January 15, 2024

***GRAND KNIGHTS. PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS***

Brothers, the STATE CONVENTION is but four months away

and this years convention registration process

will be TOTALLY ELECTRONIC...ON LINE.

The link below will take you to the registration process.

State Convention Registrations Online https://www.cognitoforms.com/LouisianaKnightsOfColumbusCouncil/StateConventionOnlineRegistration

State Convention Sponsorship Online https://www.cognitoforms.com/LouisianaKnightsOfColumbusCouncil/KCConventionSponsorship

Convention Sponsorship helps with the cost of convention. Consider sponsorship!

Please contact Brett Cormier, State Technology Director, [email protected], if any issues.

My Brother Knights,

       Mardi Gras is right around the corner. This means that Lenten fish fries are right there also. This is a great opportunity to hold a membership drive while you are doing something for your church or council.  All you have to do is put a paper the size of a shipping label with the QR Code and a statement about joining the knights on every clam shell you give out. It is important to ask the man also would you be interested in helping his parish and join the knights it’s as simple as the code. Put your yard signs out where you are selling your food this could do something for you without having to do much. Many councils have only a 5 limit for their total membership number needed for the year but have not recruited anyone.  This is your opportunity to make thing simple. Remember that it is everyone’s ability to recruit new members the way Fr. McGivney did when he started the knights.  You only have to be a practical Catholic and 17 ½ years old to join the knights. You may find someone who will take your job someday and be the new Grand Knight or that person that will be a catalyst for some new project. It is time to recruit as everyday makes your time to get shorter towards your council reaching the Star Council award. If membership is attained the rest is very easy with your projects that you do. We are here to help you at any point with recruiting form helping you with a membership drive to helping you come up with ideas for your specific area.   Remember to attend Grand Knights Day as we will have a full training session for Fin. Sec. as well as Grand Knights together; as you are the only tow that can move a new member. Be that Fisher of Men and recruit a man to our Beloved Order.

                                                           VIVAT JESUS

Russell Ruh

State Membership Director

Grand Knights Day

There will be two Grand Knights Day meetings this year. Four members are requested to attend: The Grand Knight, Membership Director, Program Director, and Financial Secretary.

January 27^th for the South to be held in Prairieville – St. John the Evangelist 15208 LA-73, Prairieville

January 28^th for the North to be held in Alexandria – St. Rita’s 4401 Bayou Rapides Rd., Alexandria

Councils are required to have two members attend KCLS/Grand Knights Day to receive credit toward the State Deputy Award.

CORRECTION TO EMAIL DATED 1-9-2024

Members that attended KCLS can attend Grand Knights Day and still receive credit towards the State Deputy Award. Each Council will need to have at least two different members attend KCLS or Grand Knights Day.

Steve Hart,

State Program Director

Selecting State Convention Delegates 

(Click here for details)

The Council should select two (2) primary (voting) delegates and two (2) alternate delegates to attend the State Convention.

Delegates must be a Third-Degree Knight in good standing.

Any Third Degree Knight in good standing can attend the Convention business sessions as a “spectator.” Spectators do not have to pay the registration fee to attend the Convention business sessions.

Any individual (3^rd Degree, 1^st Degree Knight, non-member, spouse, etc.) can attend all social events, banquets, and functions, if the individual pays the required registration fee.

Councils should strive to have both voting delegates attend the State Convention and encourage the two alternates and all other members to attend the State Convention.

Submitting Resolutions

(Click here for details)

Resolutions must be in State Advocate's hands by March 1st.

Resolutions must be in writing and signed by three 3rd Degree members.

The email address for the State Advocate is [email protected].

Mark Carver

State Advocate

Star Tracker

The Star Tracker Report dated 01-02-2024 is here

State Deputy Award Worksheet

The State Deputy Award Worksheet has been updated as of 11-11-2023. If you find any errors or have any questions about the data in this report, please let me know ASAP. The worksheet can be found here.

Fraternal Activity Reports

Councils are required to fill out Form 1728 (Fraternal Activity Report) by January 31^st. This form helps the Knights of Columbus keep its tax-exempt status with the IRS. Councils should consider all dollars spent and volunteer hours for the calendar year 2023.

If you need any help filling out Form 1728, watch the training video on Supreme’s website.

It can be found here.

This form is required for both the Star Council Award and the State Deputy Award.

K.C. State Retreat

• WHEN: Friday, Dinner @ 6:00pm thru Sunday late morning
• DATES: February 23-24-25, 2024
• WHERE: Lumen Christi Retreat Center, 100 Lumen Christi Lane, Schriever, LA, 70395

This is a directed retreat led by Fr. Jamin David, State Chaplain. Ample time is provided for individual reflection. (This is NOT a silent retreat.)

Join with Brother Knights from around the state and enjoy fraternity, prayer, daily Mass and learn more about our faith. Bring your Rosary and take the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. The atmosphere is relaxed, casual and prayerful.

All information is included in the registration form below, including a return address. Include a $25 DEPOSIT to hold your space. Each individual is responsible for their registration and deposit.

Please note, everyone will need to bring their toiletries.

The cost is Onsite single - $205.00.

Onsite double - $180.00, or Commuter - $115.00.



The State Retreat Chairman is Don Ducote.

REGISTRATION FORM HERE

Register on line here:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/louisianaknightsofcolumbuscouncil/stateretreat

As we are approaching the second half of the fraternal year, many of the local Special Olympics events (mostly Track & Field) will be taking place. Visit the Special Olympics Louisiana website https://specialolympicsla.org/ to find a local program / event your council can assist. The State Summer Games will take place May 17 – 19 at SLU in Hammond and volunteers will be needed for this event.

