Your Council 3414 Youth Activities Team is working to help our membership exert more positive and constructive influence on our young people. It is important to become more involved with them. As members of Council 3414 and parents, we can pay more attention to what our children are saying and doing. The first of four programs that we sponsor annually for our youth is fast approaching.

The Council 3414 Soccer Challenge is scheduled for September 9, 2012 at St.

Pius X High School. The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is a competition designed for players to demonstrate the most basic soccer skill - the penalty kick. Open to all boys and girls in our community, ages 10-14, where each player will be allowed 15 shots at the goal from the penalty line (12 yards from the goal). Winners progress to the district, regional, state and international levels.

Last year, this exciting event attracted youth from our community and was great fun for our volunteers to work. We hope to see many more participants at St.

Pius X High School this year.

Bill Stump

Knights of Columbus

Tri-County Council 3414

Youth Activities Chairman

(816) 436-7145

A Prayer for Nellie Gray

Father of Life,
You have created each human being
To reflect your glory
From the moment of fertilization.

You have also planted in our hearts
The awareness that no human power
Can authorize the taking
Of a single human life.

You have stirred the hearts of your people
To respond to evils like the holocaust
And you have awakened their consciences
To likewise battle the evil of abortion.

We thank you for the pro-life movement
And for all its leaders.
We thank you for the life and example
Of Miss Nellie Gray

And for the work she did
In leading the Annual March for Life
And reminding us all
About the Life Principles which shape our movement.

Lord, give us new strength.
Bring us together in greater unity.
Give success to the work of our hands
As we defend every preborn child.

May we speak and pray,
May we write and march,
May we lobby and vote,
And may we see the victory of life!

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Four parts of retirement: Phase One

In the next four articles, I would like to discuss a goal that's on many workers' radar: retirement. To some, retirement is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or the reward after a long career. It's a time to relax, take up a hobby and enjoy life. Whether retirement is just around the next corner or if you have another 30 years to go, it's never too soon or too late to start planning or revise that plan.

Some experts suggest that there are four phases of retirement: protection, accumulation, income de-accumulation and care. In this article, I will tackle protection.

Protection is the base element of any well-founded financial plan; the base of the pyramid, for example. Without basic protection against premature death or the inability to earn income due to disability, the remainder of the pyramid collapses. If you own mutual funds and die without life insurance, those funds will be needed to pay final expenses (collapsing), perhaps at the most inopportune time (after a market correction). If you own mutual funds and lose your ability to earn income due to disability and are without paycheck protection, those funds will be needed in order to pay living expenses (collapsing), perhaps at the most inopportune time (is there ever an opportune time?).

So, basic protection is a must. The good thing is that this protection is offered by the Knights of Columbus. Our whole life products and disability income insurance are designed with this goal in mind. For example, our Life Paid Up at 65 plan is perfect for this purpose because premium payments end right when retirement is upon you. There are many other options that I can discuss with you that will fit your needs and your budget.

A newer addition to our product portfolio, disability income insurance protects your most valuable asset: your ability to work and earn money. Plans can be customized and are available to cover many professions, from farmers to lawyers.

Once you've established the proper protection, the next phase is accumulation of cash, which I will discuss in a future article.

Contact me to learn more.