College CouncilsNewsletter

Knights Among Hundreds of Thousands at March for Life

Supreme knight addresses participants at rally

College Knights Continue Legacy of Cardinal O’ConnorBy Louis Cona, PDGK, Georgetown University Council 6375

Saturday, Jan. 24, young people from across the nation gathered at Georgetown University to participate in the

16th annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life. The conference provided the opportunity for hundreds of pro-lifers from across the country to connect and participate in a forum of serious intellectual discourse. Through thekeynote speech and various breakout sessions that followed, participants not only gained the necessary intellectual tools to publicly defend human life at all its stages, but also the priceless opportunity to develop new friendships in the pro-lifemovement. Participants left the conference with renewedhope, enthusiasm and zeal.

SEE PAGE 3 FOR LEGACY

NEWS FOR COLLEGE KNIGHTSwww.kofc.org/college SPRING 2015

On Jan. 22, hundreds of thousands bore witness to their belief in the sanctity of every human life by participating in the 2015 March for Life

in Washington, D.C. The marchers — which included thousands of Knightsand their families — were addressed by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, whojoined several speakers in thanking those gathered for their support of the culture of life.“Thank you for your witness and your stand for life!” Supreme Knight

Anderson said to the crowd. “We face new threats this year — new efforts to legalize doctor-assisted suicide. But we will stand up for all those at the end of life, as wedo for those at thebeginning of life.We must build aculture of life forall those who arevulnerable or whosuffer — their lifeis a gift! Today, wecelebrate the giftof every life.”

SEE PAGES 6-7 FOR MARCH

Supreme Knight Anderson greets college Knights participating in the march. College Knights traveled

from George Mason University, Georgetown University,the University of Notre Dame, the University of

Loyola-Maryland and the Catholic University of Americato stand up for the rights of the unborn.

On the evening of Jan. 22, following the March for Life, the SaintJohn Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., hosted a

gathering of young adults to celebrate the life and teachings of St. John Paul II. In attendance among the many were approximately50 college Knights from various universities throughout the area.Msgr. Sławomir Oder, postulator of the cause for John Paul II’s

canonization, was present to share a reflection and answer questionsfrom college Knights, seminarians, religious sisters and other youngadults representing the JPII Generation.The Knights of Columbus-sponsored event, titled “An Evening

With St. John Paul II,” began with a reception and continued with a prayer service in the shrine’s chapel. Before touring the new permanent exhibit on John Paul II’s life and teachings, those in attendance had the opportunity to venerate a first-class relic of thesaint. Containing a glass ampoule of John Paul II’s blood, the reliquarywas entrusted to the Order by Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, archbishopof Kraków, Poland, in 2011.

Msgr. Oder, who was visiting Washington for the first time, beganhis remarks by expressing his gratitude and saying that the March forLife was “a beautiful expression of the Church.” Above all else, he said,“John Paul II was a man of life. He strongly believed that the vocationof any man is to collaborate with God in the celebration of life.”

St. John Paul II’s experience of totalitarianism in Poland followedby the dictatorship of relativism in the West, Msgr. Oder said, demonstrated the dangers of the culture of death and the need to uphold and respect human dignity.“He walked as a pilgrim across the world to strengthen the brothers

in faith, courageously and tirelessly proclaiming the joy of life, demon-strating the validity of the culture of life,” Msgr. Oder said.Quoting from John Paul II’s

1985 apostolic letter to youth,he added, “His appeals toyoung people were very direct:‘Do not be afraid of the lovethat places clear demands onpeople. … Do not be passive;take up your responsibilities— in all the fields open to youin our world!’”Young people, in particular,

are challenged to grow in holi-ness and to build a civilizationof love, Msgr. Oder continued.“Even though you are young,the time for action is now!”

