Council News

KNIGHT RIDER

4th DEGREE

Anyone interested in joining the 4th Degree should send in their applications now. Applications can be brought to a meeting or mailed to the Council.

BIRTH OF A NEW TRADITION

Here is something to think about this Christmas Season.

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans should give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon, or barber?

Gym or yoga club membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned detail shops, and car washes, would love to sell you a gift certificate, or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. Or even a local masseuse!

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Many are available, reasonabley, at your nearest State Park.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play, or ballet, at your hometown theater?

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand foreign-made lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy, or delivery person, and babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets and seeing our hard-earned wages go outside the country. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities ....and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Enjoy family get-togethers, church services, caroling, as in past Christmases ....but put more emphasis on the REASON FOR THE SEASON .....and less on material gifts.

CHRISTMAS POEM

Let's try to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan and submitted by Brother Jim Kelly a Korean Veteran.

Around The Corner

Around the corner I have a friend
In this great city that has no end
Yet days go by, and weeks rush on
And before I know it a year is gone
And I never see my old friend's face
For life is a swift and terrible race
He knows I like him just as well
As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine, we were younger then
And now we are busy, tired men
Tired with playing a foolish game
Tired with trying to make a name
Tomorrow, I say, "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him"
But tomorrow comes -- and tomorrow goes
And the distance between us grows and grows

Around the corner ! -- yet miles away ........
Here's a telegram, sir .... "  Jim Died Today. "

And that's what we get, and deserve in the end
Around the corner, a vanished friend

(Reprinted from The Knight Rider Jan 2001)

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About St. Anastasia Council #5911 - Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29 year old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic Church.

The Order has been called the "the strong right arm of the Church" and has been praised by Popes, Presidents, and other world leaders, for support of the Church.

St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911 was chartered by Supreme Council in 1966. We are committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. In our council you will find brother Knights working to fulfill the central mission of the Order: striving in charitable works; serving the Church and unified in following its teachings; supporting brother Knights in their temporal and spiritual needs; acting for the good of their country, and giving aid to widows, orphans, the sick, and the poor.

Following are some of the organizations/groups we support:

• St. Mary's Hospital for Children;
• Father McGivney Home for Children and Yound Adults;
• St. Anastasia RC Church;
• St. Anastasia RC School;
• Little Neck/Douglaston Ambulance Corps.;
• Little Neck/Douglaston Annual Memorial Day Parade;
• Jamiaca Outreach Project; and
• Catholic Charities.

This is Father McGivney's dream, echoing across the century, and living today in the hearts of his brothers and all those they touch.

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Council Officers

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2011-2012 Meeting Schedule

All meetings are held at St. Anastasia Annex located at 244-02 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY.

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Calendar of Events

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Membership Information

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practical Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and precepts of the Church.

All priests and religious brothers having duly made application for membership and participated in the ceremonials become honorary life members of the Order.

Candidates take part in initiation degrees that explain the Knights of Columbus' four principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.

A candidate is considered a "Knight" after taking his First Degree, but he is encouraged to advance through the Second and Third Degrees and on to the Fourth Degree, whose members promote the virtue of patriotism by serving in honor guards, color corps, and promoting respect for country and the flag.

As our Grand Knight, Fred Bedell stated during a meeting, "To sqash evil, you must get involved.".

If you are interested in joining St. Anastasia Council #5911 Knights

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