Council 1349 Service Program Directors
Service
Programs Chairman: Br. Justin Wille, PGK
The Service Programs Chairman is charged with monitoring, assisting, and facilitating the Council's Service Programs. He ensures that Service Program milestones are achieved on time and collaborates with the Grand Knight to ensure that mandated Service Program reports are submitted to the Supreme, State, and Chapter councils as required. The key function of the Service Programs Chairman is support of the Council Service Program Directors, which include: Membership, Retention & Recruitment, Church & Vocations, Community, Council, Pro-Life, Family, Insurance Promotion, Health Services, Youth, and Public Affairs programs. Continuing his commitment to the Knights of Columbus and coming fresh off his tour as Grand Knight for 2010-2011, Br. Justin has stepped up to take the Service Programs Chairman role, and serve as one of the Council's three Trustees.
Membership,
Recruitment, & Retention Co-Chairmen: Br. Fred Hall, PGK, FDD, PFN and
Br. Rick Babauta, PGK, FDD, PFN
Council 1349 has combined the Membership, Retention, and Recruitment programs into a single program, which is headed up by a couple of the Council's most seasoned veteran Knights, Br. Fred Hall and Br. Rick Babauta. Both Br. Fred and Br. Rick have "gone through the chairs" (in many instances, several times), and they offer tremendous experience and knowledge to the Council. The leadership and fraternal support these worthy brothers bring to the table will be needed and greatly relied upon to attain the 2011-2012 membership goals for Council 1349. Not only are they entrusted to build up the Council's membership through membership drives, but they are relied upon to re-engage our Brother Knights who have fallen into inactivity.
Church
& Vocations Program Director:
Br. Steve McPhillips, PGK
The Church and Vocations programs are essential to the Council's mission to support the Church and defend its clergy (e.g., Bishops, Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Deacons, and Seminarians). The Church and Vocations programs Director, in conjunction with the Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight, coordinates with each parish priest of the Council's Church Roundtable to identify at least one high priority project for each church to be completed by Council 1349. In addition, the Director coordinates the Memorial Mass for passed Knights, the Blue Mass to honor our Police/Firefighters/Paramedics, and the Council's Rosary Mass. Another seasoned member of the Knights, Br. Steve McPhillips has generously stepped up to take on this role for 2011-2012 and will coordinate these meetings and the ensuing projects with each church's respective Roundtable Coordinator. Br. Steve brings a wide variety of experience and expertise to the Council through his past service and current service with the KofC Retirement Home.
Community
Program Director: Br. Vic Resendez, Ph.D.
The Community program plays a critical role in shaping the Council's image and how the community views the Knights of Columbus. The Order's slogan is "Service to One. Service to All", and it is with the Council's Community program where it comes alive and is put into action. Examples of community program service include USO Charity Dinners and the Intellectual Disabilities Drive (formerly MR or Tootsie Roll Drive). Because of the significance of the event, Br. Fred Hall has volunteered to serve as the Chairman for the Intellectual Disabilities Drive and support Br. Vic Resendez for this event this year. Another key community event with grave impact is the Substance Abuse Awareness campaign, which helps turn our community away from the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of prescription medicine--allowing Council 1349 to proudly "Change lives and save lives". The Council's Community program also supports Community programs at the Chapter level, such as the Wheelchair Drive.
Council
Program Director: Br. Nick Pomo
The Council program plays a pivotal role in bolstering the Council's morale and social activities. It is the Council program that creates the space for the Knights get to "let their hair down" and have some fun. This year, we plan to have at least one social event per quarter, and Br. Nick Pomo has stepped up as Director to coordinate and execute these events. Planned events include the Past Grand Knights' Dinner (PGK), a Christmas Dinner/Dance, potlucks, and attendance at Masses as a Council (coordinating with the Church & Vocations Director). Other examples of council program service include sporting activities and picnics.
Family
Program Director: Br. Tom Schmidt
The Supreme Council states that the Family program is in place to foster activities "which aid in the rebuilding family spirit from within, making it strong enough to resist society's ills". Family, as defined in the Bible, is proactively under attack in society today. As Knights, we must step forward and protect the family, for the family serves as foundation blocks to the Church. Too often families suffer under declining values and competing commitments. The Knight who fills this vital position should plan to support the USO's "Gift Giving Tree" at Christmas this year under the Council's Family program.
