How to Form Spanish Speaking Councils

New Council Development - Round Tables
• 875 Runningbrook Drive • Mississauga, Ontario, L4Y 2S4 •

HOW TO FORM SPANISH SPEAKING
COUNCILS

NCD MATERIALS IN SPANISH

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

SPANISH NEW COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT

HOW TO FORM
SPANISH SPEAKING COUNCILS

SURVEY PARISHES

The first step is to determine the membership potential in the Hispanic community:

Use the list of churches where Masses are celebrated in Spanish. (Contact your state deputy or the Hispanic Diocesan Coordinator in our diocese.)

Consider combining two or more parishes.

CONTACT THE PASTOR

After determining the potential for a new Spanish speaking council exists within the district, the district deputy should contact the pastor(s) of the parish(es):

Personally visit the pastor(s) before beginning your efforts.

Explain the benefits of having a Spanish speaking council at the parish(es):

To organize and unify the Spanish speaking men and their families in order to get them more involved in parish activities.

To form new leaders among the Spanish speaking men through a Knights of Columbus council.

To give the parishioner the opportunity to belong to an international Catholic organization (United States, Canada, Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan).

To take advantage of the many benefits offered by the K of C (Family Benefits, Member/Spouse Benefits, insurance program, scholarships, etc.).

Ask the pastor for the names of the leaders among Spanish speaking parishioners, who can assist you in reaching out to the Spanish speaking families.

It is very important that you, as district deputy, get in touch with and win the support of the leaders recommended by the priest:

These leaders will help convey your message to the parishioners.

They will also be the liaison among groups of different nationalities (if there are groups from different Latin American countries in the parish).

This should be the first of many meetings between the district deputy and the pastor. He will truly be one of the district deputy's "key men."

CONTACT THE STATE DEPUTY

If the pastor(s) agrees to the formation of a Spanish speaking council:

The district deputy should contact the state deputy, if he has not already done so, and inform him of the progress.

Complete a "Notice of Intent to Establish a New Council" (Form #133) indicating that it is a Spanish speaking council, in order to receive materials in Spanish.

Contact the Insurance Representative:

The general agent will assign a field agent to work with the district deputy.

The district deputy should take advantage of the agent's professional assistance.

INITIAL RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Seek the help of the field agent and the Spanish speaking leaders for the first drive:

Set a date for a recruitment drive.

Set a date and time for the first organizational meeting.

Provide the parish priest with a pulpit announcement, stating that:

A Knights of Columbus Spanish speaking council is being established at the parish.

The day for the recruitment drive.

The date and place of the first organizational meeting.

Place announcements in the parish bulletin.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

This meeting should be presided over by the district deputy and should be short and to the point:

Invite all parishioners and their families.

Make a brief but enthusiastic and positive presentation of the aspects of the Order. Supplement your remarks by showing one of the Spanish audiovisuals available: "Experience for a Lifetime" or "Life and Legacy of Father McGivney"

Introduce the state officers and insurance agents.

Select a temporary chairman and secretary, if you have not already done so.

Establish the initiation fees and council dues.

Announce the date of the initial First Degree.

Arrange tables with Membership Documents (Form #100-S) and assist new prospects in completing the documents and collecting their initiation fees and dues.

See that the Membership Committee (district deputy, temporary officers and field agent) continues its recruitment efforts.

FIRST DEGREE

Do not hold candidates for a large First Degree class. The district deputy should arrange for candidates to receive their First Degree as they are enrolled:

If a Spanish First Degree team is not available, the district deputy should arrange for an English First Degree team to exemplify the degree with a Spanish speaking member translating the degree.

One First Degree class should be designated as the "Institution Class." The date of this degree can be used as the institution date of the new council.

At least 30 "Candidates' Kits" in Spanish (Form #531-S) should be ordered from the Supreme Council Supply Department four to six weeks prior to the degree. The Candidates' Kits are chargeable items (Refer to section on NCD expenses - NCD Guidelines).

INSTITUTION OF THE NEW COUNCIL

Immediately after the district deputy's records indicate that a total of 30 men have completed membership documents and are members of the Order (new members, former members and transfers), he should forward the institution paperwork to the Supreme Secretary:

The "Notice of Institution" (Form #136-S).

The Membership Documents (Form #100-S).

The "Application for Charter" (Form #137-S).

FOLLOW-UP

It is essential that the district deputy maintains a close personal contact with the new council officers, membership and program directors to see that all are properly trained and instructed in their duties, and to assure the continued and successful operation of the new council:

Urge members to take an active role in all phases of council activity.

Assist the grand knight in the distribution of the items of the Council Outfit (which is forwarded to charter grand knight by the Supreme Council after the proper paperwork is received).

Explain the duties of each council officer.

Explain the "Surge..with Service" program to the council.

Help the grand knight complete the Officers Report Form (Form #185-S) and the Service Program Personnel Report Form (Form #1365-S) located in the Council Report Forms Booklet (Form #1436-S).

Help the council plan their membership growth activities and the programming.

NCD MATERIALS IN SPANISH

30-S
100-S
101-S
103-S
136-S
137-S
154-S
207-S
390-S
391-S
937-S
962-S
1073-S
1264-S
1267-S
1436-S
1614-S
2761-S
2773-S
2919-S
2920-S
4417-S
9167-S

Charter, Constitution and Laws
Membership Document
Application of Appointment as Financial Secretary
Nomination for Appointment as Financial Secretary
Notice of Institution
Application for Charter
Membership Card
NCD Business Reply Cards
Admission Committee Guidelines
Admission Committee Questionnaire
These Men They Call Knights (booklet)
Service Program Manual
New Members Insurance Program (flyer)
Supply Catalog
Did You Know? (flyer)
Council Report Forms Booklet
Education Trust (poster)
Family Fraternal Benefits (flyer)
Member/Spouse Fraternal Benefit (flyer)
Membership Campaign Degree Honoree Certificate
Membership Campaign Degree Certificate
NCD Pulpit Announcements
Fr. McGivney Certificate

KNIGHTS
OF COLUMBUS
IN SERVICE TO ONE. IN SERVICE TO ALL

COUNCIL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
1 COLUMBUS PLAZA · NEW HAVEN, CT · 06510-3326
1-203-752-4161 or www.kofc.org

Webmaster: Joe Mathews,
New Council Development and Round Tables State Chairman