knight ife

12
Number 7 UPCOMING EVENTS NOV 28 Christmas Tree Decorating CH 7:00 NOV 29 Advent Season Begins December Dec 3 EDW-CCA meetings CFP 7:30 Dec 3 Ladies UKnighted Christmas party CH 7:30 Dec 5 Fish Club Christmas Party 6pm Dec 10 Officers & Chairmen’s meeting CH 7:30 Dec 16 Columbus Club board meeting CH 7:00 Dec 17 EDW Christmas party MH 7:45 Dec 20 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA MH 9:00am Dec 24 Mansion closes at 6pm Dec 25 CHRISTMAS - Mansion closed Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Dance MH 6:30 *Every Sunday we pray the Rosary at 12:30 within Mary’s Circle. If it’s raining we move inside the mansion. December 2015 Founded May 20, 1923 Number 6 Edward douglass whitE CounCil 2473 arlington, Virginia Knight lifE KNIGHT OF THE MONTH Andy Brown has been a stalwart of a parish volunteer for us. Anytime we put out a call for volunteers at St. Ann to support Fr. Mel’s efforts Andy is always there. He also continues to help us with diocesan efforts such as transporting food collected at parishes to Catholic Charities’ St. Lucy Project storage facilities. What more can be said about a man who is consis- tently there for his parish? He’s St. Ann’s very own Cal Ripken and our Knight of the month. Thank you, Andy, for your humble service. A donation will be made to St. Ann parish in honor of his contributions. NEW YEARS EVE For the first 3 1/2 weeks of December everyone’s focus will be on Christmas-related activities; shop- ping, decorations, church services, etc. During December why not take time to give some thought to gathering with good friends for a truly festive New Year’s Eve in EDW’s main hall? You’ll be in the company of 200, or more folks who also like to have a good time and dance their way into the New Year. The evening starts at 6:30pm with an open-bar and light hors d’oeuvres. During this first hour alcohol and mixed drinks are included in your ticket cost. Thereafter, it’s BYOL. Beer, wine and soda are complimentary all evening. A 3-course dinner is served from 7:30 - 9 pm. Entrée choices: beef tenderloin, chicken cordon bleu and broiled salmon. The Jim Bowie band plays a wide range of dance music 9pm to 12:30am. Also included: several door prizes, bottle of champagne on each table for New Years toasts and a continental breakfast. All this for the very low cost of $110 per couple, $55 per single. Tickets are now available in EDW’s Columbus Club of- fice. Call the office at 703-536-9656, ext. 311, to purchase tickets. You will be asked for your entrée selection as you make reservations. Payment by credit card accepted by phone; or you may stop in the office to pay for, and pick up your tickets. Note: Ticket ordering/payment NOT available on-line this year. Any questions, concerns, suggestions or offers of help (this year, or in the future) will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Bob Muschamp at 703-489-2856. Anyone needing help obtaining tickets - let me know. I’ll gladly arrange to help.

Upload: others

Post on 29-Mar-2022

11 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

NOV 29 Advent Season Begins December
Dec 3 EDW-CCA meetings CFP 7:30
Dec 3 Ladies UKnighted Christmas party CH 7:30
Dec 5 Fish Club Christmas Party 6pm
Dec 10 Officers & Chairmen’s meeting CH 7:30
Dec 16 Columbus Club board meeting CH 7:00
Dec 17 EDW Christmas party MH 7:45
Dec 20 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA MH 9:00am
Dec 24 Mansion closes at 6pm
Dec 25 CHRISTMAS - Mansion closed
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Dance MH 6:30
*Every Sunday we pray the Rosary at 12:30 within Mary’s Circle. If it’s raining we move
inside the mansion.
December 2015 Founded May 20, 1923 Number 6 Edward douglass whitE CounCil 2473 arlington, Virginia
Knight lifE
KNIGHT OF THE MONTH Andy Brown has been a stalwart of a parish volunteer
for us. Anytime we put out a call for volunteers at St. Ann to support Fr. Mel’s efforts Andy is always there. He also continues to help us with diocesan efforts such as transporting food collected at parishes to Catholic Charities’ St. Lucy Project storage facilities.
What more can be said about a man who is consis- tently there for his parish? He’s St. Ann’s very own Cal Ripken and our Knight of the month. Thank you, Andy, for your humble service.
A donation will be made to St. Ann parish in honor of his contributions.
NEW YEARS EVE For the first 3 1/2 weeks of December everyone’s
focus will be on Christmas-related activities; shop- ping, decorations, church services, etc.
During December why not take time to give some thought to gathering with good friends for a truly festive New Year’s Eve in EDW’s main hall? You’ll be in the company of 200, or more folks who also like to have a good time and dance their way into the New Year.
The evening starts at 6:30pm with an open-bar and light hors d’oeuvres. During this first hour alcohol and mixed drinks are included in your ticket cost. Thereafter, it’s BYOL. Beer, wine and soda are complimentary all evening. A 3-course dinner is served from 7:30 - 9 pm. Entrée choices: beef tenderloin, chicken cordon bleu and broiled salmon. The Jim Bowie band plays a wide range of dance music 9pm to 12:30am.
