K of C Family Picnic

The Family Picnic is one of the ways the council says thank you to members and families for all the volunteer hours expended during the year. Thanks to all who attended and made it another fantastic success. The weather on Saturday, June 15^th, was extremely warm with clear skies. The event took place at Plano Country Place Clubhouse, which has been our picnic spot for several years now! A big Thank You to Peggy Theis (former 10:00 Choir member) for hosting us there (you must be an HOA member to reserve the grounds and Treehouse). The setting was beautiful, and the air-conditioned dining room was a blessing.

Total attendance was 29, lighter than previous years and there were a number of no-shows. The 29 included 2 youth. There were no swimmers this year although we thought there would be 4-6. Hardly any of our new members and families attended. We need to do a better job of explaining this event next year.

One of the highlights this year was presenting both Fr. Bradley and David Rosengrants with checks from the recent Annual Charity Golf Tournament. We raised a total of $22,250 to help pay off the loan for the Adoring Angels stained-glass windows behind the altar in our new sanctuary. That check was presented to Fr. Bradley. We presented David Rosengrants with a check for $3,000 to go to St. Vincent de Paul Seton Conference. Other checks went to the American Wheelchair Mission ($6,000), Plano Christmas COPS ($500), the Pro-Life Boot Camp ($400) to pay for an attendee, and $1,000 will be retained to go toward a family at Christmas time.

The thanks are numerous again this year. Michael and Vanessa Flanagan, Craig Robinson, and Jim Goode collected items from the FFC and did the shopping and initial setup (getting the drinks iced down). Dan Zechmeister, Ron Harabis, Craig Robinson, and Jim Goode helped rearrange the Tree House dining area to manage more seating. Carol Goode, and Alicia Flanagan set up the serving line and got lettuce, tomatoes, and onions sliced and plated for the hamburger fixings.

And what would we do without cooks (since the main entrée was hamburgers and hot dogs)? Thanks to Michael Flanagan and Paul Krebs for the excellent flame-broiled burgers and dogs! The cooks had many observers who, I'm sure, provided excellent guidance. The start time ensured that people coming after the 5 pm mass still had freshly cooked food. Thank you, Steve Ousey and David Rosengrants for helping with check-in this year. Thanks to everyone who brought appetizers, salads, and desserts. With the lighter than expected crowd we had items left over and participants were encouraged to take them home.

The Treehouse kitchen clean-up crew included Carol Goode, Alecia Flanagan, Pat Kistner and Raylene Juneau. Dan Zechmeister, Dave Kistner, Tom Juneau and Ron Harabis helped get the tables and chairs folded and placed in the closet. We policed the grounds and Jim Goode turned in the checklist.

And then we get to the most thankless job of all, but you are receiving our warmest thanks. Dave Kistner, Tom Juneau, and Ron Harabis collected coolers and supplies and equipment and took it back to the FFC 130 storage room and cage outside.

Your tremendous help and support for this event is much appreciated and accept our apology if you helped and were not mentioned above. Family Program Director Bob Pittman was called out of town for a medical emergency Friday and Jim Goode, Michael Flanagan, and Craig Robinson picked up the slack. Make plans to attend the picnic next year. Bring your family and have a blast!