1. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
Jose L. Jimenez, PSD
Membership & Program Consultant

2. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
Nebraska Membership Status
December 3, 2010
Intake Loss Net Deaths 114
Suspensions 73 Withdrawals Transfers -11
Net/Net -153 (Growth)

3. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
To grow our Order in the council:
For new leadership
For new ideas & prospective
Establish and offer new programs
Build fraternity among our Catholic Community
To invite Catholic families to join

4. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
To grow our Order in the Community:
The Beatrice Council 1723 retrieve an old tire from the Big Blue River during a river cleanup event and the side of a road during a community-wide clean up event.

5. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
To address the needs of the Church:
To support our pastors & clergy
To serve as lay ministers in the Church
To evangelize and support vocations
Provide religious devotion to members
To assist with maintenance and building projects

6. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
To strengthen Catholic family life:
Providing family activities
Supporting needy families
Volunteering as a family
Memorial Mass for deceased members

7. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
To defend the dignity on human life:
K of C Ultrasound initiative
March for life activities
Pro- Life education to the youth
Monuments to the unborn
Prayers to end abortion

8. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
To fulfill Fr. Michael McGivney’s Dream:
Organize Catholic men to serve
Provide support to the widow & orphans
Provide support to the Church
Provide support to the community
Provide fraternalism to each other
Provide financial security to our families

9. Food Distribution
The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council in New Haven, Conn., donated 1,625 turkeys to food banks in East Haven and Stamford, and members of three Connecticut councils volunteered their time to help distribute the turkeys and other foodstuffs to local shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens and charitable agencies.

10. Funding Community Projects
Kennedy Gravesite Restoration Work Under Way at Arlington National Cemetery
Knights of Columbus underwrites cost of restoring legibility of JFK inaugural address.

11. “Am I my brother’s keeper”
This is why we recruit

12. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
If not us, who will:
Defend our Church and Clergy
Provide 10,000 children with coats
Provide the thousands of Wheelchairs
$17 million on youth activities
$117 million in Church loans
$77 billion in insurance protection
$1.6 million to Pope Benedict XVI
$2.8 million vocations support
$1 million Food for Families

13. Knights of Columbus Why Do We Recruit
Was not this unity of vision and purpose – rooted in faith and a spirit of constant conversion and self-sacrifice – the secret of the impressive growth of the Church in this country? We need but think of the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest, the Venerable Michael McGivney, whose vision and zeal led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus…
– Pope Benedict XVI 

14. “I am my brother’s keeper”
This is why we recruit

15. Nebraska Membership Growth
Long term growth for the future:
We have to believe in who we are and why we are knights.
If we understand this simple message then every council should be able to invite men into the Order.
It isn’t about numbers it’s about keeping people catholic and active in their faith.
It is about impacting our youth at an early age and it is about planting seeds.
It’s about inviting our ethnic brothers and sisters to join us in our efforts.

16. Nebraska Membership Growth
Work to be done:
Back to the basics:
Creating/shifting/enhancing a cultural environment that portrays our catholic identity to all people both catholic and non-catholic alike. (Changing our image, branding, how do people see us)

17. Nebraska Membership Growth
Leadership:
The importance of each level of leadership (Gk, DD, SD) teams to establish measurable goals, foster environments that motivate councils to buy-in and achieve those goals.
The District and State levels should provide assistance, guidance, and direction when councils fail to reach or even strive to support organizational goals.

18. Nebraska Membership Growth
Alignment:
The importance of ensuring that each level of the organization provides input to the operational plan.
The council should build activity schedules that support district growth plans and the district input should roll into the state’s overall plan.
Modify the plan for the next six months!

19. Nebraska Membership Growth
Succession Planning:
Using the long term planning process to not only create a plan but to also build synergy within the jurisdiction, which will yield continuity and unity on the future direction of the jurisdiction
Identify leaders early and mentor/coach them into increasingly larger leadership roles

20. Nebraska Membership Growth
Communication:
Foster a sense of teamwork between the state , districts and councils through open and frequent dialogue
Resources:
Using all available tools to be successful: the new Membership Growth Dept., Membership Program Consultant, the various membership tools (one-one, husband-wife, blitz, church drives).

21. Nebraska Membership Growth
District Deputies:
Training will be available for District Deputies in order to accomplish a mission to ensure that every council is active. Achieve Star District
Grand Knights:
Inspire Grand Knights and their officers to set goals, build long-term plans, and then provide them the resources to be successful. Achieve Star Council

22. Nebraska Membership Growth
2009 Fraternal Survey Report
Total Church Activities Disbursement $ 629,641
Total Community Activity Disbursements $ 840,480
Total Youth Activity Disbursement $ 204,355
Visits to the Sick: 72,846
Visits to the Bereaved: 35,583
Number of Blood Donations: 12,052
Total Volunteer Hours: 969,261

23. Nebraska Membership Growth
Population
Total Nebraska Population 1,774,571
Total Catholic Population 366,894
Estimated Catholic Families 143,954
Nebraska Knights 24,242 – 17%
Estimated Eligible Catholic Men 95,000

24. Nebraska Membership Growth
District Deputies
Establish a plan to achieve your district goal and attain State District
Share that plan with your councils at District Meeting
Support the councils to attain Star Council
Identify NCD and R/T opportunities in your district (KofC Presence in all parishes)
Identify any ethnic opportunities
Ask for help – we want you to succeed

25. Nebraska Membership Growth
Jose L. Jimenez, PSD
Membership & Program Consultant
1221 N.W. 34th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Hm:
Cell:

26. Membership Recruitment