Young People Gather to Celebrate St. John Paul II

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The Cardinal O’Connor Conference, the nation’s largest student-run pro-life conference, has a rich history with the Knights ofColumbus. The conference was founded 16 years ago by StephenFeiler, who was then-grand knight of Georgetown University Council 6375. To this day, the O’Connor Conference has beensponsored by both Georgetown and the Supreme Council.The conference was named in honor of His Eminence John

Cardinal O’Connor, the late archbishop of New York and a Georgetown University alumnus. Cardinal O’Connor was renownedfor his courage as a champion of the unborn, and the CardinalO’Connor Conference on Life seeks to continue his mission of defending the sacredness of all human life.This year’s conference featured a keynote address from Cardinal

Seán O’Malley and a panel conversation featuring Richard Doerflinger, Mary Hasson, Mona Charen and Father Joseph Koterski, S.J. Past speakers have included Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, Raymond Cardinal Burke, Archbishop Charles Chaput,Helen Alvaré, Robert P. George and Hadley Arkes. Archbishop JohnKurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the USCCB, celebrated theclosing Mass. Inspired by the courage and vision of Cardinal O’Connor, the

Knights of Columbus constantly strive to be living witnesses of ourfaith and defenders of the most vulnerable among us. It is our dutyas Knights and Catholic men to speak for the voiceless and come tothe aid of the oppressed. We hope you can join us next year to builda country of life and for life!

LEGACY, FROM PAGE 1The event concluded with tours of the 16,000-square-foot “A Gift

of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II” exhibit, led by alumni fromthe Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage andFamily. Dedicated Oct. 22, 2014, the feast of St. John Paul II, the world-

class permanent exhibit features nine multimedia galleries that tracethe life and teachings of the saint, celebrating the enduring relevanceof his 26-year pontificate on the Church and society.

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Has your council been active on your campus and within your parish and community? If so, we would like to give recognition to your charitable and fraternal projects by featuring your council in future editions of this newsletter. To submit, simply send us a few sentences detailing your project (including the when, where, what, who, why and how of the activity) and photos to college@kofc.org. If you have any questions about sending in photos, you may call the College Council Division at 203-752-4671. Your stories can beof inspiration to other college councils throughout the Order, so we look forward to sharing them.

Looking for ContributingAuthors and Stories

A lthough the semester has just begun, before we know it May will arrive and members of your council will graduate, leaving friends, coursework and student

activities behind them. The Knights of Columbus, however, is something they can takewith them! As your graduating members prepare for the excitement beyond the classroom, council leaders should do the following for graduating brother Knights:

1). Conduct one-on-one meetings with each graduating brother KnightCouncil leaders should hold exit interviews with graduating students to personally thank them for their contribution to the council and to gather any suggestions for improving the council going forward.

2). Assist each graduating brother Knight in transferring his membershipWith councils in every U.S. state and province of Canada, as well as 30 additional countries, a graduating brother Knight can find a council wherever life takes him. By utilizing http://kofc.org/en/officers/fac.html, a Knight can locate councils in his area. Council leaders should assist graduating students in locating these coun-cils and also reach out to grand knights and financial secretaries on their behalf.

3). Encourage graduating brother Knights to update their contact informationGraduating brother Knights should update their contact information, specifically taking note to include a non-school email address and non-campus street address. Council leaders should encourage graduating members to do this by visiting kofc.org/en/about/contact/address_contact.html.

4). Celebrate and honor all graduating KnightsCouncil leaders should plan a party or other event to honor graduating members. Additionally, the council should consider giving a gift to graduating Knights; some councils have created special pins or stoles for graduating members to wear during commencement.

The Next Chapter: Helping Graduating Students Move On

Passing the Torch: Effectively Transitioning Leadership

One challenge that college councils constantly face is the develop-ment and turnover of leadership. In just four short years, men

must learn to become leaders, guide their councils and then train others to do the same. While opportunities for leadership growth anddevelopment occur throughout the year, they are most important following elections in the spring semester. Newly elected officers mustquickly embrace their roles if they are to utilize summer vacation as aplanning opportunity for the fall semester.In addition to having outgoing leaders train those elected to replace

them, we recommend the following best practices to effectively developleadership in your council:

1). Conduct one business meeting after electionsMany councils elect officers at the last business meeting of theyear. While in theory this makes sense, councils should have one business meeting after elections to allow the newly elected leaders a chance to address the council on their plans and initia-tives for the coming year. This meeting should not wait for the fall, as plans for a Fall Rush/Recruiting Week should be in the works over the summer.

