MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

 

 

NORTH CAROLINA STATE COUNCIL

 

 

2009 / 2010

 

 

Live, Laugh & Love.

 

I BELEIVE

 

 

 STATE DEPUTY
Dave Jones 

MEMBERSHIP Director

Vincent (Vince) Lombardo FDD

RETENTION Chairman

Robert (Bob) Hack FDD

 

I BELEIVE

 

Year of the Volunteer

 

A bigger, stronger Knights of Columbus Organization is a positive step towards this goal. We Knights would like every practicing Catholic gentleman to be a Knight of Columbus. With the proper leadership, programs and enthusiasm this is an attainable goal.

            To achieve this goal, Membership recruiting and retention must be vigorously pursued, as they are the lifeblood of our Order. We are aggressively developing new programs for new Council Development, recruiting new members and retaining those who are already with us.  We will continue to promote the concept of  “one Council-one Parish” which has been passed down from our processors.

          While we strive for what appears to be a very ambitious goal we are encouraged by the success of our Insurance program, our ceremonials and the outstanding programs currently in place. It is our intent to build upon this stable base, Train our membership on the implementation of the existing programs while ever striving for new ways to drive our message home. It’s easier to be a good Catholic as a Knight.

 

The State Membership Team, will strive to not only motivate the brotherhood to exert every effort to recruit new members and retain those that are already with us, but will train the council leadership on those activities that have been successful in the past. Working through the District Deputies we will hold training sessions on recruiting and retention and providing step by step checklists for these various programs.

          We will also be seeking new ideas from the councils, sharing success stories as well as mis-steps that have been encountered.

 

Directly below find the checklist for running The Parish Blitz

Also see the tabs on the top of the membership page. One will include check lists for events that can be run during the non Blitz times of the year. Each program listed has been successfully run by numerous councils. Recruiting and Retention are hard work. The harder you work the more successful you become.   

             




MEMBERSHIP BLITZ

Checklist

 

What Is the Blitz?

        An Order wide intensive recruiting campaign during a specific time, scheduled in advance. Usually once in the Fall and once in the Spring.

 

How do we run a Blitz?

 (GK and Membership Director)

        Organize a five step Program;

 

        Phase 1 (Starts at least 6 weeks prior to the drive)

 

A)   Get The Pastors Permission. All phases must be clearly

      understood with parameters established.

      Date, Location, Talk in church (yes/no), Who talks,

      How long, When. Is content approval required?

      No surprises and permission are mandatory

B)   Arrange for bulletin entries for the two weeks before the            

Blitz.

                     C) Select and procure recruiting Materials and Posters.

      Decide what will be included in the handouts.

D)  Set the schedule

E) Line up the help and give specific assignments

 

Phase 2   (Execution)

 

A)   The day before, make sure the pastor is up to speed

B)   Remind all your volunteers of their assignments, dress code and time schedules.

C)  Set up well before mass starts

D)   Confirm that the lecture has the proper announcement

E)    Greet everyone on the way in

F)   During Mass, have the assigned brother or Chaplain give the talk at the designated time. Be specific; cover local needs, activities and programs as well as the organization. (Sample talks are available)

G)  After mass have a central area, set up with pens, interest cards and form 100’s, manned by knowledgeable Knights to answer questions. At minimum the goal is to get an interest card filled out by those who come to the area.

H)  Knights should also be posted at the doors with prepared handout packets for those who want them. (No high pressure)

 

Phase 3   Follow Up

 

A)   Create a Data Base to track all interest cards and form

     100’s through the first degree.

B)   Contact all prospects within 48 hours

C)  Invite the candidates and families to an information night.   You may have to schedule more than one event and conduct one on one interviews to get them all oriented.

 

Phase 4  (Conduct the Orientation)

         

A)     Pre-check all technology requirements and have a back

      up plan ready. This presentation is important. Prepare

      it well and do it right

B)     Have enough help on hand to answer questions and

      have enough form 100’s and pens available to make

      filling out the forms convenient.

C)     Open and Close with a prayer

D)  Serve light refreshments

 

Phase 5  (The 1st degree)

 

A)    Have at least two 1st Degrees scheduled within 3 weeks    to minimize long delays.

B)    Inform your insurance agent

C)   Present the new brothers with a degree certificate

D)  Get a picture of each degree class in the council newsletter and the local media if possible

E)   Assign a mentor to each candidate (The proposer whenever possible)

F)   Follow up on the candidates that missed the degree or orientation events

G)  Provide feedback to your DD

H)  Formally recognize the brothers who made the Blitz a success

 

 

ALTERNATE PROGRAM (Without a talk in church)

 

PHASE 1   (Is the Same)

 

PHASE 2   (EXECUTION)

 

A)   More Up front communication is needed to hype the event

B)   Handouts at the door announcing the event the week before inviting those interested to a coffee and donut get together after each mass. The handouts should include a profile of your council as well as the appropriate pamphlets provided by Supreme.

C)  The lecture or priest should announce the event at Mass the week before and on the day of the Blitz.

D)  This is a harder sell and depends on how well you can design an event to draw potential candidates and how well the brothers are at discussing the KofC one on one.

 

Phase’s 3,4 and 5 Are the same

                                                          

What to order now for the 2009 FAll Blitz is listed below.

Supreme has suggested October 10-11 for the Blitz.

In honor of our name sake, we will have our official Blitz date as October 10-11

• Form 100’s. Make sure you have enough on hand
o Note, The insurance program is changing, try to get the new forms or not over order the old format

• Form 921A Prospect cards. Using these cards is the most efficient way to collect prospect data. Make sure you have enough. Your goal is to get at least a name and phone number on one of these cards from everyone who shows an interest.
• Pamphlets/flyers you should have on display so prospects can take them home.
o 1267 Did you know?
o 2761 Family Fraternal Benefits flyer (or)
o 2773 Member spouse Fraternal Benefits flyer
o 4495 KofC Membership overview Booklet
o 4497 Faith based recruitment flyer
o 4547 Order wide overview flyer
o 4125 and 4242 to allow you to create a custom flyer about your council and what you do for the parish and the community
o 9 by 6 Clasp manila envelopes or larger
• The council should have a 9 by 6 envelope full of information to be handed out to those who show interest but do not want to wait and fill out an interest card. Contents should include;
o An invitation letter from the GK to join the council
o Your custom flyer
o 2761, 4497 and 4547
o An envelope addressed to the membership director
o A form 100 and/or interest card form 921A
o Contact phone and E-mail
o Web site info if you have on

• Other Items needed.
o Make sure you have enough pens (some councils order council pens and give them to those who fill out a form 100 or interest card)
o 2041 Pocket flip chart. Instant, consistent, answers available for your recruiters.
o 2826 Open House Posters. The Open House S/B planned ahead and information available during the Blitz

• Note: Spanish language forms are available for those churches having Spanish-speaking parishioners.
• A complete checklist on how to conduct a Blitz is available on the State KofC web site under Membership. You can also call your State Membership Directors (Bob Hack 910-754-2647 East or Vince Lombardo 704-983-3734 West) for a copy.