K of C’s investment portfolio has "very strong credit quality" 
NEW HAVEN, CT -  For the 16th consecutive year, the Knights of Columbus insurance program has earned Standard & Poor’s highest rating: AAA (Extremely Strong). With more than 140 years experience, S&P is the financial industry’s foremost independent rating bureau, providing investment, credit, and risk analyses of financial institutions around the world.

"K of C is achieving its primary objective of providing members and their families with high-quality, low-cost insurance products," the 2008 S&P rating report said. The Knights of Columbus insurance program has "a stable outlook," and in addition, its "capitalization is expected to remain extremely strong, and liquidity is expected to remain extremely strong also."   

The report cited the strengths of the K of C’s operational and financial management, calling its financial strategy "very conservative, as demonstrated by its capital structure, investment portfolio, and approach to business growth."  It further claimed that "K of C’s capital adequacy, as measured by Standard & Poor’s capital model, is among the strongest in the industry."

Referring to the K of C’s management of its assets, the S&P report stated, "the investment portfolio has very strong credit quality, with the majority of assets being invested in publicly traded investment-grade bonds. Management’s strategy is to grow its business conservatively by offering profitable products and adhering to strict underwriting standards. Standard & Poor’s expects this level of conservatism to continue."

"The company returned 87% of its earnings to its members in 2007," S&P added. "Its consistently strong profitability is attributable to high persistency rates, favorable mortality experience, and strong investment returns over the past 10 years."

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson welcomed the news from S&P, and noted that "despite the difficulties suffered by so many well-known financial institutions due to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, we have not only remained solvent but improved our financial stability, while continuing to provide top quality products and service to our members."

The Knights of Columbus recently received an A.M. Best Company rating of A++ (Superior) for the 33rd consecutive year. The K of C is one of only five insurance providers in North America to receive the highest ratings from both Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best, as well as certification from the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA) for ethical business practices.

Founded 126 years ago, the Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society and is the world’s largest lay Catholic organization with more than 1.75 million members. Last year members of the Knights of Columbus donated more than 68 million hours of volunteer service for charitable causes, and contributed more than $144 million to charity.

August 14, 2008
Click here for a PDF version of the News Release.

Knights of Columbus convention delegates adopt resolutions challenging Catholic office-holders on abortion, affirming marriage as union of one man and one woman

(Quebec City, Quebec) – Delegates to the annual international convention of the Knights of Columbus today adopted a resolution opposing “any governmental action or policy that promotes abortion, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, euthanasia, assisted suicide and other offenses against life.”
The delegates also challenged “our fellow Catholics who are elected officials to be true to the faith they claim to profess by acting bravely and publicly in defense of life, affirming with Pope Benedict XVI that ‘there can be no room for purely private religion.’”
The resolution stated that the organization reaffirms its “commitment to building a culture of life by promoting policies that favor the family,” and reaffirmed the organization’s “long standing policy of not inviting to any Knights of Columbus event persons, especially public officials or candidates for public office, who do not support the legal protection of unborn children.”
The resolution on life issues follows by several days the opening convention address by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, in which he called on Catholic voters to “stop accommodating pro-abortion politicians,” and encouraged them to “say ‘no’ to every candidate of every political party who supports abortion.”

Delegates also adopted a resolution calling for “legal and constitutional protection . . . for the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.”  

The resolution declares that “marriage is a natural institution based on ancient human values that have evolved over time into a unique and deeply rooted social, legal and religious institution,” and that it “reflects the natural biological complementarity between man and woman which predates the state and which is woven into the social and religious fabric of every major culture and society.”
Marriage between man and woman “provides the most favorable environment in which to protect the rights and the best interests of children,” the resolution stated.
Convention delegates adopted resolutions dealing with other public policy issues as well, including building a culture of life, religious liberty, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, decency on the Internet and in the media, Catholic education, and the Pledge of Allegiance.  The texts of all the resolutions can be found at: 

http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/convention_2008/resolutions/index.html

For complete coverage of convention events, go to the “Convention Central” web page at:

http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/convention_2008/index.html

Thursday, August 7, 2008

(source: KofC News Service)

Brother Knights,

Our August social meeting will NOT be Wed the 20th but instead will be Tuesday 8/19.  

That evening is a special one for our Council and all Knights are encouraged to attend.    We will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Day Chapel for our First Degree Team certification and we need a good turnout.   Our Degree Team will perform the First Degree Exemplification — exact in all detail — for our District Deputy and become certified.   No actual candidates will be going through the ceremony but we need some of you to play the role of a candidate and we need many more of you to be there as the council audience.   Your Degree Team has been working and rehersing for almost a year — now we are ready and we want you to be there with us.  

Immediately following the certification ceremony we will celebrate with drinks and snacks so you won’t be missing a social meeting this month.   Our first Exemplification for new candidates will likely be the week of October 6 but has not yet been scheduled.  

Looking forward to seeing MANY of you on Tuesday the 19th, 

SK Mark Peterson
Grand Knight
Bishop George A. Fulcher Council #12387

Brother Knights,

Our Annual Charity Golf Outing is coming up soon — Thursday, September 11 at beautiful Bear Slide Golf Course in Cicero.   This is largest fund raiser of the year (twice the fish frys) and we need your help.   There are many ways – small or large — you can help make this our biggest event ever.  