2). If possible, install officers before the end of the termIf your council can coordinate an Officer Installation Ceremony with its District Deputy before the end of the school year, do so. This allows each newly elected officer to officially assume his roles and responsibilities prior to summer vacation. Additionally,

remember that the Officer Installation Ceremony is an open event and an opportunity for family, friends, girlfriends and others to join in community for a ceremony and reception.

3). Utilize juniors as grand knightsAlthough any Third Degree member can be a grand knight, most councils have found success electing a junior, who can then mentor the next grand knight as a senior. Furthermore, this prevents a senior grand knight from dividing time between making post-graduate plans and leading the council.

4). Offer leadership roles to freshmenIf juniors are recommended to be grand knights, how can they be prepared to be elected in the spring of their sophomore year? This starts with offering leadership roles and responsibilities to freshmen. Have honorary outside and inside guard roles that are given to promising freshmen; invite them to officer meetings; and allow them to manage part of an event. From there, responsibility should grow as you give them more leadership opportunities during events and elect them to higher officer positions their sophomore year. A council should develop several young men who could assume the position of grand knight in case of unforeseen circumstances. For example, a potential candidate may decide to study abroad, or perhaps take a sudden leave of university. Due to these and similar situations, it’s always good to have backup. 4

Holding an Officers’ Planning RetreatA step-by-step guide from University of Maryland Council 13295

by Avellino Ernestanto, Grand Knight

The University of Maryland Knights of Columbus officers recently held a retreat to get the most out of this spring semester. Some of our retreat goals included: defining our mission and vision statements; establishing clear goals for the semester; developing and enriching

knowledge on officer positions and relationships between officers; reviewing council bylaws and budget; and preparing, to the best of our ability, our activities calendar for the upcoming spring semester.Our need for an officers’ retreat became apparent during the fall semester. It was evident in our meetings and planning that we as officers, and thus as

a council, did not know where we were headed. Our officers were not aligned on the same mission and did not share the same vision for the council. Thus,priorities shifted around and administrative tasks became stagnant. At the heart of these shortcomings, we found that communication — or rather, a lackthereof — caused our council much unneeded suffering.The lack of communication within the council, from officer to officer, from officer to council, and more importantly, from council to the Catholic

Student Center (CSC), caused confusion and inefficiency. There were absences at meetings and events because of last-minute invitations, CSC’s planningwas sometimes distorted due to the Knights being unable to provide logistics in advance of events, and unfortunately, members were not able to partakein many council activities because of our inability to perform administrative tasks with precision and consistency.As a result, this retreat highlighted the need for officers to become more proactive in their stations as well as the council’s need to boldly step up

communications. With plans for weekly council newsletters and weekly reports to the CSC administration, the council seeks a revamped communicationssystem. Moreover, the council has appointed a communications director for this purpose and to help channel promotion of events to the council and the CSC.In addition to communication, the retreat also honed in on finding a specific, attainable mission for the council and ways to unite council efforts with

the CSC’s mission. It is our hope that we continue to be a thriving council where our men stand as leaders on campus and follow Christ’s call to be menof virtue, leading the way in the new evangelization.While your council’s challenges may be unique, we believe that each and every council can benefit from an officers’ retreat. To aid you and your

council in conducting its own officers’ retreat, we’ve identified a series of tips to make it easier. If you hold an officers’ meeting and realize someadditional helpful tips, be sure to share!

Tips to Plan a Successful Officers’ Retreat1. The best times for holding an officers' retreat are at the beginning of the school year, between fall/spring semesters, or at the end of the school year with your newly elected officials.

2. Send out the date of the retreat to all your officers and chaplains so they can put it on the calendar. Ideally, you would announce this date 2-3 months in advance so that all could plan accordingly, especially your chaplain. Also, make any facility reservations at this point.

3. Set up a pre-planning meeting (intake session) with your officers to reflect on the year. Brainstorm weaknesses, strengths, successfulevents, memorable moments, etc. There shouldn’t be anything about planning the future, only feedback about the past year. Take notes!

4. With these notes, think about any overarching themes that you might want to address at the retreat. For example, I had officers complain they were not notified early in advance to officer meetings. Members did not attend events, because they never heard they were going on. Additionally, there were conflicts with reserving space at the Catholic Student Center. The theme I saw across these shortcomings was communication.

