Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
1
Knights of Columbus Louisiana State Financial Secretaries Association
Minutes of the Annual Financial Secretaries Association Meeting
May 3 & 4, 2014
May 3, 2014
The annual meeting of the Louisiana State Financial Secretaries Association was held in Kenner,
Louisiana at the Pontchartrain Center on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 & 4, 2014.
1. Call to Order
a. Call to Order by Robert Coco (3208) LSFSA President
2. Verification of travel cards
a. Verification by Chris Dufrene, Jr. (7350) LSFSA Warden
3. Opening Prayer
a. Prayer by Gladwin Ball (5022) LSFSA Vice-President
4. Pledge of Allegiance
a. Pledge by Robert Coco (3208) LSFSA President
5. Verification of Roll of Officers
a. David K. Landry (7275) LSFSA Secretary
Attending are:
Robert Coco (3208) President
Gladwin W. Ball (5022) Vice-President
David K. Landry (7275) Secretary
Christopher A. Dufrene, Jr. (7350) Warden
Keith Gautreau, Sr. (8147) 3 year Trustee
Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) 2 year Trustee
Leonce P. Waguespack, Jr. (13349) 1 year Trustee
6. Resolution 1 – To allow 4th Degree Comptrollers to join LSFSA with all rights.
a. All for
b. 1 against
Michael P. Forsythe (1208) made motion to accept resolution as written.
Robert Ricca (1819) 2nds the motion.
7. Nominations for delegate to Supreme Convention
a. Robert Ricca (1819) (Associate)
b. Richard Bouchereau (1087) nominates Anthony Vavasseur (10606) (Associate) from
Belle Rose
c. David Landry (7275) nominates Gladwin Ball (5022) (Associate)
- Peter Peragine (5530) said that nominees need to state whether they are Insurance or
Associate members and that they stand a better chance as an Insurance member.
d. Robert Coco (3208) instructs Chris Dufrene (7350) to pass out ballots for a vote.
e. Gladwin Ball (5022) wins nomination to Supreme Convention.
Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
2
f. Keith Gautreau (8147) makes a motion to destroy the ballots.
Michael P. Forsythe (1208) 2nds the motion.
g. Robert Coco (3208) called for a vote and the motion carries.
Robert Coco (3208) recognizes a Priest in the group and asks him to introduce himself. He said
he was Fr. August Thomson from Alexandria, LA or Pineville, and he is the Chaplain for Council
1134.
Gladwin Ball (5022) leaves to go fill out paperwork to be nominated as a delegate for Supreme
Convention on the State Convention floor.
8. Introductions of new F.S. Please state name and council number.
a. Robert Schroeder (4663)
b. William A. Fangue, Sr. (7557)
c. Charles L. Johnson (4156)
d. Michael Chin (1108)
9. Reading of minutes.
a. Robert Schroeder (4663) has correction. Replace name.
b. Brandon M. Hendricks (8442) correct spelling of except with accept.
c. Jim Vance (12906) motioned to suspend reading with corrections.
Lynn J. Sonier (8906) 2nds the motion.
Motion passes.
10. Committee appointments.
a. Keith Gautreau, Sr. (8147) to Audit Committee
b. Leonce P. Waguespack, Jr. (13349) to Elections Committee
c. Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) to Memorial Committee
Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) asked if anyone knows of a former F.S. who died to see him
after the meeting. Robert Coco (3208) stated that Aldon Young, our Treasurer, had died.
11. Robert Coco (3208) gave Treasurer’s Report.
a. $440.00 for convention refreshments
$200.00 for door prizes
$2,928.00 for luncheon
$73.44 for printing
This is in addition to the list handed out, which is attached.
b. Michael P. Forsythe (1208) suggested emailing reports instead of printing them to save
money.
c. Robert Ricca (1819) said it would be a good idea to update emails on the physical
address page.
12. General talk.
a. Streamlining the State Family - Keith Gautreau (8147) talked about the changes to the
State Family.
b. Robert Rome (8840) makes motion that the $1,000.00 donation we make to the Bishop
Greco Fund be made in Aldon Young’s name.
c. Michael P. Forsythe (1208) 2nds the motion.
Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
3
d. Robert Coco (3208) asks about the St. Mary fund donation.
e. Motion passes.
f. Michael P. Forsythe (1208) makes motion to donate to St. Mary’s in the name of Alvin
Seaux.
g. Jerry Toups (3411) 2nds the motion.
h. Motion passes.
13. Proposed Budget for coming year.
a. Budget was passed out, and a copy is attached.
14. Nominations for 2014-2015 Officers: Robert Coco (3208) passes floor to Malcolm Faucheaux
(1817) for nominations.
a. Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) lists the current officers.
Keith Gautreau (8147) nominates Gladwin Ball (5022) for President.
Keith Gautreau (8147) nominates David Landry (7275) for Vice President.
Keith Gautreau (8147) nominates Chris Dufrene (7350) for Secretary.
Keith Gautreau (8147) nominates Michael Forsythe (1208) for Treasurer.
Michael Forsythe (1208) nominates Jim Vance (12906) for Warden.
Michael Forsythe (1208) nominates Robert Coco for 3 year Trustee.
Nominations close.
15. General Comments
a. Talk turns to council insurance
b. Question - do we as F.S. have to send a membership card to our Honorary and Honorary
Life members?
Robert Coco (3208) says for Honorary members you do, but not for Honorary Life
members.
c. Talk turns to billing.
16. Luncheon
a. Chris Dufrene (7350) says it will be in Hall A and he has our tickets. Lunch will start at 12.
17. Closing remark by Keith Gautreau (8147). He has a function tomorrow and will not be here and
to have fun for the rest of convention.
18. Closing prayer by Keith Gautreau (8147).
Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
4
May 4, 2014
The annual meeting of the Louisiana State Financial Secretaries Association was held in Kenner,
Louisiana at the Pontchartrain Center on Saturday and Sunday May 3 & 4, 2014.
1. Call to Order
a. Call to Order by Robert Coco (3208) LSFSA President
2. Verification of travel cards
a. Verification by Chris Dufrene, Jr. (7350) LSFSA Warden
3. Opening Prayer
a. Prayer by Gladwin Ball (5022) LSFSA Vice-President
4. Pledge of Allegiance
a. Pledge by Robert Coco (3208) LSFSA President
5. Verification of Roll of Officers
a. David K. Landry (7275) LSFSA Secretary
Attending are:
Robert Coco (3208) President
Gladwin W. Ball (5022) Vice-President
David K. Landry (7275) Secretary
Christopher A. Dufrene, Jr. (7350) Warden
Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) 2 year Trustee
Leonce P. Waguespack, Jr. (13349) 1 year Trustee
Absent:
Keith Gautreau, Sr. (8147) 3 year Trustee
Comment: Robert Coco (3208) said State Deputy John Boudreaux and the Canadian fellow from
Supreme are coming this morning and we will deviate from the agenda at that time.
6. Old Business
a. Budget
Michael P. Forsythe (1208) motions to accept the budget.
Robert Ricca (1819) 2nds the motion.
Motion passes.
b. Someone asked if on the new state web if there will be a link to the LSFSA web site.
Jerry Toups (3411) there is a link on the current web page and it is at the top of the
Financial Secretaries page.
7. Reopen Nominations for Officers for the LSFSA.
a. Robert Coco (3208) turns meeting over to Leonce Waguespack (13349).
Leonce Waguespack (13349) states he will open each position one at a time, state who
has been nominated and ask for additional nominations 3 times before closing that
position.
For President, nominated is Gladwin Ball (5022) – no new nominations.
For Vice-President, nominated is David Landry (7275) – no new nominations.
Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
5
For Secretary, nominated is Chris Dufrene (7350) – no new nominations.
For Treasurer, nominated is Michael Forsythe (1208) – no new nominations.
For Warden, nominated is Jim Vance (12906) – Robert G. Rome (8840) nominates
Tommy Rodrigue (8932) – no more nominations. Warden passed out the ballets.
The two nominees are Tommy Rodrigue (8932) and Jim Vance (12906). Trustees to
count the ballets. Because there are only two trustees, Leonce Waguespack (13349) asks
Peter Peragine (5530), a Past President and Trustee, to help count the ballets. A short
break is taken while the ballots are counted.
New Warden is Tommy Rodrigue (8932).
Leonce Waguespack (13349) made a motion to destroy the ballets.
Motion carries.
