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KNIGHTS
OF COLUMBUS
COLLEGE COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT
COLLEGE COUNCIL
REFERENCE GUIDE
Special Considerations
Election of Council Officers
Since a college council
functions primarily between the months of September and May, section
128 of the Charter, Constitution and Laws of the Order (#30) provides
that college councils may hold their elections from the first day of
March to and including the first da of June. By allowing an
additional two months in which elections may be held, college
councils can facilitate the proper election of officers before
semester exams and the conclusion of the academic year.
50% Per Capita Rebate
Secondly, under section 37 of
the Charter, Constitution and Laws of the Order (#30), a college
council is entitled to a 50% rebate of per capita taxes paid to the
Supreme Council during the course of a fraternal year. Each
September, a rebate check equaling 50% of the total per capita tax
assessment paid for the fraternal year will be mailed to all college
councils in good standing that have submitted both the February and
August Semiannual Audits Report Forms (#1295) for the fraternal year.
State councils are urged to
offer a similar rebate to alleviate some of the financial pressure
experienced by college councils. College councils have a shorter
period in which to conduct their activities and to collect needed
revenue, and a per capita tax rebate program is one way that the
state council can assist in this regard.
Programming/Membership
Recruitment/Retention
Throughout the fraternal year,
college councils will be receiving information from Supreme Council
Department of Fraternal Services for implementation of the current
membership campaign. Memos containing campaign goals and incentives,
suggested activities for implementation and a listing of membership
recruitment aids are forwarded regularly to college council
membership directors, grand knights and district deputies.
College Council Membership Report
Each month, college council
membership directors, grand knights, membership directors and
district deputies receive a two-part College Council Membership
Report. The first part provides year-to-date membership recruitment
and retention statistics for college councils Orderwide. The second
part lists the college council division leaders. College councils
have competed annually for special awards in total member and
insurance member net gain and percentage gain. The awards will be
presented at the annual College Council Conference, to be held in New
Haven, September 16-18, 2005. Recognition of these awards by way of a
congratulatory letter, article in the state newspaper or visitation
by a state officer can assist in developing a sense of fraternity
between state and college council members. State officers, executive
secretaries and state council membership directors also receive this
report, and should review it each month to ascertain the membership
activity of college councils within their jurisdiction.
Member Retention
The retention of college council
members is a growing concern, especially in the area of alumni and
graduating senior members. An effective retention program for college
councils would involve using a member interest survey to keep current
members active, encouraging graduating seniors to transfer their
membership to a local council, using the Notice of Intent to Suspend
program and implementing other retention program ideas suggested by
the Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services.
Graduating
Senior Members
It is very important for college
councils to urge graduating seniors to transfer their membership to a
local council upon graduation. Once a member has graduated, it
becomes increasingly difficult to keep a current address, collect
dues, or initiate a transfer. Grand knights and fraternal secretaries
are instrumental in this process by continually reminding seniors to
transfer as soon after graduation as possible.
Beginning in January, the
Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services conducts the
Graduating Senior Program. Each college council financial secretary
is asked to submit the council's list of graduating seniors. Once the
list is received in Fraternal Services, a letter is sent to each
graduating member asking him to recruit at least one new member
before graduation and encouraging him to remain active in the Order
by transferring his membership to a local council where he will
reside. Enclosed with this letter is the flyer Continue to Weave The
Cable (Item #4043) which explains this even further to graduating
seniors, including a postage-paid reply card for transferring their
membership. Come May, a letter of congratulations is sent by the
supreme knight with a reply card, again encouraging the member to
remain active by transferring his membership to a local council.
Once either of the reply cards
are received at the Supreme Council, a letter of confirmation is
forwarded to the graduate, notification is mailed to the local
council's grand knight, and copies of the correspondence are sent to
the state deputy and state membership director for follow up, if needed.
Experience has shown, that
college alumni members are ready, willing and able to continue their
membership in the Order. This transfer assistance program, therefore,
is of great benefit not only to the individual alumnus, but his
former college council, his new council, and to the Order as a whole.
State College Council Coordinator
States with college councils or
looking to initiate a college council program should consider
appointing a person to promote, oversee, and coordinate the college
council program in the jurisdiction. The State College Council
Coordinator should work closely with college council officers and
district deputies while being the liaison between the individual
college councils and the state. Though not a requirement, it is
suggested that such a person be a graduate of the college council
program and/or an individual who can relate to college students.
