David Zeigler, Council Growth Director
(903) 926-0776; zigsr@att.net
Father McGivney’s vision was to have a Knight’s presence in EVERY parish. How do we accomplish this? New Council Development in all languages, Reactivation of Suspended/Dormant Councils, Round Table creation, Developing and Sustaining College Councils, and Retaining Councils from falling behind on per capita and being suspended. Our Pastors need the Knights of Columbus to support the call to Service. We are the only organized unit to help our priest and help our fellow parishioners come back to church. This is only attainable by a Knight’s presence in every active Parish and Mission across our great State of Texas.
New Council Development (NCD)
Rick Guzman, Chairman
By developing new councils, not only do we offer many fraternal benefits to our new members, but we also Stand in Solidarity with our Priests and continue to grow our charitable and fraternal services. We do this for our members to become better fathers, husbands, and stronger Catholics. The 16-step process set forth by the State Council is the structural guide for successful New Council Development. We will work with our Diocesan Teams to ensure successful and continued development to meet the needs of the parish.
New Council Development District Deputy Checklist:Survey the Area, Contact Diocesan Deputy
Contact the Pastor
Contact the State Deputy and submit Form 133 “Notice of Intent” to establish a New Council
Contact General and Field Agent
Conduct Initial Recruitment Drive
Conduct Committee Meetings
Conduct initial Organizational Meeting
Conduct Exemplifications
Elect Officers
Submit - Form 136, Notice of Institution of a Council,
Form 185, Elected Officers,
Form 365, Program Directors,
Financial Secretary Forms 101 & FS 103 – to the CG Team
Submit Form 137, Charter request to the CG Team
Formally Present Charter
Follow up, ensure sustainability
Link for ALL New Council Development forms: (listed above)
https://www.kofc.org/en/for-me...
Submit all forms to the NCD Chairman & the Director. We will verify everything is in order & we will submit the forms to Supreme on your behalf.
Reactivations and Mergers
Greg Dutchover, Chairman
Reactivation District Deputy Checklist:
Contact the Pastor
Meet with existing Council Members
Contact the Diocesan Deputy & State Deputy and submit Form 133 “Notice of Intent” to establish a New Council
Conduct a Church Drive & get help from the General and Field Agents
Conduct informational meetings
Conduct initial Organizational Meeting and hold elections and Submit Form 185
Identify Financial Secretary, submit Form 101 & 103
Conduct a “CUF”
Submit Membership forms
Submit request for per capita debt forgiveness.
Follow procedure for “Free Drops”
Follow up, ensure sustainability
Link for ALL Council Reactivation forms: (listed above)
https://www.kofc.org/en/for-me...
Submit all forms to the Chairman & the Director. We will verify everything is in order & we will submit the forms to Supreme on your behalf.
Council mergers occur only when a dormant council has no path to reactivation. Mergers allow the members of the dormant council to renew their full membership and have full fraternal benefits. We must contact all members of that council and request they transfer to the next closest council. Our team will be ready to assist in that activity. Let “Christ Be Our Light” to reactivate these Brother Knights to serve our parish and community better.
Council Retention
Michael Barnett, Chairman
The mission of our Council Retention program is to ensure that all councils in Texas operate in good standing with the Supreme Council. This is accomplished when all councils pay their per capita charges on time and in full. Our goal is for all Brother Knights to enjoy the fraternal and many substantial rewards due them and their families as members in good standing of the Knights of Columbus.
Supreme will assess the per capita this fraternal year. Please ensure your councils do not delay submitting these payments. As a reminder, payments of the Supreme per capita do not require a council vote.Hispanic Council Development
Miguel Torres, North Chairman
Carlos Rene Ramirez, South Chairman
Catholicism is the largest religion in Texas. The Spanish speaking Catholic population continues to be the fastest growing population across Texas, positively impacting each Diocese. Spanish speaking Catholic men are seeking to become involved in their parishes. We, as the leaders of the Knights of Columbus, must be open and welcoming to our Spanish speaking Catholics within our parishes.
Our ultimate goal is to promote ethnic membership growth, growing the number of Spanish speaking councils and reactivating suspended Spanish speaking councils. Additionally, establishing a firm foundation of training to assure sustainability of all the Spanish speaking councils.
Round Tables
Dan Aguilar, Chairman
Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney. He envisioned that every Catholic gentleman aged 18 and older could enjoy the benefits that the Knights of Columbus offers. Our Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly has challenged us to establish a Knights of Columbus presence in all Catholic Parishes and Missions. Currently in the State of Texas we have over 1300 parishes or missions in which only 817 have a Knights of Columbus Council. As Knights it is our responsibility to help other Catholic Gentlemen to experience the joys of our four Principles of the order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism, remembering that we as Knights are the hands and arms of the parish priests. Supreme has established a method to help us reach the goal of having Knights in each parish/mission in Texas. Round Tables were established to help us reach Catholic gentlemen enabling them to experience the joy of helping others.
