Danbury Knight elected state deputy for Iowa Knights

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
June 29, 2006

DANBURY - The office of state deputy of the Knights of Columbus for the state of Iowa will be filled by a Knight from the Diocese of Sioux City on July 1.

Mike Gaspers and his wife, Anita, are parishioners at St. Mary Church in Danbury. He has been a Knight for 21 years and is a member of Knights of Columbus Council #2839 in Danbury. He is currently the state secretary and was elected state deputy at the Iowa Knights of Columbus convention in May.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's fraternal organization that has been active in Iowa since 1900. There are currently just over 31,000 members in Iowa in about 215 councils.

Gaspers pointed out that the state deputy is like the CEO of the Knights of Columbus in Iowa.

"It is a huge challenge," said Gaspers. "You have this mixture of apprehension and excitement about being able to affect a lot of good change. Then there is all these expectations from everyone, too. So, it is an exciting time."

The state deputy serves a one-year term with a one-time renewal, so there is the opportunity for a person to serve for two years.

"Everything that happens will happen under my authority," said Gaspers. "I will delegate membership activities, programming activities and issues that come up."

He will be installed as state deputy on July 15 at the 5 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

Gaspers explained that he became involved with the Knights when he lived in Iowa Falls, which was about seven hours from home.

"We were sitting in a new community all alone trying to figure out how we would fit in," he said. "I was approached by the Knights, and they told me that their whole reason for existence was to help other people. It really got me fired up."

He commented that the men who originally approached him continued to be his mentors and encouraged and promoted his involvement.

"I have gained a great deal of leadership experience from the Knights. I have gained a lot of satisfaction of actually accomplishing significant things with my life that make a difference," said Gaspers.

In his position as state secretary, his main responsibility has been to conduct all of the activities that relate to the persons with intellectual disabilities drive.

"We collected across the state of Iowa $564,342 for distribution to persons with intellectual disabilities," said Gaspers. "In many different areas, we use the tootsie rolls to raise awareness. If people throw in a donation, we give them a tootsie roll."

The Knights pay the cost of the tootsie rolls. Ten percent of the remaining money at the state level is donated to Iowa Special Olympics. The other 90 percent is given back to the local area agencies which work with people with intellectual disabilities.

"We have been doing that since 1974," said Gaspers. "We have donated over $11 million since 1974 to persons with intellectual disabilities through different organizations around the state."

He pointed out that Knights of Columbus is the "number one single contributor to Iowa Special Olympics as far as support from a volunteer organization."

Other activities that councils across the state provide include Substance Abuse Poster Contests, Soccer Kicking Contests, Free Throw Contests and Spelling Bee Contests for boys and girls 10-14 years old. The Knight of Columbus sponsors an essay contest for all Catholic school 8th graders and high school seniors. Last year over 6,000 Iowa students participated in these worthwhile events. Council events and activities provide confirmation candidates with opportunities to perform required service hours.

According to Gaspers, Council #2839 in Danbury has been involved with putting on an omelet breakfast for over 10 years. The fourth degree Knights stand honor guard at First Communion, confirmation and other special occasions.

"They provide a ceremonial presence - something of pomp and circumstance," said Gaspers.

The council also helps with purchasing Bibles for the confirmation class, putting on a free-throw contest, sponsoring a spelling bee and participating in the cluster picnic.

"Eventually we all want to leave a legacy," said Gaspers. "I am in a position and work very hard to be in a position to leave a legacy through the Knights of Columbus. That legacy is to get as many young Catholics and Catholic families of all ages more in union and close to their church and their faith, to offer membership to as many Catholic men as we can and to have sense of pride in being a Catholic."

He expressed that being a Knight has kept him "enthused about being a Catholic. It has kept me in awe of what faith can do for families and individuals."