Knights of Columbus Blog - Stay Connected

My Brothers,

I would like to convey my appreciation to the District Deputies, Grand Knights and Membership Chairmen that submitted their plans for the second Statewide Membership Drive in honor of Founder's Day in March 24 & 25, 2012. It's comforting to hear from many of you that not only are you making plans to conduct a membership drive on Founder's Day weekend, but are also planning on having additional recruitment drives on other dates. Through your tireless and steadfast efforts I am confident the Order will grow and continue to flourish in the State of California.

 "*Membership 365 - We Change Lives and We Save Lives*" has been our membership theme this Columbian Year. In conjunction with the second statewide all church membership drive in honor of the Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney, we are asked to grow the Order throughout the year with "Membership 365", recruiting at least one new member per Council per month.

Those Councils meeting the "Membership 365" challenge by recruiting at least 12 new members during the year will be given special recognition at the 110th Annual State Convention in Santa Clara by receiving uniquely designed commemorative buttons for their delegates to wear indicating "We Met the Challenge".

Statewide membership drives have historically been a major source of new members joining our Order. Proper planning and execution is essential for the drive to be successful. In this regard, I have attached an excerpt from the State Membership Campaign Manual with helpful information and sample bulletin and pulpit announcements. I encourage all Councils to take advantage of these and other programs they may have available to invite qualified Catholic men in their church and parishes to join the Knights of Columbus. Ask another man to join - and know you are making a difference in his life.

All Councils are asked to participate in the Founder's Day Membership Drive. If for any reason you cannot conduct a drive on those specific dates, please arrange an alternative date with your Pastor. In either case, I would like to know your plans. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to respond with the attached request for information and send it to Mario Santiago, State Recruitment Chairman, by mail at 12212 Hillsdale Avenue, Sylmar CA 91342 or e-mail at mersan4@aol.com. Any and all information, including the results of your membership drive or other successful recruiting activity, will be accepted throughout the months of March and April.

Thank you and God bless,

Charles H. Clark

State Deputy

*St. John Vianney, Pray for Us *

Click here for an excerpt of the State Membership Campaign Manual.

Click here for the Recruitment Drive RFI form to submit your Council's plans to participate.  Please complete and submit it to send it to Mario Santiago, State Recruitment Chairman. 

See the tips below for conducting a successful campaign.

On Founder’s Day this March 29th, we celebrate the anniversary of the Knights of Columbus.

As we celebrate the legacy of Father McGivney and the contributions of our brother Knights since 1882, we also prepare for an even greater future as we live out the vision of our founder.  The anniversary of the realization of Father Mc­

Givney’s dream is a cause for celebration.

Councils throughout the Order are urged to ob­serve this day – among their own members and with the community at large – as a reminder of what the Knights of Columbus has accomplished in the past years, the ideals of the Order, and their own local achievements.

Join the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild ask your Council Membership Director for the form or click here to register online.

Read this article and much more in the March Knightletter on the State Council website.

Brothers:

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lenten Season, which constitutes a program of more intense spiritual training. The Liturgy sets before us three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving, and fasting – to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and prepare ourselves to rejoice at the Resurrection of the Lord. The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life – Charity. It is the time that gives us the opportunity to practice what we believe.

Prayer is one of the three pillars of Lenten practice. Through prayer, we raise our hearts and minds to God in thanksgiving and praise. Prayer is our vital and personal relationship with God.

Almsgiving is more that throwing a few extra dollars into the collection basket. It gives us the opportunity to reach out and truly help others in need. It is another opportunity to practice the first principle of our Order – Charity.

Fasting is the self-denial of something that we really desire. It is not limited to strictly limiting the amount food that we eat, it can also be limiting the time we spend watching TV or surfing the Web.

This is the time for your council to ask your Pastor how you can help on this very busy time of the year.

Membership continues to grow. You are helping new members and their families get more involved in our Church and our communities. RCIA candidates are the best prospect, so plan on making presentations after their acceptance into the Church. Let them know it is a natural progression from receiving the sacraments to joining an organization of like-minded Catholic men.

Hotel reservations for the 2012 California State Council Convention in Santa Clara are coming in at a steady pace. If you want to stay at the hotel where all the excitement is, you need to reserve now.

Many councils have worked hard this Columbian year. It is time to seek recognition for those who planned, executed, participated in, and supported these events. Awards will be presented at the State Convention to the best run programs in several categories. The awards committee does not know what each council has accomplished. We need you to tell them. Award forms are located in the State Program Manual provided to all Grand Knights. This is a chance to “TOOT YOUR OWN HORN”.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

Fraternally,

Charles Clark, State Deputy

You can read this article and much more in the March Knightletter on the State Council website.

In order for your Council to be recognized during the Awards Ceremony at the Santa Clara State Convention in May you must submit your reports to the appropriate State Activity Chairmen; Church, Community, Council, Family, Youth, Pro-Life and Vocations as listed on page 15 of this year’s California Program Handbook, and on the State website atResources/Forms/STSP-CA Form by April 2, 2012. Also send a copy to the Service Program Director. “State Deputy Award” forms should be sent to the State Awards Chairman, listed in the same section of the handbook and website.

All reports submitted become the property of the California State Council and will not be returned. Events that occur more than once each year should be reported on one report form that lists the frequency at which they occur.

Grand Knights – Make sure that your council gets the recognition that it deserves! Submit the activity forms and compete for an award.

Read the entire article on pp. 6-7 in the February Knightletter on the State Council  website.