FIRST STAR ON THE RIGHT: 2000 Here We Come

Happy New Year to all! Happy New Century!! And while I'm at it, Happy New Millennium!!! And as the cheers and toasting go: May we all be here again this time next year, hopefully we'll all be better, and if not, hopefully we're not any worse. We thank God for everything that we are.

Trite as it might sound, making a new year's resolution could be quite helpful to some of us. It makes us review what we have failed to accomplish in the passing year and take on new endeavors for the coming year. The year 2000, popularized under the code name Y2K and the unknowns that come with it, brings us three new eras: a new year, a new century, and a new millennium. The next century, 22nd Century that is, and the next millennium are too far out of reach for most, if not all, of us (medical science and miracles forbidding!) that making resolutions for these periods is quite impractical. Humanity makes new millennium's resolution, while generations of mankind make new century's resolution. But a new year's resolution...this is something I can handle! So here goes: For the year 2000, I will ______________ for the Knights of Columbus. We're all welcome to fill in the blanks.

Our Council closed out 1999 along the lines of one of the more important messages of the Holiday Season \endash that of giving through our charitable ways. The Christmas Food Baskets delivery on December 19 was much lighter than what we had for Thanksgiving . Still, the help of some of our brother Knights, actually our regular crew of " delivery" Knights, is most appreciated for it makes the process go so much easier . Bro. Greg Jones and our Council coordinated the enlistment of donors for the December 11 Red Cross Blood Drive at the Church Hall. What could be greater than the a "gift of life" for every pint of this life fluid that is collected?

Our Council does know how to have fun, too, for the Holidays! We held the Children's Christmas Party at the Church Hall on December 3. And how fun and wild did it get to be? There must have been about 200 kids in the hall; add up the parents that came along and we have a jam-packed hall! There was singing, crafts work, and good food. The parents were really appreciative of the Knights of Columbus for putting this up. Thanks to Bro. Brian Casey and his entire family for managing this event. Special thanks go also to our kids-seasoned Knights of Frank Costa, Dean Brodnick , John Rabada, Greg Jones, Paul Hill and Rich Garcia. And of course, what's a kids ' Christmas Party without Santa Claus PGK Joe Garrett and his two daughter-elves! Even the Marine Corps has the following to say (copied verbatim from the plaque of appreciation:

"The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve is proud to recognize the Knights of Columbus (Council 6043) for outstanding achievement in support of the 1999 Toys for Tots Program. These generous contributions have enabled us to help fulfill the Christmas dreams of our nation's neediest children."

I hope this new era brings a renewal of our fraternal service. I've experienced the personal satisfaction that comes with volunteering and the joy of sharing the bond of our Council brotherhood. Mark that first star we pass on the right in our journey into the new century. It'll be something worth looking back to in years to come. May the new Season re-energize us all in spirit, mind and body for another year of service.