One more position to elect, and that is for 3 year Trustee.
For 3 year Trustee is Robert Coco (3208) – no new nominations.
b. Jerry Toups (3411) makes a motion for the Secretary to place one vote for each of the
elected officers in the minutes.
Tommy Rodrigue (8932) 2nds the motion.
Motion carries.
8. Leonce Waguespack (13349) returns floor to Robert Coco (3208)
a. Lynn Sonier (8906) moves we give Leonce Waguespack (13349) a round of applause for
his years of service – everyone claps.
Robert Coco (3208) said “pay bills, then you can rest.”
9. Audit Report
a. Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) states that the bank statements were examined and found
to be in order and bank account was reconciled and as of the last bank statement it was
found to be in agreement with the Treasurer’s Report.
b. David Landry (7275) makes a motion to accept the Audit report
Anthony Vavasseur (10606) 2nds the motion.
Motion carries.
10. Memorial Report
a. Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) states Whereas it pleased Almighty God, in his infinite
wisdom, to withdraw from our midst our beloved Brothers:
Aldon J. Young (13931)
Alvin Seaux (7568)
That we mourn the loss and resolve to that condolence we offered with heartfelt
sympathy.
Respectfully submitted,
Keith Gautreau, Sr. (8147) 3 year Trustee
Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) 2 year Trustee
Leonce P. Waguespack, Jr. (13349) 1 year Trustee
b. Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) asks for a motion to accept the Memorial Report.
David Landry (7275) makes a motion to accept.
Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
6
Robert Ricca (1819) 2nds the motion.
Motion passes.
11. Malcolm Faucheaux (1817) returns floor to Robert Coco (3208).
a. Robert Coco (3208) opens the floor for general comments and questions.
Robert Coco (3208) starts by talking about the Resolution last year to limit F.S. to a
number of terms. He stated that to help the process we should change our billing to
June.
Chris Dufrene (7350) talks about the breakfast we had last year. He said he talked to
several members and they liked it last year but the cost was prohibitive this year and
recommends we add a $5.00 fee in the future.
He makes a motion to add the $5.00 cost.
David Landry (7275) 2nds the motion.
Michael Forsythe (1208) asks what the cost would have been this year.
Robert Coco (3208) states $1300.00 for just the breakfast.
Peter Peragine (5530) states that the number of members that show up to the meeting
has been declining every year and the cost would just keep going up.
Robert Rome (8840) said didn’t we have a breakfast the last time we were here?
Robert Coco (3208) stated that it was expensive and not well received the first time we
tried it.
John Hauler (9016) asked if we are talking about having a breakfast with wives and
would that interfere with the rosary?
Robert says yes, but does not interfere with the rosary.
Gladwin states that we should wait and see if the Comptrollers would add to our ranks,
then we could see if we are on an upward trend or downward we could then make a
better informed decision about the breakfast.
Talk turns to inviting the Comptrollers to joining the organization.
Michael Forsythe (1208) would like to amend Chris Dufrene’s (7350) motion to open the
breakfast to members and guests of members.
Robert Ricca (1819) 2nds the motion.
Motion carries.
Michael Forsythe (1208) would like to amend the amended motion to say members pay
$5.00 and guests pay $10.00.
Someone 2nds the motion.
Michael Forsythe (1208) moves that the motion be tabled and turn the matter over to
the Officers and Trustees.
Someone made a 2nd
Motion passes.
12. Tony Vavasseur (10606) has offered to be the Convention Chairmen for next year.
13. Leonce Waguespack (13349) read the Elections Report
a. New Officers for 2014/2015 are as follows:
President - Gladwin Ball (5022)
Louisiana State Financial Secretary Association – Convention 2014
7
Vice-President - David Landry (7275)
Secretary - Chris Dufrene (7350)
Treasurer - Michael Forsythe (1208)
Warden - Tommy Rodrigue (8932)
3 year Trustee - Robert Coco (3208)
2 year Trustee - Keith Gautreau (8147)
1 year Trustee - Malcolm Faucheaux (1817)
b. Michael Forsythe (1208) makes motion to accept the Elections Report.
Robert Ricca (1819) 2nds the motion.
Motion passes.
14. Closing remarks by Officers
a. Each Officer gave a few comments.
15. Closing prayer by Gladwin Ball (5022).