Greetings Brothers,
Welcome to the February edition of the Cross and Compass. I hope this newsletter finds you and your family doing
well. It is hard to believe we are in February already but you sure can tell as our Council is in high gear and has a lot
going on. Is it just me, or does it seem to be a colder winter this year? I typically only need my winter clothes for 3
days or so, but this year those clothes have now been washed many times. Brrr, I don’t like the cold. Everyone up
north thinks I’m crazy when I tell them I’m freezing and it's 50 or 60 degree’s outside. At least it didn’t snow, but it
sure felt like it was freezing outside. Let’s hope it starts warming up or I’m going to need to buy more warm clothes. I
guess old man winter got a little cold himself so he decided to drop a little further south this year. Let’s hope he stays
further north next year.
Our Council had a very busy January starting out with the Pancake Breakfast on January 5th. Attendance was
slightly lower because of the holidays, but they still raised a lot of money for the kitchen renovation project and for the
seminarians we support. Thanks George and Kitchen TEAM!!! We also had our monthly Blood Drive and Food
Drive that were once again great successes. Thanks Eric and Paul and your TEAMS for your continued hard work.
We are also in the middle of our annual Tootsie Roll drive with another drive next weekend. Thank you to Bob
Burhoe and everyone that has signed up to help this worthy cause. The Tootsie Roll Drive is a yearly fundraiser that
raises money for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the money we raise stays here in Venice
as we support 3 local charities with the donations we receive.
February is lining up to be another busy month for us as we have Breakfast with Brothers on February 4 (See
Website), Pancake Breakfast on February 9, Food Drive on Feb 22 and 23, and our Recruitment Drive on February
22 and 23. We also have the Free Throw Contest for our youth on February 2. All of these events need volunteers
to help make them a success. A strong council is built on faith, fraternity, and action. I invite every Brother Knight to
extend an invitation to a fellow Catholic man to join our order. Let’s continue to grow in service and unity! If you feel
called to help out and are able to help, your support would greatly be appreciated. Please sign up for one of the slots
when you receive the sign up email. Volunteering at one of these events is a great way to meet fellow Knights as well
as meet a lot of our fellow parishioners. I’ve spoken to several new Knights and they said signing up helped them to
meet so many people and they are making new friends. It really is fun to volunteer, and double bonus, you meet a lot
of great people and it helps expand your community. It’s amazing what being a Knight can do for you spiritually and
personally.
Mark Crews has officially been appointed as our new Financial Secretary. Brother Bill Szyper will continue to help
Mark during the transition period. Congrats Mark on your appointment and thanks Bill for what you did! I’m sure Bill
Morris is very proud of you both for what you have done. I heard the William Samual Morris IV Scholarship Fund is
fully funded at $40,000. What an amazing achievement, and many thanks to everyone that donated. These funds
will help 4 of our youth with a $1,000 scholarship for the next 10 years and beyond.
Finally, February is a significant month in our faith. We begin with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on
February 2, followed by the Feast of St. Blaise on February 3, where we pray for protection from illness. February 11
marks the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a reminder of God’s healing grace.
I look forward to seeing you at Mass or our next meeting on February 12 starting at 5:30 with the Rosary, followed by
dinner and our monthly meeting. See you there. Again, THANK YOU for your commitment to our mission. May God
bless you and your families abundantly this month.
Vivat Jesus!
Rick Kuertz, Grand Knight 