K of C puts on 'a family affair'

Convention to discuss nature of marriage

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

At least 520 people, including 300 official delegates and their families, are already registered for the event, noted convention chair Bong Estoque.

The official delegates represent close to 15,000 Knights spread in some 160 councils and 33 districts throughout Alberta/ Northwest Territories.

Estoque described the convention as a "family affair" because of its emphasis on family. Loving and Protecting Families Though Service is the gathering's theme.

"We want the whole family to be involved in the convention as opposed to the husband only," Estoque said.

Wives and children

"And we are also making the children a part of the convention by joining the delegates on Saturday and Sunday morning for breakfast," Estoque said.

"We are trying to make sure the delegates and their families have a great time in Edmonton and as they go home they get to know more about the order."

The ladies may visit West Edmonton Mall or the Muttart Conservatory on Saturday.

A major resolution to be debated at the convention is one dealing with the definition of marriage. But no surprises are expected here because the Knights' support the definition of marriage as understood by the Church. "We believe marriage is the union between a man and a woman," Estoque said.

The Knights' recent decision to stop fundraising through casinos will be an important topic of conversation at the convention.

A resolution stating that the Knights will no longer sponsor or work at casions will be debated, Estoque said. "We are in solidarity with the the bishops and we strongly support their request (to get away from casinos)."

This year's supreme visitor will be Tom Smith, Jr., the director and senior vice-president of agencies and marketing for the Knights' Supreme Council in New Haven.

At least five new state board members will be elected at the convention, including a state deputy, a state secretary, a state treasurer, a state advocate and a state warden.

Mickey Casavant, the current state deputy, will likely be re-elected because no one else is running for his position and the Knights traditionally want the state deputy to serve at least two consecutive one-year terms, Estoque explained. Casavant was elected a year ago to replace Leo Klein.

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