Next Exemplifications: October 13, 2018 Jackson, TN October 27, 2018 Mobile, AL October 27, 2018 D'Iberville, MS November 10, 2018 Clarksville, TN REPORT FROM VICE SUPREME MASTER MICHAEL J. PORTER October 2018 VOLUME 11 Dear Worthy District Masters, We all just returned from our Provincial meeting. What a wonderful weekend -- from the Clergy Appreciation dinner on Friday to the meeting, mass and banquet on Saturday. I appreciate the great turnout from everyone who attended. We were honored to have 3 State Deputies with us, we appreciate you taking the time to join us. Thank you to the Alabama District for hosting this year! Skip, Steve, and Pete really outdid themselves with the meeting facilities and meals. Please convey our thanks to all the members in Alabama and their wives who helped make it a special weekend. Congratulations to the Award Winners: Clergy of the Year: Father Bill Elser Hot Springs Village Assembly #2316 - Hot Springs, Arkansas Sir Knight of the Year: Mr. William (Bill) Fessler C. Mark Landry Assembly #3007 - D'Iberville, Mississippi 4th Degree Family of the Year: William & Carolyn O'Connor Bishop R.O. Gerow Assembly #554 - Jackson, Mississippi Assembly of the Year: Patrick J. Murphy Assembly #2420 - Madison, Alabama Joseph C. McCarty - Faithful Navigator District Master of the Year: Gerald E. Schmuck - District Master of Mississippi Let's take everything we learned in our meeting to bring in new 4 th Degree members, institute new Assemblies, and use our God-given gifts and talents to serve God, our communities, our Parishes, and our families. Fraternally, Mike 1
What's Happening Around the Province Arkansas District Jeff Priore, District Master Russellville Council 6398 and Assembly 2689 teamed together for the 3rd year in a row hosting a luncheon honoring First Responders in the Russellville, AR area. Knights prepared a barbecue luncheon and served a delicious meal to hundreds of area volunteers and responders. Various groups from the area entertained the gathered crowd and responders. Faithful Navigator Mark Tyler from Assembly 2081 in Morrilton accompanied the singers from St John's Catholic School in a medley of favorite Catholic Hymns. Sir Knight Tyler is the Principal at St John's. Mississippi District - The Silver Rose Pilgrimage Through District 4 Jerry Schmuck, District Master The Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose has been a Knights of Columbus tradition for 58 years. In 1960, groups of Columbian Squires in Mexico, Canada, and the United States decided to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe by carrying a rose across North America from Canada to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey, Mexico. In 2001, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, at the 119th Supreme Council Meeting in Toronto, addressed the effort in culture of life terms, referring to the Our Lady of Guadalupe - One Life, One Rose Program. He urged that it be expanded to every North American jurisdiction. The Silver Rose arrived in District 4 of the Mississippi Jurisdiction on September 15 th and ceremonies were held by Meridian Council 802, Starkville Council 6765 and Columbus Council 7974. Below is just one of the pictures. 2
What's Happening Around the Province Mississippi District Assembly #1251 - Installation Mass Jerry Schmuck, District Master Meridian s Monsignor John J. Burns Assembly #1251 4 th Degree Honor Guard was honored to participate in the Installation Mass for Father Darnis Selvanayakam as Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Philadelphia, MS on August 12 th and St. Patrick s Installation Mass for Father Augustine Palimattam as Pastor of St. Patrick and St. Joseph Parishes in Meridian, MS on September 30 th. Tennessee District Assembly #3048 - Flag Museum John Park - District Master The Morton Museum of Collierville History is hosting an opening reception for the American Flag Exhibit on September 15, 2018 from 10am to 1pm. As part of the reception, they are planning a Veteran's program called Stories of Service that will include a panel of Veterans of Foreign Wars who will share some of their memories from their time of Service. The Veterans program will begin at 11am. This event is open to the general public. Holy Cross Assembly #3048 are sponsors of the exhibit. 3
