Council Activities

All councils should have regular activities planned throughout the year. Some of these activities should involve the majority of the council membership. An example of a large project could be Fall suppers, regular parish pancake breakfasts or hosting a state program such as the ICCD major draw or state golf tournaments/bonspiels. These larger projects are a means to activate your council’s entire membership. Smaller councils in smaller communities may have a difficult time hosting a state function but they should endeavour to host large parish activities such as the pancake breakfasts.  

A variety of activities should be maintained in the councils to draw the interest of all Knights. Some Knights may be interested in the youth activities while others may be interested in helping out with Special Olympics or using their handyman skills to help out with Habitat for Humanity. The purpose of having a variety of activities is to keep the interest of the council membership. Check with your Brother Knights where their talents are.  If your members are interested and active your council will be successful.

All members should be phoned and asked to help out with the different projects that may be run in your council. We should not rely on the few regulars that seem to be present on all the council organizing committees. At some point these steadfast members will “burn out” and they may retire from all council activities. New members will provide new ideas and new energy to the council. It is important to engage all members new and old, active and inactive to ensure your council remains strong.  With assistance and guidance they may become leaders of the Council.

A phone committee in your council is one idea for engaging your membership. Questions can be formulated and asked of all members when you are contacting your members. A phone committee in itself is one method of activating a portion of your membership. We should also remember to reach out to the quiet withdrawn individuals of the council. With a little assistance they may become your more active and outspoken knights. It is also important to listen to every knight. It is a struggle for some knights to stand and give their opinions. If we don’t listen we may lose a good knight.

Remember the Keep Christ in Christmas Colouring contest and the Substance Abuse programs that we are running for the Youth in the next few months.

I welcome all comments, ideas and criticisms. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call. 

Jim Dyck