2020 bulletin.

I hope this article finds you very well in Lent approaching the biggest day in the church year Easter. The activities for the council are continuing.

Many thanks to Brad Altepeter and Erich Kunzman for the great work done on the Father – Daughter dance. It looked like there were more people cutting a rug this year than in previous years. Pictures from the dance are located in the St. Michael Church gathering space – please pick them up if you had them taken. Brad and Erich also are working on the Father – Son event. Brad saved the day for the Father – Son event as the pool heater at the Monticello Community Center broke down just prior to the original scheduled date. Brad was able to reschedule the Father – Son event at the Monticello Community center for March 8 from noon to 4:00 pm after the pool heater was replaced. 

The Joe Perrault spaghetti feed was a big success. Thanks to Jim Valerius and Francis Beaudry for organizing it and for all the people who helped out at the event. Thanks go out to Cory Sommer who organized the Knight’s Gala event on February 29th. The Knight’s sponsored the meat and cheese trays at the Holy Spirit day retreat on February 29th at St. Michael’s Catholic Church – thanks to Gary Frandsen for ordering the trays. 

The Knights are going to be leading the Stations of the Cross at St. Michael Church on Friday April 3rd. An email and/or sign up sheet will be sent out for people to participate. A Knight will read a meditation at each station of the cross. During Lent on Fridays please consider going to a Knights fish fry at St. Albert’s parish hall then head to either St. Alberts or St. Michaels church for the Stations of the Cross. 

Thanks for all of your work to help out the Knights – your work and prayers are greatly appreciated!

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

February 2020 Bulletin: Fathers, Bring Your Kids!

Lead article from the February 2020 bulletin.

Many thanks to all who helped at the Joe Perrault benefit – your work is greatly appreciated.

February is going to be another busy month. On Saturday February 1st from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm there is the Father Son event at the Monticello Community Center. On Saturday February 8th, the Father Daughter dance is at St. Albert’s Parish Center from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Many thanks to Erich Kunzman and Brad Altepeter for organizing both the Father – Son and Father – Daughter events. On Saturday February 29 the Knight’s Gala event will be at St. Albert’s Parish Hall. Cory is setting up another fantastic party including dinner, drinks and fun. The Gala will start at 6:00 pm and run until 9:00ish.

Coming up in March activities include the Knights leading a rosary at St. Michaels and fish fry at St. Albert’s Parish Hall.

Thanks to all who help and are planning to help out at these event – looking forward to seeing you in February!

God bless,
Andy Sipple
Grand Knight

January 2020 Bulletin: Happy (Busy!) New Year!

Lead article from the January 2020 bulletin.

I hope this message finds you having had a very Merry Christmas and that you are having a very Happy New Year. The Knights calendar was busy in December and will be so in January as well. Many thanks go out to all who were involved in a successful tree lot. A very special thanks to the guys who took down the tree lot especially a big thank you to "Jungle" Jim Valerius; “Jolly” Jeff Eull; "Dyno" Don Legatt; "Maddog" Mark Rademacher, and old reliable; JOHN DELANDER, for their effort in getting the tree lot torn down and put away on Sunday December 16. Jeff Eull reports “I thought Jim Valerius was going to need a tow truck to get his pickup and trailer out of the field he was turning around in after we unloaded the supplies at the old Vetsch farmstead where they are stored. After about a dozen tries Jim got his rig out of the field. Only had about ten trees left that Don hauled away, should be another good, profitable year”. Also thanks to Dan & Dexter Dehmer for pulling the fence posts and to John and Greg Hackenmueller for use of their warming house. Thanks a ton guys!!!!!!

The January calendar has a family vocation night on January 11th at St. Michael Church after the 5:00 pm Mass where Fr. Blume from the Minneapolis – St. Paul seminary will be talking with youth about finding their vocation and there will be a program for adults as well. On Saturday January 25th there will be a spaghetti feed for brother knight Joe Perrault after the 4:00 pm Mass at St. Alberts. More information on the spaghetti feed will be coming out the closer we are to the event. Please consider helping out at this event to support Joe. The Father-Son event will be at the Monticello community center on Saturday February 1st. The Father-Daughter dance will be at St. Albert’s parish hall on Saturday February 8th. And since we are already into the February calendar – please reserve the evening of Saturday February 29th for the Knights Gala dinner at St. Albert’s parish hall. Cory Sommer did a fantastic job with the wine tasting event in December – thank you Cory. Cory is organizing the Gala Dinner and I am sure it will be a fantastic evening. Thanks to all involved in the St. Nicholas party – Brad Altepeter, John Ingebritson, Erich Kunzman, Dan Laird, Marie & Don Legatt, and the list can go on. It is pretty awesome to consider all of the work put in by this council – thank you to all for all of your work!!!

God bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

December 2019 Bulletin: Christmas Celebration and Perrault Benefit Coming Up

Lead article from the December 2019 bulletin.

A busy November continued with setting up for the tree lot. Don Legatt once again orchestrated a very successful tree lot set up. Many hands did make light (or not so heavy) work setting up the tree lot. See the pictures in this bulletin. The following people volunteered their time on Saturday for the tree lot set up, unloading the trees or both depending on their availability – Don Legatt, Erich Kunzman, Cory Sommer, John DeLander, Dave Miodus, Mark Rademacher, Jeff Eull, “Jungle” Jim Valerius, Brad Altepeter, Tom Kienlen, Kenneth Justen, Pete Ruhland, Eric and Daniel Paluck, Scott Arndt, Daniel McDonald, Todd Rathbun, Jim and Jake Wiegers, Chad Ronning, Joe and Isaac Van Hoorick, and Brent and David Traynor and possibly more. Please forgive me if you were there and your name was not listed, it was a busy day. The tree lot sales help the St. Alberts and St. Michael youth group. Thanks for all of the help. 

The month of December will have an OPEN MEETING and WINE TASTING Party on Tuesday December 3rd at the St. Albert’s Parish Hall starting at 7:00 pm. Please come and bring your spouse, a friend or someone that is interested in joining the Knights. Many thanks to Cory Sommer who is running this event. Cory has indicated that this year’s wine tasting event will be extra special. The meeting day needed to be moved to Tuesday as there was a wedding reception set up at the parish hall and a parish wide adoration at St Michael’s church conflicting with the regular meeting date of the first Thursday in December. 

Following the wine tasting the St. Nicholas party is scheduled for Saturday December 7th in the St. Michael Catholic School cafeteria. Don and Marie Legatt are continuing their selfless work putting together another party for the Knights. Help is always appreciated for setting up, working, and cleaning up after the St. Nicholas party. Please contact Erich or Brad to let them know if you can help – thank you. 

A look into January shows that there is a spaghetti feed benefit for Joe Perrault, who is having back surgery on Saturday January 25 – please keep him in your prayers. 

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for all your work for the Knights to help out our community. 

God bless, 

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

November 2019 Bulletin: New Kniights, St. Nick, Christmas Trees and More!

Lead article from the November 2019 bulletin.

The Knights were busy in October with multiple events including a first degree after the October council meeting. Three new Knights have joined. Many thanks to the first degree team. October finished with the pro-life dinner at St. Albert’s parish hall. Thanks to Jim Shovelain for organizing another Pro-Life dinner and for his continued work protecting life. Marie Legatt organized another Saints party at St. Alberts parish hall – thanks Marie for your continued work helping out the Knights.

As the days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping you can feel the Knights tree lot is approaching. This year providing the weather and tree delivery cooperate, the tree lot set up starts on November 16 and lot filling on November 23. Youth from both St. Michaels and St. Alberts parishes will help with the tree lot setup. The Knights Tree Lot will be open beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 29, through Sunday December 15 (or earlier if the trees run out). There will be multiple ways to sign up for a shift or two helping to sell Christmas trees including a sign-up genius that is in this bulletin and will be sent out via e-mail. Please also consider help setting up and taking down the tree lot. As the dates get firmed up on the tree lot more information will be sent out.

Other activities in December include the St. Nicholas party will be held at the St. Michael parish school on Saturday December 7. Thanks to Don and Marie Legatt for organizing and running another St. Nicholas party. It has been heard that another St. Nicholas is needed this year – please contact Don, Erich or myself if you are interested in dressing up as St. Nicholas at the St. Nicholas Day party. There will be a coat drive November 9-17 and a toy drive starting November 11th and ending December 15th. All of this work done by the Knights helps out the local community. 

Thank you again to all who continue to help with the busy Knights schedule on top of your home schedule. Please include brother Knights in your prayers that we can continue to help out those around us and spread by word and deed the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

God bless, 

Andy Sipple 

Grand Knight

October 2019 Bulletin: Thank-Yous Abound

Lead article from the October 2019 bulletin.

September was a busy month. School started, the St. Michael followed by the St. Albert fall festivals, Foxtailers snowmobile club celebration, Catholic Watchman Matt Birk speaking event, Synod listening session, and the Cornerstone/Options for Woman Gala event to name a few of the activities that took place. 

Many thanks go out to Brian Bruner who organized brother Knights directing traffic at the St. Michael fall festival. Brian, Cory Sommer, John Delander, Ken Pung, Wayne Becker, Vincent Zachman and a few other guys did great job standing out in the chilly weather and rain making sure the parking for the festival went well. Thanks guys! I would also like to thank Stanley Gozel for helping to man the Knights of Columbus booth at the St. Michael festival. Another thank you goes out to Jim Wiegers who organized brother Knights helping out at the Foxtailers snowmobile club celebration at the Liberty. And thank you to Jim and the other brother Knights who helped out at the Foxtailer celebration. 