Be sure to submit your Council’s Special Olympics Activities (Volunteer Hours / Dollars Donated) on Form 10784 for the calendar year 2023 by January 31. This serves two purposes: 1) The Supreme Council makes a donation to Special Olympics Louisiana based on the activities / donations reported; 2) This form indicates your council’s participation in Special Olympics for the State Deputy’s Award.

Safe Environment Compliance

Is your Council Safe Environment Compliant? The Grand Knight, Program Director, Family Director and Community Director are required to take Safe Environment training. To check if your Council is compliant, the Grand Knight or Financial Secretary should log in to Officers Online on the Supreme Website. Scroll down to the bottom third of the page and click on Reports. Run the Safe Environment Member Status report. Open the report and check to see if all required members are compliant. If the report does not show the four required roles, you need to re-appoint the missing positions.

To re-appoint any open position, go to Officers Online and update Form 365. Click here to go to the Fraternal Video Library. Scroll down to Forms, then click on Forms 185, 186, & 365

Online Submission Training.

NOTE: To receive credit for the State Deputy Award, your Council must by fully compliant

by December 31, 2023.

Pilgrim Icon (St. Joseph)

There are currently two St. Joseph Icons that will travel around the State.

The Icon comes complete with Prayer booklets. The schedule is as follows:

Icon #1;

           Houma – January & February

           Baton Rouge – March & April

Icon #2;

           Alexandria – January & February

           Shreveport – March & April

If your Council/District would like to host a Prayer Service with the Icon, please contact your Diocesan Administrator to get on the schedule. Once your Council hosts the Icon, please remember to fill out Form 10784 to report your participation.

Cor Updates

The “Cor in the New Year” webinar is now available to view on demand. Please encourage your council leaders who are still looking to start up Cor this fraternal year to take advantage of this valuable webinar. Register here

Cor Resources update – All Cor resources in English, Spanish, and French are available in Supplies Online for order! Cor Spanish website is live! - https://www.kofc.org/es/who-we-are/our-faith/cor.html

Upcoming Training

Online training sessions in English, French and Spanish are conducted by experienced Fraternal Trainers, and are available to watch on demand after the live viewing. Encourage members in your jurisdiction to register for upcoming online sessions or on demand training by visiting kofc.org/training, or by clicking on the links below.

Upcoming Online Training Sessions (Note: All Times are Eastern)

English Training:

January 16, 2024, 8:00 PM.........Membership Retention

January 23, 2024, 8:00 PM.........Officer Desk Reference

January 24, 2024, 10:00 PM.......Navigating Council Forms

January 29, 2024, 8:00 PM.........Programs for Lent/Easter

French Training:

17 janvier 2024, 19 h 30             Comprendre les onglets Prospect & Candidat

22 janvier 2024, 19 h                  Naviguer parmi les formulaires de Conseil

Spanish Training:

17 de enero de 2024 8:00 p.m. Capacitación Básico Para Diputado de Distrito 101

31 de enero de 2024 8:00 p.m....Capacitación del Diputado de Distrito 201

Diocesan Administrators

This is a list of the Diocesan Administrators to send forms/applications to:

NE New Orleans

Arthur McDowell, Jr. (14614)

70287 10th Street

Covington, LA 70434

985.502.8519

[email protected]

SW New Orleans

Glenn F. Esteve (1905)

728 Newton Street

Gretna, LA 70053

504.361.1829 Residence

504.405.2576 Cellular

[email protected]

Houma Thibodaux

Frank Chase (8840)

105 St. Joseph

Raceland, LA 70395

985.532.2903

[email protected]

Baton Rouge

Kevin Heltz (8601)

7061 Belle Christi Drive

Baton Rouge, LA 70817-4870

225.747.3495

[email protected]

Lafayette

David Landry (7275)

1021 Rosedown

Lafayette, LA 70503-5832

337.207.0009

[email protected]

Lake Charles

Troy Rizzuto (3015)

529 South Lebanon Street

Sulphur, LA 70663-6215

337.532.7658 Cellular

[email protected]

Alexandria

Joseph E. Gremillion (9217)

179 Robins Lane

Bunkie, LA 71322

318.240.0007 Cellular

[email protected]

Shreveport

Ronald Dupuis, Sr. (3779)

3853 Christy Drive

Shreveport, LA 71129

318.469.5140

[email protected]

Upcoming Deadlines

January 15 – Deadline for December Family of the Month Submission

January 18 – Deadline for DA’s to Submit Winning Keep Christ In Christmas Posters to State Chairman

January 25 – Deadline for Students to Submit CYLA Applications

January 27 – Grand Knights Day South – Prairieville

January 28 – Grand Knights Day North - Alexandria

February 3 – State Cornhole Tournament – Reserve

February 7 – Councils to submit CYLA winners to DA’s

February 14 – Deadline to conduct District Free Throw Contest

February 15 – Deadline for January Family of the Month Submission

February 23-25 – State Retreat – Lumen Christi Center – Schriever

February 28 – Deadline to conduct Diocesan Free Throw Contest

March 1 - Deadline-CYLA Diocesan Winners to State CYLA Chairman

March 15 - Deadline-FAMILY OF THE MONTH

March 16 - STATE YOUTH FREE THROW CONTEST, Lafayette

March 16-17 - STATE BOWLING TOURNAMENT, Morgan City

March 23-24 - STATE BOWLING TOURNAMENT, Morgan City

March 24 - Palm Sunday

March 29 - GOOD FRIDAY

March 31 - EASTER

The 6th Annual KC State Corn Hole Tournament will be held

Saturday, February 3, 2024, at St. Peter's Catholic School, Reserve.

Click here for your INFO/ENTRY FORM.

To enter on line, CLICK HERE!

FOR ANY PROGRAM QUESTIONS PLEASE DIRECT

TO STEVE HART, [email protected]

504.615.1303