I would like to begin by wishing everyone and their families a happy and healthy holiday season. As the year draws to a close, I wish to thank everyone for making the calendar year 2011 one to remember for Rockaway Council 2672 and keep you informed of upcoming events that look to make our next year, 2012, just as memorable. Our Council thrives on the involvement and support of our members. Our calendar is filling up with many great events which will allow us to continue to do the great work we do.

Before looking forward, I would like to highlight some recent activities at the council. On October 16, we sponsored a Tridentine (Latin) Mass at St. Rose of Lima to mark that parish’s 125th Anniversary. The mass was both a unique opportunity to see a mass in its traditional form and a wonderful means of getting the Rockaway Catholic Community together. Over 250 people attended the mass, and many gathered in the St. Rose auditorium afterward. I would like to thank our insurance agent Pat Keane for sponsoring this event as well as all the volunteers and attendees for making the Tridentine Mass such a success.

The members of our council have also been doing a wonderful job of representing the Knights of Columbus in our community and parishes. Several members of our council also attended the annual Night of the Roses fundraiser for St. Rose at Russo’s on the Bay. Besides being a fun filled evening, this event also served to benefit the parish’s financial needs and our attendance was definitely appreciated. We also had a sizable contingent at the Broad Channel Athletic Committee golf tournament in Forest Park on October 18. Our participation in this tournament helped support an athletic association that has enriched our community for 50 years. Thank you to everyone who attended either (or both!) of these events, and congratulations to the BCAC for achieving 50 years of success and service to the community.

November 1st found members of our council coming together to reflect on the lives of those members of our council who are no longer with this. Though it is always with great sadness that we remember those who passed away in the past year, the annual Members Memorial Service is routinely a beautiful and well attended event.

As you can see by the enclosed schedule of Charitable, Fraternal and Patriotic events, the coming months will be very active. Please review the enclosed listing of events and please know your participation and support is always welcome. To volunteer, simply contact the Council and the chairperson of the event will tell you how you can volunteer. I would like to highlight certain events in this letter, though each and every event on the calendar is just as important to the continued success of our council. Your assistance is vital to our continued success, do not hesitate to lend a helping hand.

Our annual Family Communion breakfast will be held on Sunday, November 20th at 10:00AM. This event is always a nice way to focus on both family and faith as we enter the holiday season. There will be a Mass at the council, followed by breakfast. The cost is $10 per person and $25 per family. Tickets for the Childrens’ Christmas Party will be available for purchase at the breakfast.

On Wednesday, November 23, the Rockaway Jetty, in conjunction with Knights of Columbus Rockaway Council 2672 and the generosity of Russo’s on the Bay will be providing a Thanksgiving meal to needy individuals and families within the Rockaway community. Thanksgiving is not an easy holiday for needy families, and this event will provide food and peace of mind for the less fortunate. Meals will be provided from 3:00PM to 7:00PM at the council hall. If you are interested in helping with this event in any way, please contact the council.

The Christmas season brings with it many opportunities to celebrate as well as to lend a hand to less fortunate families and children. The Knights Members and Columbiettes Christmas Party on December 16th is one such event. As always, all Brother Knights and Sister Columbiettes are encouraged to attend and bring along an unwrapped children’s toy to be donated to local hospital pediatric wards. Festivities will begin at 7:00PM with the wrapping of gifts and continue at 8:00 with refreshments and entertainment. Thank you to our members in advance for your generosity, which seems to grow more and more impressive each year. On December 18th the Knights will throw our own Children’s Party. This free event, made possible by the continued generosity of the members of our council, will feature gifts, food and entertainment for any child wishing to attend. If your child, or the child of any neighbor/friend would like to attend, please contact the council to register them. Both of these events are made possible by the generosity and support of our members. If you are able to, please return the enclosed raffle ticket.

On February 12, 2012 we will be hosting one of our most popular and critical fundraisers at a new time. The DAY at the Races will begin with a post time of 3:00PM and continue until 7:00PM. Come down and spend an afternoon at the track. This fundraiser is unique in that it directly benefits the council itself. We have had a history of successes with this event, and we hope that the Day at the Races will provide us with ample funds to continue being a positive force in our neighborhood.

As a reminder, dues for 2012 will need to be collected shortly. Dues are once again $40 and notices will be mailed shortly. Feel free to pay your dues at any upcoming meetings or event or through the mail. Our council also wishes to stress that we accept lapsed members with open arms. If you or anyone you know have missed paying your dues in recent years, you need only pay 2012 dues to be reinstated. We also offer membership to active students at $20. If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to meet your dues, please contact the Grand Knight or the Financial Secretary, and these men will arrange for you continue your membership. On a related note, we ask that you provide us with accurate and current email addresses and phone number(s). Thank you in advance for your cooperation as we attempt to update our records and communicate with our members more effectively.

The Daily Drawing fundraiser is running again in December and April at a cost of $5 per 3 digit number. If your selected number comes out in the evening NY Lotto drawing, you win. The prize is $50 daily, $100.00 on Sundays and on the Bonus day of December 8, 2011 and April 15, 2012. You may select a number using the forms included in the attached calendar or by stopping by the council and purchasing a ticket.

I look forward to seeing you soon at our meetings and events. Officers meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month, and Board of Directors Meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of every month. Please make an effort to attend our general meetings, which are held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month except where noted on the attached calendar of events. Not only will you have the chance to catch up on activities at the council, but you might make some money A recent meeting found a brother Knight winning the missing members pool and taking home over $440.

Sincerely,
John Gillespie
Grand Knight

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