Grand Knight’s Blog March, 2023
Next Meeting
|
![]() |
|
We will conduct the monthly meeting by Zoom Video Conference tonight!
Click here to log in: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8564882108?pwd=QXhLQ0RhK3Npd0psVDJMUjZNRnNFUT09 Meeting ID: 856 488 2108 Or Dial by phone: |
The meeting will start automatically at 7:00 p.m. so anybody who wants to log in early can chat.
* Special prize to anybody who knows the significance of the secret meeting passcode
Activities and News Since Last Meeting
· Free Throw Contest.
The Free Throw Contest was a big success on Sunday March 5th. We had 24 participants plus another dozen compete at the District Finals afterward, including one special athlete. Our District winners go on to the Regionals at Nichols College in Dudley, and the State Finals at Boston College.
Thanks to Neil Cronin for spearheading Mike Wells, Mike Bleecker, Chris Lundberg, Tom Hirsh, Andy Tivnan, John Harrold, and Tom Hirsh’s boys who also helped out.
· Polar Plunge
Thanks to our members who helped out Special Olympics with their important fund-raising event, the Polar Plunge on Sunday March 5th. Below are Rich Pulice, Mike Bleecker and Neil Cronin who went undercover in pink shirts to help out staffing the Registration Table. Special Olympics raised over $25,000 at the Sunday event, and is close to their target of $750,000 with all the plunges which are taking place state-wide.
Programs and Upcoming Events
· Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Tickets are available at their website: www.catholicmenworc.com or by calling (508) 835-8551. Tickets are still available.
If you plan on going, email the Grand Knight and we can coordinate or carpool. GrandKnight@kofcmarlboro.org
· Safe Environment Program
For those of you who are Program Leaders, please remember that all Program Leaders must remain current with the “Save Environment” program, and most of us are due for the two-year refresher course. This is a pretty simple online course. Log in here: https://www.kofc.org/en/safe-environment-program/training.html?1tab=1tab0 and do the course any time at your leisure. I just did the refresher course and it took about an hour in the comfort of my LazyBoy. Anybody interested in taking a more active role in the upcoming year please also consider taking the course and getting certified. There is no cost.
· Protecting God’s Children
In addition to the KofC Safe Environment Program, anybody working on any programs putting you in contact with children in the Parishes may also be required to complete the Archdiocese “Protecting God’s Children” program. This is a 3-hour live course. It is held somewhere in the Archdiocese every week. The nearest one is in Westford every other Saturday, but there are dozens of other convenient venues every month. Log on here for a complete list and to register: https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/reg_0.cfm?theme=0 . This includes anybody volunteering at Masses as ushers, extraordinary ministers, as well as the obvious CCD instructors. Even the Organist had to take the course.
Other News and Meeting Agenda Items
· New Members
We have had 8 new members join the order online who reside in Marlboro or Hudson, but who have not enrolled in a Council yet. I am sending them the monthly blog and inviting them to tonight’s Zoom meeting.
· 12 months of free membership
Tell any of your friends or neighbors interested in joining, use the QR code below to join online and use the promo code “BlessedMcGivney” for 12 months of free membership.
· Prayers / Intentions:
Please remember Daniel Harrold who died on March 2 in your prayers. He was the 43-year old son of our member John Harrold at St. Mike’s. Our prayers for Dan’s family.
Please also keep in your prayers Deacon Elcio for a good recovery of his knee surgery; Craig Fallon and Andy Tivnan. Andy turned out to help at the Free Throw with his new heart. Upon orders from the Grand Knight, he was placed on restricted duty staffing the registration table. It was amazing to see Andy back in service after his long ordeal. Go Andy!
Please also keep our two Deacons, Elcio and Chuck, who are both being transferred to new assignments effective June 1st, in your prayers for a good assignment and smooth transition.
On a personal note, I wish to thank all of you who expressed condolences after the death of my mother last month, especially those of you who came to the wake and funeral. Your support was tangible. Whenever a distant relative came through the line that my daughters did not recognize, I overhead a conversation like this: “Who’s that?” “I don’t know. Probably another one of the Knights.”
· Reminder
Remember to check our website www.kofc81.org from time to time for news and announcements, and especially the Council calendar and sign-up sheets under the “Events” menu bar.
· Other business?
If you have an item to add to the next meeting agenda, please let me know.
News?
Remember if you have any news to report, email GrandKnight@kofcmarlboro.org., and remember to get it in before the monthly blog goes out.
See you all tonight by Zoom.
Vivat Jesus.
Mike Tremblay
Grand Knight