Also included: several door prizes, bottle of champagne on each table for New Years toasts and a continental breakfast. All this for the very low cost of $110 per couple, $55 per single. Tickets are now available in EDW’s Columbus Club of- fice. Call the office at 703-536-9656, ext. 311, to purchase tickets. You will be asked for your entrée selection as you make reservations. Payment by credit card accepted by phone; or you may stop in the office to pay for, and pick up your tickets. Note: Ticket ordering/payment NOT available on-line this year.
Any questions, concerns, suggestions or offers of help (this year, or in the future) will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Bob Muschamp at 703-489-2856. Anyone needing help obtaining tickets - let me know. I’ll gladly arrange to help.
KNIGHT LIFE2
Council Office 703 536 9656 x 2
Council Home Mansion 703 536 9656 x 3
In case of illness or death of a member Please call Jerry Garren PGK
202 498 1638 Committee Chairmen: 6-Point Program: Chris Bannon ..............703 869 1160 Church Activities: Art Gamotis PGK ........703 448 0332 Community Acts.: John Cormany ............703 876 4654 Council Activities: Art Gamotis ...............703 448 0332 Fraternal Activities: Youth Activities: David DeLoatche...........703 200 3949 Mike Bauer PGK ...........703 204 9189 500 Club: Steve McTeague PGK ..............703 969 1570 Advertising: Rick Vranesh PGK Blood Drive: Ray Fioramonti ...................703 524 1804 Charity: John Pfundstein .........................703 455 9112 Culture of Life: Luigi & Suzanne Tanzi .....240 793 7213 K.C.I.C.: Jim Holland PGK .......................703 533 1550 Knight Life Editor: Rick Vranesh PGK ......571 468 5133 Kovar: Art Gamotis PGK .........................703 448 0332 Ladies U-Knighted: Katie McCarthy ........703 241 2374 Membership: Greg Strizek ......................703 346 4387 Organ Donor Chairman: Jerry Garren .....202 498 1638 Retention: Jim Holland ...........................703 533 1550 Special Activities: Norm Marcocci ..........703 263 9771 Waiters: Bob Muschamp ........................703 237 8475
Columbus Club of Arlington 2015 Board Officers
Grand Knight: John White ..................202 352 7955 Dep. Grand Knight: Chris Bannon .....703 869 1460 President: John O’Neill III ...................571 437 9415 Vice President: Greg Strizek ..............703 346 4387 Secretary: Bill Wester ........................703 521 2841 Treasurer: Tom Maguire .....................703 314 5213 Asst. Treasurer: Jerry Garren FS PGK ...202 498 1638
Board Directors Owen J. Beirne, Jr ..............................202 746 2404 Tim Walthall .......................................703 525 6245 Bob Dannemiller DD, PGK ..................703 685 3795 Larry Harrison ....................................703 980 4852 Tom Hazzard ......................................703 536 4769
Club Staff General Manager Peter Silano ...........703 595 1546 Operations Manager Nick Beirne ...703 536 9656 x 310 Manager Jeff Koch .................. 703 536 9656 x 311
[email protected] Summer Camp Director Jill Burdick-Zupancic
703 536 9656 x 4 Pool Phone in Season: 703 536 9656 x 313
Knight Life is published monthly by the Edward Douglass White Council #2473, Knights of Columbus. 5115 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207-1899. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Edward Douglass White Council or the Knights of Columbus. Comments should be directed to the Grand Knight.
@KofC_EDW WWW.KOFCEDW2473.ORG
John Corrado Scotty Skotek Ed Watkins Kay Halpin Ed Kunec Maria Willson Leo Maimone PGK
SICK AND IN OUR THOUGHTS Please remember the following members and their families in your daily
prayers. If you have time, give them a call or drop them a note.
GRAND KNIGHT’S MESSAGE Merry Christmas my friends! Christmas is probably the most nostalgic
holiday for all of us. We spend time to make Christmas as special for our children as our parents made it for us. We spoil them with presents, perhaps one or two too many!
To be honest, it’s November 16 when I’m writing this note to you. Three days after the attack on Paris, one day after the council and our neighbors gathered in Mary’s Circle to pray the Rosary for the Paris victims, for terror victims the world over and, yes, for the perpetrators of the attacks. I wanted to write something soothing, something that
would put a smile on our faces, something idyllically Rockwellian to take us back to our youth, our innocence, but I couldn’t. So I started wandering the internet and came across words from one of the best wordsmiths of the 20th century, Winston Churchill.
Christmas Eve, 1941, the Last Lion was about 6 miles to our east at the White House just 17 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He shared a Fireside Chat radio address with FDR and spoke to our parents and grandparents:
“This is a strange Christmas Eve. Almost the whole world is locked in deadly struggle, and, with the most terrible weapons which science can devise, the nations advance upon each other. … Here, in the midst of war, raging and roaring over all the lands and seas, creeping nearer to our hearts and homes, here, amid all the tumult, we have tonight the peace of the spirit in each cottage home and in every generous heart. Therefore we may cast aside for this night at least the cares and dangers which beset us, and make for the children an evening of happiness in a world of storm. Here, then, for one night only, each home throughout the English-speaking world should be a brightly-lighted island of happiness and peace.