5. With these themes in mind, set up a date to plan the retreat itself. Include officers with stronger leadership qualities (they are not necessarily your FS or DGK). Also, invite your district warden and district deputy. Your chaplain might want to engage in planning the retreat as well. Our retreat planning meeting took four hours. I recommend when planning your own retreat, you split this time into two sessions. Hold the first meeting a month in advance of the retreat, and hold the second a week in advance.

a. Make sure your retreat has structure. Many ideas and themes will arise during the planning, but make sure your day is organized and flows naturally from topic to topic (learning becomes more natural as well). For our structure, we went with two halves of the day. The first half focused on big goals, mission statements and overall direction. The second half went into more concrete aspects: officer responsibilities and relationships, officer and business meeting streamlining, and calendar planning.i. Create an agenda! Stick to it!

b. Start your day with Mass. If Jesus is not at the start, middle, center and end of your retreat, there is no point.

c. Allow for participation. Don’t make the retreat a lecture series. Get the guys used to talking to one another about council business. Have officers talk about their expectations of their roles as well as unique responsibilities they might believe they have.

d. Take frequent breaks. The day will feel much longer when you try to push through the agenda. Take your time, but stay focused!

6. After the retreat, make sure you follow up with each officer to ensure they know their action plan for this semester.

7. Create a report for next year’s retreat to share with the DD, DW, chaplain and any other interested personnel.

8. IMPORTANT: Strongly encourage members to pray for the council.

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College Knights from George Mason University, GeorgetownUniversity, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Loyola-Maryland and the Catholic University of America were all in attendance, uniting under this year’s theme of “Every Life Is a Gift.”Many carried council banners and flags, but these were only one indication of the Order’s presence. Scattered among the crowd werealso thousands of K of C “Defend Life” signs, which the D.C. StateCouncil distributed to marchers.Several other speakers also addressed the crowd, including

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the United States Conferenceof Catholic Bishops, and members of Congress from both parties.The march was led by Jeanne Monahan Mancini, president of theMarch for Life Education and Defense Fund.

MARCH, FROM PAGE 1

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Making a Play for Charityby Henry Dickman, chancellor of Notre Dame Council 1477

The Fighting Irish football team may not have had a record-breaking year, but Notre Dame Council 1477’s annual steak

sales concession stand sure did. Profits soared this year to $70,283, thehighest per-game amount raised in council history. This amounts tothe sale of three tons of meat, or 16,000 sandwiches, to loyal customersfrom the expansive Irish fan base as well asthose of visiting teams. These numbers are certainly a noteworthy development insteak sales history for our council, but themost exciting element is that every pennyof the profits will benefit a variety of local,national and international charities doingthe humanitarian work that the Knightsof Columbus so strongly supports.

These organizations, which includeCorvilla House for the Mentally Disabled,Gibault Children’s Services and the SouthBend Center for the Homeless, as well asmany others, have been able to rely on ourfinancial support since the founding ofthe fundraiser in 1973. Before this date,council members would regularly gatheroutside the Knights of Columbus build-ing on campus before games for a steakcookout, and soon, fans grew interestedin being able to purchase a sandwich forthemselves. From the 1973 season and on, the sale has grown to be-come an Irish football tradition.

Steak sales have serious meaning to many people beyond the beneficiaries of our funds. Past Grand Knight Dennis Malloy says thatcustomers have said many times in the past that the eventis “an essential element of the game-day experience. Somesay it wouldn’t be a visit to Notre Dame without a steak

sandwich.” Jeff Gerlomes, another past grand knight, adds, “When wesee that line down the quad [of customers waiting to buy sandwiches],it’s humbling to think that this sandwich is as important to some peo-ple as a tartan cape or golden helmet.” Even for Knights themselves,working at a steak sale is often more meaningful than attending the

football game. “The steak sale is the flag-ship project of the Notre Dame council,and it is our greatest chance to make animpact as students of this university,” saysMalloy.Our commitment to service as well as

a high standard in food quality are themain drivers of our customer base, and weowe them our thanks for being able toraise over $1 million since the inceptionof the steak sales. During this off-season,we look forward to brainstorming ways tocontinue improving the efficiency of ourfood production, attract a larger amountof fans to our concession stand, and fur-ther enhance the quality of the food weprovide to our customers. As the one ofthe leading Catholic student groups at theUniversity of Notre Dame, our council is proud to uphold the commitment toservice and selflessness that the Church so

strongly espouses. If you’ve never had a steak sandwich before, be sureto stop by our council hall before a game next season — you can betthat our guys will be there.

