2020.1 Psst….. I want to tell you a Secret!

Can you keep a Secret? The simple-yet-reliable tools to help your council be successful with membership, recruitment, and retention is Programs.

At this point of the fraternal year, your council should have already set its calendar of events for the 2019-2020 fraternal year. Met with your pastor and pastoral staff to set all these program dates on the parish calendar. Aim to increase membership and programming activities to attract new members.

Keep asking yourself:

• Which prospects will I be inviting to our council’s next activity?
• What new program(s) does our council plan to institute this year?
• Have I personally asked someone to join my council?

I want to share with you some programs that your council should be implementing at this time of the fraternal year.

Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

The Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest provides young people the opportunity to become citizens grounded in their faith through creative writing, teaching them to be more connected to their community and faith.This year the essay theme will be “Discuss the meaning of virtue and how you live and embody the virtue of Charity."This program is to involve young Catholics in grades 8 through 12 (public, private, and parochial schools) and instill in them religious and life-affirming values. For more information about this program, please visitwww.kofc.org/essay.

Coats of Kids

All councils are welcome to participate in this important program.Coats are available through Supplies Online, the supply ordering portal available on Officers Online.Price of shipping is included into the cost of the coats.We encourage councils to collaborate as a district to put on bigger coat distribution events.For more information on how to successfully implement this program, please visit www.kofc.org/coats.If you have any questions or concerns, please email fraternalmission@kofc.org.

Plan and Prepare - order your supplies and kits early!

Free Throw Championship

Offer an athletic outlet for youth ages 9 to 14 in your community. Councils can sponsor a competition by ordering a Free Throw Championship Kit, or volunteer to host and/or support the district, regional and state/province championships.

Keep Christ in Christmas