“Let the children have their night of fun and laughter. Let the gifts of Father Christmas delight their play. Let us grown-ups share to the full in their unstinted pleasures before we turn again to the stern task and the formidable years that lie before us, resolved that, by our sacrifice and daring, these same children shall not be robbed of their inheritance or denied their right to live in a free and decent world.
“And so, in God’s mercy, a happy Christmas to you all.” Our parents or grandparents, depending on how old you are, did ensure that we grew
up in a free and decent world. They took on and defeated the worst that the Axis powers could throw at them. It’s a debt that can only be repaid by passing on a free and decent world to our children. Have no doubt we can and will defeat our modern day enemy, it won’t happen today or tomorrow but we will emerge victorious. We can only win that struggle though by keeping to our American values that have been handed down from generations. In the meantime it’s our parental responsibility to give our children their innocence and dreams on Christmas morning.
In God’s mercy, a happy Christmas to you all, John Grand Knight
KNIGHT LIFE 3
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
Knights of Columbus January 20, 1983
JACK BOTTASH July 22, 1924 - October 22, 2015
Knights of Columbus January 22, 1970
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
These brothers were remembered at our November Memorial Mass.
Grand Knight John White and the EDW Council Cordially invites you to our
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
Hot Buffet - Open Bar
Thursday December 17th, 7:30PM
In The Main Ballroom
Please bring a food or cash donation for the Arlington Food Assistance Program
Help Celebrate Christmas with the members, wives and guests of 0ur EDW Family.
FROM THE DESK OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
~2016 Dues~
We are planning to mail dues notices in the first week of December. Please keep an eye out for your notice in your mailbox and remember to pay promptly, as we are assessed for all members...regardless if they pay their dues. Regular Member’s dues will be $139 this year; Honorary Member’s dues will be $91; and, Honorary Life Member’s dues will be $66 (Columbus Club dues only).
~On-Line Payment~
We accept credit cards for dues payments on our web- site. We accept Visa, MasterCard and even American Express. Please understand that credit card transactions cost money to process and that we need to add a small fee to dues credit card transactions to help offset the cost. You can find the link to our “storefront” to make your dues payment, make certain contributions and even purchase your New Year’s Eve tickets on our main web page, www.kofcedw2473.org .
When you visit, you might notice the storefront looks a little primitive. Rest assured it is as secure as any other website you might do business with. Pay- ments made through the website will save me A LOT of processing time and should make it much easier for me to get your 2016 card to you. We will be working on making it “prettier” over the coming year.
If you encounter any issues with the website, please drop me an email at [email protected] and I will check into the issue for you.
~KOVAR and the Combined Federal Campaign~
It’s that time of the year again. All Federal employ- ees are reminded that it is VERY easy to support the Virginia KOVAR charity through regular payroll de- ductions made possible through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Please remember that EDW can receive credit for your contributions when you provide a copy of your pledge sheet to me. Thank you for your generous support.
Merry Christmas!!! Remember, Christ is the reason for the season!!! May God bless each and every one of you and your families.
Jerry Garren, PGK Financial Secretary
KNIGHT LIFE4
CLUB OF ARLINGTON INC. Tom Maguire (Treasurer)
Jerry Garren (Assistant Treasurer)
Enclosed in this December Knight Life is the Columbus Club, Inc. proposed 2016 Budget for the review of Council members pursuant to the By-Laws, Article V Section 7. This budget will be presented at the annual meeting of the Corporation, which will be held January 7, 2016 for mem- bership approval. The following table presents a 6-year portrait of corporate income and expenses compared with our 2015 and 2016 budget to give you as members, our financial history.
The budget was prepared for the October 27, 2015 board meeting. At this time the latest financial information avail- able was the year to date (YTD) September profit and loss statements. To compare the 2015 profit and loss with prior years on a similar basis, a trailing 12 month (T-12) profit and loss statement was generated. The T-12 profit and loss statement includes the profit and loss for October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.
The September 2015 T-12 statement shows total income of $1,968,796, which is $23,435 (1.2%) over the 2014 total income of $1,945,361. The majority of this increase in revenue is the result of increased pool and camp income. The increase in pool and camp income can be attributed to increased fees and the extra week that the camp was open in the summer of 2015. Together, the pool and camp income accounted for $120,307 of increase revenue. It should be noted that the 2014 total income included $70,000, the settlement with the construction company who rented the parking lot during the Yorktown High School renovation. In addition, the latest parking contract with Arlington County Schools ended in June 2015. Going forward, we are not expected to have additional parking revenue..
The total Cost of Sales decreased $9,956 from 2014 to the September 2015 T-12 annualized profit and loss statement. The total Gross Profit increased $33,391 to $1,681,796.