Star Assembly Award 2018-2019 Make sure your Assemblies plan to earn the Star Assembly Award for this fraternal year. As a reminder, here are the requirements for this Award. Publish and distribute to the Assembly membership a minimum of six Assembly Newsletters during the 2018-2019 fraternal year. A copy of each newsletter must also be sent (either in print or electronically) to the Vice Supreme Master at MJPKNIGHT9282@AOL.COM. Meet the Assembly s membership goal with a net gain of 10% additions over deletions. Complete and submit the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728), which is due January 31, 2019. Complete and submit to your District Master by April 30, 2019 the To Be a Patriot Award application. Earn the Civic Award by conducting a minimum of four patriotic programs during the 2018-2019 fraternal year and reporting those programs to the Supreme Master by June 30, 2019 on the Civic Award application. Complete and submit the Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#186). District Masters 2018-2019 From left to right, pictured are: Jerry Schmuck, DM Mississippi; Linda Schmuck; Jeff Priore, DM Arkansas; Lita Ducote; Don Ducote, DM Louisiana; Tasha Parrish; Pete Parrish, DM Alabama; John Park, DM Tennessee; Michael J. Porter, VSM; Center: Father Patrick Boland, State Chaplain of Arkansas. 4
4 th -Degree Training Module #11 Manual of the Sword Pt.#1 Present Sword I noticed this past weekend that most of those in the Honor Guard at mass held their sword differently. Please work with your FNs to make sure everyone presents sword the correct way. Here is how we do it. Present Sword 1. This command is used to salute with the sword. It is used when the unit is presented to the colors, to any person, or when the National Anthem or To The Colors is played. 2. The preparatory command for this order is Present. 3. At the command of execution, Sword, raise and move the sword to the front, bringing the hilt of the sword to the center of the chin with the guard flange to the front. 4. As the sword is placed at the center of the chin, allow the flat side of the blade to extend on an angle away from the face of the holder, keeping all of the swords for all of the unit consistent and in a straight line, the thumb on the grip directly behind the guard and the remaining fingers grasping the grip firmly and the right elbow resting against the body. (See Figures 14, 15 and 16.) 5
Provincial Membership Goals Here are the current membership numbers from Supreme as of September 1, 2018. District Membership Goal YTD new members Alabama 164 (164) 0% 0 Arkansas 133 (118) 11% 15 Louisiana 369 (356) 3% 13 Mississippi 127 (118) 7% 9 Tennessee 231 (229).99% 2 Totals 1,024 (958) 3.82% 39 Percentage of Provincial Goal reached: 3.82% Remember to work with your State Deputy and Ceremonials Chair to make it easy and seamless for members to move through our Degrees and Exemplifications. Our goal by November 1st is to be over 10% of our quota. 6
FORMS PAGE Here is a list of the Supreme- and Province-required forms, and when they are due. When completed, check the box so you know you're on track. Please send all forms to your District Master and copy me at MJPKNIGHT9282@AOL.COM. FORM Supreme Form - Province Form Monthly Newsletter (Star Assembly Award) DUE DATE Monthly COMPLETED? #1728 Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity January 31 #TBP-1 To Be a Patriot Award April 30 May 15 -- #990 Tax Report EZ - Due Date depends on Year End November 15 #2321 Civic Award June 30 #186 Report of Chosen Officers June 30 #1315 Annual Assembly Audit Report August 1 Sir Knight of the Year Award July 15 Family of the Year Award July 15 Assembly of the Year Award July 15 Clergy of the Year Award July 15 7
Upcoming Bienville Province Exemplifications Here is a list of the Exemplifications in the Province coming up for October and November of this fraternal year. October 13, 2018 October 27, 2018 October 27, 2018 November 10, 2018 Jackson, TN Mobile, AL D'Iberville, MS Clarksville, TN Fraternally, Michael J. Porter Vice Supreme Master Bienville Province 615/308-6777 8