Amending Section 126, Section 128 & Chapter XV of the Laws of the Knights of Columbus to Streamline Council Officer Operations

WHEREAS, Section 126 of the Laws of the Order currently outlines the officers of each subordinate council; Section 128 currently provides the election and appointment process for council officers; and Chapter XV outlines the duties of said officers; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has reviewed the current governance structure and determined that it is in the best interest of the Order to revise it; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors desires to reduce the number of officers required to be elected annually; and

WHEREAS, while some offices—namely those of Chancellor, Lecturer, Inside Guard, Outside Guard, and two of the Trustees—will no longer be required, councils may still choose to appoint members to such positions.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Section 126, Section 128, and Chapter XV of the Laws of the Order, regarding the Laws Governing the Subordinate Councils as they relate to Council Officers, their election and Council Officer Duties, be amended as follows [italic text is being considered for removal in a separate resolution]:

SEC. 126. Laws Governing the Subordinate Councils – Officers
The officers of each subordinate council shall be: Grand Knight, Chaplain, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Lecturer, Advocate, Warden, ~~Inside Guard, Outside Guard~~ and ~~Board of~~ Trustees; ~~except that councils may provide by by-law for the election of two outside guards to alternate in their duties as such~~ however, subordinate councils may also choose to appoint members to one or more of the positions of Chancellor, Lecturer, Inside Guard, Outside Guard, or additional Trustees.

SEC. 128. Laws Governing the Subordinate Councils – Election
All officers, except the Financial Secretary, ~~Lecturer~~ and Chaplain, shall be elected annually, by ballot, at a monthly council meeting held between the first day of May to and including the fifteenth day of June each year, ~~and with the exception of the Trustee who shall serve for a terms not to exceed three years as provided by Section 145,~~ Said officers shall hold their offices for the term of one year from the first day of July following, and until their successors are elected and qualified. Provided, however, that elective officers of councils identified with colleges and universities may be elected at a monthly council meeting held between the first day of March, to and including the first day of June in each year after written notice is given to the members of the date selected.

The Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and ~~Board of~~ Trustees may annually ask a priest to be Chaplain, but such request must be made in accordance with any rules established by the bishop of the diocese in which the council is located.

~~The Grand Knight shall select annually a Lecturer.~~

The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight. He shall hold office at the will of the Supreme Knight. He shall be compensated in a manner approved by the Board of Directors.

CHAPTER XV - Laws Governing the Subordinate Councils – Duties of Council Officers
SEC. 137. The Chancellor shall assist the Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight in the performance of their duties and shall take charge of the council during the incapacity or extended absence of both. He shall be charged with the total participation of the membership in the activities of the council. Subject to the approval of the Grand Knight he shall institute a program to develop the availability and interest of the members in the specific activities of the council and refer his findings to the Grand Knight. He shall exercise a special interest in new members and those members who are sick or in distress. He shall perform such other duties as the Grand Knight directs.

~~SEC. 141. The Lecturer shall endeavor to devise means to entertain his council at meetings and perform such duties as his council may direct.~~

SEC. 143. The Warden shall be present at all meetings of his council, and at the opening of the same. He shall have charge of all the council property, except moneys and account and record books of officers, and keep the same in proper condition for the meeting of his council. He may appoint instruct his guards in their to assist him in his duties ~~and appoint the same at pleasure~~, and perform such other duties as may be imposed by his council.

SEC. 144. The Inside Guard shall attend the entrance to the council chamber, through its inner door; the Outside Guard, the entrance through the outer door; and each shall perform such other duties as may be imposed by the council.

SEC. 145. The Board of Trustees shall consist of the Grand Knight and three members to be elected by the council. The Grand Knight shall be its chairman. At the first election of a new council, three trustees shall be elected, one to hold office for one year or until the next regular election, one for two years or until the second next regular election, and the other for three years or until the third next regular election, as determined by lot among themselves. Thereafter, at each succeeding election, one Trustee shall be chosen for a term of three years. The Trustees shall have supervision of all the financial business of the council and ~~their~~ his approval shall be necessary for the payment of all moneys except Benefit Fund moneys and demands of the Supreme Council or Board of Directors or State Council, and the regular and usual stated payments of the council, and payments authorized by the council after notice and vote in accordance with Section 122. ~~They~~ He shall coordinate with the Grand Knight to ensure the annual audit of the accounts of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer and report thereon annually to their council and the Supreme Council, according to rules set by the Board of Directors. He, in conjunction with the Grand Knight ~~They~~ shall see that the Financial Secretary and Treasurer give proper bonds running to the Knights of Columbus in trust for their particular council ~~and in amounts fixed by said trustees~~, and he ~~they~~ shall be the custodians of such bonds. But in case the Board of Directors shall bond such officers, the trustees in conjunction with the Grand Knight, shall be charged only with fixing the amount of such bonds in excess of the amount provided for by said Board of Directors, and in such case ~~they~~ he shall have evidence that said officers shall have been bonded in such excess amount. He ~~They~~ shall perform such other duties as ~~their~~ his council or the District Deputy or Territorial Deputy or the officers of the Order may direct.