The September 2015 T-12 profit and loss statement lists total expenses of $1,544,087 or $53,022 more than the 2014 expenses of $1,491,065. The pool and camp were both open for one additional week in the summer of 2015 vs. the summer of 2014. As a result, the pool management expense increased $4,290 over the 2014 expense. The September 2015 T-12 payroll costs were $28,694 higher than the 2014 total payroll costs. Part of this increase was the associated costs of the additional week of camp coun- selors. The September 2015 T-12 real estate taxes were
approximately $12,200 higher than 2014. The Proposed 2016 Budget conservatively projects total
income of $1,924,640. Overall income projections are based on T-12 income or conservative increases over the T-12 income with the exception of the camp income. In 2015, the camp was open 10 weeks and we earned approximately $51k per week. In 2016, the camp will be opened only 9 weeks. The 2016 budgeted camp income of $460,000 is based on $51k per week. There was no parking projected for 2016 due to the fact that the last parking contract ex- pired in June 2015.
The 2015 budgeted total cost of sales is $310,000 or $23,001 (8%) higher than the September 2015 trailing 12 month total cost of sales.
The 2015 budget includes total expenses of $1,564,844, as compared to the September 2015 T-12 expenses of $1,544,087. The 2016 budget and the two corresponding tables detail line by line the projected expenses for 2016. The first table lists some of the expenses that we incur on a daily basis that are aggregated under “Other”. The second table “Real Estate, Payroll Taxes and Insurance” details the real estate taxes, pay taxes, insurance expense, and other taxes and licenses expense that are not itemized in the primary budget table.
The 2016 budget projects Net Income of $49,796. These funds will be used to pay in full the Club’s loan from Chain Bridge Bank. As of December 31, 2015, the outstanding loan balance on the loan from Chain Bridge Bank will be $47,873. This loan is scheduled to be paid in full on November 1, 2016.
FISH CLUB NEWS Our EDW Fish Club will be having our annual
Christmas party on the evening of Saturday December 5th in our council home starting at 6pm. Annual dues will need to be paid then as well. It will be $15.00 for the year. Hope to see you all there!
Sincerely, Chris Hudson Fish Club Co-Captain
KNIGHT LIFE 5
Columbus Club of Arlington, Inc.
Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2016
Trailing 12 mth Income Actual 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Actual 2014 10/14 - 9/15 Budget 2015 Budget 2016
Food Sales $379,342 $385,712 $397,480 $360,589 $351,139 $349,853 $365,000 $365,000 Beverage Sales $214,375 $218,903 $215,181 $194,010 $199,298 $195,100 $204,000 $205,000 Facilities Rental $109,323 $87,708 $113,560 $128,300 $148,103 $147,077 $132,550 $147,000 Monthly Dues / K of C Assessments $73,492 $64,099 $62,896 $70,087 $72,317 $73,117 $68,000 $73,500 Pool Membership Fees $328,385 $361,265 $403,833 $455,545 $488,915 $531,300 $490,000 $528,000 Camp $307,393 $308,615 $367,957 $389,064 $433,418 $511,340 $433,000 $460,000 Pool Admissions $27,940 $12,166 $12,336 $18,751 $18,000 $9,473 $18,000 $10,000 Cell Phone Antenna Rental $71,764 $71,158 $77,932 $80,270 $82,678 $82,140 $80,142 $82,140 Event Fee $32,027 $45,278 $47,646 $42,775 $38,919 $34,584 $40,000 $36,000 Miscellaneous Sales $29,425 $24,979 $15,081 $11,015 $18,832 $18,962 $15,000 $18,000 Parking Income $63,650 $48,700 $48,250 $12,016 $92,000 $16,000 $12,000 $0 Escrow Building Fund Campaign $0 $0 $0 $4,413 $1,742 -$150 $0 $0 Total Income $1,637,116 $1,628,583 $1,762,152 $1,766,835 $1,945,361 $1,968,796 $1,857,692 $1,924,640
Cost Of Sales Food $165,285 $197,532 $230,034 $221,260 $204,286 $197,564 $220,000 $215,000 Beverage $74,553 $87,284 $82,785 $77,523 $81,173 $79,899 $85,000 $85,000 Other $22,911 $29,626 $35,740 $44,807 $11,497 $9,536 $8,000 $10,000 Total Cost of Sales $262,749 $314,442 $348,559 $343,590 $296,956 $286,999 $313,000 $310,000
Total Gross Profit $1,374,367 $1,314,141 $1,413,593 $1,423,245 $1,648,405 $1,681,796 $1,544,692 $1,614,640
