Bill Tillotson - Director
Star Council Team Members
Bill Tillotson - DirectorHector Gutierrez - Committeeman
Brian Kozel – Committeeman
Clint Mendonca – Committeeman
Joseph Patrick Ortiz – Committeeman
Donald Piwonka - Committeeman
Freddy Rodriguez - Committeeman
STAR COUNCIL AWARD
The Star Council Award is earned by councils for outstanding achievement in the areas of membership, insurance, and service program activities. The criterion used for this award are the behaviors most seen in successful councils – growth in membership, focus on insurance programs, and a commitment to a variety of programs in the areas of Faith, Family, Community and Life.
All Councils should strive to earn this prestigious award every year. With proper planning and leadership, every council can do so.
To earn the Star Council Award:
1. Earn the Father McGivney Award for membership growth by June 30, 2024. The council quota can be found on the Membership tab in Officers Online. There is no application to complete for the Father McGivney Award, as the Supreme Council automatically determines eligibility. Goals are set at 6% growth with a minimum of 5 and maximum of 15.
2. Earn the Founder’s Award for insurance growth by June 30, 2024. Each Council will schedule at least two Fraternal Benefits events for current and prospective members and their spouses during the fraternal year. Credit will be given for Fraternal Benefits events based on forms submitted to Supreme by the Grand Knight. Details of changes to this program will be forthcoming.
3. Earn the Columbian Award for Faith in Action programs by June 30, 2024. Conduct at least four programs in each of the four Faith in Action categories of Faith, Family, Community, and Life. Columbian Award application can be submitted at: https://www.kofc.org/en/forms/...
4. Complete and send other required forms to Supreme and the Texas State Office.
• Submit the Service Program Personnel Report (Form 365) due by July 1, 2023. Form can be completed at: https://www. kofc.org/en/for-members/resources/forms/365.html
• Submit the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (Form 1728) due by January 31, 2024. Form can be completed here: https:// www.kofc.org/en/for-members/re...
Forward the confirmation PDF copy to the Texas State Office.
5. Safe Environment. Be compliant with required training and background checks. Men in the following positions must complete Safe Environment training modules and may be required to provide authorization for a background check. These must be complete within 30 days of receiving an email from Supreme after appointment.
• Grand Knight
• Program Director
• Family Director (background check required)
• Community Director (background check required)
• Columbian Squires Counselors (if applicable) (background check required)
Some positions also have access to the Praesidium Academy administration dashboard to view council compliance status. Once completed, training is good for three years.
The Service Program Personal (Form 365) will be recorded as received when the following required roles have been appointed - Program Director, Community Director, Family Director, Membership Director, and Retention Chairman. The Grand Knight can hold one Director position - however other unique men must hold the other Director roles.
Accurate emails must be reported. Praesidium will use these email addresses to send notifications to those men to complete Safe Environment training and to provide authorization for a background check. There should be no general email specific to council name, position, etc., - it must be a unique email address to the individual. The email the member will receive from Supreme will include their username and password to access the training website.
Safe Environment training can also be completed by those without Internet access. The Office of Youth Protection (OYP) can mail the training materials to a Knight. He then can read the training, complete the paperwork, and mail back in. Contact the OYP (info below) for more details.
The Star Tracker will provide training status as required to achieve 100% compliance. Grand Knights and District Deputies are expected to monitor these reports for Safe Environment Compliance for their councils. Grand Knights and District Deputies can also monitor progress in Officers Online. They should work to ensure that each council is 100% compliant.
Timeline is as follows:
Once the completed Form 365 is received by Supreme an email will be sent to the men who need to complete training. Individuals will have 30 days to complete the training and provide background information. Those without Internet access need to contact the OYP.
An email reminder will be sent after 2 weeks if not completed.
If not completed within 30 days, the director positions are vacated and another individual needs to be assigned.
Completing the online safe environment training modules shows commitment to protecting children and vulnerable members.
DIOCESAN SAFE ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS ARE UNIQUE AND SEPERATE FROM THE KNIGHTS. BOTH MUST BE
COMPLETED.
Safe Environment Requirements can be found at kofc.org/safe. All inquiries about the program should be directed to the Office of Youth Protection via email to youthleader@kofc.org or by phone to 203-800-4940.
