Shoot for the Stars

1. Shoot for the Stars The Star Council Award Aim for the most prestigious award that a council can achieve

2. Star Council Award Benefits Achieving the Star Council Award is the key to a successful year, both for your council and our jurisdiction. It has a strong positive effect on: • Membership growth • Charitable contributions • Hours of Service • Insurance Promotion

3. Star Council Award Goal Challenge: Our State Deputy has set a “Star Council” goal of fifty (50) Star Councils for the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. Key to success: Each council must exert the efforts necessary toward this accomplishment within their individual councils.

4. Star Council Award Requirement Summary • Father McGivney Award • Achieve a seven percent net gain in membership • Must host or participate in four first degrees during the fraternal year • Founders Award • Meets or exceeds a 2.5 percent net gain of insurance members for the fraternal year (councils under 100 members have a net gain insurance quota of 3 new members) • Columbian Award • Awarded to councils that conduct at least four activities in the areas of Church, community, council, culture of life, family and youth

5. Star Council AwardRequirement Checklist • File Service Program Personnel Report Form (#365) • Not be suspended by Supreme Council for non-payment of Per Capita, Catholic Advertising or Supply Charges • File the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity Report Form (#1728) • Submit a completed Columbian Award Application form (SP#7) no later than June 30th • Ensure all membership and insurance documents are received, processed and released at the Supreme Council office no later than June 30th

6. The Star Council Award is the attainment of the Father McGivney Award for membership growth, The Founders’ Award for insurance membership growth and the Columbian Award for service programs.

7. Father McGivney Award • Awarded to councils that achieve a seven percent net gain in membership and the council must host or participate in four first degrees during the fraternal year. The four first degrees must be reported on Form 450C and filed with the supreme Office by close of business of the last reporting day of June. The key to achieving this award is to begin recruitment activities early in the fraternal year. Start by implementing the Order’s membership “action”, or come up with your own ideas. To qualify, membership transactions and ceremonial reports must be received, processed and recorded by the Supreme Council office by close of business of the last working day of June (EST).

8. Founders’ Award • Presented when a council meets or exceeds a 2.5 percent net gain of insurance members for the fraternal year (councils under 100 members have a net gain insurance quota of 3 new members). The council’s field agent and financial secretary play key roles in attaining the Founders’ Award. The field agent must remain active in all council recruitment and membership promotional events, to promote the Order’s insurance program and the benefits of membership. Councils should work with the agent to conduct fraternal benefits nights throughout the year. Financial secretaries should forward the Membership Documents (#100) of each new member promptly to the agent after a First Degree, so he can arrange a personal visit with the new member and his family, to discuss the benefits of membership. Finally, councils should work to reactivate inactive insurance members, (these members count as a membership and an insurance gain towards council quotas). To qualify, insurance additions must be received, processed and released at Supreme Council office by close of business of the last working day of June (EST).

9. Columbian Award • Awarded to councils that conduct at least four activities in the areas of Church, community, council, culture of life, family and youth. The Order has designated several Featured Programs that once completed would fulfill the requirement of each of the above activity areas. You can review these key programs by visiting the Knights of Columbus website. A copy can also be found in your Surge with Service kit. Councils should also establish committees to organize the service programs to be conducted throughout the entire fraternal year. A well organized plan is the key to success. The Columbian Award Application can be found in the Council Report Forms Booklet (#1436) or on the Orders website at www.kofc.org/forms. These forms must be received and recorded at the Supreme Council office by close of business of the last working day of June (EST)>

10. Summary of Forms Required

11. Summary of Forms Required Continued

12. Example of Activities that qualify under the Columbian Award • Awarded to councils that conduct at least four activities in the areas of Church, community, council, culture of life, family and youth • The following are not all inclusive and are only suggestions as you may have many other different activities, which are not listed here:

13. Church Activities: • Council members act as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, CCD teachers in their parish. • Council members serve on Parish Councils, Finance Committee, or other Parish Committees. • Council participates in Altar Servers Recognition Program. • Council participates in Parish Roundtable Program. • Council sponsors a seminarian (RSVP) program. • Council sponsors a prayer hour, bible study or other religious activity in the Parish. • Council prays for vocations, • Council post signs or conducts other “Keep Christ in Christmas” activities in their town. • Council donates funds to the Church or Religious Orders. • Council sponsors social activities in the Parish.

14. Community Activities: • Council participates in pro-life Mass. • Council participates in pro-life activities or provides financial support. • Council hosts or participates in a pro-life Baby Shower. • Council is involved with “Morality in the Media” or similar programs supporting decency. • Council supports and/or makes financial donations to support the elderly in their community. • Council runs dinners, holds bingo’s, dances or other social activities for senior citizens. • Council participates in annual tootsie roll drive. • Council members visit nursing homes. • Council members volunteer at local shelters, walk for hunger etc.. • Council hall is made available for community activities.

15. Council Activities: • Council holds Communion Breakfast for members and families. • Council hosted State Charity Balls. • Council holds memorial Mass for departed brothers. • Council conducts Blood Donor Drives. • Council sponsors baseball, soccer, basketball, volley ball teams etc.. • Council holds social events for members and families: spaghetti suppers, Christmas parties for adults and/or children, Installation of Officers, dances, etc.. • Council members attend Lantern Award Dinner and participate in other State Council activities such as Bowling and Cribbage tournaments. • Council publicizes events and awards in local newspaper. • Council members participate in local Veterans Day and other local parades. • Council recognizes Knight of the Year, Honorary and Honorary Life Members.

16. Family Activities: • Council makes donations and provides scholarships to widows and orphans. • Council invites widows to social events and sends copies of newsletters. • Council places K of C flag on graves of departed members on Memorial Day. • Council participates in the Family of the Month program. • Council runs family picnics. • Council provides toys for needy children, contributes to “Toys for Tots” program. • Council runs family night socials. • Council runs family bus trips to La Salette shrine. • Council provides food for sick members. • Council holds family dinners.

17. Youth Activities: • Council Sponsors a Columbian Squires Circle. • Council hosts a State Squires meeting or event. • Council sponsors a Boy or Girl Scout or provides financial support. • Council conducts annual Free Throw Competition. • Council awards Scholarship for gradating high school seniors. • Council runs youth dances. • Council members act as coaches or officials for local youth athletic programs. • Council members act as counselors for local CYO groups. • Council sponsor special awards dinners for youth groups. • Council supports Eagle Scout projects.

18. Pro-Life Activities: • Council Sponsors a Pro-Life Baby Showers • Council donated to Ultrasound Project. • Council participated in March For Life. • Council had a Pro-Life Mass. • Council participated in the State Council pro-Life Masses around the State.