Expenses Salaries $481,614 $515,423 $614,984 $625,309 $580,773 $609,467 $600,000 $615,000 Pool Management $63,600 $69,083 $73,252 $84,464 $88,754 $98,825 $86,000 $91,000 Pool Mgnt Expenses $12,626 $12,518 $4,748 $2,748 $9,805 $14,630 $4,000 $14,630 Camp Processing Fees $16,221 $18,683 $19,113 $19,769 $25,988 $25,188 $26,000 $25,500 Contributions & Donations $29,573 $18,284 $19,367 $17,558 $25,000 $20,000 Utilities& Trash $98,312 $111,443 $98,014 $92,620 $110,771 $103,570 $110,000 $110,000 Depreciation $32,528 $40,672 $49,844 $50,240 $114,169 $112,783 $45,000 $80,000 Real Estate & Payroll Taxes/ Insurance $178,119 $181,128 $197,715 $203,772 $198,435 $212,280 $211,124 $216,000 Repairs $55,114 $104,591 $93,913 $79,589 $76,351 $84,009 $86,000 $120,000 Other (Includes Loan Interest Re-payment) $147,383 $184,339 $185,979 $191,281 $239,189 $230,636 $223,907 $236,714 Professional Fees $30,780 $32,802 $42,017 $33,015 $27,462 $35,141 $25,000 $36,000 Total Expenses $1,116,297 $1,270,682 $1,409,152 $1,401,090 $1,491,065 $1,544,087 $1,442,031 $1,564,844 Income $258,070 $43,459 $4,441 $22,155 $157,341 $137,710 $102,661 $49,796
Less Loan Principal Payments $45,655 $57,685 $46,668 $45,039 $47,574 $49,423 $49,784 $47,872 Less Reserved Parking Income $63,650 $48,700 $48,250 $12,016 $92,000 $16,000 $12,000 $0 Less Repay Parking Fund Advances $40,000 $0 Income Net of Loan and Reserved Parking Income $148,765 -$62,926 -$90,477 -$34,900 $17,767 $72,287 $877 $1,924
Columbus Club of Arlington, Inc.
Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2016 Other Explained
Other Actual 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Actual 2014 Actual 10/14 - 9/15 Budget 2015 Budget 2016
Loan Repayment (Interest Only) 18,001$ 15,575$ 11,399$ 8,220$ 5,974$ 4,126$ $3,765 $1,214 Advertising 15,135$ 4,430$ 9,372$ 3,998$ 9,054$ 6,965$ $10,000 $9,000 Bank Charges 2,719$ 640$ 1,496$ 680$ 2,118$ 745$ $2,000 $1,500 Credit Cards 10,328$ 13,754$ 15,869$ 20,692$ 19,984$ 25,685$ $20,000 $26,000 Dues & Subscriptions 35$ 305$ 185$ 524$ 555$ 660$ $555 $700 Employee Benefits 31,361$ 24,793$ 42,239$ 43,791$ 51,569$ 28,967$ $35,187 $30,000 Equipment Rental 1,164$ 866$ 1,274$ 8,268$ 15,607$ 14,531$ $20,000 $15,000 Flowers and Decorations 338$ 1,478$ 3,006$ 1,658$ 2,785$ $2,400 $2,800 Miscellaneous 13,276$ 17,561$ 27,374$ 24,043$ 28,844$ 28,918$ $26,000 $30,000 Office & Postage Expense 8,396$ 4,853$ 6,274$ 5,064$ 7,046$ 6,444$ $7,000 $6,800 Printing 85$ 3,842$ 2,378$ 1,339$ 367$ 1,212$ $1,000 $1,200 Waiters Expense 885$ 2,937$ 1,286$ 2,392$ 1,827$ 1,448$ $3,000 $2,500 Supplies 40,945$ 48,338$ 38,525$ 43,634$ 26,963$ 29,100$ $32,000 $32,000 Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance 4,953$ 44,405$ 26,830$ 23,383$ 29,655$ 31,998$ $30,000 $30,000 Bad Debt $0 $0 $0 2,245$ -$ -$ $500 $0 Supplies Food Service $37,968 $47,051 $30,500 $48,000 Total Other 147,283$ $182,637 185,979$ 191,281$ 239,189$ 230,636$ $223,907 $236,714
Columbus Club of Arlington, Inc.
Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2016 Real Estate, Payroll Taxes and Insurance Explained
Other Actual 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Actual 2014 Actual 10/14 - 9/15 Budget 2015 Budget 2016
Real Estate Taxes $74,934 $75,269 $77,389 $80,426 $73,355 $85,592 $82,424 $86,000 Payroll Taxes $41,294 $48,732 $60,028 $58,499 $51,804 $49,640 $54,000 $52,000 Insurance Expense $46,720 $46,131 $47,800 $54,058 $58,142 $59,568 $60,000 $60,000 Other Taxes and Licenses $15,172 $17,241 $12,498 $10,789 $15,135 $17,481 $14,700 $18,000 Total $178,120 $187,373 $197,715 $203,772 $198,435 $212,280 $211,124 $216,000
KNIGHT LIFE6
By Flannery McGale
November 12th was a very special day: it marks the first anniversary of my son’s birth. I was a 19-year- old college student in Virginia working as a waitress and completely in “love” with my first boyfriend. We had only been together a few months before I found out I was pregnant. I will never forget taking the pregnancy test at work with my friends and the panic I felt standing idly in the dining room, heart racing during a slow lunch shift. Life as a teen-mom or abortion, both prospects seemed equally horrify- ing. Then, it hit me: adoption was an option for me. That afternoon, I decided to break the news to my boyfriend over the phone. Upon calling him, I was very matter-of-fact about it and informed him that he need not worry because I would be placing our baby for adoption. He took it very hard because he already had a one-year-old with another girl that he couldn’t take care of or even help provide for. As the realization of the circumstances heightened, so did his fear. Within a month, he had completely distanced himself from me and ended communication, despite my passionate protests.
The interim between Oliver’s conception and birth was bleak. I spent the first months feeling very sorry for myself. I jumped back and forth between the prospects of adoption and being a single-mom, because my love for my baby was growing with each day. However, by the time I approached my third trimester, I decided I had better do something to prepare for him coming. Still unsure if I wanted to place him for adoption, I started looking for prospective parents. This was by and large the most difficult thing I had ever done and I had to be proactive in this pain. How was I
OLIVER’S BIRTHDAY supposed to choose my unborn baby’s destiny by a single decision? What if I picked the wrong couple? Questions like these riddled my mind, causing much anxiety on top of the normal challenges of pregnancy. I decided to primarily rely on word of mouth referrals of families on account of being too intimidated and distrusting of agencies. Through extensive prayer and meditation, and openness to signs/ indicators in my everyday life, I finally settled on a family just weeks before my due date. I didn’t have very specific criteria for the family - mainly that I be able to trust them and that it be an open adoption. I was finally starting to feel certainty, ready to meet my baby boy!
I can say with great joy that his birth day was the best day of my life. I had so many friends and family members gathered at the hospital anxiously waiting to celebrate Oliver’s arrival, including the two adop- tive parents. It was a very beautiful experience for everyone, especially for the adoptive parents being able to witness the birth of their first son (they had previously adopted two little girls, whose adoptions
CULTURE OF LIFE
KNIGHT LIFE 7
RETIREES The Retiree Christmas buffet lunch will be on Dec.16;
cost is $10 which includes 50/50. The Retirees, as a group, are fading away. We are not
drawing any new attendees and we are getting older with the associated consequences. At a wake for a recently deceased fellow retiree I was speaking with an old-time knight, formerly from EDW. We discussed this and he told me that the image of the Retiree when he was at EDW was someone who starts drinking at lunch and stays for the day. Maybe that was little stretch but I got his meaning.
Before our lunch group dissolves altogether I want to set the record straight. Yes, there is alcohol available and some, not all, have a drink with lunch. Possibly because we sit at the bar and the nearby tables it may appear like a drinking club. If this is what is keeping “younger” knights from attending I would hope a second thought is given to joining us before the opportunity for this social gathering with some who are the history of the council, not to men- tion the country, is no longer available.
Mike Casey
MANAGER’S CORNER Peter Silano
We at the Columbus Club wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. We had a very successful 2015 and look forward to a prosperous 2016. Thanks to all who have volunteered this past year with a wide variety of events? Without our volunteers many of these event would not be possible.
Speaking of Volunteers, I would once again like to thank Thom & Marijo Galvin and David & Shannon Nassar as well as the many, many volunteers and vendors who assist with the cooking, carving, serving, boxing, delivering, cleaning and providing the food for the numerous meals, to those homebound and those who join us here at the Columbus Club for our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. This is truly a labor of love and is reflected in the faces of those we serve and those serving.
We look forward to seeing you at our annual Breakfast with Santa on December 20, in the Main Ballroom. This event has grown through the years and we are anticipating a strong turnout this year as well.
The Supper Club is on Christmas vacation and will return on January 22, 2106.
were also open). My relationship with the couple has followed in a similar fashion: progressive, loving, and harmonious. I receive photos, email updates, and we speak on the phone multiple times a week. I have been able to visit him regularly and look forward to being there for my son and his adoptive family for the rest of my life.
What seemed at first to be a disaster turned into the biggest blessing of my life. Having this boy wouldn’t have been the same if I had to let go forever when he was born and never see him again, as most adoptions used to be. The period after his birth could be char- acterized by bouts of grief mixed with overwhelming joy and pride. I sometimes regressed, but as time went on I thought less about the moment I left the hospital without him and focused more on his exciting new daily developments. The fact of his life continues to sustain me every day. Not only do I have a concrete reason to feel good about myself and love myself because of this sacrifice, but I am overwhelmingly proud of the number of people whose hearts have been touched by him. Before I was pregnant, I often wondered if I would be successful in life, but I didn’t know how to be and I did not have any specific plans or goals. Since his birth, I have become not only a mother but a woman, focused on bettering myself and building a future every day so that one day he can be as proud of his birth mother as she is of him. My experience has shown that there is a beautiful alterna- tive to the belief that if you’re not ready to be a parent it is appropriate to abort the child. Although my life was wondrously benefited by this decision, Oliver’s depended on it. I am so in love with this handsome little man that I sometimes wonder how meaningless my days would be without his presence in the world. I am so grateful to his parents for choosing to adopt because if it weren’t for couples like them, babies like mine might be lost in the foster system or worse. Essentially, all I’m trying to say is that adoption saves more than just one life.
