Building the Domestic Church: Michigan Knights of Columbus Membership Development

1. Michigan State Council Knights of Columbus Summer Leadership Meeting Building the Domestic Church

2. State Membership Ken Krause State Membership Director

3. Membership Development Model

4. Leadership Development Model

5. Developing Comprehensive Membership Programs

7. MICHIGAN’S MEMBERSHIP DILEMMA

8. Historical Suspensions and Withdrawals 2015-16 1276 2014-15 1306 2013-14 1385 Total: 3967 Average: 1322 per year 2016-17 737 + June

9. Deaths 2015-16 1494 2014-15 1534 2013-14 1412 Total: 4440 Average: 1480 2016-17 1465 + June

10. Demographics OVERALL MEAN (AVERAGE) STATE AGE: 61.64

11. Historical Intake 2015-16 2210 2014-15 2270 2013-14 2205 Total: 6685 Average: 2228 2016-17 1826 + June

12. Admission Degrees 450 Forms submitted to Supreme 2015-16 918 2016-17 754 + June 90 Districts x 12 months = 1080 Average Attendance / Degree 3.2

13. Knighthood Degrees Form 450s submitted to Supreme Degrees Reported YTD – May 31 70 Average Attendance per Degree 14.6

14. What’s the Prognosis if the Knights of Columbus in Michigan doesn’t grow? What’s the Prescription for turning this situation around?

15. Prescription • More Admission Degrees • More Formation and Knighthood Degrees • Fewer Suspensions and Withdrawals • Recruit New and Reactivated Members and their Families

16. Prescription • View Every Activity and Program as a Recruitment Opportunity • Activate All Members • Communicate with Members • Develop Leadership Skills • Be Active in Parishes and Communities

17. Prescription • View all Programs and Membership Recruitment within the context of Building the Domestic Church • Recruit young members and their families

18. Commitment District Deputy: _____________________ District Number: ____________________ July 1 – December 31 District Recruitment Target: _______ X 10% = Your Commitment: _______ Non-Functioning Council Numbers:

19. Michigan Action Plan • Membership 365 • New Council Development • Round Tables • Reactivations • Ethnic Outreach • College Councils

20. Achieving Membership Recruitment Success • Develop a monthly program using the Fraternal Leader Success Planner • Promote Membership 24 / 7 / 365 • Every Council Active • Church Drives • Major Recruitment Activity • Use Membership Teams • Follow-up by Proposers’ Mentors

21. Programs • Programs should ask for volunteers from the parish. • The more visible your programs, the more potential for recruitment.

22. Planning for Success • Membership Recruitment and Program • Action Plan • (Form MI-19) • Copy due to DD at the Diocesan Meeting • Council activities start July 1 • Six months of quality programs with membership components • Refinements as needed at district meetings • DD submits copies to the Diocesan Membership and Program Directors

25. Major Recruitment Activity • Councils schedule each half of the fraternal year. • Held in addition to Church Drives and regular recruitment activities. • Details submitted to DD at the diocesan meeting. • Target: 3 new or reactivated members. • Should the drive fall short, the council should review its plan and invite the DD’s suggestions for changes. • What could have gone better?

26. Major Recruitment Activity continued Use this information to plan for success in the second major recruiting program. The DD’s experience with programs and membership recruitment are valuable. DDs help councils maximize results with minimal efforts.

27. Key Factors for a Successful Recruiting Drive Gain pastor / chaplain approval for the program. Actively “work the audience” to solicit new members. Recruitment is a team effort. Insure the membership director has all the help he needs.

28. Membership Teams • Membership Director • Two or more assistants • Ex-officio members: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Retention Director, Program Director • Use the Admission Committee Survey (1842)

29. Duties of a Proposer/Mentor • Shepherd him through the admission process and degrees. • Assist achievement of the Shining Armor Award. • Encourage council activity. • Tactfully follow-up if the new member stops attending council meetings and events.

30. Roundtables • DD Follow-Up is Essential • Support for parishes unable to sustain a council • Work with pastors / parish councils • As appropriate, appoint a coordinator • Complete Roundtable form 2630, due June 30 • Direct questions to Dan Remeika, State Roundtable Director

31. Membership Awards and Incentives

32. Awards • “Quick Start” Council and District Awards • State Chaplain / State Deputy Awards • Council Membership Director Awards • “Finish Strong” Award and District Recognition • The State Convention Membership Award Deadline – May 1

33. NEW STATE INCENTIVES July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 for All members who recruit a new or reactivated member: Specially Designed Proposer Pin

35. NEW STATE INCENTIVES July All proposers receive $10 gift cards. August – September Proposers entered in a lottery where 10 are drawn for $50 checks. AND All proposers receive $5 gift cards.

36. NEW STATE INCENTIVES October All proposers who recruit 5 new / reactivated members will receive a Pen and Pencil set.

37. Exemplary Public Relations Award (MI-22) • Quality councils communicate with their members, parishes, communities as well as State and Supreme publications. • They are known and recognized as organizations to which men and their families want to belong. • They recognize their members contributions.

40. Exemplary Public Relations Award Process • Upon completion of criteria, council submits form MI-22 to District Deputy for verification. • District Deputy submits form to the State Public Relations Director. • Awards presented at the Summer Diocesan meetings.

41. Programs / Recruitment Methods Ed Nickel Assistant Membership Dir.

42. Church Drives Church Drives are held 4 times per year • August 12-13. 2017 Fr. Michael J. McGivney birthday drive • Mid-October 7-8 or October 14-15, 2017 Columbus Day Drive • March 10-11, 2018 Founder’s Drive • April 14-15, 2018 After Easter Drive

43. Information Night • Held after the Church Drive • All new potential members and families are invited to attend • The speakers should be the Grand Knight, District Deputy, Father and the General Agent NO ALCOHOL SHOULD BE SERVED!!!!

44. Recruitment Tools and Techniques The following tools and techniques are recommended by the Supreme Council as effective in recruiting new members. Experience demonstrates that they work!

45. Every Council Active Initiative • In order for a council to survive they need to recruit new members. • New members are needed to support your councils programs. • Failure to recruit will lead to a council that is being set up to fail • Why did you join your council?

46. Membership 365 • Members at the Council level need to be encouraged to think about membership at every opportunity • Council membership director should speak at every council meeting

47. One-on-One Recruitment • One-on-One remains the most productive recruitment tool • Show interest in the potential new Knight and not just another member • Never give up - You never know when he will say YES !

48. Council Chaplain / Pastor Invitation All of the following are with the approval of the Pastor • Compose a letter inviting the potential member and his family to an information night • Follow up with a telephone call requesting the potential member and family attend the information night

49. Catholic H.S. Partnership • Establish partnerships that will benefit the high school students and the council. • Support school events. • Include the school on mailing lists.

50. Partnerships • Invite students to assist in a K of C activity for service credit. • Donate back to the school when they provide assistance at a council fund raising event. • Ask to address senior male students in the spring about the K of C.