Fraternal Operations | Knights of Columbus

Council Operations

Leadership Resources & Guides

These documents are tools to enhance your knowledge as a fraternal leader in the Knights of Columbus. The instructions, rules and advice provided will help you in setting an example of charity, unity and fraternity.

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New Council Resources

Resources that outline the process for starting a new council. Plus, valuable information to guide councils through their first year of operation. Click the button below to find on-demand officer training, lists of required reporting forms, and step-by-step instructions for completing common council functions, engaging members and increasing a new council’s visibility within the community.

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Council Revitalization Resources

From time to time, councils may need revitalization. These resources are grouped to provide valuable information to support council leadership, encourage recruitment and increase council activity. Click the button below to find on-demand officer training, lists of required reporting forms, and step-by-step instructions for planning meetings and activities, completing common council tasks and increasing a council’s impact in the community, resulting in a renewed ability to attract new members and enhance charitable output.

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Officers Online (OO)

Officers Online is the digital workspace for fraternal leaders that assists in managing council rosters, submitting forms, and accessing other important information. Members in a role permitted access to Officers Online (see table below) will be emailed an invitation code once the Supreme Council receives the appropriate form from the state council, local council, or assembly indicating the election or appointment, and records this information. If you previously held a role with access to Officers Online, you do not need a new invitation code; your access will automatically be reactivated once the appropriate form is submitted and processed. If you do not receive an invitation code within a reasonable time or if you do not remember your log on credentials, click “Account Assistant” below or contact our Customer Service Department at 800-380-9995, select option 2 and provide your membership number and role.

OO Access Table Login to OO Account Assistant

Officers Online Tools

Officers Online has a number of tools to help keep your council up to date on all administrative tasks including, but not limited to emailing members, downloading rosters, and adding new members.

Ceremonials

Exemplification Charity Unity Fraternity

Script and Video

Download and use this script to conduct the Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries can purchase hard copy scripts through Supplies Online by ordering Protocol, Meetings and Ceremonials #11620. While we prefer that the ceremony be performed live, it is acceptable to have candidates participate in the ceremony using the pre-recorded video.

If your question is not answered in the FAQ document, please feel free to email your question to ceremonials@kofc.org.

Download Script FAQs

On-Demand Exemplification

The On-Demand ceremony can be accessed by candidates online 24 hours a day. Before inviting a candidate to participate in the On-Demand ceremony, make sure your council has completed their standard admissions process and has collected the information needed for his form 100. Councils must file a Form 100 for all candidates who complete an online exemplification.

English Invitation Spanish Invitation French Invitation

Protocol, Meetings & Ceremonials #11620

This manual combines Council and Assembly protocol (an explanation of the correct conduct and procedures to follow at formal meetings or events) with the guidelines for conducting successful Council Meetings, Exemplifications, and Installations of Officers.

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Installation of Council Officers

The Installation of Council Officers should be completed by the District Deputy as soon as practical and as close as possible to the start of the new fraternal year.

Installation Script

Installation of State Officers and DDS

The Installation of State Council Officers and District Deputies Ceremonial should always be held after Mass in conjunction with the Annual Organizational Meeting of District Deputies.

Installation Script

Installation of Assembly Officers #1355

This ceremony shall be under the direction of the District Master or whoever he designates. The Installation of Assembly Officers should be completed as soon as practical after the first day of July in the new fraternal year.

Installation Script

Awards

Star Council

The Star Council Award recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and programming. In order to achieve the Star Council Award, a council must earn the Father McGivney, Founders’, and Columbian Awards. Additionally, the council must submit both the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728), Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#185), and Service Program Personnel Report (#365). In the United States and Canada councils must also be fully compliant with applicable safe environment requirements.

Requirements

Star District

The Star District Award recognizes outstanding achievements in membership, insurance and overall excellence by the councils within the territory of a district deputy.

Requirements

Father McGivney Award

This award recognizes excellence in your council’s membership growth. To earn this award your council must meet or exceed its yearly membership quota. The quota is 6% increase in the council’s membership as of July 1 (intake only, minimum of five and maximum of fifteen). Your specific council quota can be found under the Membership tab in Officers Online. There is no application for the Father McGivney Award. Eligibility is automatically determined by the Supreme Council.

Founders' Award

The Founders’ Award recognizes excellence in the promotion of our insurance and fraternal benefits. Councils striving for the Founders’ Award must host (or promote) two Fraternal Benefit Events (in-person or virtual) during the fraternal year. Each council must have a minimum number of members or member-eligible attendees at each event: 10 for councils with 99 or fewer members, and 14 for councils with 100 or more members. These events are coordinated in conjunction with your local field agent. For the council to receive credit, the grand knight must submit the online form #11077 within seven days of the event.

Form #11077

Columbian Award

This award recognizes excellence in your council’s programming and charitable outreach. To earn this award your council must conduct and report programs in each of the four program categories (Faith, Family, Community, and Life) for a total of 16 program credits, with four in each category. A completed Columbian Award Application (#SP-7) must be received by the Supreme Council office by June 30 in order to earn this award.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please email fraternalmission@kofc.org or call (203)752-4270.