letter from the state youth director
Worthy Squires, Counselors and Knights,
Welcome to the start of a new fraternal year! However, before we talk about the year to come I must take a moment to thank Past State Chief Squire Pat Klein, his State Officers and State Squires Chairman Tom Gillin for the outstanding year that the Squires program in New York State just finished. We end the year #2 in Net Membership Gain and are in a position to have some even more impressive gains in 2012-2013. Our Squires program this year saw an increase in participation at the Br. Barnabas Mass and was honored to have the State Squires Chairman from Connecticut attend. State Convention attendance was also up this year, both in number of circles and number of Squires attending. Even more impressive was the record breaking turnout in January at Chaminade HS for the Holy Hour and Dodgeball event, sponsored by Blessed William Chaminade Circle and the State Circle. With all of this activity throughout the year, as the end of June neared I thought we were done with Squires business for 2011-2012. There was, however, one last piece of business to attend to: Following the Independence Day Parade in Brooklyn on June 30th, I had the privilege of presenting Michael Zwosta of Fr. O’Connor Circle with a certificate naming him as a “Squire of the Body of Christ.” Mike becomes only the second Squire in New York State to achieve this well deserved honor. Congratulations Mike!
My congratulations go to our new State Chief Squire Alex Bedosky and his Officers. With the gains that were made last year, they certainly have their work cut out for them but I know that they will continue to move this great State Circle forward. Work has already started in planning and setting dates for the Installation of Officers and Brother Barnabas Mass, and will begin soon on the 56th Annual Convention in May/June 2013.
As always, one of the biggest concerns for the Squires Program is membership. We are constantly receiving inquiries from, and reach out to, Councils interested in starting and/or reactivating Circles. In order to facilitate this process our State Deputy, Sal Restivo, at my urging has appointed a State Chairman for New Circle Development/Reactivation and two Auxiliary Chairmen. The State Chairman is Anthony Critelli PSCS and the Auxiliaries are Sean Breiman PSCS and Pat Klein PSCS. With these new men working with us, we should be better able to respond to the needs of these Councils and hopefully see an increase in Circles statewide. I look forward to working with Anthony, Sean and Pat as we strive to make the New York State Circle larger and stronger!
Another key area of concern is communications. Communication between the State Circle and member circles has always been a major obstacle with a state as large as New York. The addition/upgrading of our website, the renewed publication of this newsletter, and the addition of our Facebook page have helped immensely in this area. In order to ensure continuity in this area, I have appointed Past State Deputy Chief Mike Adam to the position of State Circle Communications Director. In this position he will be responsible for the updating of the website and Facebook page, as well as producing the State Circle Newsletter. Better communication takes cooperation from both the State Circle and local circles, so please send Mike information on any activities that your circle does so that we can publicize them for you!
I look forward to meeting up with many of you at the various events and activities that the State Circle will sponsor and attend.
Fraternally,
Mike
Welcome to the start of a new fraternal year! However, before we talk about the year to come I must take a moment to thank Past State Chief Squire Pat Klein, his State Officers and State Squires Chairman Tom Gillin for the outstanding year that the Squires program in New York State just finished. We end the year #2 in Net Membership Gain and are in a position to have some even more impressive gains in 2012-2013. Our Squires program this year saw an increase in participation at the Br. Barnabas Mass and was honored to have the State Squires Chairman from Connecticut attend. State Convention attendance was also up this year, both in number of circles and number of Squires attending. Even more impressive was the record breaking turnout in January at Chaminade HS for the Holy Hour and Dodgeball event, sponsored by Blessed William Chaminade Circle and the State Circle. With all of this activity throughout the year, as the end of June neared I thought we were done with Squires business for 2011-2012. There was, however, one last piece of business to attend to: Following the Independence Day Parade in Brooklyn on June 30th, I had the privilege of presenting Michael Zwosta of Fr. O’Connor Circle with a certificate naming him as a “Squire of the Body of Christ.” Mike becomes only the second Squire in New York State to achieve this well deserved honor. Congratulations Mike!
My congratulations go to our new State Chief Squire Alex Bedosky and his Officers. With the gains that were made last year, they certainly have their work cut out for them but I know that they will continue to move this great State Circle forward. Work has already started in planning and setting dates for the Installation of Officers and Brother Barnabas Mass, and will begin soon on the 56th Annual Convention in May/June 2013.
As always, one of the biggest concerns for the Squires Program is membership. We are constantly receiving inquiries from, and reach out to, Councils interested in starting and/or reactivating Circles. In order to facilitate this process our State Deputy, Sal Restivo, at my urging has appointed a State Chairman for New Circle Development/Reactivation and two Auxiliary Chairmen. The State Chairman is Anthony Critelli PSCS and the Auxiliaries are Sean Breiman PSCS and Pat Klein PSCS. With these new men working with us, we should be better able to respond to the needs of these Councils and hopefully see an increase in Circles statewide. I look forward to working with Anthony, Sean and Pat as we strive to make the New York State Circle larger and stronger!
Another key area of concern is communications. Communication between the State Circle and member circles has always been a major obstacle with a state as large as New York. The addition/upgrading of our website, the renewed publication of this newsletter, and the addition of our Facebook page have helped immensely in this area. In order to ensure continuity in this area, I have appointed Past State Deputy Chief Mike Adam to the position of State Circle Communications Director. In this position he will be responsible for the updating of the website and Facebook page, as well as producing the State Circle Newsletter. Better communication takes cooperation from both the State Circle and local circles, so please send Mike information on any activities that your circle does so that we can publicize them for you!
I look forward to meeting up with many of you at the various events and activities that the State Circle will sponsor and attend.
Fraternally,
Mike