Things will keep right on rolling in October. We are planning to have at least a first degree and possibly a major degree in October depending on how recruiting goes at the Matt Birk event. Other events happening in October include Sunday October 6 – the Respect Life breakfast at St. Albert Parish Hall from 8:00 – 12:30 pm and later on the STMA life chain on County Road 19 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Later on in the month on Saturday October 26 is the Pro-Life Dinner at St. Albert’s Parish Hall from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Thanks to brother Knight Jim Shovelain for the work on the Pro-Life events. 

I was hoping to have something deep and profound to get across in this article. After thinking about it, it seemed that looking at all the continued work put in by brother Knights from our council to help out in the community was profound. The guys mentioned and unmentioned in this article selflessly helped out. They were not looking for an atta-boy, or praise, they were helping out because help was needed. 

Most of the guys mentioned above are more than likely not keen on seeing their name in print. It is important to thank the guys who are helping out and remind the council that many hands make light work.

Looking forward to seeing you in October.

God bless,
Andy Sipple 

Grand Knight

September 2019: A Full Fall on Tap

Lead article from the September 2019 bulletin.

The August Hanover and St. Michael parades were a good experience. Many thanks to Earl Krajsa for another year of letting the Knights use his trailer and for driving the float (Earl’s trailer) in the Albertville, Hanover, and St. Michael parades. Thanks to Brent Traynor for organizing our councils ability to be in the parades. In the Hanover and St. Michael parades around 17 boxes of tootsie rolls were tossed to kids and adults. It seemed the adults enjoyed getting the monster Knights of Columbus tootsie rolls as much or more than the kids. The kids had a great time tossing out the tootsie rolls.

The September calendar is pretty full of events. In addition to St. Michael and St. Albert’s fall festivals on consecutive weekends there is major degree Saturday September 21 at St. Joseph’s in Delano. The 1st degree starts at 9 am, followed by the second degree at 10 am and the third degree at 11 am with lunch to follow. Please consider attending if you are looking to get additional degrees and/or support new Knights in our area.

Our council is co-sponsoring with the Catholic Watchmen a talk by Matt Birk on the evening on September 21 at St. Michael’s church. Mr. Birk will speak from 7:00 – 8:00 pm and be available in a reception after he finishes his talk. This is a father-son event and tickets are only $5.00 a head. Following the Matt Birk talk, a first degree is hoping to be held in October with recruits from the talk.

As summer comes to an end and as school supplies in preparation for the next school year start showing up around the house, I am reminded that the Christmas tree lot is not too far off. I believe that set up for the tree lot will start around mid-November and shifts to work the lot will be available shortly thereafter. Please keep some time available to help out at the tree lot. More information to come later. Many hands make light work at the Christmas tree lot. 

God bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight

August 2019 Bulletin: Traditions of Leadership

Lead article from the August 2019 bulletin, online now.

This is the first bulletin article of the Knights of Columbus fiscal year. The article would be remiss if we did not recognize all the work put in by previous people getting our council to the point where we are today. Our council is one of the largest and most active in the state. We should thank Gary Frandsen for all of his many man-hours of blood, sweat and beers/tears working for our council. Gary has selflessly worked as the previous Grand Knight, organized and ran the Father-Daughter Dance and the Father-Son Event, helped with the Senior Dinners, attended Albertville Friendly City Days council for planning, put in a large number of hours making sure that the beer tent succeeded, put in time on the tree lot, organized and ran multiple spaghetti feeds and countless other activities with a mind-boggling number of hours put in. Thank you Gary!

This article would also like to recognize John DeLander. John DeLander was inducted into the Fourth-Degree Hall of Fame for 2019. John has also put in countless hours over the multiple decades he has been involved with our council. It would take a book to attempt to list all of the activities John has been involved with helping our council and the community. Thank you, John!

It is humbling to think of all the work that has been put in for the benefit of our community including financial gifts to the parish youth, help to those in need, pro-life activities, St. Nicholas parties, All Saints parties, beer tents, tree lots and many more. There are many other people to thank too numerous to mention – you know who you are. 

All the work done before has helped to build a strong Catholic foundation in our community. There are many activities approaching with the opportunity to get involved and follow where many men have gone before. Please continue lending your hands this year in helping to continue the fantastic work done for multiple decades by our council for our community. 

Erich and I will attempt to fill in the large shoes left by Gary in the upcoming year. We hope to continue to lead our council by offering members the opportunity to help out our community. As a youth I remember hearing, "Many hands make light work." I knew that if I helped out the work at hand would get done faster and everybody working would have less to do. We are aiming to give everybody the opportunity to get involved and hoping you do! 

God Bless,

Andy Sipple

Grand Knight