June 15th Meeting Minutes
June 2026 Meeting Minutes
June 15TH 2026
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:31 PM by Grand Knight Joe Tarallo.
Warden’s Report
All present were in possession of a current membership card.
Opening Prayer
Opening prayer was led by Mike Sabella .
Pledge of Allegiance
Salute to the flag was led by the council members.
Chaplain report
Deacon Tony was absent.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted on a motion by Robert Jacobs, seconded by Tom Rohe, approved with a unanimous vote.
Grand Knight’s Report (Joe Tarallo)
Joe stated that the 1st part of tonight’s meeting will be to hand out the scholarships that were awarded previously. Joe said that overall we have given away 200k in scholarships over the years. Scholarships are given away based on the student’s merit along with their faith based activities and their extra curriculum participation.
The 1st scholarship was awarded to Jack Smitreski who is already attending school. This scholarship is the Council 6100 Fraternal Members scholarship and is given out to students whose family members are Knights.
The 2nd Scholarship is the Thomas Christopher Dalala scholarship who was a chief Squire that was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2004. The recipient of this scholarship was awarded to Barbara Ashley.
The 3rd scholarship is the DiCicco Family Scholarship in honor of Ernest DiCicco’s parents. The DiCicco’s started coming to the Budd Lake area in 1955 when they built a vacation home. They later moved here in retirement. Ernie’s parents were heavily involved in the church and based their lives on catholic values. This scholarship is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary and has given away over 80k since its inception. The recipient of this 4k scholarship was Barbara Ashley.
Joe wanted to welcome 2 new potential Knights of Columbus members. 1st is Jack Smitreski and the 2nd is Collin Berg.
Jack Smitreski will be applying to join our Council upon his 18th birthday and Collin Berg has joined us a guest for tonight’s meeting.
Joe stated that we are now 15 days away from the end of the Columbian Year which means he will be stepping down as Grand Knight. Joe wanted to thank everyone for the opportunity and he explained that he was honored to serve us all. He stated that it was challenging at times and he recommended that our Council members consider taking the position at some time as you will learn the inner workings of our Council and the Knights of Columbus operation as a whole.
Joe stated that the 2 year period went by very fast and that he was again grateful to serve our Council.
Joe Tarallo (State Officers Installation) Joe stated that this event will be held on July 18th starting at 8 AM in the Parish Center where Breakfast will be served and then a Mass will be held at 10 AM. All Knights are encouraged to attend and to volunteer as there will be numerous tasks to do that day. Setup will be performed on Friday night July 17th where the parish center will be setup for the event. Volunteers will be also be needed to cook and serve breakfast and clean up after the event. Also after the mass there will be a banquet dinner at Meadow wood in Randolph that the knights will cover the cost of and that there is a sign up sheet on the back table. All are encouraged to participate in the event and there is a sign up sheet on the back table.
Treasurer’s Report (Michael Uszacki.)
The bank statement was sent to trustees. A copy is available upon request..
Financial Secretary’s Report (Gerard Petrocelli)
Financial secretary’s report is emailed in advance to Trustees for approval of expenditures.
Membership Report (Chip Sturm)
As usual Chip is continuously looking for new members. Chip stated that we have 2 potential members attending our meeting tonight.
Program Reports – Led by Joe Tarallo
Bingo (Mike Mallon) Mike stated that Bingo is going well and that there weren’t any fist fights. Mike stated that we have had enough members volunteering but we need people to constantly show up especially during the 1st 3 hours for setup and to hand the bingo papers out.
Joe Tarallo stated that we will be cancelling Bingo on July 17th to setup for the installation event to be held on July 18th and that the council should consider cancelling Bingo on July 3rd due to the holiday.
Family Events (Sal Ubaldini)-Sal Stated that he is in the early planning of more family events at our parish. Possibly to be held after mass a handful of times per year. Joe Tarallo stated that members should join with Sal to help in the planning of such events.
