Brother Knights,

          I want to thank all  those Knights who participated in the Gladfest Parade, ID booth, and our annual Tootsie Roll drive a few weeks ago.  By volunteering your time and effort,

you make a difference in our community and for those in need.  A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Fred O'Halloran, Steve Roth, and  Henry Biggs  for leading these events. 

        Bingo is the primary fundraiser for our Council.  We have been blessed some brother Knights who have stepped forward to lead our four Bingo teams .  We (as a Council)

now need to find a new team leader for the Blue Team.  Please consider this opportunity. Contact  the GK if interested.

A few events/dates to remember:

• 2nd & 3rd Degree NOV 4 - Raytown Council Hall  
• ELECTION DAY!  NOV 6       Get out and vote!
• 1st Degree 7:00PM  Nov  6 (followed by the general meeting)  
• Memorial Mass (St Gabriel's)  Nov  20   6:00 PM-7:30PM
• Children's Halloween Party (at the Hall)  2:00PM-4:00PM
• Ladies  Aux.  Brisket Dinner(at the Hall)  Nov 11  4:00PM-6:60PM

    Please congratulate our October 2012 Knight of the Month :  Steve Roth    

    Remember to exercise your right to vote !   Nov  6

Vivat Jesus,

While the weather was cold and windy for the Gladfest Parade earlier this month, we had 20 plus die-hard Brother Knights and Sir Knights braving the cold and admirably representing the Knights of Columbus.  Attendance at the parade was light, but the response from the crowd for our organization was outstanding and heartwarming.  The announcer made a big deal out of the activities we do locally and nationally. 

Our next event is the Snake Saturday Parade in March.  We want to make some changes to our presentation and would appreciate input from all members.  We typically earn our entry fee back and a bonus of $50.  Category winners in the Snake Saturday Parade can earn up to $2,000 for their entries.  Lee Fox had a great idea about utilizing the trailer for some of our members who can't walk as far.  We would be able to have more members in the parade and also honor the veterans amongst us at the same time.  Ideas and input will be appreciated.

In the coming months we will be asking for assistance for a work day.  The boat and trailer need some work and will be looking for help in bringing these up to  speed. 

Tootsie Rolls went well, thanks to all of our volunteers.

Please pray for Fr. Joe while he is away on sabbatical

MEMORIAL MASS:  November 20th is the annual council memorial mass.  This year it will be held at St. Gabriel Parish at 6pm.  We pray for our deceased members and invite their widows to join us for the special remembrance and light refreshments afterwards.  Please try to attend. 

Thanks,

Since 1972, local councils have sponsored the Knights of Columbus International Free Throw Championship for boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14.

The Council 3414 Basketball Free Throw competition will be held January 13, 2013

at 2:00 pm at St. Pius X High School.

Bishop John Barres of Allentown, PA, a former collegiate basketball player at

Princeton University, is a strong supporter of the Free Throw Championship. He

sees the focus and discipline required to achieve athletic excellence as being

valuable in the faith formation and character development of young people. In

addition, healthy competition helps young people to handle both good fortune and

adversity with grace and dignity.

To view a short video of Bishop Barres discussing the virtues of both the Free

Throw Championship and the Soccer Challenge,

visit http://www.kofc.org/un/common/video/bplayer.html?id=1230110244001 

Bill Stump

Knights of Columbus Council 3414

Youth Activities Chairman

USCCB Responds To Inaccurate Statement Of Fact On HHS Mandate Made During Vice Presidential Debate

 October 12, 2012

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows:

Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:

"With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution-Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital-none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact."

This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious employers." That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to "Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital," or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.

HHS has proposed an additional "accommodation" for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as "non-exempt." That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation "to pay for contraception" and "to be a vehicle to get contraception." They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.

USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate.

 _______________________________________

As Catholic Gentlemen is is your DUTY & OBLIGATION to keep informed of all the issues that drive the debates in this volatile election season.

A very disturbing statistic I recently heard was that ONLY 28% of PRACTICING Catholics actually follow the teachings of OUR CATHOLIC CHURCH!

You are either CATHOLIC or you're NOT...

which are you?

Growth is our duty

I am a dedicated Knight, as are all of you who read this column. As the insurance agent for your council, my role as a Knight is somewhat different than yours. My goal is to meet with each of my assigned members at least once every two years to make sure their insurance needs are covered. In addition to this, I have a number of smaller goals that help me accomplish my main one. Among these is the need to recruit new members.

I want to help this council achieve the coveted Star Council Award. I want all the eligible Catholic males in the area to become Knights so they and their families can be part of this great Order. To that end, I am here to help this council with its recruiting efforts.

Remember, most men who could join but haven't yet are merely waiting to be asked. They likely do not know about the many good deeds done by the Order and its members on an annual basis. It is our job to ask them and tell them that with minimal commitment, they too could be Knights.

I make my living and support my family by talking about the Order and the benefits of membership. I would be more than happy to speak with any potential candidates, especially those who may be right under your nose. Is your father, brother, cousin or neighbor a member? How about the man sitting in the next pew at Mass? Strike up a conversation and see where it goes.

To fulfill Father McGivney's vision is our goal. Growing the Order and educating all members about the benefits of being an insured member is the way to do it.