Lead Knights, Lead Knights, wherefore art thou?
By DGK Bryan B. Bandong

Tempus fugit! Here we are now over the mid-year hump and quickly approaching the last quarter of our Columbian Year 1999/2000. We've successfully accomplished a good portion of our planned events for the year, the most recent one being the Crab Feed where we served about 400 patrons and raised a handsome amount of money to fuel many of our charitable acts. What a great job PGK Brad Schieferstein did again in coordinating this annual event, just like he did in the past 4 or 5 years running now! For someone who has no palate for crabs, PGK Brad has exemplified great dedication to this cause. One wonders how long he could keep up his leadership with this endeavor. I'm sure he'll be willing to train the next "crabmaster"!

Most of the remaining activities in this Columbian year will be to nourish our brotherhood in the Council. Put in another word, we're gonna have some fun! Chancellor Rob Csongor (tel. 484-5415) has offered his house for a Knights' Appreciation get together on March 18, starting at 7 p.m. The Parish Picnic at the Alameda County Fairgrounds will be on May 21. If you'd like to help with this sizzling event, please contact me (426-7832). June will be loads of fun! PGK Lou Santero is plotting a tailgate party tentatively slated for June 4 or 5. We'll have our second Family Friendship Day in mid-June, and of course, the all-popular Knights' Progressive Dinner in June 24. Of course, the fun does not stop with these events!! I hope many of you will join us to get re-acquainted with the rest of the Council.

We'll still have our usual acts of fundraising and charity. Chancellor Rob completed our Council's membership blitz on February 19 & 20 at St. Augustine Catholic Church and rumors have it we got about at least ten prospects for membership to Knighthood . Rob is now busy setting up for the 1st Degree Exemplification so we can initiate these prospects into our fold. Our third and final Parish Breakfast for this Columbian Year will be on March 26 and the Machi team of father and three sons has something up their sleeves for new culinary attractions. Please call Mike Machi (the son, that is!) at 455-8070 if you would like to be part of the breakfast crew at the Church Hall. Finally on April 16 will be the Easter Food Baskets delivery and GK Ron Silva is now enlisting brother knights for the service.

It 's never too early to plan for the set of volunteer officers for the next Columbian year, which begins in July 2000. If our Council's tradition will have its way as far as office succession goes, the officers move a notch up the ladder for the following Columbian year. This puts the deputy grand knight, yours truly!, in the running for grand knight for next CY. It also comes with the responsibility of lining up the rest of officers who will volunteer their time and effort for Council services. So I would like to take this opportunity to make a call for interested Knights who will be willing to fill in the various offices (including Grand Knight ) and directorship posts. Our Council by-laws stipulate that the names of candidates should be published in two (2) consecutive issues of our newsletter prior to the June election. Thus we need the listing for the April and May issues of Knightly News. Please contact me at home (426-7832) or via email at bandong@home.com if you are interested to hold office or if you wish to nominate somebody. For the month of March, I would be establishing a Recruitment Committee, which would work with me in lining up our officers. In the past, this committee has been composed mainly of past grand knights and the current chancellor, but any member is welcome to be a part of it. I am also making a call for volunteers to this committee.

To help you get acquainted with the various posts, I've listed below the offices and a short description of their responsibilities. To hold a Council Office, a knight must at least have a 3rd Degree, while Directorship is open to any member. I hope this will help you decide which position fits you best. Perhaps we can all make a "bingo card" of offices and check the boxes that suits us. If this will not help you decide for now if you're ready for office, it will at least identify which activity or office you could provide the most support.

OFFICERS (Must be third degree brothers)

GRAND KNIGHT: The grand knight is responsible for the overall welfare of the council . The grand knight must provide thoughtful and inspired leadership to the 14 other council officers, the Service Directors, chairmen and members of the council. More specifically, his duties include: presiding over council meetings, appointing membership and program directors, acts as an ex officio member on all committees, including membership of recruitment and retention committees while making sure all required reports are submitted on time. The grand knight represents the council at Chapter meetings and the annual state convention.

DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT: The deputy grand knight is second in command in the council. He assists the grand knight in the operation of the council affairs and is responsible for any duties assigned to him by the grand knight. He is also the council's program director advising the various service program directors. Unless there are objections , the deputy grand knight will be nominated for grand knight the following Columbian year.

CHANCELLOR : Primarily, he assists the grand knight and deputy grand knight in the execution of their duties and takes charge of the council in the absence of the grand knight and deputy grand knight. He chairs the membership activities of the council to attract new members, getting them through the three degrees and making new members feel welcome in our council. The chancellor can be nominated to Deputy Grand Knight the following Columbian year if there are no objections.

WARDEN : The warden is responsible for supervising and maintaining most council property except that which belongs to the financial secretary. He sets up council chambers for meetings and degrees and supervises guards for ceremonial exemplifications. The warden should also oversee the inside and outside guards and make sure they are fulfilling the duties assigned to them. The warden should move up to chancellor the following Columbian year if there are no objections.

INSIDE /OUTSIDE GUARDS: The inside guard attends the inner door of the council chamber , checking on paid up membership cards before allowing entrance. The outside guard tends the outer door of the council home, admitting all visitors to the inner door . Both these positions assist the warden in setting up the chamber for meetings and other council activities.

RECORDER : The recorder functions the same way that a court recorder does. He also maintains all council correspondence.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: (Bro. Greg Jones is on his 1st Term). This office is unique as he is approved by and represents supreme and is elected for a term of three years. Basically the financial secretary's duties revolve around two areas: financial records and membership records. He receives all moneys that come into the council from any source. He then turns that money over to the council treasurer for deposit in the council account. One of the main functions of this office is to collect money in the form of dues. He is the one who send outs dues notices. He must insure that new members sign constitutional roll of membership at the first degree.

TREASURER : He is the elected officer in charge of handling all council funds. He receives the money from the financial secretary. He must keep accurate financial records . The treasurer makes payments approved by the trustees.

ADVOCATE : The advocate is the legal representative of the council and serves as the council 's attorney in case of trial and investigation of any matter of interest to the council. He should be thoroughly familiar with all of the laws of the Order as stated in the "Charter, Constitution and Laws" and with council by-laws as well as a working knowledge of the "Roberts Rules of Order".

LECTURER : The lecturer is appointed by the grand knight to provide suitable educational and entertaining programs for the council. He is responsible for presenting the "Good of the Order" section of the council meetings. He will have ample time at each meeting to present a worthwhile program that will help build attendance and provide benefits to the membership that is present.

CHAPLAIN : The priest chosen will primarily act as spiritual advisor to the brother knights and families of the council. He has no specific duties with regards to running the council. He is expected, however, to make a report at council meetings and give brief talk on any religious matters. The chaplain should also serve as an advisor to the church activities director.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: The board of trustees consists of the grand knight and three members elected by the council which traditionally are past grand knights. Trustees supervise all financial business of the council. They serve as auditors of the books. They also serve on the council's Retention Committee.

SERVICE DIRECTORS (Open to first degree members)

YOUTH ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR: "Building Leaders for the Future". The youth director focuses on programs where council members work with young people, exerting more positive and constructive influence on our young people by becoming involved with them.

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR: "Entertaining and Enjoyable". Programs and activities that come under the council activities are virtually unlimited. The council activities director will spearhead ideas for programs that council members will be interested and stimulated. His charge is creating unity within the council, facilitating camaraderie and instilling brotherhood.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR: "Strengthening Family Life". The family director will get the council involved in programs and activities which will aid in rebuilding the family spirit from within. Working to strengthen family life by having activities involving entire families on a scheduled and continuing basis, stimulating togetherness within family units.

CHURCH ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR: "Ministering the Needs of the Church" As a member of the Knight of Columbus, our prime responsibility is to be involved with the ecumenical environment. The church activities director will facilitate programs to support our parish priests and be there when our pastor needs us. Our parish priests are in constant needs for helpers to assist in many ways and programs.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR: "Shaping the World Around Us". The community director will be charged to help to make our voice heard on important issues within our community . He will be looking for something that is needed and workable in our community where we can strive to make our city a better place to live....fight poverty, aid individuals with mental retardation, support our law enforcement officials, help the aged, support right of life, etc.