Welcome to the Knights of Columbus St. Jude Council #5801. Getting involved is the best way for us to grow in faith and charity. We hope you find this useful in getting started with the Knights.

We are honored to have you join our team!

Our Council

St. Jude Council 5801 was founded on April 17, 1966 through the efforts of several dedicated men. It is named after the Apostle St. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus. Our Council is proudly affiliated with St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Parish and we are happy to see so many more St. Matthew’s Men begin participating in our great work in recent years. We are active in charitable work within our parish and in the Greater Columbus community. We help provide funds for various projects, and our members are active participants in parish life.

In the Fraternal Year 2021-2022, our Council raised and distributed over $39,650 in educational scholarships, charity, pro-life causes, and support of seminarians. In addition to the monetary contributions, our Council contributed over 2417 volunteer hours to a variety of charitable organizations in and around the Gahanna community.

Where does the money go? These are just a few of the many ways we support our parish and community:

· Fish Fry Events: 8th Grade Scholarships for Catholic High School.

· Pancake Breakfasts: Women’s Care Center

· BBQ Smoker Events: Charitable Works & Partnering Parish Ministries

· Measure-Up: Special Needs and Disabled

· Pennies For Heaven: Seminarians and Religious from St. Matthew

· Baby Bottle Campaign: Assisting single mothers

· Free Throw Challenge: Free Event for Youth 9-14

· Soccer Challenge: Free Event for Youth 9-14

How can I get involved?

The first two ways to be involved are by attending the monthly business meetings and our social events. The fundraising events, which benefit so many are a vital part of our council life. Beyond those, we have other ways to volunteer time in support of the parish. These fall under four categories: Faith, Family, Community, and Life. Within this Welcome Packet you will find the “Get Involved; Faith, Family, Community, and Life” brochure. We encourage you to get involved and reach out to current Knights about ways to get involved.

Member Benefits

There are benefits to being a Knight beyond our good works. Knights grow both spiritually and socially with other Knights. The Knights of Columbus has world-class investment and insurance products to help you guard your family, grow your legacy, and give generously. Our field agent is Sir Knight Gary Anderson. He can be reached at (614) 402-3842 or at gary.anderson@kofc.org. More information can be found online at https://www.kofc.org/en/index.html

Closing & Resources

Within this packet you will find many resources to reference such as “Useful Links” as well as “Council Contacts”. We encourage you to explore these resources and reach out to any of us with any questions you may have. We are excited to have you as a fellow Knight and look forward to getting to know you more as we journey to grow in Faith and Charity.

HISTORY OF OUR COUNCIL

St. Jude Council 5801 was founded on April 17, 1966 through the efforts of 15 dedicated men. It is named after the Apostle St. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus, the patron saint of impossible causes, desperate situations, and hospitals. Since then, thousands of Knights have given countless hours in service to God and to our St. Matthew Parish. Many, many Knights deserve recognition however, one Knight, Fr Ogarchuck stands out as our Council has dedicated the naming of out Meeting Hall to him.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT COUNCIL MEETINGS

Call to order
Opening Prayer (kneel, if possible)
Pledge of Allegiance adding “both born and unborn” after “with Liberty and Justice for all.”
Role call of officers (after Pledge of Allegiance officers remaining standing until name is called)
Approve Minutes of Prior Meeting
Chaplain's Message (note whenever Chaplain finishes addressing the group, members stand and applaud)
Grand Knight's Report
Financial Report – treasurer’s report • financial secretary’s report
Membership Report • Balloting of Candidates for Admission or Transfer
Other Reports • Programs • Committees • Fourth Degree • Insurance Agent • District Deputy • Other
Unfinished Business
New Business
Good of the Order – a list of prayer intentions • members may add specific intentions
Lecturer’s Reflection
Grand Knight’s Summary
Closing Prayer (kneel, if possible)
Adjournment

When addressing the Grand Knight - A member obtains the floor through the following steps: • Stands. • Addresses the grand knight as “Worthy Grand Knight” and renders the salute. (Representing the tree of the Cross, the member makes a vertical motion, with his arm and vertically open hand, from top to bottom). Grand knight recognizes the speaker by announcing his name and rendering the salute in return. (Representing the arms of the Cross, the grand knight makes a horizontal motion, with his arm and horizontally open hand, from left to right). The speaker should not precede until recognized by the grand knight.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Each year our council elects and appoints men to take on leadership roles. There are twelve elected positions and five appointed positions.

ELECTED POSITIONS

Grand Knight – (Jeff Bernard) The grand knight is the council's chief executive officer. He is responsible for setting council goals and ensuring that all officers fulfill their duties in reaching these objectives. He presides over all meetings; appoints program and committee directors as needed; fills officer roles in the event of vacancies; countersigns checks and orders for payment; and oversees the council’s degree team.

Deputy Grand Knight – (O P E N) The deputy grand knight serves as the grand knight's right-hand man and fills in for the grand knight when he is not present. Our deputy grand knight also serves as our council's program director.

Chancellor – (open) The chancellor assists both the grand and deputy grand knights in the leading of the council by engaging and strengthening the council's membership. His primary responsibilities include recruiting and retaining members.

Treasurer – (Tony Satira) The treasurer manages the council funds. He receives money from the financial secretary and deposits funds into council accounts. He pays all council expenses. He balances and verifies the ledger and keeps the updated budget approved by the council.

Advocate – (Allen Perk) The advocate acts as council parliamentarian. He should be knowledgeable in Robert's Rules of Order and Methods of Conducting a Council Meeting.

Recorder – (Jeff Lieser ) The recorder has the responsibility of recording all meetings and events held by the council. He should record minutes, conversations, and other information helpful to the council and prepare them to be distributed to the membership in a timely manner.

Warden – (Andy Prociuk) The warden is responsible for the property owned by the council. He is also in charge of setting up meetings and leads both the inside and outside guards.

Inside/Outside Guards – (Bob Neely, inside guard; Joe Omlor, outside guard) The inside and outside guards carry out tasks given to them by the grand knight and follow the warden's orders. They are responsible for checking membership cards and allowing entrance to meetings.

Trustees (3) – (Mike Springer, Steve Davis, Mike Morante) The trustees advise the grand knight, supervise the council's financial matters, and conduct the semiannual audits. For our council, previous grand knights usually serve as trustees.

APPOINTED POSITIONS

Chaplain – (O P E N) The chaplain is the spiritual leader of the council.

Financial Secretary – (Max Maksimoski) The financial secretary is chosen by the trustees and the officers of the council for a three-year term and approved by the supreme knight. He provides continuity in the council and has the responsibility of collecting dues as well as ensuring that the council's financial recordings are kept up to date. Additionally, he ensures that membership records are current, issues membership cards, files regular reports to the district, regional, state, and supreme offices and submits the annual 990 to the IRS.

Lecturer – (Gus Gastaldo) The lecturer provides brief spiritual discourses and reflections during business meetings.

Program Director – (Deputy Grand Knight) The program director is appointed by the grand knight and oversees the Faith in Action areas of Faith, Family, Community, and Life. Our deputy grand knight serves this role.

Faith Director – (Andy Prociuk) The faith director is appointed by the grand knight and reports to the program director. Responsible for all faith-based council programs.

Family Director – (Joseph Schneider) The family director is appointed by the grand knight and reports to the program director. Responsible for all family-based council programs.

Community Director – (Ryan Floyd) The community director is appointed by the grand knight and reports to the program director. He directs programs that support and encourage service to the community that fight poverty, aid the individual, promote athletic events, and sponsor larger programs and campaigns

Life Director – (Shawn Miller) The life director is appointed by the grand knight and reports to the program director. Responsible for all life-based council programs. Notably, he strives to promote programs that support and encourage the advancement of the pro-life movement, people with intellectual disabilities, and persecuted Christians.

Membership/Retention Director - (Joe Omlor) The membership director serves as the head of the Admission Committee and works to grow the council's membership through new and transfer members. The retention chairman works to keep the council's members active.

OTHER POSITIONS

Marketing & Public Relations - (Allen Perk – Allen.Perk@XLNsystems.com) - All K of C announcements for the bulletin, St Matthew Parish social media, K of C social media, Catholic Times, and etc. needs to go through Public Relations Director

District representative – (Trey Porter) Oversees all aspects of district operations for compliance to administration, charitable outreach, and membership recruitment. Serves as representative of supreme knight, board of directors, and the state deputy to the local councils.

Field Agent – (Gary Anderson) Field agents present viable financial and insurance solutions to Knights and their families.