2011_VA_Leotis

At the December 6 Council's membership meeting, Brother Ed Voss, a Vietnam era veteran, introduced two representatives from the Central Arkansas Veterans Health System (CAVHS) in Little Rock - Leotis Nichols and Nakia Williams.  Both individuals are members of a Care Management Team involved with Operation Endurance Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). 

The Team can assist vets with: 1) completing a onetime post-deployment health risk assessment; 2) helping with issues related to deployment injuries or illnesses; 3) helping navigate the VA system; 4) performing courtesy visits with OEF-OIF veterans who are hospitalized; and, 5) providing outreach activities to military units throughout Arkansas.

Pictured with Sister Noeline, Assistant Principal at St John's, are Milt Spaniel (l) and John Bodensteiner

The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council has sponsored a 'Coats for Kids' program since 2009 during which time over 40,000 coats have been given to the needy in the United States and Canada.  This fraternal year, the officers of Council 10208 decided to get involved and promote it as their primary program in the Youth category.  Program Director Jim Passe was assigned responsibility for its implementation.

The coats come from a Supreme supplier in cases of twelve with the same color and gender with a mix of sizes.  Each case is $195 and Supreme pays 50% of the shipping charges.  As an additional incentive for Councils to participate, those which purchase and distribute eight cases in a fraternal year will meet the Columbian/Star Council requirement for the Youth category. 

Working with Jim Passe were John Bodensteiner and Ed Keearns.  Given his frequent contacts with area school counselors on Village Outreach projects, Ed quickly identified three schools (Fountain Lake, Jessieville, and Mountain Pine) that would each distribute two cases of coats to their needy families.  John contacted the principal at St John's, who also wanted to participate.  The 96 coats have already been distributed to the four schools, just in time for the cold weather covering Central Arkansas.

Although discussed, but not approved, during the original budget discussions by the officers and directors last June, this project will be funded primarily by three new sources of income: 1) profit from the November Memorial Mass and Banquet coordinated by Dick Breckon; 2) the Wisconsin Cheese Sales project being promoted by Cheesehead Ed Miller; and, 3) 50% of a $1,000 Walmart community award recently obtained by grant writer Milt Spaniel.

This successful program is another fine example of how the local council is meeting its stated charitable objectives.   

Billboard on SR 70 east of Hot Springs

In a financial collaboration with two other District 10 Councils, Benton and Hot Springs, Council 10208 has coordinated the installation of three highway billboards promoting the message - Keep Christ in Christmas.  This is the third year that the local council has been involved with this project.  In 2009, it had one on SR 7 east of Hot Springs.  Last year in cooperation with Benton there were two with one displayed on I-30 and another on SR 5 in Bryant.  This year there are three billboards.

The billboards with a navy blue background have the same format and message with each council identified as a sponsor with the 3rd Degree emblem.  They are located as follows: on I-30 eastbound before exit 126; on SR 70 westbound east of Hot Springs, midway between Westinghouse Drive and Magic Springs (by Arkansas Light and Power); and, SR 7 eastbound near Fountain Lake schools and across from Sonic.

While Council 10208 remains the primary financial sponsor for this project, involving the other two councils allows for broader coverage of this important message to combat the increasingly materialistic view of Christmas.