Worthy State, District, and Council Leaders

As I am sure you’re aware, the Supreme Council hosts several times each week the Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. While these exemplifications have been successful, bringing more than 3,500 men into the Order, they are not the only option available for men who want to join your council. Many jurisdictions are sponsoring state, regional or district exemplifications, and I encourage you to do likewise in your area. With a little effort, you can offer a very personalized initiation experience for the new members in your area. It only takes a few weeks to get your team up and running!

First, form your team. There are Knights in your area who enjoy ceremonial work, and miss being able to do so in person. They would likely be very enthusiastic about the opportunity to exemplify the principles of our Order virtually on a local level.

Next, select your virtual platform. There are many options available. GoTo Meeting, Zoom, Skype and Facebook live are just a few of the options available. Task a group of tech savvy members with selecting the virtual platform that best meets your needs.

Third, team members should read the script and familiarize themselves with the parts. They should also watch the new ceremonial DVD to see how the exemplification should ideally be delivered. Select a location where your team can practice and deliver the exemplification. It can be a parish hall, council meeting place or other suitable facility. If it’s good for conducting live degrees, it will likely be good for conducting virtual degrees.

Finally, schedule the virtual exemplifications and recruit prospects to register. These online ceremonials are also open to 1st and/or 2nd Degree Knights looking to advance to full Knighthood. Listed below are several prospecting techniques that councils have implemented effectively during these days.

Personalize the experience for the new Knights. Many teams read the names of each new member at the conclusion of the virtual degree. This is a great way to make the man feel more a part of the organization he just joined.

Also, it is very important to make sure the new members are processed into the council. Financial Secretaries should treat these virtual exemplifications exactly as they would an in-person exemplification. Everything a FS did following a live degree…he should do following a virtual degree.

When addressing the state deputies at their virtual meeting last week, the Deputy Supreme Knight pointed out that the timing of the development of the combined ceremonial was providential for the Order. Several jurisdictions have formed their own teams already and have been conducting these district exemplifications very successfully. I encourage you to do the same – or to spread the word to your district and council leaders to encourage men to join our weekly or Supreme-led exemplifications.
Fraternally,
Mark McMullen
Sr. Vice President
Membership & Marketing
MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES
 
  • Call all members and parishioners, especially those you haven’t seen or heard from in a while. Ask how they’re doing. Ask if there is anything the council can do to help them through these difficult days. And ask them if they know anyone who might want to help the council advance it’s mission of service to the parish and community.
  • Publicize the good works of the council and the Order. The more men know about who we are and what we do, the more receptive they’ll be to an invitation to join.
  • Make sure your parish web site and/or eBulletin has information about the Order’s Into the Breach and other faith formation materials. Especially in areas where Masses are still cancelled or severely curtailed, these materials will fill a very real spiritual void.
  • Have a conversation with your pastor. What does he need? Servers for virtual Masses? People to clean and disinfect the Church, getting it ready for Masses to resume? Be the organization he can count on…and remind him that with more members, you’d be able to provide even greater service.
  • Conduct food drives. One of the first things the Supreme Council did at the onset of the pandemic was provide direct support to food banks. But the Supreme Council can’t make an impact in every community. Your councils can! And you can be visible while you do it.
  • Host a blood drive. The need for blood is great, but the pandemic has caused the cancellation of many drives. Host a drive in your Church Hall or council meeting place, and publicize it throughout your parish and community. Make sure those members who volunteer at the drive or who donate are wearing their KofC gear.
  • Most importantly, focus on what you can do, not on what you cannot. We all know that we’re limited in what we can do. But that doesn’t mean that we’re powerless. If you believe – as I know you do – that new members are needed now more than ever – I know you’ll figure out how to find those new members.
ONLINE EXEMPLIFICATION PROCEDURES

  • Councils should forward this downloadable PDF invitation to all eligible prospects for admission and advancement (click here for English, Spanish, French).
  • Instruct the candidates to register for the exemplification of their choice by clicking on its associated link within the PDF invitation and filling out the online form. Note that they will need your council number to complete the registration.
  • Contact the candidates to guide them through the registration if needed.
  • Candidates then participate in the scheduled ceremony.  
  • After the ceremony, councils must process the candidates by submitting form 100s the traditional way or electronically in Officers Online. 
 
Note that candidates for admission must be approved by your council. See the temporary rules for electronic voting (click here for  English , Spanish , French ).

Current ceremonies are:
Week of June 7, 2020
Week of June 14, 2020
Week of June 21, 2020
Week of June 28, 2020
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