Suzanne Tanzi, co-chair of EDW’s Culture of Life committee, commissioned Flannery’s story for Knight Life.
CULTURE OF LIFE
KNIGHT LIFE8
Greetings! Thanksgiving has just passed and before long it will be Christmas!
I hope you found time to stop by the Twelfth Annual Halloween Party. The Old Council Home was decorated spectacularly and the costumes, as always, were fantastic. Everyone seemed to have fun, seeing old friends, checking out costumes, and dancing to Shakedown. Overall, I consider this another successful event. Please check out the photo of the winners in this issue of the Knight Life.
I want to thank everyone that helped to make this party a succes. Thanks to the Knights that moved all of the decorations down from and back to the attic. Special thanks to PGK Art Gamotis, aka “the Webmaster,” who went out of his way arranging his schedule to create magic with webbing. Also, thanks to TJ, Kenny Goss, Steve McTeague, Randy Revercomb, Aussie Steve and Bob Dannemiller for their help with decorating and clean-up.
Thanks to everyone that donated a turkey or helped with the Annual Thanksgiving event. Special thanks to Marijo and Thom Galvin and John Pfundstein, who pour their hearts and souls into organizing this wonderful event every year.
LUK is having their annual Christmas Tree Decorating event on Saturday, November 28 beginning at 7:00 p.m. As always, we are having a “pot luck” get together to kick off the Christmas season. This is a family event, so please bring your children to help with the decorations. Please bring a Christmas ornament to spruce up the tree and a snack to share.
LUK is having its annual Christmas party meeting on Thursday, December 3 @ 7:30. All LUK members (past and present), friends
LADIES U-KNIGHTED NEWS Jo Balsamo Wood
of LUK, and potential new members are welcome to attend. Ev- eryone who wants to participate in the Christmas gift exchange is asked to bring a wrapped gift worth $20. Please bring a snack (hors d’ouvre or dessert) to share. This is a great meeting for potential members to attend.
Please join Ladies U-Knighted in wishing a very happy birthday to Emily Formica (Dec 5) and to me, your LUK President, Jo Wood (Dec 24). On behalf of Ladies U-Knighted, I would like to take this time to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Blessed Christmas. Please take some time out of your busy schedules to reflect on the reason for all of these special holidays. Be safe and have fun.
HALLOWEEN 2015
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GOLF GROUP By Larry O’Brien
Because of the deluge we had on and prior to our schedule golf outing on October 5th, Forest Greens was rescheduled for October 26th and was our final outing. It was a three-layered tournament. Closest to the pins were Joe Cappello, Jeff Kempter and Bob Brevor. South Riding on October 19th had Danny Mansuy take closest to the pin. Since Forest Greens was our final outing, the K of C Golf Group would like to thank all of those who participated in our dailies and out-of-town trips, and those who supported us throughout 2015, especially Joe Cappello, George Copsey, Warren Kaufman, Lou Lane and Gene Meale. For some, it’s time to put away your golf clubs and have your ball retriever regripped.
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer, a neophyte or someone in between, it doesn’t matter. Golfers in the EDW Golf Group run the gamut.
The EDW Golf Group joined several years ago with the American Legion and Elks to form the Northern VA Golf Association. This allowed the larger group to leverage both rates and better courses that include, among others, South Riding, Reston National, The Gauntlet, Quantico Medal of Honor, Virginia Oaks, Penderbrook, Goose Creek, Pleasant Valley, Prince William, Osprey Landing, Old Hickory and West Park. There are two out- of-town trips still available for this year: our Aug. 11-13 trip to Carroll Valley, fairly close to Emmitsburg, MD, is still open until June 8. If availability closes, you can go on stand- by, should someone not be able to make it. The final trip is to Shenvalee is Sept 8-10, and the cut-off for sign-up is Aug. 15. Shenvalee is located in New Market about 97 miles from EDW.
Our daily June, 9am tee times, are: June 1 at Forest Glen, June 15 at South Riding and June 24 at Goose Creek.
Come enjoy yourself and the camaraderie of your fellow Knights in a relaxed atmosphere, pleasant surroundings, and to do so economically. In November we have a banquet where we present awards, make announcements and share stories, some of which are true.
Annual dues are $30. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to call Larry O’Brien at 703-978-5651 (evenings and weekends) or email him at [email protected]
OFFICIAL NOTICE ANNUAL MEETING COLUMBUS CLUB OF
ARLINGTON, INC. January 7, 2016
Pursuant to the by-laws of the Corporation, Article II, Section 4, this serves as notice to the membership of the annual meeting of the Cor- poration, which will be held on January 7, 2016 immediately following the 7:30 p.m. meeting of the Council.
Please make sure to attend and to arrive early if you have not yet received your 2016 KofC membership card as there are two very important matters that require a quorum to be present for approval.
