effectively serve all the parishes in the area. In addition, every priest deserves to have a Knights of Columbus council in his parish — your job is to ensure that each parish has an active council. r
Contact the pastor Begin a conversation with the pastor of the parish where the new council will be formed and explain the benefits of having a Knights of Columbus council in his parish. Leave some literature with him and supply him with the name of another priest in his area that has a council in his parish that he can contact as a reference. r
Contact the state deputy If the pastor gives his permission for the formation of a council, contact the state deputy by sending a Notice of Intent to Establish a New Council (#133) for his signature. Once the Supreme Council Office receives a copy of this form, a New Council Canvasser's Kit will be forwarded to you. It contains a variety of recruitment materials to assist in establishing the new council. r
Contact the general agent Either the general agent or an assigned field agent will work with you to recruit eligible men to form this new council. r
The initial recruitment drive Once the date for the recruitment drive is set, place a notice in the parish bulletin announcing the date of the recruitment drive weekend. Ask the pastor to make an announcement from the pulpit indicating that a new council is being formed in the parish. r
Committee Meeting Plan a committee meeting with the men interested in establishing a council in their parish and select a temporary chairman and financial secretary. These men will assist in recruiting others to form the council and become the charter grand knight and financial secretary. r
Organizational Meeting Interested men — and their wives — should be invited to this meeting. A representative from your state
council should be invited to explain the Knights of Columbus and the benefit to the parish for having an active council. The general or field agent will also explain the Order's member benefits and the insurance program. At this point, assist men to complete the Membership Document (#100). r
First Degree Candidates should not have to wait extended periods of time to be welcomed into their new council. Ask surrounding councils to hold a special exemplification or use the First Degree Video Production to welcome these men into their council. r
Plans for Institution Once the required numbers of members to form an council has been obtained, complete the Notice of Institution (#136) and forward to the Supreme Secretary's office along with the Membership Document (#100) for the charter members of the new council. r
Application for Charter Additionally, the Application for Charter (#137) should be completed and sent to the Supreme Council Office as quickly as possible. If the council is to be named after an individual, provide a short biography, along with the date of death as the Laws of the Order provide that no council can be named after a living person. If there is no name designated on the Application for Charter, the charter will reflect the city in which the council was established. r
Presentation of Charter As district deputy, you are to make a formal presentation of the charter to the grand knight on behalf of the supreme knight and the board of directors. r
Follow-up Maintain close personal contact with the new council officers and directors to ensure that all are properly trained in their respective duties For complete details and instructions on forming a new council, including the presentation of charter ceremony, refer to the Knights of Columbus New Council Development Guidelines (#2119).
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