Vivat Jesus, and Go Irish!

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Founded in 1910, Council 1477 sells some 3,000 steakseach home football weekend, raising about $10,000 per game for various charities. Since its inception, the program has donated more than $1 million to charity.

DC Flag Football CupThis past November, over 50 college Knights gathered on the lawn outside of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate

Conception to honor a tradition that spans over a decade — the D.C. Flag Football Cup. In its earliest years, the competition began as a friendly tournament between the councils of Georgetown University 6375 and George

Washington University 13242. Roughly five years later, participation grew as they were joined by the Knights of Catholic University of AmericaCouncil 9542 and American University Council 14465.The tournament was renamed the “Sir Knight Brian Adkins

Memorial Football Game” after the tragic death of George Washingtonalumnus Brian Adkins, who was killed while working as a foreign serviceofficer in Ethiopia in January 2009. Brian was one of the charter members of George Washington University Council 13242, his energyand dedication earning him a place as a chancellor, trustee, district warden and state ceremonials director. Nicknamed the “Iron Chancellor”for his ability to bring his brother Knights together to recruit and carry outcharitable work on campus, Brian’s legacy lives on today as the D.C.-areacollege councils gather annually to celebrate fraternity through sports-manship.As last year’s winner, Georgetown University was on bye while the

Catholic University of America played against George Washington University. The Catholic University of America won the first round, andwent on to defeat Georgetown University to become the 2014 Champion.After the games, the Catholic University of America provided drinks, hotdogs and hamburgers to the players.

Annually, at the College Councils Conference, the Supreme Council recognizes the achievements of college councils over the past fraternalyear. Awards are given for the most outstanding programs in each of the six major service categories (Church, Community, Council,

Family, Culture of Life and Youth) and for the highest gains in membership and insurance. In addition to these awards, the prestigious Outstanding College Council Award is given to the council that best exemplifies the mission of

the college program. The Outstanding College Council receives a trophy, $500 for its council’s treasury and recognition through the SupremeCouncil’s web and printed materials. The Supreme Council determines the Outstanding College Council and other award winners based on completion of the Outstanding College

Council Award Application (available on kofc.org/college). Every college council is expected to complete the application by June 30. Even councils that do not feel they are award winners should complete and submit the form, as this will help the council reflect on its year and prepare for growth in the semesters to come.

Outstanding College Council Award

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George Mason Poker Fundraiser

Supply Order RemindersCollege councils receive free fraternal supplies from the Supreme Office. In order to take

advantage of this benefit, Grand knights and financial secretaries should submit completed Supply Orders (#1) to college@kofc.org for processing. Please note that collegecouncils still pay shipping on all supply orders. In addition to normal council supplies (candidate’s kits, membership cards, envelopes),

be sure to check out our line of college-specific materials. We constantly strive to updateand add to this list and welcome any ideas for materials that would be helpful to your efforts on campus. Contact us at college@kofc.org with any ideas or suggestions.

College Council Brochure Item # 4606 (English and French)College Council Poster – Leadership Development Item # 4733 ACollege Council Poster – Be the Difference Item # 4733 BCollege Council Poster – True Brotherhood Item # 4733 CCollege Council Poster – Spiritual Formation Item # 4733 DCollege Council Poster – Building a Better World Item # 4733 EA Prayer for Study Item # 4791

George Mason University Council 10806designed a way to simultaneously recruit

and raise funds by hosting a poker tournamenton Nov. 15, 2014. Held at St. Robert BellarmineChapel, a $5 admission fee was charged for threehours of playing time. Thirty-one people attended the event, 18 of

whom were Knights. Of the remaining 13, thosewho were Catholic received invitations to jointhe Order.In total, $165 was raised for the Movember

Foundation, a global organization dedicated toimproving men’s health.

