The State Organizational Meeting was held Saturday, July 14, 2006 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Montgomery, Alabama. The State Deputy, Eddie Lipscomb opened the meeting by installing the District Deputies and the Alabama State Kouncil of Auxiliary Ladies of Knights of Columbus Officers for the upcoming fraternal year.

Billie Marie Rogers the President of ASK AL KC addressed the State Council members briefly outlining the purpose of ASK AL KC and it's vision for the upcoming fraternal year. She introduced the ASK AL KC officers to the State Council; Robin Barron, President Elect, Darlene Halvorson, Secretary, Nancy Long, Treasurer along with the Board Members that were present. The Ladies were dismissed to attend to ASK AL KC business and the July State Organizational Meeting was called to order.

Eddie Lipscomb in his State Deputy Report addressed the mission of the Knights of Columbus and stressed the importance of insurance, recruitment, and retention.  The meeting continued with remarks from the State Officers, State Directors, State Chairmen, and the District Duties in attendance.  Overall the meeting was very informative with Milton Larche, Membership Director outlining the membership theme for 2006 “Stars of Alabama.”

    State Deputy installs ASK AL KC officers

Eddie Lipscomb, Alabama State Deputy

Well the 124th Supreme Convention is behind us and now it is time to begin the work of the Order and the State.  I would like to thank all of those Knights and their families that joined us in Orlando this year and formed the Alabama delegation.  It was one of the largest that I remember and spoke well for our Order and the State of Alabama.  The delegation consisted of Bryant Collins, PSD (he really likes me to accent the Past part of that title) and his wife Vita, Maurice Dupont, State Secretary and his wife Penny, Ray Carney, State Treasurer and is wife Janie, Steve Koach, State Advocate and his wife Marie, Pete Parrish, State Warden and his wife Tasha and myself Eddie Lipscomb, State Deputy and my wife Patricia.

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Milton Larche, Membership Director

This fraternal year presents to us another opportunity for success. With the support and effort of all our members, we can reach yet another milestone and enroll our 8,000th member. Our family is growing and it is doing so because of the grass-root effort at the local level. We will enroll that 8,000th member this year. Our plan is simple. The first phase, which has already been given to the District Deputies for dissemination to councils, is the “Stars of Alabama” campaign. It begins immediately. The second phase, the Membership Blitz, will take place in October. The third phase will be new council and roundtable development throughout the state.

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John A. Bares, State Community Director

My name is John Bares and I am your newly appointed Community Director for the State of Alabama. I am an active member of the Council 13152 of Fort Payne. Since Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, the first principle of our Order has been charity and we have always realized that each of us has an obligation, as Catholic Christians, to engage in acts of charity ourselves. As the world’s largest lay Catholic organization, it is part of our nature, too. And over the past year we have engaged in acts of charity on a scale that is unprecedented in our history. When disaster struck the American gulf coast in the form of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we quickly mounted the greatest disaster relief effort in the history of the Order.

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Frank Y. Johnson, Pro-Life Chairman

Worthy Brothers,

As we begin this fraternal year I would like to give you some of my thoughts as Pro-Life Chairman. There are many Pro-Life causes that deserve our support as individuals and as an organization. Many of us are active at a local or parish level. I will try to keep each council aware of activities and organizations that need our support.

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Joseph E. Flaherty, III, State Vocations Chairman

Brother Knights,

My name is Joe Flaherty, III, and I am your newly appointed Vocations Chairman for the State of Alabama. I am a member of the Council 13152 and Assembly 2856 of Fort Payne. In the council, I am currently serving as Grand Knight; and in the assembly I hold the office of Faithful Admiral. I would like to take a few minutes to talk about vocations.

The life of the Knights of Columbus is forever intertwined with an attachment to and a need for the priesthood. This was Father McGivney's design, and it is our heritage.

Promotion of vocations is the continuation of his vision and work, and it is one of the best means to ensure the health and growth of our Order.

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Dan Gardner, State Squires Chairman

Last January 2006 at the State Organizational Meeting in Montgomery, I spoke about the new Squires Advancement Program that Supreme had implemented for the Columbian Squires. At that time in was in its infancy stage and materials were being researched, written, and printed. Well I have received the Counselor Guide, Squire Advancement Record, and Squire Advancement Fact Book from Supreme. I have read these books from cover to cover and I have to say I am excited about the Squire Advancement Program. I really believe that this program will bring a needed element of achievement and recognition for the Squires. Every boy and young man needs direction and guidance in their journey to manhood. The Squires Advancement Program along with dedicated Knights to guide and advise the squire will help the squire along his journey in the key areas of Home and Family, Squires and Knights, Community and Country, and most important Church.

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