Happy New Year!
MN KC Blog * Written by David Whatmuff
Dear Brothers
On behalf of the Minnesota State Council, I would like to wish all Brother Knights and their families a very happy and healthy New Year!
2021 certainly provided its challenges, but I have been very proud of the way our members have stepped up to face them!
Despite COVID-19, we were able to donate almost $150,000 to charities supporting those with Intellectual Disabilities through our Tootsie-Roll drive in the Spring, including $30,000 to the “Fall Classic” Special Olympics bowling tournament. Unfortunately SOMN decided that safety concerns determined the athletes could not meet in person, and volunteers were not needed, but I know we are all hoping for a more normal tournament in the Fall of 2022.
We initially planned to have a Catholic Schools Coat Drive at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, but when the pandemic caused cancellation of that event, we worked with Supreme to get a matching agreement, so that we could purchase two coats for the price of one. About 50 councils participated and we were able to order 7500 coats. Some of these were distributed on the Red Lake Native American Reservation, and to recognize our efforts in this area, Supreme provided us with another 1100 coats free of charge! Hearing about another school which had students in need of coats, a local council donated $3000, which the State Council agreed to match, and we were able to order another 266 coats to help out these needy children!
Our goal for new member intake in the fraternal 2021-22 year was originally 1000, but in recognition of great efforts in recruiting, especially online members, Supreme has reduced this each month, by 1 for every 10 new online members. We have also been successful in “team recruiting” along with the other jurisdictions in Team 4, and won the “Fall Membership Challenge” to be rewarded with a further reduction in our intake goal. I have just seen the final results, and we will be rewarded with a reduction of 36 members. This puts us very close to achieving 100% of our half-year goal! This will be the first time Minnesota has done this well in the first half of the year … in my memory at least!
Let us continue these great works of Charity and Evangelization, and conclude this fraternal year as the best we have ever seen here in our great state of Minnesota!
Vivat Jesus!
Dave