LISTING OF OFFICERS & DUTIES
GRAND KNIGHT
- The Grand Knight is the chief administrative officer of the Council. He is directly responsible for every aspect and segment of the Council’s operation and the ultimate success the Council should enjoy.1
- He presides at all meetings of his council, enforces the rules and regulations of the Council and the laws of the Order, and is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.2
- He insures that reports are completed in a timely manner and submitted on time.
- He appoints committees to carry out the Council activities and is a member ex officio of all committees.2
- He acts as Chaplain in the absence of the regular Chaplain.2
- He represents the Council at all State and District activities and is one of the Council’s two delegates to the Annual State Convention.
- He countersigns orders drawn and signed by the Financial Secretary for the payment of monies and countersigns checks drawn and signed by the Treasurer.2
- Receives the vouchers from the Financial Secretary of moneys paid to the Treasurer and the vouchers from the Treasurer showing that such monies were deposited and reads them at the next meeting.2
DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT
- The Deputy Grand Knight is the Grand Knight’s right-hand man who makes himself valuable as a close advisor and strong supporter.1
- He presides in the absence or inability of the Grand Knight and executes all the duties of the Grand Knight.3
CHANCELLOR
The chancellor assists the Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight in the performance of their duties and he takes charge of the Council during the incapacity or extended absence of both.4- He is charged with encouraging the total participation of the membership in the activities of the Council.4
- He should take a special interest in new members and those members who are sick or in distress.4
- He is especially commissioned to keep the Council aware of the need for vocations to the religious life.5
RECORDER
- The Recorder keeps a record of the doings of the Council using the books furnished by the Supreme Secretary.6
- He will preside at meetings of the Council in the absence of the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, and Chancellor.7
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The Financial Secretary is appointed by the Supreme Knight and he holds office at the will of the Supreme Knight(usually a 3-year appointment).15- The Financial Secretary is responsible for administering the financial affairs of the Council. He is the direct link between the Council and the Supreme Office.1
- He collects and receives all moneys due the Council, and all funds obtained from any source, by or through any person acting for or in the name of the Council or under its direction or authority.8
- He will give his official receipt for all moneys received and report at the close off each meeting the amounts received and from what source.17
- He turns over to the Treasurer all moneys received for which he will receive written a receipt. The Financial Secretary will give the receipt to the Grand Knight prior to the next meeting.8
- He draws all orders for the Treasurer to expend funds when ordered by the Supreme Council, the State Council, his own Council, the Council Board of Trustees, or the Grand Knight. Each order (or Voucher) is signed by the FS and the GK.8
- He keeps track of the dues status of each member and issues membership cards.8
- He keeps a roll of the members, their ages, residences, occupations, and degree dates.8
TREASURER
- The Treasurer is the custodian of all funds of the Council.9
- At each meeting of the Council, he receives from the Financial Secretary all moneys received by the FS since their last meeting and provides to the FS a written receipt specifying the amount received. The moneys so received by the Treasurer shall be forthwith deposited in an approved Council account. He will give the receipt to the Grand Knight prior to the next meeting.9
- Upon receiving a voucher signed by both the Grand Knight and the Financial Secretary, he will draft a check which must be signed by the Treasurer and the Grand Knight (in his absence, the Deputy Grand Knight).9
ADVOCATE
- The Advocate is the attorney of the Council in the case of trial and investigation of any matter whatsoever of interest to the Council.10
- He is the Council’s parliamentarian.
WARDEN
The Warden should be present at all meetings of the Council.11- He is in charge of all Council property and keeps them in proper condition for the meetings of the Council.11
- He should arrive prior to all meetings early enough to insure that all physical arrangements for the meeting or Degree are made and that the Guards are properly posted.
- He shall instruct his guards in their duties.11
GUARDS
The Inside Guard attends the entrance to the Council chamber at its inner door and the Outside Guard the entrance through its outer door.12- Members must show their current membership card to the Inside Guard and he will permit them to enter. The Inside Guard is also charged by the Warden with insuring that the appropriate card is presented for each activity as follows:
Council meeting – Any current membership card,
Second Degree – Only cards of the Second or Third section,
Third Degree – Only cards of the Third section.
- Honorary and Honorary Life cards issued by the Supreme Council do not satisfy the above requirement – such a member must still present a current membership card of the appropriate section. Fourth degree cards also do not qualify.