Pro-Life
& Culture of Life Programs Director: Br. Gary Hern
The Pro-Life program is a new program, as its activities used to be part of the Community program. However, the Supreme Knight and Council has determined that the criticality of the Church's pro-life message deserves to be in a program of its own. Br. Gary Hern has agreed to take on the role as Pro-Life program Director to ensure that Council 1349 does its part in promoting the pro-life mission of the Order. His successful fundraising activities allowed the Council to donate over $1000.00 this year to the Mother of Life Conference. Br. Gary is also the Culture of Life Programs Director in fulfillment of the State Council's Culture of Life Campaign and is in the planning stages for supporting the campaign. Please contact Br. Gary to volunteer and help in this vital effort to save children from brutal and savage murder from within their mothers' wombs.
Youth
Program Director & Squires Chief Counselor:
Br. Danie Francisco
In addition to standing-up the Columbian Squires, serving as its Chief Counselor, and serving as the Council's Worthy Chancellor, Br. Danie Francisco has ambitiously volunteered to serve as Director for the Council's Youth program. The Youth program is pivotal in forming young peoples' minds and character. Rather than relegating our kids to video games, gang activity, or other harmful and non-productive behavior, the Youth program seeks to engage children in healthy and development activities. Some events planned for the Youth program this year include the Soccer Challenge, Free-Throw Competition, and Essay Writing Contest.
Health
Services Director: Br. T.J. McAvin, D.C.
The Health Services Director schedules Council blood drives and heightens the Council membership's awareness of good health practices. Br. T.J. is our Worthy Recorder and has unselfishly stepped up as Director of Health Services, where he will maintain his awareness of health issues that impact the community, and look for opportunities in which the Council may contribute to the improved health of the parishes within the roundtable. Br. T.J. will also coordinate with the Community Programs Director on behalf of the Council to promote health care activities within the community at large.
Public
Relations Director: Br. Jim Acerra
Just coming off his tour as Deputy Grand Knight for the 2010-2011 Columbian year, Grand Knight Jim Acerra also serves as the Council's Public Relations Director. As the Public Relations Director, Br. Jim manages media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities. He develops press releases, and is familiar with a wide variety of the public affairs field's concepts, practices, and procedures. He also collaborates with the Council's newsletter Editor-in-Chief, Br. Ron Sheehan, to create articles of interest to the membership. In addition, he oversees the Council's Web presence, including social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. Br. Jim is responsible for all of the Council's external communications.
Insurance
Promotion Director: Br. Fred Hall, PGK, PFN, FDD
The Insurance Program Director is responsible for raising the awareness of the Knights of Columbus Insurance Programs. He is licensed by the State of California and is certified to assist with Medicare questions. He is also certified to assist with both funeral arrangements and funeral pre-planning. He works with the Field Agent in scheduling insurance information nights at the Council and coordinates with the 1st Degree Exemplification team to ensure information about the insurance benefit is presented to newly inducted Brother Knights. This critical function is a subset of our Membership program, so Br. Fred Hall, PGK, PFN, FDD has stepped up to ensure it gets our strict attention.
1st
Degree Exemplification Team Leader: Br. Tom Davis, PGK
In Columbian year 2011-2012, the Supreme Council has authorized individual councils to conduct the 1st Degree Exemplification ceremony without the requirement to memorize scripts or wear ceremonial robes. The decision was made to increase membership within the Knights of Columbus and to reduce the amount of interested candidates getting lost in the shuffle that occasionally occurs between Information Night and the exemplification. As a consequence of this decision, in order for a council to be eligible for the Star Council Award, a council must hold or participate in a minimum of four 1st Degree Exemplification ceremonies within the Columbian year. Our Deputy Grand Knight, Br. Tom Davis has agreed to step up and lead the Council's 1st Degree Exemplification team. The Team consists of Bros. Steve McPhillips, Fred Hall, Rick Babauta, and Rich Portugal--some of the Council's most senior and experienced Knights. If you would like to join this elite team of Knights, contact Br. Tom at dgk@kofc1349.org.