The Financial Secretary
At the October 1991 meeting of
the board of directors, it was voted that new college councils may
not be instituted unless a member of the faculty or staff of the
school, or a permanent resident of the local community, has agreed to
serve in the position of financial secretary. It was further voted
that this regulation should apply to financial secretary
reappointments in college councils.
The intent of this vote was to
encourage financial and historical council continuity because of the
frequent turnover of a college council membership. College councils
should make every effort to find a permanent member of the campus or
local community for the position of financial secretary. This is a
position which has ben advocated by the Supreme Council office for
some time, and it is now mandated by the board of directors.
Annual College Council Conference
For the past 34 consecutive
years, members of college councils throughout the Order have enjoyed
a unique opportunity to come together. Since 1970, the Annual College
Council Conference has been held at the Supreme Council office in New
Haven and has provided the proper setting for addressing some of the
needs and challenges experienced by college councils.
Representatives
Each college council is entitled
to send one student representative to the conference, whose
expenses will be reimbursed by the Supreme Council office. Upon
arrival in New Haven, the representative will receive a travel
expense check at the closing session of the conference on Sunday
morning. Travel expenses checks are calculated based on travel by air
or car. Detailed information regarding travel arrangements and
expenses is forwarded to conference participants during the summer
months prior to the conference. Each college council may also elect
to send up to five additional members to the conference as visitors. Visitors
attend the conference at their own expense.
Conference Activities
Conference participants enjoy a
wide range of informative, educational and social activities
throughout the weekend. Tours are given of the Insurance, Investments
and Fraternal Services departments, as well as of the Museum and
surrounding sites in downtown New Haven. Discussion workshops are
usually conducted on topics such as fund-raising ideas, membership,
recruitment/retention, council meetings, community/public relations,
graduating services, ceremonials, leadership training and working
with local and state councils. Conference participants are also taken
to St. Mary's Church, the birthplace of the Order, for Mass and a
guided tour. On Saturday evening, an awards banquet is held on the
22nd floor of the Supreme Council office building. Winners in each of
the four college council divisions are announced along with the
winners of the Outstanding College Council Contest.
Outstanding College
Council Contest
Judging in the Outstanding
College Council Contest is based on programs conducted in each of the
Service Program areas (Church, community, council, family and youth)
as well as membership recruitment/retention and insurance promotion.
College councils are asked to describe the single best programming
activity conducted in each category, and also to list other projects
that they would like the judges to consider. Topics are presented to
the councils which had the best activity in each of the Service
Program areas. The Outstanding College Council trophy is awarded to
the council that excelled in each of the Service Program areas.
State Council Leadership
College councils represent a
unique aspect of the Knights of Columbus. Because of their location
on college campuses, they are able to pool various resources and
conduct activities that incorporate students, faculty and surrounding
community. They are capable of conducting unique activities such as
marathon dances for charity or athletic activities in the school
gymnasium that other councils do not have the resources or facilities
to conduct. Furthermore, college councils have a constant influx of
students, potential new members that can increase council and state
membership. At the same time, college councils must be concerned
about graduating members and the loss of leadership. This is where
the state council under the direction of the state deputy becomes
essential to maintaining the council's continuity of programs.
By appointing district deputies
who are eager to work with college council members and who are aware
o the pressures associated with being a college student, the state
deputy can help to ensure the continued progress of a college
council's activities. Furthermore, by suggesting individuals other
than students for the positions of financial secretary and trustee,
the state deputy can ensure the continuity of leadership for an ever
changing membership. Through this active interest on the part of the
state deputy, college councils can receive much needed assistance in
addressing some of the unique challenges associated with member
retention and program development.
If your jurisdiction does not
have a college council, institute one soon. If there are inactive or
dormant college councils in our jurisdiction, consider these
locations as primary reactivation sites. Appoint state officials who
can research colleges and universities in your area to determine the
feasibility of instituting a council. Contact activity directors,
faculty members and Catholic chaplains providing them with
information on the benefits of having a Knights of Columbus college
council on campus.
Seek out student leaders and
solicit their support for instituting a college council and provide
them with the necessary materials for generating interest. Contact
the Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services for assistance
in the development of a campaign program for schools in your area.
College councils are a unique
aspect of our Order and focal point for our younger members. They are
also a source of future leaders and the continued promotion of
Columbianism. As district deputy, you can provide the necessary
leadership to develop programs that will maintain interest and
promote the tenets of our Order to a wider audience of young Catholic men. |
