Brother Knights,

I do hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday as we gave thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives. Certainly, one of my blessings is being able to associate with the gentlemen of this council. I look forward to seeing each of you at our next meeting on Thursday, 7 December, at 7:30 PM.

Our council donated a St. Vincent de Paul Thanksgiving family food box and several of the Brothers helped deliver baskets prior to Thanksgiving. I was amazed by the magnitude of this annual effort--I do not know the exact number but there were close to a thousand boxes of food passed out to needy families in our area. We also had many helpers go out on the 18th and do some fall yard cleanup for members of our parish. Thanks to all who were able to help out in these worthy causes for Charity.

The next pancake breakfast is scheduled for 17 December, immediately following the Sunday morning Mass. Brother Mike Straight is purchasing the food items and organizing the work effort. If you can't make the next meeting, call him at 336-7971 to volunteer your services. We decided at our last meeting to donate all proceeds from this event to Father Dennis to distribute to needy families in our parish.

It is time for our annual survey of fraternal activity which is due to Supreme on 31 January 2001. The survey time period is from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. Information needed is: 1. Number of visits to the sick or bereaved 2. Number of times served as a blood donor 3. Estimated hours of community service for a. Church activities b. Community activities c. Youth activities d. Miscellaneous activities and 4. Number of hours of fraternal service to sick/disabled Knights and their families. We will pass out survey forms at the next meeting and in the next newsletter. Pass all information to our Financial Secretary, Steve Haglund.

Brother Tom Donovan discovered a one night conference for dads that will be held on 6 December, 7:00-9:30 PM, at the Jordan Ballroom on the BSU Campus. This St. Joseph Covenant Keepers Conference is titled "To a Thousand Generations...Building a Legacy of Faith in Your Family" and gives relevant and practical Christian advice for fathering children and teens. Call Tom at 336-8062 or check out the website at www.dads.org/conference/boise.html for more details.

As we move forward into Advent and the Christmas season, let us be ever mindful to "keep Christ in Christmas" as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Fraternally yours,
Larry Connell, Grand Knight