1) Be a player.   The format is a scramble so it makes no difference what your skill level is.   Just know you are welcome and encouraged to play.    And ladies are welcome too!   

2) Be a sponsor.   There are many levels of sponsorship (please see attached flyer) and you will be recognized both with course signs and in our dinner program.   
3) Be a volunteer.   We will need at least 15 volunteers the day of the event — registration and check-in, putting contest, serving lunch, spotters for hole-in-one contest, etc.    This is a great way to participate in the outing if you’re not a player.   

4) Donate golf balls.    Every player will receive a package (sleeve) of 3 new golf balls — so we need donated golf balls, such as company logo balls.    If you can help us out here we’d appreciate it.  

5) Donate door prizes.   We want our participants to leave with a wonderful feeling about their experience at our outing and one of the perks we provide is a ticket for a door prize — given away at our awards dinner following play.    These prizes can be simple and inexpensive (dozen golf balls, umbrellas, golf equipment and supplies) or more expensive items such as golf clubs, golf bags, etc.    They don’t even have to be golf related — prizes can be household items or travel accessories.   

Can you help us?    Let me know how you wish to participate.   I look forward to hearing from you. 

SK Mark Peterson
Grand Knight
Bishop George A. Fulcher Council #12387

When you make it to SetonFest this year, make sure you go to the “Burkey Grill“. The food tent was name after brother Jerry Burkey and I think it is a great memorial to our lost brother.

If you have any great stories or memories of Brother Jerry please email them to me (stuxstu@gmail.com) or GK Mark Peterson. I think it would be great to send this off to Columbia Magazine.

As an update, we did make Brother Jerry a Saint at this years SetonFest! Thank you to all who contributed. That includes our brothers in other councils. I will get a full list of the councils that donated to make Brother Jerry a Saint at SetonFest.

To all the Knights who helped out tonight (Wednesday) and filled in lots of volunteer time slots at over the next few days…..

Thank you.

Brother Mike Ryan
Council Computer Geek

Brothers,

Here is our new officers for the July 1 – June 30 fraternal year. 

Brother Knights,

At our business meeting last night we approved an effort to remember our deceased brother, Jerry Burkey, who was so instrumental at SetonFest through the years.    Jerry was always a personal "sponsor" of SetonFest (at the "Saint" level) contributing dollars as well as his many hours.   

We want to list Jerry as a sponsor this year — and we’ll raise the dollars so his name can be listed as a "Saint" ($250-499) or as an "Angel" ($500 and up).    The Council voted to match parishioner or Knight contributions up to $250.   We believe it’s very likely the total raised will exceed $500.   

Time is obviously short and details haven’t been worked out.   But look for information both in the church bulletin,  K of C emails, and possibly a contribution box at the SetonFest table in the commons.    Any amount, large or small, will help.    With the Council willing to match up to $250 we should be able to raise several hundred dollars — a big boost for SetonFest and a wonderful way to remember Jerry.   

Thanks and Peace,

SK Mark Peterson
Grand Knight

Brother Knights,

Many of you are wanting or needing a yellow K of C tee shirt — so we’re going to order some right away, in time for Seton Fest. This is the same yellow tee shirt you see us wearing.  There is a minimum order of 25 (cost of $10) and with at least 50 the price will be $9.00.    

I will be ordering either 25 or 50 depending on the email response I get from you.   You can pay when you pick it up.

All you have to do now is……
    a) would you like a tee-shirt?
    b) what size?  

I wear a Large and it fits fine (I’m 5′11" and 180).  If I receive fewer than 25 responses I’m still going to order them next week and will fill in the remaining order with Large and XL.    

Thanks and Peace,
SK Mark Peterson
Grand Knight

Brother Knights,

Our July business meeting will be next Wednesday, July 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. in the Upper Room. All Knights are encouraged to attend.

7:00 p.m. Rosary in the Day Chapel, prior to business meeting. Are there any volunteers to lead the Rosary next week? Let me know if you have an interest.

Note: The June minutes are attached to the email sent to your email account. 

SK Mark Peterson
Grand Knight

Order’s insurance program gets highest rating for 33rd consecutive year.

New Haven, CT – June 20, 2008 - For the 33rd consecutive year, A.M. Best Company has given the Knights of Columbus its highest financial rating, A++ (Superior).  A.M. Best is a worldwide rating and information agency, which conducts in-depth analyses and issues reports about the fiscal stability of insurance companies.
In its 2008 affirmation, A.M. Best cited the Knights of Columbus’ “strong fraternal and insurance presence within the Catholic communities in the United States and Canada, its strong risk-adjusted capitalization as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio and the Order’s consistently positive statutory operating results.”

The report also stated that “the Order has a strong affinity with its large membership base through its charitable works and competitive portfolio of life insurance and annuity products.”
Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said that A.M. Best’s A++ rating “confirms the wisdom of our careful investment policies in turbulent economic times, and of our adherence to our original mission of providing Catholic families with security and stability through top quality life insurance products.” During the past decade, the amount K of C insurance in force has doubled to more than $67 billion.

The Knights of Columbus is an international fraternal benefit society and the world’s largest lay Catholic organization with more than 1.75 million members.  Last year members of the Knights of Columbus donated more than 68 million hours of volunteer service for charitable causes, and contributed more than $144 million to charity.