July 2025 Meeting Minutes

Knights of Columbus St Michael Council #11445
July 14, 2025

REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING

Grand Knight LaMorte called regular business meeting to order at 730pm and
proceeded with opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance led by Fr. Johnstone.
We then went into the installation of officers presided by DD Jarrod Golden.
The meeting was then formally called to order at 7:55 p.m.

A motion was made to waive reading and approve the minutes of the prior meeting,
which was seconded and passed by voice vote without objections.

CHAPLAIN’S REPORT:
Not Present/No Report

REPORTS OF OFFICERS:
Grand Knight (Michael LaMorte):

  • Need a new Deputy Grand Knight for this year
  • Br LaMorte would like to revive the spaghetti dinner for vocations – see him after meeting if interested
  • See Br LaMorte to give him any intentions for his pilgrimage to Italy

Treasurer (Chris Axene):

No report

Financial Secretary’s Report (Matt Decenzo):

  • Fish Fry Equipment Set-Aside: $3277.51
  • Fish Fry Distribution: $45,631.72
  • Measure Up: $1470
  • Vocations: $271.47
  • Formation and Evangelization: $1271.75
  • Memorial Fund: $8896
  • Checkbook Balance: $16643.49

Total Set-Asides: $60,819

Available Balance: $7824.29

Motion to pay bills passed

Membership (Brett Gissel):

No report

REPORTS OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN:
Program Director (Brian Elliot)

No report

Family Director (Sean Murray)

  • 2 Programs for 7/19 and 7/20
  • Family Pool Party 7-9 Indian Hills pool – council to provide hot dogs, hamburgers, water/soda. Pot luck style, asking families to bring sides or desserts
  • Breakfast 7/20 after 8:30 and 10:30 Mass – Still need signups to help. To Benefit Mission Warmth. Br Eckert said a few words on Mission Warmth. Over 1008 people served. 10k warming items distributed. 63 camps and 7 shelters served.

Council Director (John Greve)

No report

Faith Director (Bill Hinger)

Not present/no report

Life Director (Wayne Lovely)

  • Respect for Life podcast launched – contact Br Lovely for more info

Community Director (Greg Kociba)

No report

Fish Fry Committee Chairmen (Chris Fricke)

  • Thanks to the committee and volunteers
  • Huge success of $30, 385.33 in profit
  • Fund distribution:
    • Men’s/Women’s conf: $1000
    • St Michael SVDP: $2000
    • Greater Columbus TV Mass: $200
    • Keep Christ in Christmas billboard: $500
    • Family Rosary Day: $50
    • Right to Life (St Mike’s): $2000
    • Clergy Appreciation Dinner: $350
    • VA Dinner: $500
    • Allyson Gross Scholarship: $3500
    • Damo Scholarship: $6500
    • Fish Fry Equipment Fund: $3500
    • Pre-K: $5000
    • Sacred Heart: $500
    • Bishop’s Appeal: $6585.33

Report on the 4th Degree (Tony Matlak)

  • Received our charter officially
  • More exemplifications coming!

Scholarship Committee Chairman (John Greve)

No report

Measure Up (Greg Kociba)

No report

Formation/Evangelization (Wayne Lovely)

  • Faith by Fireside to resume in Fall/September
  • Adoration – perpetual adoration desired, upcoming drive

Chancellor’s Report on Vocations (Tom Messina)

No report

Field Agent’s Report
No report

District Deputy Report

  • Membership quota is 12 for this fraternal year
  • Vocations:
    • State chaplain reported we gave over $76k to vocations for the Diocese of Columbus
  • More news for us in August

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Vestments for Fr. Johnstone, tabled until next month so we can do more
research.

  • Fr Johnstone passed around handouts on chasubles
  • Prefers St Joseph or Our Lady of Guadeloupe
  • Range $500 – $700 or $4k – $5k range
  • He will get back with us on specifically what he would like!

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Motion by Br Fricke to disburse Fish Fry Funds as read (under Fish Fry Committee Chairmen in these notes).
    • Motion Passed
  • Motion by Br Walker, two step proposal:
    • Motion to do away with Pastor’s discretionary fund ($13k total)
      • Motion seconded, discussed, carried for further discussion in August
    • Motion to replace lightbulbs ($1k each, $5750 for LEDs, funds freed up by doing away with the above discretionary fund)
      • Motion seconded, discussed, carried for further discussion in August
    • Motion to donate $7250 to the Appeal on behalf of St Michael-
      • Motion seconded, passed, carried to August
  • Motion by Br Gissel to donate $250 to Ohio East – Biking for Babies mission
    • Motion Passed

 

LECTURER’S REFLECTION:

Reflection on John Chapter 6, discussion/discourse followed.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL:

The Damo Family
John Fields
Tony Schera
Dcn Dan Murray

Jim Murray

Jim Messina

Br. Sam Stowe’s brother in law

Br Don Keller’s Father and Uncle

Brian (Br. Kholer)

ADJOURN at 827pm