Blood Drive (Gerard Petrocelli) – Gerard stated that the June 6TH blood drive was again a huge success and that there were 144 donors who signed up to give blood. Gerard stated that there were 156 Products consisting of 113 whole products 3 plasma products and 20 double products.
Gerard stated that 10% of the knights are consistently donating blood and that he wants to find a way to increase this number to about 20%. He wants to get the knights and their family members involved and that we need more squires involved.
Gerard stated that we are in our 11th year and that the program has grown into a huge success.
Gerard wanted to thank all members who helped before, during and after the event since it starts at 3:45 AM and ran until about 3 PM. He also stated that the event takes about 125 hours of volunteer work.
Gerard stated that there are 45 groups that participate statewide in Blood Drives and that our Council currently ranks at number 14.
Diaper Drive (Gerry Kaufhold) – Gerry stated that there will be a diaper drive in the fall to be held on the last week in November. Gerry also stated that there will be a baby shower to be held on the last week in June. All donated products will be given to “Care Net” in Hackettstown and “Birth Haven” in Newton.
Football Mania (Tom Rohe) Tom stated that he has the tickets in his possession and that we need to start selling them as soon as possible. Tom stated thaty they are only $20 each and that all proceeds go to helping veterans and their families.
4TH Degree (Tom Rohe) Tom stated that there is a meeting for the 4th degree tomorrow night to be held in the Knights of Columbus hall just south of the Flanders Volunteer Fire Department on Schmidt’s lane. All are encouraged to attend. Tom wanted to thank Jim VanDenberg for joining the 4th degree.
Squires (Tom Rohe) Tom stated the Diocese will stop supporting the Squires on June 30TH but that the Squires still exist. The Squires are involved in numerous projects. The Squires recently completed a road clean up project where they picked up 4 bags of debris on the sides of roads. The Squires also participated in the Tank Pull where they pulled a tank at the event in Clifton. That event raised $3200 to be donated to the Veterans. Tom Stated that overall the programs have donated over 65k to help Veterans.
States Convention (Tom Rohe) Tom stated that the State Convention was a huge success. Tom sated that Jim Sweeney and our Council were recognized at the convention. Tom Stated that Bingo night at the convention was held on Thursday night and that it was huge success. Tom stated that all members are encouraged to attend the Convention next year.
Faith Formation (Mike Sabella)- Mike reminded us that there is a book Kiosk located in the Church vestibule on the side of the main doors and that there are religious books available that can be taken for free and that our council replenishes the books from time to time as needed. Mike stated that there is a meeting on the 4th Saturday of every month that is held in the parish center before 9 AM mass.
Soup Kitchen (Lenny Martin)- Lenny stated that he will report on the program after the next event that is planned on July 30th.
District Deputy Report
Greetings From Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, and State Deputy James Sweeney.
I want to personally thank you for all you do as a council. As a result of your hard work, I was awarded a DD Circle of Honor award at NJ State Convention. My name may be on the award, but you all made it possible through your efforts to grow the order and continue to demonstrate the power of Charity Unity and Fraternity. Thank you Brothers!
Congratulations to your new officers, and thank you your outgoing Grand Knight Joe for his leadership and to all the outgoing officers for their dedication to the Order
As a council, here are your Awards for this Columbian Year:
- Membership: 163% of goal (1 new members on prospect list) –Fr McGivney award
(District is over 141% plus 12 new prospects pending CUF- we are #2 district in Paterson)
- Programs: SP-7 (report of Faith In Action Programs achieving 16 points) accepted – Columbians Award
- 2 Fraternal Benefit Events – Founders Award
- Safe Environment: compliant
- Annual Survey of Council Activities (form 1728) is completed
- Annual Audit completed
- Council has achieved all requirements for STAR Council for CY 25-26
- Election of officers – report results before June 30. Installation of Officers – think of a date. – Congratulations to the new officers. Please take the time to review your responsibilities as officers. Each officer’s job is meant to make the council run smoothly and to ensure the needs of the order are addressed.
