Quality of Membership

 Introduction

The assertion that someone can be a born leader is directly challenged by the US Marine Corps who believes that a leader is instead made. Through a proven regimen of training and discipline, the US Marine Corps has never suffered defeat in any of its challenges. Although highly trained for specific tasks, the success of a particular Marine in their specialties of service begins with his formation in basic training.

This idea can be applied to our order.

 What we do to inspire Catholic men during (and after) their formation as Knights determines the success of our order in New Hampshire in general, and of each council in particular. So we need to continually look into the infrastructure of our membership program, to gauge its success, and make the necessary changes.

First and foremost though, we need to understand what our membership infrastructure is. A closer examination reveals that our membership program has an immediate component and a long term component for each Knight. Interesting enough, both of these aspects play equal roles.

 The immediate membership component is the recruiting process itself and a man’s formation as a Knight. The long term component of membership is the overall experience of each man as a Knight. Therefore, the quality of a man’s membership as a Knight depends on his experience as a Knight and his zeal to share it with others.

Immediate Membership Efforts

 Recruiting

Recruiting is essential to the existence of any organization. Without a successful recruiting program, an organization, indeed any organization, will fade away. Our order has succeeded in this regard having grown to over 1.73 million men from its beginning in 1882 despite the trials and tribulations experienced in our society, economy, government, or church.

 Why Recruit?

When a man becomes a Knight, he has:

·   the opportunity to fulfill his obligations as a Christian to put his faith to work in service to others

·   enjoys the unity of like minded Catholics,

·   access to the fraternal benefits that support our families, and

·   the means to grow in his faith as a Catholic, and in his patriotism enlightened by his faith

 It is therefore, our moral obligation to invite every Catholic man to be a Knight of Columbus!

 “Time and again, I have stressed that we have nothing less than a moral obligation to offer membership in the Knights of Columbus to every eligible Catholic man.  To accomplish this, I am asking dedicated brother Knights like you to be ambassadors, to reach out to Catholic men and their families and invite them to become part of our Order”

-Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

How do we recruit?

·    The personal invitation

·    The Blitz
In both cases, your council must have a plan and the desire to succeed. The state council is prepared to advise and assist if necessary, each council in these areas. Our Supreme Council has countless materials available to help each council organize their membership effort. Remember our order’s success through the years. The vision and message of Father McGivney is timeless and has great appeal. There are many men waiting to hear it! An organized council will get that message out.

When do we recruit?

·   The Blitz is usually twice a year. The prime times are October and the beginning of Lent. Supreme has all of the literature on how to do this. The key to success is just doing it. In time, your council will develop a comfortable approach. The key is to coordinate the Blitz with your pastor.

·   The personal invitation is year round and occurs in different ways. The key to success is persistence by as many council members as possible. Your council must have a recruiting plan.

 How many do we recruit?

Goals and milestones are important to every undertaking. Despite the obvious answer that we should recruit every eligible Catholic man, some of the more realistic parameters are:

·   Quotas set by Supreme. It is their experience that this number is the bare minimum required to avoid stagnation and dissolution of a council. A council that fails to recruit at least one member could be in trouble.

·   A council should have a 5 year plan and the means to achieve it. This means that a council has a committed team to get the job done. District Deputies have the means to make this happen

·    The membership of the Knights of Columbus in New Hampshire should represent at least 10% of the Catholic families in the state. Right now, the ratio is ~7500/110,000 or 6.8%.

 Admissions

Arguably the most critical time in the career of a Knight is his experience during the admissions process. It is at this juncture where the expectations of both prospect and council are set. If the admissions process is either poor or nonexistent, chances are the prospect himself will be the same. Our Charter Constitution Laws prescribe the process of membership in Sections101 (qualifications), 104 (form), 106 (presentation). It continues into Section 108 Admissions. So, other than being a requirement, there are the benefits of the admissions process.

·   The Proposer introduces the prospect to the immediate leadership of his council, the 7 members of the admissions committee. Meeting new people is an important step for a prospect

·   The admissions committee conducts an interview which makes the prospect feel both welcome and wanted. The council should be interested about the prospect’s family, employment, vocation, hobbies, etc.

·   The prospect learns about the council’s activities, meetings, dues, etc. The council learns about the prospects interests.

·   The prospect learns about the four degrees of our Order and looks forward to completing them. He also learns about the benefits of membership.

 Keys to Membership Success

There are important aspects of our order that have an indirect effect on membership growth. These are the important areas we must recognize as the keys to long term growth. Also recognize that membership growth does not depend on each one thing alone, but on all things together. Our goal is to create excitement for every man at every turn!

