Fam of Month July18

Ron became a member of our council soon after he and Pat moved to the Village in 1997. Ron is serving his second year as our council Warden. In this position, he is responsible for all council property, meeting set-up and tear-down, and refreshment center supplies. The council storeroom used to resemble McGee’s closet, but under Ron’s strong management, it’s a model of neatness and efficiency. On meeting nights, Ron is the first to arrive and last to leave. Over the years, Ron has chaired or co-chaired several events such as the Mardi Gras and New Years Eve parties. Pat and Ron are both members of our Perpetual Adoration team. Pat is a longtime member of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart. She was head of her St. Mary’s Guild and served as LOSH secretary for two years. Pat spent two years on the Parish Council’s Parish Life committee. She also serves on the altar decorating committees for Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter and Christmas. Pat says that one of her most rewarding activities is volunteering for five weeks every summer teaching children how to swim at the Fitness Center pool. When I look at all these accomplishments, it blows my mind that the Cubas have never been selected as our Family of the Month. Tonight we’re rectifying that oversight. Let’s hear it for the Pat and Ron!

Knight of the Month Steve Schramer

Steve is the “Swiss Army Knife” of our Council. He does it all! He runs our refreshment center.  He does set-up and clean-up for our parish breakfasts.  He is active in Food for Seniors Program, ushers at the 5:00 o’clock Mass, helps in our annual CPID fundraising drive and does Meals-on-Wheels. Steve has also served as a council officer a number of times. Let’s hear it for our July Knight of the Month, Steve Schramer!

2018 Junior Golf1

On the 21st anniversary of the Junior Golf program in the Village, Walter Free and Milt Spaniel presented a $500 donation check from the Knights of Columbus to Jack Barry for their Junior Golf Scholarship Fund. This year, 71 Junior golfers participated in the 2018 program. KofC Council 10208 supports this program annuallyboth financially and with volunteers helping with instruction and escorting they golfers on their play day.

Roy Anderle and Fr. Bill Elser

Worthy Chaplain Fr. Elser was recognized by the Arkansas KofC State Deputy, Roy Anderle, for his work and impact as the Knights of Columbus Arkansas State Chaplain.  Fr. Elser was the State Chaplain for nearly a decade.

Congratulations Worthy Chaplain Elser!

June 2018 Family of the Month - Michael and Anne Downes

The Family of the Month for June are Michael and Anne Downes.  I think you all know that Brother Bob Honzik recently spearheaded a program that collected comfortable chairs for the newly-refurbished rooms in Fletcher Hall, the diocesan retreat center in Little Rock.  More than 40 of these large pieces of furniture were donated.  One problem: How do we get them to Little Rock?  Here’s where Michael and Anne stepped in.  They are owner/operators of Village Movers and they donated their truck and their own labor to get the chairs to Fletcher Hall.  This was a huge project and, as Bob said, we couldn’t have gotten it done without them.

By the way, Village Movers has helped us on similar projects many times over the years. Michael became a Knight in 1995 and has served as a council officer.  Michael and Anne are both members of the Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation.  Anne is a registered nurse and a member of our Perpetual Adoration Team. 

June 2018 Knight of the Month - Lanny Mabus

Lanny Mabus is a tireless worker for his church, his community and his council.  Here are some of the activities he’s involved in: Lanny ushers at the Saturday evening Masses and serves on the Parish Liturgy Commission as the usher coordinator.  He is a perpetual adorer on Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00.  Once a month, he and Kathy make sandwiches and serve the homeless at the Salvation Army.  At least twice a year he delivers food for seniors in Hot Springs.  Quarterly, he prepares food and serves it at St. Francis House for homeless vets in Little Rock.  Lanny travels over 3,000 miles a year doing volunteer work. 

He is a member of the Woodworkers Club and coordinates their bookcase program.  In three local schools, children who read above their grade level are rewarded with a hand-made bookcase, complete with a personalized name plate.  Lanny and his guys have built 53 of these bookcases already this year!  His latest project for the church is the beautiful shelf on the front of the ambo on the altar.  When you’re enjoying your burger tomorrow at our parish picnic, it will have been cooked on our new 8-burner grille that was assembled by Mike Frantz and, you guessed it, Lanny Mabus.