What better way to ring in the NewYear and semester than by bringing

new members into your council? TheSupreme Council is sponsoring the 2015Divisional Recruitment Contest, and yourcouncil could win up to $200 while growingyour community of Catholic young men!Councils will be divided into four

divisions based on council size (seekofc.org/college for divisional breakouts),and given from Jan. 1 to April 30 to recruitas many new members as possible. Monthlyupdates will be posted online, and yourcouncil leaders will receive contest email updates periodically. The top three councils in each of the four

divisions will be awarded the followingprizes:• $200 and a custom council banner forfirst place

• $150 for second place• $100 for third placeEach council must recruit at least five

new members between Jan. 1 and April 30to be eligible to win.

GOOD LUCK!

Spring RecruitmentContest

COLLEGE COUNCILSCONFERENCE DETAILS

October 2-4, 201550th College Councils Conference

Check the college webpage (www.kofc.org/college) for additional details, including a schedule,

list of speakers and other information. Registration will be available beginning in April.

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Tips for Better Photos BE PREPARED: Remember to always have your camera handy — you never know when a good photo will present itself at a Knights of

Columbus event.

COMPOSITION: • Avoid distracting items in the background (e.g., a flag appearing to come out of the top of someone’s head)• Keep central figures out of shadows and oddly lit areas• If necessary, use a flash, even if outdoors. Keep in mind the limited range of your camera’s flash.

SUBMITTING PHOTOS: • Photos must be sent in as email attachments in jpeg format. We cannot use photos that are embedded into emails or Word documents, and often, photos supplied through a third-party online photo service cannot be downloaded at the necessary resolution.

• Images should be at least 5.5 inches wide with a resolution of 300 dpi or greater. The greater the resolution, the better the image will reproduce in print. Be sure to include caption information in the email.

• If your council does not have access to a camera, we recommend asking your Newman/Catholic Center or yearbook office if they have one available for loan. Should you have to use a cell phone, please make sure to do so with its camera set to the highest possible quality.

Here are some other Do’s:

OTHER TIPS…Photos of check presentations, “grip-and-grins” or a lineup may be easy to arrange, but they don’t share a vivid story of your council’s efforts. To give a more authentic representation of your group, follow the guidelines above to produce true-to-life photography. Remember, good qualityphotos that feature your council at work, or the benefits you’ve provided to the community, will tend to have a greater impact than staged poses.

DO…Wear your Knights of Columbus gear! If your members have T-shirts,aprons or other items printed with the emblem of the Order, encouragethem to wear these items at your events. But don’t send photos with embedded information (such as date and time stamps) or collages of photos.

DO…Show the physical results of your council’s fundraising: childrenwith coats, students using new computers, Knights dishing outfood, a repaired home, etc.

AND, DO…Get close to the action. When you think you’re too close, move abit closer. People’s faces are perhaps the most interesting part of aphoto; they should be prominent. Photos with a limited number ofpeople, rather than a large group shot of obscure faces, can makeyour story more memorable and draw a greater emotional responsefrom your reader.

Campus Reminders

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Form Deadline Checklist Forms! Forms! Forms! While I’m sure filling out forms isn’t your favorite part of being a Knight of Columbus, the information collected helps us to know your council better as well as improve the Order. Council officers, please take the time to complete these forms on time:

Forms 1728 and 1295 should be turned in by their required date, however, they will be accepted if turned in late. Forms cannot be accepted after the close of the fraternal year (June 30). Forms can be found and completed online at kofc.org/en/officers/forms/council.html. The Outstanding College Council Award Application can be found on the college webpage at www.kofc.org/college.

Update Your Contact Information Have you moved recently? Is your dorm room from freshmen year still listed as your address? Do you haveanother email address besides your school email? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you shouldupdate your contact information by visiting kofc.org/en/about/contact/address_contact.html.

Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (# 1728) Jan. 31Semiannual Audit (#1295) Feb. 15Outstanding College Council Award Application June 30

Columbian Award Application (#SP-7) June 30Report of Elected Officers (#185) After Elections