- Some Councils have a sign-in log at the post of the Inside Guard and he is to see that all entering (members and guests alike) sign it.
- There are usually only one of each guards but Councils may provide in their by-law for the election of two outside guards.13
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- There are three(3) Trustees. They are elected for a three(3) year term such that one term will expire each year. These men along with the Grand Knight as chairman make up what is known as the “Board of Trustees”.14
- The Trustees have supervision of all the financial business of the Council and their approval is necessary for the payment of all moneys except those imposed by Supreme, the State, the regular and usual stated payments of the Council or payments authorized by the Council after notice and vote in accordance with Section 122 of the Supreme By laws.14
- They audit the accounts of the Financial Secretary, Treasurer, and any other Council activity holding funds(which includes groups like: Ladies Auxiliary and retired men’s club) in January and July insuring that the approved audit report is submitted on time.14
COUNCIL APPOINTED POSITIONS
CHAPLAIN
- The Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, and Board of Trustees annually select a Priest to act as Chaplain. The selection must be made in accordance with any rules established by the Bishop of the Diocese.15
- It is the Chaplain’s duty to celebrate the Council installation and memorial Masses.1
- The Chaplain will act as guide and mentor for the officers and members of the Council and through his talks and spiritual guidance the Council will deepen its call to the Church.1
- It is also the Chaplain’s responsibility to admonish and correct when needed; to ensure that all members are practicing Catholics; and to draw from the membership not only the principles of the order, but the tenets of our Faith.1
L
ECTURER
- The Grand Knight annually selects a Lecturer.15
- The Lecturer should endeavor to devise means to entertain the Council at meetings.16
- His informative and educational programs will improve members lives and daily burdens by giving them the opportunity to express charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism through programs in which they learn, enjoy, and relax.1
COUNCIL COMMITTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- The Executive committee is composed of the following officers: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Warden, Recorder, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Trustees, and Program Director.
- They meet once a month and discuss the following:
Status of the Council budget,
Communications to be brought before the Council,
New business to be brought before the Council,
Status of old business before the Council,
Discuss the funding status of current projects. - There should be no significant motions, especially when money or funding is involved, made on the Council floor without the proposer first discussing his idea or proposal with the Executive Committee. These motions should then be written down before they are presented to the Council.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
- The Program committee is composed of the Grand Knight and the following appointed positions: Program Director, the five point program directors – Church, Family, Community, Council, and Youth, and other chairmen necessary to discuss the Council’s program status.
- They meet once a month and discuss the following:
Status of the Council program paying particular attention to the current month and next month’s activities,
Reports to be brought before the Council at the next meeting insuring that any report to be made at a Social meeting be kept to a minimum,
Project funding requirements that need to brought to the Executive Committee. Even if the Council has already approved the expenditure, advanced planning may be required by the Executive Committee to insure that the funds are available when needed.
The status of the chairman reports for completed activities insuring that they are properly prepared and that all funds have been turned into the Financial Secretary,
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
- The Membership committee is composed of the following appointed positions: Membership Director, Recruitment director and Retention director.
- The Membership director is responsible for the overall operation and success of the Council’s membership activities.
- The Recruitment Director is responsible for the recruiting activities that attract qualified men to join the Council.
- The Retention Director along with the Retention Committee is responsible for the investigation of members who have allowed their membership to lapse. The Retention Committee consists of the: Grand Knight, Trustees, Financial Secretary and the lapsed member’s sponsor.
END NOTES
01. Ceremony for the Installation of Council Officers.
02. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 135
03. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 136
04. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 137
05. Item 18 from the Method of Conducting a Council Meeting.
06. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 138
07. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 136 & 126
08. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 139
09. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 140
10. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 142
11. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 143
12. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 144
13. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 126
14. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 145
15. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 128
16. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 141
17. Supreme: CHARTER CONSTITUTION & LAWS Sec. 122
O great and glorious God, You imbued Your holy priest. Father Michael J. McGivney, with deep priestly virtue and especially with pastoral concern for the poor, the orphan, the widow, for the Christian education of youth, for the protection of the faith of the working man of his day.
Now that his priestly ministry continues to spread to countless millions throughout the world, through the efforts and influence of the Order of the Knights of Columbus, which Father McGivney founded, we beseech Your, Heavenly Father, to raise Your faithful servant, Michael, to the honors of the altar. We ask this favor through our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother, Mary and our Mother, Amen. 
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