All posts by Fred Struck

Hello, My name is Fred Struck. I live in Sacramento California. I am a member of St. George Melkite-Greek Catholic Church where I am know as Reader Fred. I have been the Reader at St. George's since 1988. I am also a Past Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus Sacramento Council 953.
Council, Membership

Second & Third Degree Exemplification

District Deputy Eric Watson and Our Lady of Grace Council 9469 are hosting a 2nd and 3rd Degree Exemplification on Saturday, September 10 2016 at Our Lady of Grace School, 1990 Linden Road, West Sacramento, CA 95691. The schedule of events is as follows:

9:00 am    Registration for 2nd and 3rd Degree
9:50 am    2nd Degree registration closes
10:00 am Exemplification of the 2nd Degree
11:00 am  Lunch (Menu: Smoked pork ribs, coleslaw, corn, potato salad)
11:45 am   3rd Degree registration closes
12:30 pm  Exemplification of the 3rd Degree

Cost: For both degrees is $25 and includes lunch. Cost for 2nd Degree only is $10 or 3rd Degree only is $16. For sponsors and guests, lunch is $14. Dress code will be strictly enforced. Candidates must be properly dressed in collared sport shirt and slacks for either exemplification. No blue jeans, shorts or T-Shirts are allowed. Cell phones and cameras will not be allowed in the Exemplification Chamber. For more

Council, Events

Another Fantastic Tri-Tip Dinner!

Our team hit a home run on Saturday, August 27, 2016 with a wonderful group of workers and supportive friends that came to the dinner.

I want to thank our kitchen crew of David Carboni, Dick Claflin, and Steve Mills. Peter and Anthony Piccardo prepared the fabulous Tri Tip Bar B Q with samplers in the parking lot during the happy hour. The weather was mild and many of our friends mingled around the Bar B Q and viewed the Model A car show in the front parking lot.

Peggy Piccardo organized the Christo Rey High School servers. Our set up crew consisted of Larry Schneider, Jerry Cassidy, Lewis Munos, Grey Wolf, And Dr. Lee Brown. Dr Lee Brown, a member of St. Mary’s parish donated all the items for the silent auction. I encourage everyone to support our generous East Sacramento donors.

PGK Al Piccardo

Community

St. Mary’s Parish Festival

Be sure to mark Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 on your calendar for the annual St. Mary’s festival. The festival’s traditional date was moved from mid August to accommodate the start of the school year, but is still the same festival you’ve enjoyed in years past. While there have been some changes, most of the events and food booths you’ve seen before will return and will include new ones such as a car show, a corn hole tournament, food trucks and video game truck. As usual, there will be a festival raffle with great prizes; if you are a St. Mary’s parishioner, you can pick up raffle book following the weekend masses at the church or if you’re not a parishioner or would like to purchase additional tickets, please contact Mary Willet at mary@sacramentohomes.net. So, be sure to come and enjoy the festival on its new date and, hopefully, lower temperatures as well.

Insurance

The Pitfalls of Replacing Coverage

You know the old saying, “The grass seems greener on the other side of the fence,” but we all know that it rarely is. The same holds true when it comes to replacing your existing Knights of Columbus life insurance with coverage offered by another company. Perceptions are deceiving. A move to the “greener” grass on the other side of the fence might seem like a good one, but it can leave you with less green in your wallet — in some cases, a lot less. That’s why it pays to remember another old adage, “Read the fine print.”

There are many reasons to keep your existing coverage in force, whether that coverage is with the Knights of Columbus or with another company. I’ll focus on the potential pitfalls of replacing coverage here — pitfalls that an agent trying to convince you that the grass actually is greener might neglect to mention.

First, all life insurance contracts contain a contestability period, which allows the insurer to contest claims made for a period — typically two years — after the contract is issued. Chances are this is no longer an issue with your current coverage.

Second, it’s unlikely that you can obtain the same amount of coverage, for the same premium, that you were able to obtain with your existing contract. The two factors that determine how much you’ll need to pay for life insurance coverage are age and health. Certainly, you’re older now than you were when you took out your current coverage. There’s no way around that. And you have to ask yourself, has your health changed during that time? Is your blood pressure the same? Your cholesterol? Have you gained weight? All these factors can affect the amount of coverage you’ll get for your premium dollar.

If someone encourages you to replace — or worse, drop — your existing coverage, please call me. I’ll show you how your existing coverage is working for you and why replacement is rarely in your best interest.

Fraternally,
Philip De Leon (CA License #OK63623)
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com

Council, Grand Knight

Grand Knight’s Message, August 2016

Bryan McKrell Grand KnightMy Brother Knights and Families:

Working on the budget this month was a great reminder of how many good things we contribute to as a group throughout the year. We help children to learn and compete at basketball, visit their parents who are incarcerated, and attend college. We help mothers in need of assistance, young men on their journey to the priesthood, people who desperately need health care, and numerous families in search of vital food. We help Brother Knight’s who need assistance, international relief efforts, and several parishes who are able to benefit from our volunteer man hours. And it is through the fulfillment of these pursuits that we are able to socialize, bond, and continue to strengthen our relationships as a fraternal order.

If you are reading this, but have not attended a Knight’s meeting in some time, it is probably a good sign that you still care. Whether you can make it to a dinner, or a meeting on the second Thursday of the month, these alone are not the only way to be an active member of our Council. In the months of August and September you could help the Council, yourself, and our community by participating in any number of the following:

  • Attending, volunteering, setting up, or merely mentioning to your friends and colleagues our first big fundraising dinner of the year on August 27th – The Tri-Tip Dinner! Even donating a raffle prize goes a long way.
  • Attending, volunteering, setting up or merely mentioning to your friends and colleagues our second big Fundraiser coming up on September 24th – Mexican Night which is benefiting Clara’s House!
  • Volunteering at the Zippy Bun booth at the St. Mary’s Parish Festival on September 25th

Plus we have our regular dinner and business meeting on August 11th and September 8th. And if August and September are not the right time, then stay tuned because we are going to try and paint the Hall as a group in the month of October which should not only be hard work, but I’m sure a day full of laughs and probably a few mishaps.

And if the Knights can be of any help to you or your family, please don’t hesitate to call or write.

Most Sincerely,
Bryan McKrell
Grand Knight, Council 953

Community, Council

2016 Mexican Night Fundraiser

The Knights of Columbus Council #953 are pleased to announce that proceeds from our upcoming Mexican Night fundraising dinner will support Clara’s House. Clara’s House is a small primary care nurse practitioner clinic in Sacramento that provides compassionate, comprehensive healthcare to those most in need including the uninsured and homeless. You can read more about this important Catholic health ministry at their website: http://clarashouse.org/.

The dinner will be Saturday, September 24, 2016. There is a social hour at 6:00 pm and dinner starts at 7:00 pm. This will be an authentic Mexican dinner in true fiesta spirit. The meal features carnitas, rice and beans, hot tortillas, chips and salsa, and house-made guacamole. There will be Raffle Prizes for adults and a Piñata for the kids. Prices are $20 for Adults — $10 for Children 12 and under. Children three and under are free. Dinner is served at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 5961 Newman Ct., Sacramento, CA 95819. Make reservations by calling Greg Wolfe at 916-457-7329 or through email at gwolfejf@gmail.com. Pay at the door that night.