Ceremonials

The ceremonial of our order are provided to educate the new Knight about our order and to pass along some of our traditions. When a candidate is edified by the beauty and dignity of the lessons being exemplified, the result is simply a Knight who is excited about his membership. It is important that a degree team be well rehearsed, and they usually are, but there are other conditions which contribute to a degree being well received by a candidate:

·   The candidate is brought to the degree by several members of his council. If there were 7 members of an Admission Committee that welcomed him into the order, why not several members who are with him when he takes this important step!

·   Ensure a proper dress code. Very little dignity is achieved from jeans and sneakers

·   Participation by the spectators is essential. Aside from their participation in the oath of a degree and the applause at the end, the most effective way the spectators enhance the candidate’s experience at the degree is by singing when the degree music is played.

 ·    Ensure that a candidate completes his 1^ST three degrees within one year. One way to lose a Knight is to let him slack off in his formation. District Deputies should remind their councils to take inventory of its membership to see who needs to meet this. Most men who we’ve lost never made it to their 3^rd Degree. (Note emphasis).

 ·   Ensure that a Knight completes his 4^th Degree in his first year of eligibility. Many consider the 4^th Degree to be the most beautiful of all degrees. Statistics show that a 4^th Degree Knight is virtually a Knight for life.

Service Programs

 ·   Participates in at least three council programs in his 1^st year

·   Contributes to the reporting and accounting of the programs he participates in

·   Suggest new programs

·   Chair a program

 Business Meetings

Business meetings are a necessary evil because it provides a forum for planning activities for a council and to account for its works. We want the new Knight to make at least three meetings in his first year. Many Knights abhor the meeting and prefer to just doing programs while leaving the business part to the program leader. Before you know it, that man isn’t seen anymore. Many meetings can be real snoozers. Meetings can be attractive by:

·   Stick to the meeting outline. Don’t let it be a one man show.

·   Enforce protocol. The meeting requires the use of a gavel, standing when addressing the GK, saluting, etc. This is explained in the 1^st degree.

·   Don’t do committee work at the meeting!

·   Make the meeting interesting by encouraging the Lecturer to schedule interesting guests.

·   To those who do not hold an office, always seek to avail them the opportunity to lead a project

·   Provide light refreshments before or after a meeting. This promotes fellowship.

Benefits of Membership

 Obviously the least understood and (therefore) the least promoted are our Insurance Programs. Many of us are overwhelmed by it. But, when a member has some kind insurance/financial product from the Knights, he maintains his membership. Some of the ways we can promote this is:

 ·   Mention the new member life insurance plan. The highlights of this plan are detailed on the back of every Form 100

·   Invite the Field Agent to our meetings

·   Invite the Field Agent to our 1^st and 2nd degrees and give him an opportunity to speak for ~1-2 minutes. (A great icebreaker!)

4^th Degree

 Why is the 4^th Degree essential to our order in general, and to membership in particular?

1.     It is important for every organization to be seen in public. The 4^th Degree makes our order visible everywhere it goes.

• At Masses i.e. ordinary, feasts, and memorials

• Sacramental celebrations: 1^st Holy Communions, confirmations, weddings

• Bereavements: wakes, funerals, burials

• Special functions: dedications, ceremonies, parades

• Functions: state, district, and council 

2.     Being visible inspires the spectators

• Women and children who can visualize their loved one as a Knight

• Widows who derive a sense of support and comfort in their time of distress

• Parishioners who can finally see who the men in their parish who are Knights

• Non-Catholics who see the direct representatives of an organization engaged in good works. 

3.      Being an active Sir Knight in the workings of the  4^th Degree of our order brings

• Personal satisfaction at having reached the highest echelon of our order

• A profound sense of duty in promoting our values in our community

• Fulfillment of our obligation to publicly proclaim our faith

• Opportunities to exemplify the principles of the 4^th Degree-patriotism

• A likely lifetime commitment to our order since one out every ten men with suspended memberships are men who’ve made their 4^th Degree.  

 Membership Success

 Success in membership is determined by the quality of each man’s experience in our order.  As explained above, each area of activity plays a vital role. Our goal is to provide the means to make this truly the “Experience of a Lifetime”. The following outlines a three year membership program suggested for each member:

1^st  Year of Membership

• Complete the 3^rd Degree

• Participate in three service programs

• Attend three business meetings

• Meet with the Field Agent

• Recruit one new member

 2^nd Year of Membership

• Complete the 4^th Degree

• Participate in three service programs.

• Attend three business meetings

• Attend one of each Degree

• Recruit one new member

 3^rd Year of Membership

• Attend 2 council meetings and 2 assembly meetings

• Participate in 2 service programs or 2 assembly activities

• Attend one of each Degree

• Recruit one new member

 Simple Math

 Knight in Shining Armor + 4^th Degree = Experience of a Lifetime

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