A common time for a member to declare he no longer wants to be a Knight is following the receipt of his dues notice.

Your immediate reaction should not be to simply facilitate his departure. Remember our goal is to keep Brothers in the Order. Sometimes that requires us to go the extra mile to convince him it is in his best interest to remain a Knight. Remind him that our principles afford a better path to holiness, and our fraternal products better protect him and his family.

At one time, the member was excited to join but has since lost his enthusiasm. What happened? Talk with him on a Brotherly level, and you might learn one of the following:

• He is dealing with extenuating circumstances, such as personal health or family issues, a busy work schedule, school-aged children, or a layoff from work.
• The council did something to alienate him or did not do enough to keep him engaged. If it is something the council can control, fix it before others decide to withdraw for the same reason or they become seldom seen Knights.
• He had a misunderstanding, and there is an easy fix for his concern. If applicable, assist with transferring his membership to a council closer to him so he can become active again.

Bottom line: See if the Brother Knight’s reason for leaving can be resolved and do so!

Withdrawal Process

If you’re unable to change the member’s mind about withdrawing despite your best effort, follow these steps in the withdrawal process.

• The member must submit a written statement to the council even if he has verbally stated that he wants to withdraw. Email is acceptable.
  • A statement, such as “I no longer want to be a Knight, so please withdraw my membership from the Order,” will work.
  • Do not have him sign a form letter.
  • If he refuses to put his withdrawal request in writing, advise him that Supreme requires a written statement to end his membership in the Knights of Columbus, and you can assist him as soon as you receive his statement.
• Forward the written statement to Supreme at membership@kofc.org along with his membership number and council number.
  • Verify Supreme’s email address before sending the email to ensure you are not the victim of email address auto-fill.
  • Supreme will advise you if they need additional documentation.
  • If the Knight is an insurance member, he will remain on the council roster as an inactive member. The MBR Type column on the roster will display N.