Brothers,
I would like to thank all of you for your support in my first year as Grand Knight. I have learned a lot in this last year.
Just before I took on this role, our council had experimented with our first “event” in a few years, an after-mass coffee social, to knock the rust off. In the year since I took office, we have held 2 golf tournaments, several back-to-school BBQ’s, Newman House BBQ, Fish Fry, Degree Team exemplification at St Mary’s Cathedral, First Communion Rosary presentations, several end of year BBQ’s, school awards at 5 schools, and a Multi-Cultural Food Festival. And I’m probably missing things too.
There is a great amount of planning that goes into each of these events, some more than others, and getting back on track after years of lockdown has not been easy. Everything we’ve done has essentially been a new event. We could not gauge the numbers that we would see as it has been so long since the last time, we held similar events, and we also didn’t know how people would react. Would they keep 6 ft distances, would they wear masks, would they even come? Well, they came! And without your help in these events, they would not have happened.
This coming fraternal year we need you more than ever. We have events lined up but will need help organizing and staffing them. The groundwork is largely laid out now, so that makes things a bit easier, but we need members who have not been out in a while to come back into the fold. Your help is always welcome and ap-appreciated. It has been a very busy year and it is only going to continue to stay busy.
Remember that we are an order based on Charity, Unity, and Fraternity. Our foremost principal is Charity. So please be charitable with your time and abilities assisting your council and parish where help is needed. Thank you to everyone who helped throughout the year in any capacity — you have made this council a tremendous success. And thank you for supporting me. I am still learning and will make mistakes, so I ask that you please keep me in your prayers.
God bless you all.
Vivat Jesus!
Ryan Polywkan
Grand Knight