Our most valuable assets

Good retention doesn’t just happen. It is the result of planning and forethought and careful attention to what matters most to our members. Retaining members is important for each council's health. For a new member this begins once he joins the Order. In addition efforts must be made to keep current members enthusiastic about the Order.

When we create a environment where Knights and their families want to come and stay, that's when we can truly say our Order has grown. The growth of the Knights of Columbus depends not only on recruiting new members, but also on retaining current ones. That is the measure of our true success.

A council's greatest asset is its members. The council officers must value member judgment, solicit their opinions, and rely on their participation for continued success. Since joining the Knights of Columbus, many new members have yet to become familiar with many of the Knights varied programs of involvement — programs where each member can personally apply their talents and fulfill their ambitions.

In an effort to satisfy member desires and interests, it is advantageous that each member complete the Members Interest Survey and return it to the council program director for evaluation and action.

Retention Begins With Recruitment

Get to know your candidates and what activities and issues they are interested in.

"Keep Them Active and Keep Them Knights"

Proposing a new member is a commendable achievement and one to be proud of. However, as a proposer, turning over a completed Membership Document (Form #100) is not the end of the job. You must also take the responsibility to see that your recruit becomes fully accepted by his fellow council members and stays involved in council activities. Don't let your new member become "The Guy" who never came back. There are several steps you can take to ensure this.

• Explain to him that the council's Admission Committee will examine his qualifications for membership and accompany him to the Admission Committee meeting. Introduce him to the members present.
   

• After he has been accepted, escort him to his First Degree and remain with him throughout the event. Following the exemplification, introduce him to his fellow council members.
   

• Take the newly initiated member and his family "under your wing". See that he learns council procedures, such as meeting times, committee assignments, etc. Introduce him and his family at council events. Encourage him to involve his family in council-sponsored activities.
   

• Accompany your recruit to his Second Degree and Third Degree exemplifications and stay with him throughout the day.
   

• Contact him before each council meeting and bring him to the meeting if necessary. If the new member becomes inactivate for some reason, try to find out why. Call and ask to visit with him. Explain your concern about his absence and offer support or assistance.
   

• Encourage him to earn "Shining Armour" status within the council.

If the Knight becomes inactive, his proposer should work with the retention committee to find out the reasons for his lapsed interest and try to converse his membership.

With a little personal effort you can help guarantee that your recruit becomes an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

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Retention Procedures

As a last resort a council may need to begin proceedings to remove a member from its ranks. This must be done according to established procedures found on the 1845 form.

Every effort must be expended to encourage members to remain with the Knights. Additional procedures for "retaining" a member in danger of loosing his membership can be found at this resource link. Don't forget to visit the member and his spouse personally reminding them of the fraternal benefits they may be forfeiting should they decide not to retain membership in our order.