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