Council # Organization

It is important for existing and prospective members to understand the duties and functions of council officers and directors so here is a brief explanation of each of them.

OFFICER POSITIONS ELECTED ANNUALY EACH FRATERNAL YEAR:
The Grand Knight (GK) is the chief executive officer of the Council and responsible for all aspects of Council operations. He presides over Council meetings and is an ex-officio member of all committees. The GK and FS are the only council members with sign-in access to the Member Management database on the supreme web site. The GK can establish committees in addition those prescribed by the Order to meet specific council needs. In our council the GK has a communications team to handle our newsletter, Flocknote system, social media and printed materials.

The Deputy Grand Knight (DGK) acts on behalf of the GK in his absence and is usually appointed as the Program Director.

The Chancellor is the third ranking Council officer. He oversees Council record retention and the inventory of Council equipment.

The Recorder keeps the minutes of Council meetings, conducts correspondence as directed by the GK, and keeps historic documents of the Council. In the absence of the GK or DGK, he presides at Council meetings.

The Treasurer keeps all funds, maintains the Council checkbook and makes disbursements upon receipt of a payment orders from the Financial Secretary (FS).

The Advocate is the equitant of a Corporate Counsel in the business world. Thus, he must resolve procedural matters, acts as Council parliamentarian, and be well versed in the supreme Laws of the Order, and the bylaws of the local council.

The Warden assures that all members at meetings possess a current membership card. He is custodian of all Council property, except funds, and oversees properly setting up the Council meeting space. He directs the activities of the two council guards.

The Inside and Outside guards are charged with the security of Council meetings and assist the Warden in his duties.

The three TRUSTEES along with the GK constitute the board of directors of the Council. Unlike the other officers who are elected annually, trustees serve staggering elected three-year terms. They are all co-chairs of both the admission and retention committees, and, along with the GK, conduct the semiannual council audits which are forwarded to the supreme council. The Council semiannual audit reports and accounting records are available for inspection by any member upon request.

APPOINTED COUNCIL POSITIONS:
The Chaplain provides spiritual guidance to the Council. The Chaplain appointment of the priest of deacon must be approved by the bishop of the local diocese. Typically, the parish pastor is the Council Chaplain, which is the case for our Council.

The Financial Secretary (FS) is appointed to a three-year term directly by the Supreme Knight upon recommendation of the GK and Trustees. He maintains the Council tax and accounting records, issues and collects dues and other bills for the Council, issues membership cards, and submits all funds collected to the Treasurer for deposit and authorizes all disbursements made by the Treasurer. He is responsible for maintaining the supreme online membership roster and dues billing system on the supreme web site. He is also responsible for making sure the Council promptly files all tax forms as well as reports required by both the state and supreme councils.

The Lecturer is appointed by the GK and is responsible for providing hospitality and enriching or entertaining presentations at Council meetings.

Director and chairmanship positions
All directors and committee chair positions are appointed by the council Grand Knight.

The Membership Director reports directly to the grand knight. He oversees the admission process for prospective members, efforts to retain inactive members, and promotion of the Knight insurance programs.

The Programs Director reports directly to the grand knight and is responsible for the coordination of each of the four Service Program Directors who report to him. The deputy grand knight is usually appointed as the program chair, but any member can fill this position.

These are the four service programs and examples of three programs suggested for each area by the supreme office of the Knights of Columbus. All the KofC supreme areas are covered in detail on the Knights of Columbus supreme website (see details at www.kofc.org). Individual councils are free to create their own unique programs within each of the four service areas. For example, our council operates our Lent Friday Dinners, and our Advent Wreath Event under the Family Director, and our quarterly Adopt-A-Road clean up under the Community Director.