Knights of Columbus

 

Our new venue will allow us to accommodate many more participants throughout the Archdiocese. Different this year from previous years is that there will be a cash bar, so if you plan to drink plan to pay. Once each year we Brother Knights welcome the opportunity to express our thanks, respect, and solidarity with our Cardinal, Archbishop, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Religious. Clergy Appreciation Night provides you and your Councils an opportunity to honor your clergy along with all the other Priests, Deacons, brothers, and nuns in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. Please extend a special invitation to those Priests, Deacons, brothers and nuns closely associated with you personally and with your Council. While this is a Chapter sponsored event, we extend a personal invitation to all Councils and all Clergy in the Archdiocese. Councils do not have to be members of the Galveston-Houston Chapter to participate in this important event. 

 

We ask you to place this event on your Council’s “Calendar of Events” and hope you plan to attend along with your spouse or guest(s). Ask your Clergy and Religious to put it on their calendars now before other events are scheduled. Where else can you enjoy cocktails, an excellent dinner and fellowship with Brother Knights, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, brothers and nuns of our Archdiocese in one evening? The following items are explained in this letter: Table Reservations; Table Sponsorships; Presentations for Outstanding Clergy; Silent Auction and Program Sponsorship. 

 

Though there are no costs to Priests and Deacons (including spouses) and nuns, Councils who make reservations for their Clergy are asked to pay a $20.00 non-refundable deposit per seat for clergy to: Galveston-Houston Chapter. This $20.00 per seat for clergy (and spouses if applicable) simply goes to offset the cost of the meal and is still below the overall meal price. We would also ask that Councils who are supporting a seminarian or more than one seminarian also pay the $20.00 deposit for their sponsored seminarian. Though all clergy are not covered by K of C Councils, the Clergy Night committee will seek out Council sponsorship for those clergy not currently affiliated with a Council.  

 

TABLE RESERVATIONS Reservations are required. Seats are $35.00 per person (except as noted above for clergy). All reservations and payments must be received on or before January 9, 2018. Seats will not be sold the night of the event. Each table holds ten people. Every Council must fill out a reservation/purchase form and a list of those attending (if unsure of who in particular is attending, list them as guest of Council #....). Based on the information on this form, table reservations and an appropriate number of seats will be assigned and designated. The form can be sent in by mail or e-mailed as an attachment. Any Council that does not pay for their tickets prior to January 9th will have their reservation voided. Please make the checks for the payment of reserved seats and Table Sponsorship payable to: GalvestonHouston Chapter. 

 

As participants enter the Bayou City Event Center, there will be registration tables for Clergy and all attendees where they can obtain their seating arrangements. Please remember to list your Clergy that will be in attendance on the reservation/purchase form, especially if you want them sitting with your Council members. All clergy in the Archdiocese will receive a separate invitation and many do not know what your Council name is, nor what your Council number is. We will do our best to match Clergy to Council, but with new assignments of Clergy each year there is often some confusion on where to seat some of the Clergy. There will be a cash bar (not a hosted bar as before). Prices are: $5 for beer, $7 for wine, $9 for mixed drinks, and $3 for soda or waters. So, plan accordingly please and as always drink responsibly. We use this ticket-less arrangement to eliminate ticket distribution issues. Programs and tables listings with the appropriate people seated at that table will be available at the registration tables. If there are special needs or dignitaries attending who require recognition please note on the registration form. Any council may designate replacements for people who are unable to attend that evening but have a paid up reservation. The number of attendees, however, may not exceed the original number of paid reservations. We must reiterate, NO SEATS WILL BE SOLD ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT. 

 

TABLE SPONSORHIP Each year Table Sponsorships are requested for a donation of $100.00 per ten-person table. The proceeds of these donations will go to help fund our diocesan priests. Table Sponsorships do not have any effect on seat prices and are an additional cost. Those tables that are sponsored will be given priority placement and be closest to the head table. Four tables will be reserved for Outstanding Clergy recipients and members of their Council, all other tables can be sponsored. For example: If a Council has forty members and guests, and they all want to sit in the same immediate area, sponsorship of tables will facilitate that. If tables are not sponsored, seating will be prioritized by receipt of payment for seats. Essentially, we are asking Councils to continue sponsoring tables with the difference being that we will use the proceeds to help fund our own diocesan ministry to priests and thereby, true clergy appreciation. Checks for Table Sponsorship should be made out to: Galveston-Houston Chapter. 

 

PRESENTATIONS TO OUTSTANDING CLERGY At each year’s event a number of Priests and Deacons will be presented with an award for Outstanding Clergy of the Year. There are many deserving Priests and Deacons that have been outstanding in the performance of their ministries, who should be nominated for the Clergy Awards. A Committee is formed to review these nominations. We need your support in submitting nominations in writing, by January 9, 2018 (Chapter Meeting Night). Enclosed is the nomination form for your use. 

 

SILENT AUCTION Each year we have a Silent Auction at this event. We are asking each Council to donate an item valued at $50.00 or more to be used for the Silent Auction. These prizes can be dinners at a local restaurant, gift certificates, free admission to movies, donations from merchants, health club memberships, golf games, etc. Even a cash donation can be made. Silent Auction items should be delivered to Galveston Houston Chapter by January 9, 2018, the night of the January Chapter meeting. Proceeds from the Silent Auction will be used to offset the cost of the venue for Clergy Night, insurance, security, cleanup, beverages, and table settings. In 34 years we have outgrown the capacity of other gathering venues, we now look forward to this new space where we can continue to honor our Clergy at this very special gathering. If you plan to bring the Auction item the night of the event, you should notify Reggie Vasquez, as a prize list will be generated. If you have any questions in regards to any of the information listed in this letter, please feel free to contact Reggie Vasquez This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone# 713-320-8830 

 

ALL RESERVATION/PURCHASE FORMS, OUTSTANDING CLERGY NOMINATION FORMS AND TABLE SPONSORHIP CHECKS MAY BE MAILED TO: 

CLERGY APPRECIATION NIGHT 

9415 Tarton Way Ct. 

Houston, TX 77065