Halfway into the Fraternal Year, it is time for each of us to evaluate our performance. The purpose of this session is for each of us to conduct a SELF EVALUATION.  How have I performed as a District Deputy/State Officer?  Have I lived up the expectations my State Deputy has entrusted me with?  Have I lived up the expectations my Supreme Knight has entrusted in me? LET’S FIND OUT!

Our obligations -  Do you remember when you signed the Constitutional Roll that you agreed to be “amenable to the Constitution, Laws and Rules” of the Order?”  Do you remember when you did your First and Second Degree that you agreed to obey the lawful authority of your duly elected Officers (in your case, the State Deputy)?  Do you remember the promises you made when you were installed in office? We are going to remind you of those promises…. DISTRICT DEPUTY REFRESHER TRAINING

 DO YOU PROMISE TO SUPPORT AND OBEY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE ORDER?  DO YOU PROMISE TO DEVOTE THE NECESSARY TIME TO THE DISCHARGE OF YOUR DUTIES AS DESIGNATED BY THE LAWS OF THE ORDER?  DO YOU PROMISE TO KEEP THE WELFARE OF THE ORDER UPPERMOST IN YOUR MIND AND PROMOTE IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY? DISTRICT DEPUTY REFRESHER TRAINING

I am sure that you answered YES to each of those statements, had you answered any differently you would not be sitting in this room right now. Remembering these promises, the question then is, are you living up to them? Do you remember what those duties are? DISTRICT DEPUTY REFRESHER TRAINING

WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO THE FOLLOWING DUTIES? We are going to show you a list of those TWENTY duties that were covered with you when you assumed your role. Answer each one with a YES or NO and be honest with yourself, no one else will look at your responses. We are doing this so that you will better understand how you are doing and to help you understand why your councils are - or are not - succeeding. The words in CAPITALS have been added. Let’s begin: DISTRICT DEPUTY REFRESHER TRAINING

AM I Supervising councils making certain that councils follow the Laws & Rules; 1 I HAVE the authority to inspect all council books; HAVE I DONE THIS? 2 AM I Ensuring the collection of council dues & funds; 3 AM I Ensuring payment of council per capita & per capita tax; 4

AM I Ensuring that council books are kept as prescribed by law; 5 AM I Taking possession of council books in the event of dissolution; 6 AM I Directing council trustees on their duties; 7 AM I Installing council officers as soon as practical; 8

AM I Promoting membership recruitment; 9 AM I Guiding councils on keeping members active; 10 AM I Assuming responsibility in seeing council candidates receive required degrees as expeditiously as possible; 11 I AM Responsible for reporting all suspensions; AM I DOING THAT? 12

AM I Attending all state council organizational & mid-year membership meetings; 13 AM I Holding district meetings within two weeks of state meetings; 14 AM I Encouraging strategic planning meetings at least annually; 15 AM I Conducting district meetings at least quarterly; 16

AM I Attending council meetings at least quarterly; 17 AM I Identifying & developing new council locations; 18 AM I Filing all necessary reports including those on condition of councils; 19 AM I PERFORMING Other duties as assigned; 20

THANK YOU for taking the time to do the previous exercise. An exercise like this causes each of us to readjust, refocus and recommit to the job at hand. We WANT you to be successful. We WANT you to enjoy your term of Office. We WANT you to get the most out of your Knights of Columbus experience. Before we go, lets just remind ourselves about what the DD role is.

 The district deputy is the representative of the supreme knight and the state deputy and is responsible for the supervision, growth, expansion, general care and well-being of the councils assigned to his district. (Section 62, “Charter, Constitution and Laws of the Order”).  He is the key to the success of the Order.

His responsibilities include: 1. ensuring that his councils follow the Order’s laws and rules; 2.promoting effective membership recruitment and retention programs; 3.identifying and developing new council locations; 4.assisting councils in conducting relevant service programs; and 5.monitoring the general financial and social health of the councils in his district. From DD’s Handbook page 3.

The Supreme Knight is! In fact, here is a Supreme Resolution passed at the 121 Supreme Convention (2003) found on page 2 of the DD Handbook:

Resolution for Membership Growth Adopted by the delegates at the 121st Supreme Convention in Washington, D.C. WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Knights of Columbus to fulfill Father Michael J. McGivney’s vision to extend to each and every eligible Catholic man an invitation to become a member of this great Order; and WHEREAS, membership in the Order symbolizes an individual’s commitment to his faith as a practicing Catholic, his profound love for his country, and his steadfast dedication to serving his community; and

WHEREAS, membership growth is crucial to both the vitality of the Order and the Order’s ability to carry out the many magnificent activities, programs and services it provides for its members, its Church, and society; and WHEREAS, the members of this 121st Supreme Council have become determined to dedicate themselves to strengthening and increasing the Order’s membership so that others can experience, first hand, the allegiance of fraternalism and the fulfillment from charitable service;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that it is the responsibility of each and every Brother Knight to work toward fulfilling Father McGivney’s vision by making council and membership growth a leading priority; FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge every member to commit himself to bringing in at least one new member each year; and FURTHER RESOLVED, that the leadership at every level of the Order — the Supreme Officers and Directors, State Deputies, District Deputies and Grand Knights — understand and accept their special responsibility to increase the membership of the Order.

So, as we said at the beginning, here we are half way through the Fraternal Year. This is the time when you need to ask yourself:  How do I stack up?  Will I be successful by the end of June?  Will my councils be successful?  What is standing in the way of my being a successful DD?  What will my legacy be?  Have I made a difference to the Councils in my District? If not, what will I do to change that?  Have I asked for help when I needed it?

Stay focused Stay committed Work hard Pray hard Play hard And you will succeed. You belong to a proud Order, one that everyday is changing lives and saving lives. Be proud of that, be proud of your Councils, be proud of yourself and strive to be the best Officer in the Order that you can be. Your legacy and integrity is at stake!! VIVAT JESUS!!