- CUF degree – put together a schedule for 2026/2027
- Grand Knight orientation Saturday June 27; 8am Mass followed by training meeting. Should be over by 1pm – I encourage GK and DGK attend this meeting
- Do not let up ! We still need to recruit during the summer, plan and hold your COR meetings,and hold a planning meeting for your next Columbian year. Dates for planned District meeting will be coming shortly
Unfinished Business
| $6,000.00 | 2nd READING Allocate up to $6,000 for Blood drive for the Columbian year 2026-2027 |
| $1,800.00 | 2nd READING Allocate up to $1,800 for Dover Faith Kitchen for the Columbian year 2026-2027 |
| $5,000.00 | 2nd READING Allocate $5,000 consisting of $500 for each of the 10 months of the school year to Lasserre’s Own Hands for the 2026-2027 Columbian Year suppling breakfast & lunch for children at Good Shepard School in Haiti |
| $1,200.00 | 2nd READING donate $1,200 for Mount Olive food pantry for the Columbian year 2026-2027 |
| $12,000.00 | 2nd READING Allocate $12,000 for Church hall rental for Bingo for the Columbian year 2026-2027 |
| $2,400.00 | 2nd READING Allocate $2400 per year for church hall donation for the Columbian year 2026-2027, |
| $1,400.00 | 2nd READING Allocate up to $1,400 for refreshment for meetings for the Columbian year 2026-20276 |
| $3,500.00 | 2nd READING donate up to $3,500 to purchase boxes of coats for the Coats for Kids Drive with the intent to donate the coats to needy families in Paterson and other townships. |
| $3,000.00 | 2nd READING Donate up to $3,000 to reserve up to 3 Tables at the Banquet to be held on July18th at the installation dinner for Jim Sweeney.. |
| $3,300.00 | 2nd READING Donate up to $3,300 to for a parishioner in need to assist offsetting the cost of dental work.. |
| $5,400.00 | 2nd READING Extend a donation of a monthly amount of $900 for a 6 month period for a total of $5400 to a parishioner in need of financial help. |
New Business
Mike Sabella took over the meeting as Council 6100 Grand Knight.
The following motions were made and passed:
| $25,000.00 | 1st READING Spend up to $25,000 to subsidize the construction of an outdoor stations of the cross to cover costs not covered by donations from parishioners to memorialize loved ones. Funding to be provided from the Community Impact Fund. Final plan approval from our pastor is required before anything is purchased or any money is spent. |
| $72.00 | Spend additional $72 for dental work for a parishioner in need, due to revised estimate of cost of service. |
| $300.00 | Donate up to $500 to purchase 2 infant car seat to be donated to Birth Haven and Care Net for the upcoming Baby Shower on the weekend of June 27-28 |
| $300.00 | Spend up to $300 for the St. Jude Knitting and Crocheting Club to buy yarn to be used to make hats and scarves for donation |
| $100.00 | Donate $100 to the Budd Lake First Aid and Rescue Squad |
| $100.00 | Donate $100 to the Budd Lake Fire Department |
| $500.00 | Reimburse Squires up to $500 to replace ceiling tiles outside the parish center hall |
| $99.11 | Spend $99.11 for new chair leg caps for 100 chairs in the Parish Center. |
| $24.89 | Spend an additional $24.89 to cover shipping on new booklets and kiosk for the kiosk program |
Tom Rohe-Officers Nominations
Tom Read off the nominations for the officers for our Council 6100 and all were elected by 1 vote by the recorder and no alternate nominations were elected.
Good of the Order
The Good of the Order was run by Chip Strum
Prayer List for Sick and Deceased
Sick
Nickolas Tarallo
Frances Tarallo
Elaine Abbott
Steve Sabella
Suzanne Aitala
Bill Nolan
Deceased
Jack Abbott
Sal Bellacomo
Catherine Nalli
Andrea Crimi
Joseph Nazareth
Bill Barrett
Closing Prayer
Closing prayer was led by Joe Tarallo
Attendance: 28 people.
Meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM.