GRAND KNIGHT
The grand knight is responsible for the welfare of the council. He presides over council meetings, acts as ex-officio member at all committees, appoints membership and program directors, appoints committees as needed. convenes officers for a monthly meeting, and ensures all necessary reports are submitted to the state and Supreme Council. He countersigns all orders for payment and checks. He maintains working relationships with the council's chaplain, district deputy, field and general agent, as well as with other local service organizations. He has a working knowledge of the Knights of Columbus web site, Officers Online and Member Management. He is responsible for the council's Admission Degree team and the scheduling of frequent Admission degree ceremonials. For more specific duties and responsibilities, refer to the Leadership Resources manual above.
Additional resources.
- Grand Knight's Guide (#5085) Grand Knight's Guide
- Knights of Columbus Leadership Resources (#5093) Leadership Resources
- The Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318) Method of Conducting Council Meetings
Further details are available on the Knights of Columbus Training Portal.
The jewel of office for the grand knight is an anchor suspended from a ribbon of purple. The anchor is symbolic of Christopher Columbus, the mariner, who is the patron of our Order. The anchor, for centuries, was also a variant form of the Cross and symbolizes Christian hope. The ribbon of purple symbolizes authority and justice.
DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT
The deputy grand knight is second in command. He assists the grand knight with council affairs and fulfills all duties assigned to him by the grand knight. Presides at council meetings in the absence of the Grand Knight. He is normally chairman of the council’s retention committee.
The deputy grand knight’s jewel of office is a compass suspended from a ribbon of purple. A compass is the constant guide and companion to the mariner, and was an invaluable tool used by Columbus to guide him to the shores of the New World. The Knights of Columbus “compass of virtue” has 32 flame-like rays; each ray represents a virtue that people can aspire to emulate in their daily lives. The ribbon of purple symbolizes authority and justice.
CHAPLAIN
The Chaplain is chosen annually by the grand knight, deputy grand knight, and board of trustees. He acts as spiritual advisor to the brother knights and familes of a coumcil. He provides his message to members at the beginning of the meeting or whenever it best suits his schedule.
Resources:
The jewel of the council chaplain is a silver Isabella Cross, overlaid with a descending dove, suspended from a ribbon of black. This style of Cross is associated with Queen Isabel of Spain, promoter of the voyage of Christopher Columbus. A Cross is a symbol of hope through atonement, reminding Christians of God's love in sacrificing his own son for humanity. The dove, emblem of the Holy Spirit, represents the gift of the Word of God. The ribbon of black represents strength and authority.
CHANCELLOR
The chancellor assists the grand knight and the deputy grand knight in the execution of their duties and oversees the council in both their absences. He is entrusted with strengthening the members’ interest in council activities. The chancellor is normally chairman of the Admission Committee. The chancellor should be familiar with the Membership Document (Form 100)and the Member/Prospect Interest Survey (#1842).
The jewel of the chancellor is the Isabella Cross, overlaid with a skull and crossbones, suspended from a ribbon of black and white. The Cross represents atonement and the love of God, who sent to us his only begotten Son. The skull and crossbones are symbolic of man’s mortality and the vigilance required to remain faithful at all times. Through the unity of the council, brothers help each other remain steadfast in their faith. The ribbon of black and white signifies strength and goodness.
RECORDER
The recorder is responsible for keeping and maintaining a true and permanent record of all actions of the council. He maintains all correspondence of the council. He reads the bills entered into the minutes for discussion and performs such other duties as the grand knight may direct.
The jewel of the recorder is crossed quills suspended from a ribbon of yellow and white. The quills represent writing, knowledge and communication, and are also symbolic of the recorder’s duty to write and preserve letters and documents (records). The ribbon of yellow and white represents intellect and goodness.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The financial secretary is appointed by the supreme knight, upon recommendation of the council. He collects dues from members through the timely sending of billing notices and initiates retention measures by providing a list of delinquent members tp the grand knight. He ensures that counci's membership records, including email addresses, are kept updated and that new members sign the constitutional roll. He receieves Honorary and Honorary Life membership cards from the Supreme Council and provides them to the grand knight for distribution. He receives the "Surge...with Service" materials each fraternal year from the Supreme Council and sistributes accordingly. He files various reports and membership/transactions to the Supreme Council.
- The Financial Secretary's Guide (#5089) Financial Secretary's Guide
- Knights of Columbus Leadership Resources (#5093) Leadership Resources
- The Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318) Method of Conducting Council Meetings
- Charter, Constitution and Laws (#30) Charter, Constitution and Laws
The jewel of the financial secretary is a key and quill surrounded by a laurel wreath, suspended from a ribbon of yellow and white. The key is associated with guardianship, while the quill is the symbol of a “scribe” — one who writes and keeps track of various letters and documents. The laurel wreath acknowledges the special service of the financial secretary to his council. The ribbon of yellow and white represents intellect and goodness.
TREASURER
The treasurer handles council funds. He receives money from the financial secretary and deposits it in the proper council accounts. He maintains all of the council's checking and savings accounts. He is responsible for paying all council expenses including assessments from the supreme council.
The jewel of the treasurer is crossed keys suspended from a ribbon of blue. The keys symbolize the guardianship of the funds of the council. The ribbon of blue represents truth and loyalty.
LECTURER
The lecturer is appointed annually by the grand knight to provide suitable educational and entertainment programs under the :Good of the Order" section of council meetings. He stays abreast of developments within the council's charitable, membership and social programs.
The lecturer jewel is a lyre and laurel branch suspended from a ribbon of blue and white. The lyre with the laurel branch are traditionally symbolic of music, literature and the arts. The ribbon of blue and white represents purity and faithfulness.
ADVOCATE
The advocate acts as parliamentarian for the council. He has a working knowledge of the Method of Conducting a Council Meeting, the council's bylaws and the Order's Charter, Constitution and Laws and Robert's Rules of Order (covered in Method of Conducting a Council Meeting). He has access to Officers Online and the Officers Desk Reference. He seeks legal assistance from the State Advocate as needed.
Resources
The jewel of the advocate is a scroll and sword, surrounded by a laurel wreath, suspended from a ribbon of gold. The opened scroll represents legal literature and signifies the power of knowledge, and the sword represents its defense and enforcement. Thus, it is the advocate’s role to not only know the laws of the council, but to also follow them strictly. The ribbon of gold represents faith, constancy and wisdom.
WARDEN
The warden is the “watchdog” for council property and degree paraphernalia, except the property of the financial secretary, treasurer and recorder. He is also responsible for setting up the council chambers for meetings and ceremonials. He oversees the inside and outside guards.
he jewel of office of the warden is an axe bound with a fasces, surrounded by a laurel wreath, suspended from a ribbon of red and black. The fasces was a traditional symbol carried by the protectors or guards of the Roman magistrates as a symbol of authority and protection. The ribbon of red and black represents strength and fidelity to duty.
INSIDE & OUTSIDE GUARDS
The guards attend the doors of the council chamber, checking for current membership cards and allowing entrance.
The jewel of the council guards is crossed axes and a shield, marked with a key, suspended from a ribbon of white. The shield and axe are symbolic of protection, and key is emblematic of guardianship. The ribbon of white represents purity and diligence to duty.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The board of trustees consists of the grand knight and three members elected by the council for terms of three, two and one year. At each regular election, the position of each trustee will be voted upon, with the current three- and two-year trustee potentially moving on to become the two- and one-year trustee, respectively. The board of trustees supervises all financial procedures of the council and conducts the semiannual audits. The board ensures that proper protocol and procedures are followed by the council for the payment of monies -- however cannot override the vote of the council's membership.
The trustee jewel of office is composed of an axe and fasces overlaid with an anchor, positioned over crossed swords, surrounded with a laurel wreath and suspended from a ribbon of green. The fasces is an axe bound with rods. The swords symbolize justice and honor. The laurel wreath symbolizes special service. The trustees are generally past grand knights, and this is the reason for the anchor over the fasces. The ribbon of green symbolizes loyalty in love.