Purpose of a Round Table
The purpose of having a Round Table is:
To actively engage Knights of Columbus members to aid the parish and sustain visible Catholic action through works of charity in every parish and mission throughout the Order, and in sustainable parishes to form the table into a fully functioning council.” (Supreme)
Why Have A Round Table
Parish Round Tables are ideal to provide a Knights of Columbus presence and be of service to smaller parishes and missions, and to fill needs for ethnic development.
Round Tables help develop programs and events for parishes and missions that do not have Knights of Columbus. Round Tables help subgroups of parishes meet their goals.
Round Tables can become the MUSTARD SEED for a new Knights of Columbus Council.
Guidelines To Be Used To Establish A Parish Round Table
The Grand Knight surveys the area parishes to see who will benefit from a Round Table.
The Grand Knight and his Officers make a list of council members who belong to the area parishes. They will become part of the Round Table.
The Grand Knight informs members who belong to the designated parish that the order would like to set up a Round Table. The Grand Knight, Officers and Insurance Agents will explain to them the benefits of having a Round Table to the council. The Grand Knight and a chosen Knight parishioner will set up a meeting with the Pastor to offer help. During the meeting, the Grand Knight will explain how the Knights of Columbus can be of assistance and will emphasize that this is not a “one and done” opportunity but a chance to provide on-going assistance.
If the Pastor is not receptive to a Parish Round Table, the Pastor’s decision is accepted, but the offer should be kept open in case things change.
If the Pastor is receptive, the Grand Knight appoints one Parish Round Table Coordinator for each designated Parish. The Grand Knight completes the Report of the Parish Round Table Coordinator (Form 2629) and submits it to Supreme with a copy to the District Deputy and State Round Table Coordinator. Link: https://www.kofc.org/en/forms/...
The Grand Knight will communicate Parish Round Table appointments to those involved and make announcements. The Parish Priest will select which projects or events the Round Table will complete. Once the Round Table exceeds 20 members and still has potential to grow, paperwork should be submitted to form a new Council.
Operating a Round Table
There are no elected officers to the Round Table, only an appointed Coordinator. The Pastor is involved as much as he wants to be, but the Round Table should not add to his workload. The Coordinator should maintain good communications with the priest. The Coordinator should seek help from current council members to accomplish Round Table projects. Annually, the Grand Knight and the Pastor will review the activities and effectiveness of the parish Round Table and Coordinator. If the Pastor desires a change of Coordinator or if the Coordinator resigns during the fraternal year, the Pastor and the Grand Knight make the selection of a new Coordinator.
Change of Pastor, the Grand Knight and the Coordinator explains the program and seek the new Pastor’s support. The parish Round Table has no dues. Members continue to meet their financial obligation to their council.
The Name of the Parish Round Table
The parish name and city should be used in conjunction with the parish Round Table.
Communication
The Round Table Coordinator regularly reports on the activities of the parish Round Table at the business meetings of the sponsoring council. The parish Round Table projects should be announced in the parish, the Texas Knight (State Knights of Columbus Newspaper), Diocesan newspaper, Columbia, and Parish bulletins.
Parish Round Table Reporting:
Report of the Parish Round Table Coordinator (Form #2629) DUE: AS NEEDED.
Link: https://www.kofc.org/un/en/for...
This form is used to report the Round Table Coordinator assigned to each parish and is signed by the Grand Knight. Only one coordinator can be assigned to a parish.
This report will be emailed to: CouncilGrowth@kofc.org for processing and to the State Round Table Coordinator.
When the Parish Round Table Coordinator is changed, the Grand Knight notifies Council Growth, State and District Deputy, State Round Table Coordinator, and the outgoing coordinator with an updated Form #2629.
Check List for Establishing a Parish Round Table
• Meets with parish pastor.
• See what the pastor would like to have done at his church.
• Parish is connected to a Council (has members of a parish in the Council).
• Select Coordinator for Round Table.
• Submit Form 2629 to Supreme, State, Director of Membership and Round Table Chairman.
College Council Development
Archie Wright II, Chairman
The mission of the Knights of Columbus College Council program is to promote the moral, intellectual, and spiritual development of the future leaders of civil society, the Order, and the Church through witness to the Gospel and dedication to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.
Our objective for College Councils is to foster excellence and growth in established councils, pursue the reactivation of former college councils, and to expand our reach by establishing Round Tables or councils on Texas college campuses. Our support for these councils must help
these young Knights become leaders in their current councils, be accepted and supported by surrounding councils, and ensure they are able to transition to a permanent council following their graduation.
Our big event this year is the Texas State Council College Conference in mid-November. This will give all College Councils an opportunity to get together and bond and share ideas on what is making it unique and successful.
Any Diocesan Deputy or District Deputy that needs help with any aspect of a college council, our team is ready to help.