6. Council must be current with Supreme Assessments twice during the year; prior to October 10, 2023, and April 10, 2024.
The Texas State Council provides a checklist in this Star Guide to help achieve Star Council, the Form TX21B – 2020. This form is also available for download on the Texas State Website.
STAR DISTRICT AWARD
District Deputies are also recognized for excellence by Supreme. Criterion for this award are:
1. Meet membership goal (70% of combined council quotas)
2. Meet insurance goal (50% or more of councils complete two required Fraternal Benefits events)
3. Submit District Deputy Report Form 944 for each of his councils prior to September 15
4. Have at least one council in the district earn Star Council
LONE STAR AWARDS
Texas also has awards above and beyond the Star Council Award: The Lone Star Award for Excellence and the Lone Star Award for Excellence with Distinction.
The requirements for the Lone Star Award for Excellence are:
1. Meet the Star Council Award criterion
2. Submit Form 185 by July 1, 2023
3. Pay State Per Capita by March 1, 2024
4. Meet State Charity Goal by June 30, 2024
5. Seat at least one delegate at the State Convention in Houston April 26-28, 2024
6. Submit Form 1295 Semi-Annual Audit by August 15, 2023 & February 15, 2024
The requirements for the Lone Star Award for Excellence with Distinction are:
1. Meet the Star Council Award criteria
2. Submit Form 185 by July 1, 2023
3. Pay State Per Capita by December 31, 2023
4. Meet State Charity Goal by December 31, 2023
5. Seat two delegates at the State Convention in Houston April 26-28, 2024
6. Submit Form 1295 Semi-Annual Audit by August 15, 2023 & February 15, 2024
7. Submit Form 10784 for Special Olympics by January 31, 2024
8. Submit at least one entry for a State Service Program Award or Family of the Year or Blessed Michael McGivney Award or
Educational Grant by March 1, 2024
STAR TRACKER REPORT
A Star Tracker Report will be maintained and updated as data is available from multiple sources (Supreme and State). This report will track each council’s progress towards Star Council and the Lone Star Awards. Reports will be by Diocese and will be in Excel and PDF form.
Reports will be sent to Diocesan and District Deputies via our Constant Contact email platform.
GOALS FOR 2023-2024
Each archdiocese/diocese has been given a goal of 21% of all councils within their diocese to become Star Council. Each Diocesan Deputy that meets this goal will be recognized. Diocesan Deputies and District Deputies are asked to strive for one Star Council per district.
Goals per Archdiocese/Diocese:
DIOCESE
ARCHDIOCESE No. of Active COUNCILS GOAL
Amarillo 24 5
Austin 95 20
Beaumont 29 6
Brownsville 54 11
Corpus Christi 61 13
Dallas 63 13
El Paso 39 8
Fort Worth 68 14
Galveston/Houston 138 29
Laredo 27 5
Lubbock 29 6
San Angelo 36 8
San Antonio 109 23
Tyler 33 7
Victoria 32 7
TOTAL 837 175
SUBMISSION OF FORMS
Forms 185 (Officers Elected), 365 (Service Program Personnel), 1728 (Survey of Fraternal Activity) and SP-7 (Columbian Award) should be submitted via Officers Online in the secure sign-in area. The on-line submission process is simple, and automatically certifies that the form has been received by the Supreme Council.
One can also use the PDF form instead if needed. If submitted in this fashion, please e-mail to addresses as follows:
Form 185 addresschange@kofc.org
Forms 365, 1728 & SP-7 fraternalmission@kofc.org
Since the District Deputy and the Texas State Office are not automatically notified of form submittals, councils need to save each form as a PDF file and forward them as follows:
State Council Office forms@tkofc.org
District Deputy (use appropriate address)
Diocesan Deputy (use appropriate address)
The council should retain a copy of all council forms. This is our biggest challenge: getting the documentation and paperwork done right and on time. Star Council and Safe Environment compliance hinges on timely and accurate completion of forms.
AWARDS
District Deputy Incentives
District Deputies who get all their forms and safe environment roles completed early in the year will be eligible for a $250 drawing at the Organizational Meeting.
Texas Circle of Honor Award for Diocesan Deputy
Requirements: Meet Star Council goals for the diocese (20% of active councils in the diocese).
Award: Knights of Columbus watch with the emblem of the Order.