Council Growth

The State Convention marks the closing months of the fraternal year. This is the time of the year when we reward successes and see where we stand in growing our great Order. We check our actual efforts to the goals that we set in July. Several pieces have to come together for Texas to remain as the example to the other jurisdictions for success from successful programs, charity, and growth through membership recruitment council growth.

The Council Growth Team is committed to assist you through new Council development, Council reactivations, Round Tables, and keeping Councils active by paying their State and Supreme Per Capita and other fees.

District Deputy 22 Johnnie Walker of the Fort Worth Diocese was successful in forming a new Council at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Wichita Falls. With the help from Field Agent, Randall Brock, Council 16522 was established. District Deputy Mike Courtney and Tom Stelmar of the Dallas Diocese formed Council 16546 in Garland at Mother of Perpetual Help in Garland. The Dallas Diocese has three more possible new Councils. District Deputy 112 Alberto Castro, District Deputy 105 Gary Betz and District Deputy 104 Reed Fontenot are in different phases for new Councils. District Deputy 25 Joe Govea is close to bringing a new Council to All Saints Parish in Fort Worth. Contact Council Growth Chairman Jack Harvey, Harvey_jack@msn.com, for assistance.

Council Re-activation Chairman, Joe Torres, has successfully re-activated Council 12084 in El Paso. There was some great work from District Deputy 2 Art Aguirre and Diocesan Deputy Joe Grillo in getting 12084 back in our family. Brother Joe can be contacted at kcdd134@yahoo .com.

Our personal goal for this year was to bring our suspended Councils to 40. We started the year with 78 suspensions. In January we grew to 95. We notified the District Deputies, Diocesan Deputies, and Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries. It is very important that Councils remain active. Members of suspended Councils are no longer eligible for fraternal benefits such as up to $2,500 accidental death for the member and his spouse, $80 per month for orphan benefits, $1,500 for a child who dies before the age of 61 days, $750 for a stillborn after 20 weeks after conception, KC scholarships, up to $5,000 of guaranteed life insurance for children under the age of 18, and participation in State activities such as golf an bowling tournaments, Free Throw competition, or State Convention. Council dues are collected to pay for the State and Supreme fees. If a Council is going to remain in-active, it would benefit the members of the inactive Councils if the District and Diocesan leadership could transfer the member into an active Council so that he and his family retain the fraternal benefits. Dues are not to be collected by the Council as a fund raiser. The Council officers are legally responsible to pay the expenses.

Our goal for Round Tables is 205, as of January 31 we have 171. So far, there are nine Dioceses at 100%. Congratulations to Brownsville, Dallas, San Angelo, Lubbock, Beaumont, Galveston/Houston, Fort Worth, and El Paso for reaching at least 100% of their goal and 5,000 V.I.P. points that can be redeemed for items on the V.I.P. or knightsgear.com catalogs. We furnished the other Dioceses with a listing of last year’s Round Tables and the Form 2629 so that they can reach their goal and earn 2,500 points.

Above all of our goals for new and re-activated Councils and Round Tables, the main focus is to exceed our State goal for State Charities. The State Charity goal benefits our Bishops, our Parishes, our families and our members.

Two of our College was recently recognized for their works. For their exemplary work, this year’s award for Outstanding Community Service was presented to Council 10624 at Texas A&M University. Members of Council 10624 answered a call to help construct a shower house to improve their parish retreat facilities. The council set the foundation, built the walls, installed plumbing, siding, tile, and the roof. After nearly a year of work, the building is finally finished and will be used by retreatants soon. Also, this year’s Church Activity Award went to Council 10790 at Stephen F. Austin University. After returning from their state’s Rally for Life, the members of Council 10790 did not want to lessen their actions in the pro-life movement. To keep active, they implemented a pro-life rosary drive. through their chapel and campus ministry. The Knights collected new and used rosaries. Collected rosaries were repaired and blessed before being donated to local pregnancy crisis centers, used in open prayerful observances outside of clinics and prayed in a life chain around the community. Since this program’s start, several hundreds of rosaries have been collected and distributed.