At the Mid Year meetings, I presented the "new requirements", from Supreme, as it relates to First Degrees. Effective Immediately every council now has their own First Degree Team. You do not have to memorize the parts, they can be read !!! The new LARGE First Degree book was sent to every Grand Knight on record with Supreme, during the month of December. It is not a serialized book, thus can be reproduced locally, without having to go to Supreme. However, every precaution should be taken not to allow these to fall into the wrong hands. If you do not have a copy, contact your DD - he has one.

Many Grand Knights are still asking how they can form a degree team. As I already said - you now have a team. The only requirement is that a brother be able to read and is willing to work with other brothers to teach the lesson of CHARITY to the strangers that have committed to join our Honored Order. Now there is no excuse for waiting for some other council's First Degree team to do a degree for your council. Let's start now and have as many First Degrees as possible between now and the end of the fraternal year. Don't let any man wait more than 2 weeks to take his First Degree. Let's let all our candidates know that we want them to be our brother by getting them in the Order right away.

Fraternally,

Dave Onofrio, PSD

State Ceremonials Chairman