By JORDAN MCMORROUGH
NORTH CHARLESTON — The 77th Annual Convention of the South Carolina State Knights of Columbus was held last weekend at the North Charleston Hilton, and the awards breakfast on Sunday morning was again the highlight of the gathering.
Following opening remarks on Saturday morning from Deputy Supreme Knight Robert F. Wade, reports were given by the various state officers, including the South Carolina deputy, chaplain, secretary, treasurer, advocate, and warden. Committee reports on Membership, Ceremonials, Retention, Operation HOPE, State Charity, Programs, Athletic Events, and Budget were then presented. The convention Mass was celebrated in the early evening by State Chaplain Father James Parker of James Island, followed by a banquet.
Awards were then presented at the breakfast on Sunday morning. In Council Recognition, the Scrapbook Award went to Council 6629 in Summerville, the Pulliam Award for Publicity went to Council 11991 in Goose Creek, and the Convention Attendance Award went to Council 9184 in Taylors.
For Individual Awards, the Family of the Year was presented to Joe and Lynn Branton of Council 6629 in Summerville, the Knight of the Year was presented to Anthony Baiocco, also from Council 6629 of Summerville, and the Golden Knight of the Year was presented to Joseph Shelden of Council 9672 in Camden.
Personal Recognition Awards were presented to Bill Bilardello of Council 9184 in Taylors for Catholicity, and the Charity recognition was presented to Michael Parkinson of Council 6726 in Hanahan/Goose Creek.
The Operation Hope Award was given to Florence Council 5194 for top fund raiser and per capita with donations of $13,973.
Council 6847 of East Columbia won the First Degree Team Competition Award, while the Second Degree Team Competition Award went to District 13.
For Service Program Awards, Church Activity honors went to Goose Creek Council 11991 for its Adopt a Family effort, Community Activity honors went to Summerville Council 6629 for its Welcome New Parishioners effort, Council Activity honors went to Taylors Council 9184 for its Yard Sale, Family Activity honors went to Summerville Council 6629 for its Baby Shower for Unwed Mothers, and Youth Activity honors went to Goose Creek Council 11991 for its Community Christmas Party.
The Inter-Council Competition, after presentation of Honor Council and Distinguished Council plaques, concluded with the Best Council Award going to Immaculate Conception Council 11991 in Goose Creek, which formed just last year.
State Deputy Ronald G. Povero also presented three awards at the gathering. The District Deputy Award was given to District 7 Deputy Richard Stachelek from Council 6892 in Irmo-Lexington. His district includes Councils 6891 and 11325. The Grand Knight Award was presented to Bernard Workorller of Council 10819 in Simpsonville. Past State Deputy Michael Telesco, a member of Council 11991 in Goose Creek, received the State Deputy’s Award.
Check presentations from the State Charities program were also made to: Charles White from Camp Hope at Clemson University, Tim Smith from the South Carolina Special Olympics, David Gaddell from the Pee Dee Regional Center in Florence, and Michelle Schaefer from the Greenville Association for the Retarded. In an address after awarding checks, Telesco, who is also executive director of Operation HOPE, said this year’s program raised $173,200. In its 23 years of existence, more than $2,248,560 has been raised by the program.
The final session entailed a business meeting, with the election of new state officers, the election of delegates and alternates to the Supreme convention, Resolutions Committee report, and the presentation of Convention Standing Committee reports.
New officers are State Deputy Richard E. Koehler, State Chaplain Father James Parker, State Secretary Charles G. Richitelli, State Treasurer Roosevelt Cummings, State Advocate Raymond W. Hock, and State Warden Robert Ficco.