Special thanks to Deputy Grand Knight Bill Nosek for personally calling most of the thirty-two 1st degree knights in our council and for arranging the transportation to Conway.  Thanks also to Scott Krantz for the photo.

Note the photo: in the back row is the supporting cast (l-r): Tony Cifelli, Bill Nosek, Scott Krantz, Dan Murphy, and Bill Ligon.  In the front row are the new 3rd degree knights (l-r): Jack Eatinger, Ken Buch, Gordon Wilson, Fred Jungers, Roger Witcraft, Bud Campbell, and Dennis Sisson (new knights in italics). 

Executive Director and CEO of Special Olympics - Arkansas Terri Weir addressing the knights

After praying the rosary and enjoying a great meal of venison chili, the meat for which was donated by the Donnie Miller family and Ron Boudreaux, the knights had a full meeting with a guest speaker and a 1st Degree Exemplification.

Knights of Columbus State Director Dub Green introduced Terri Weir, the new Executive Director and CEO of Special Olympics of Arkansas.   She was accompanied by Rex French and Sawyer Ramsey, two young men who had just started in their positions with the organization.   Terri emphasized that Special Olympics is not just important to the athletes, but to the families and communities as well.  "Community building is the pillar of Special Olympics." 

Each year there is a theme for the event.  Terri chose the 2013 theme as Revealing the Champion.  It is important to note that the champions are not only the athletes, but all the people involved, because they are all affected in a good and positive manner by the experience.

Responding to a question from a knight, Terri stated that it is "hard to describe the impact of the Knights of Columbus upon Special Olympics - Akansas, because it is so significant."  Another question had to do with expenses for the athletes with the response that all expenses for the athletes in all competitions are covered, including international travel.  Expenses for families are covered in local competitons with other situations examined on a case-by-case basis.

Arkansas Law Enforcement is involved with bringing the Flame(s) of Hope from the four corners of the state to the Capitol, where one is taken to Harding University.  Last year it arrived by helicopter.  The officers are also involved in presenting the awards.

New knights pictured following their exemplifcation (l-r): Dennis Sissan, Ken Buch, Gordon Wilson, Bud Campbell, and Roger Witcraft.

Participation by bikers is a recent devlopment, and it totaled 267 last year.  "Olympians love the bikes."  Arkansas' first lady, Mrs. Beebe, may lead the the bikers this year, if security can be properly implemented.

A 1st Degree Exemplification was conducted for seven candidates with two from Hot Springs and five from Hot Spring Village.  Council 10208 welcomed Ken Buch, Bud Campbell, Dennis Sisson, Gordon Wilson, and Roger Witcraft.  The exemplification team consisted of Roy Anderele (Mena), Bill Patterson, Tom Yerina, Gerald Krawczynski, Mike Kerwin, Mike Frantz, and Buddy Dixon.   Following the meeting, Deputy Grand Knight Bill Nosek was making arrangements for the new knights to attend a 2nd/3rd Exemplification in Conway on Sunday.

2013 Montserrat Retreat Resized

The annual retreat to the Montserrat Retreat House in Lake Dallas TX was again coordinated by Church Director Tom Yerina, who schedules it a year in advance with the Jesuits.  It begins on Palm Sunday evening and concludes at noon on Tuesday.

This year the Retreat Director was Father John Payne assisted by Father Edd Salazar.  There were five prayer conferences with time between sessions for private prayer, meditation, and private conferences.  Two masses, including a healing mass, stations of the cross, and a reconciliation service were also an integral part of the retreat.

There were 29 knights in attendance, including: Jim Anderson, John Bodensteiner, Bob Bowman, Bob Brandt, Jaime Cardenas, Ed Doyle, Jim Dyar, Bill Hartnett, Bob Honzik,  Ken Huber, Wayne Kapple, Mike Kerwin, Bob Kindelsperger, Scott Krantz, Gerald Krawczynski, Al Kuhn, Chuck MacDonald, Bill Maher, Mike Miller, Art Morissette, Dan Murphy, Bill Nosek, Milt Spaniel, Phil Stephenson, Carl Suttor, Tom Thornton, Mike Welsh, Tom Yerina, and Marvin Young. 

In addition to the knights, there were Sacred Heart of Jesus parishioners Bud Campbell, Terry Geske, and Don Ritter.  Other retreatants were Tom Kochtanek (Bob Brandt's son in law) from Columbia MO, Bob Earhart and Stan Wang from Texas, and Gary Johnson from Illinois.

The food was plentiful, but in contrast to previous years, the weather was a bit chilly and kept the retreatants inside most of the time.   

First Step in Hot Springs has

In December, Grand Knight Bill Roe (l) and CPID Co-Chair Milt Spaniel presented Namcy Baxter with a check from the 2012 Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

been an annual recipient of funds raised in Council 10208's Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities.  At the March 5 membership meeting, Ann Baxter addressed the knights to update them on the services of their beneficiary which received $2,650from the 2012 Campaign.

While First Step occupies two square blocks in Hot Springs with its main office located at 407 Carson Street, it also has facilities in six other Arkansas communities, including Malvern, Fordyce, Glenwood, Mt. Ida, Sparkman, and Hamburg.

Having started in 1958 as the Garland County Association for Retarded Children with one teacher and seven students, First Step offers "multiple programs and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Early intervention is its forte!  On the recommendation from a physician, the staff can evaluate and advise a course of action to help achieve the best possible results."  Services include school (preschool and regular), therapy, adult, and supported living (personal care, home care, and case management).   

With a staff of 1,000 full- and part-time employees, it serves 1,900 clients from a 27-county area.  It is a private, non-profit organization that does not receive any state or federal support.  However, many of the clients do receive state and federal financial assistance to pay First Step for its services.

First Step "rewards individuals for reaching their goals.  That's why First Step rings with shouts of laughter of kids playing, discovering, and growing...it is a world of adults, who, like other adults, are learning life skills necessary for productive and independent living."

Pam Bland, Executive Director of First Step states, "We are committed to helping ordinary families faced with extraordinary circumstances get the help they need."