First, the Corporation Budget for 2016 will be presented for membership approval.
Second, an election will be held to fill five vacancies on the Corporation Board of Directors caused by expiration of that many two-year terms.
Additionally, two members will be elected to serve as trustees of all proceeds to be realized from the Transfer of Development Rights [TDR].
The Nominating Committee reports that the following members have consented to be candi- dates for election:
Owen Beirne, Jr.* Jerry Garren*
John O’Neill III* Brett Smith
Greg Strizek* Tim Walthall*
* = current term will expire in January
If YOU are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, please contact Mike McMorrow [703.241.0894 or [email protected]], Nominating Committee Chair.
Nominations from the floor will be in order during the general meeting of the membership on December 3, 2015, as well as the Corporation annual meeting on January 7, 2016.
KNIGHT LIFE DELIVERY If you have email service we need you to reg-
ister to receive the Knight Life by email rather than by U.S. Postal Service. This will allow us to use the cost savings for charitable causes instead of overhead expenses. This is especially helpful
to us for those of you that live out of the northern Virginia region.
Please go to: bit.ly/edwsignup
It will take you 60 seconds to sign up. You can register both, husband and wife, to receive it.
If you wish to cancel the Knight Life please email a note to [email protected] or call
202 352 7955. Please do this now!
KNIGHT LIFE10
9AM to Noon
Santa will be seated on the stage when you arrive
Please bring your own camera
Omelets Cooked to Order Belgian Waffle Station
Scrambled Eggs Sausage Links
Home Style Biscuits
French toast Sticks Regular or Cheesy Grits
Fried Apples Fresh Fruit Salad
Assorted Breakfast Breads & Pastries
Fruit Cobbler Assorted Juices
Coffee, Tea or Milk
This is an all you can eat Buffet
$10.00 – Adults $5.00 – Children 10 and under Free - Children 3 and under Tax and tip included in price
KNIGHT LIFE 11
Patronize our Sponsors
(703) 534-7210
TIM MURPHY
tel: (703) 847-9671 FAx: (703) 893-6751
8451-B Hilltop Rd. • Fairfax, VA 22031
703-560-7755
IRA • Retirement Disability
Christopher M. Stio, PGK 703-585-4978
Luigi Tanzi, 240-793-7213
MURPHY FUNERAL HOMES Robert J. Murphy, Founder
Barry M. Murphy, Senior Advisor Arlington Falls Church 4510 Wilson Blvd. 1102 West Broad St. 920-4800 533-0341
(703) 352-2700
703-451-6262
Member K of C Jim Carmody
Serving Knights of Columbus Since 1986 Variety of Music • Reasonable Rates
571-248-4242 [email protected] • www.soundcenterdj.com
Let My 30 Years Experience Work for You!
HARRY WILHELM & COMPANY, PLC Certified Public Accountants
• Accounting, Bookkeeping, Payroll Services • Tax Preparation and Planning • Estate Taxes and Administration
Serving businesses and individuals. 5613 Leesburg Pike, Suite 38
Falls Church, VA 22041 www.wilhelmandcompanycpas.com
703-820-9449
CONTACT LOUIS CLEMENTE OR MARK HIGGS [email protected]
[email protected]
* Plumbing & Mechanical Contractor * General Contractor * Gas Fitting Members: NAPHCC NFIB Arlington Chamber of Commerce VA State 2705 094717A
www.caffiplumbing.com
(703) 836-6775 www.caffiplumbing.com
438 Mill St. NE Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-0341
Hair For All Seasons 6716 Whittier Ave. McLean, VA 22101 (703) 356-8844 [email protected]
Speeding Ticket? Or Worse? Injured in an auto accident? Contact Attorney Elizabeth Tuomey 703-535-5577 2045 N. 15th Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201
www.tuomeylaw.com
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Edward Douglass White Council 2473 5115 Little Falls Road Arlington, Virginia 22207-1899
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
DATED MATERIAL PLEASE EXPEDITE
DECEMBER 2015
RECRUIT A MEMBER Contact Greg Strizek VISIT EDW AT OUR WEBSITE: kofcedw2473.org
Contact Grand Knight at [email protected] KnightLife Editor at [email protected]
Club Manager E-Mail [email protected]
Burger Night 6:30 pm
Meeting CH
Rosary 12:30 CH
Rosary 12:30 CH
Spaghetti Night CH 6:30
Burger Night 6:30 pm
EDW-CCA Meetings 7:30 CFP
Spaghetti Night CH 6:30 Officers & Chairmen’s
meeting CH 7:30
with Santa 9-12 MH
Council Christmas Party 7:30 MH
Steak Night CH 6:30 pm
Rosary 12:30 CH
MC = Mary’s Circle [in front of the mansion]
Christmas Tree Decorating CH 7pm
Seafood Special CH 6:30
Seafood Special CH 6:30
Steak Night CH 6:30 pm
New Year’s Eve Party 6:30 pm
MH
Retirees CH 11am
Do you want to keep receiving the newsletter or stop receiving it?
Please see page 9