Important: You must be retention-oriented throughout the duration of being a sponsor. Having a genuine concern for your recruit’s development and his initial experience of our Order will significantly impact his decision to ultimately remain a Knight.

Responsibilities Before the Exemplification of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity and Shortly Thereafter

• Obtain a copy of each of the following and give them to the prospect/candidate:
  • Overview to Membership
  • Member/Spouse Fraternal Benefit
  • Membership Benefits for Military Personnel
  • Why Join?
  • 24 Hours Can Change Your Life
  • Council’s brochure if applicable
• Explain to him and his spouse, if married, why Blessed Michael McGivney founded the Order. Give examples of activities from the service programs we conduct.
• Get his phone number and email address so you can check back with him to answer any questions he may have.
• Invite a prospect to participate in a council activity, especially a charitable undertaking. This exposes him to Knights in action and introduces him to our fraternity and the good works we do. There is nothing like first-hand experience to convince someone that he and the Knights are a fit. Encourage his spouse, if married, to take part as well because having her support will solidify his decision to join.
• Encourage the prospect to join online at kofc.org/join and advise him to input your council number as his preferred local council and BLESSED MCGIVNEY in Promo Code section to waive the $30 online membership fee. Supreme will send him an email to confirm his membership to complete his application. This must be completed within 24 hours.
• Although the Form 100 is no longer the preferred method for new members to join, ask him to complete it because it includes information not requested on the online form. After he completes the Form 100, provide it to the Financial Secretary.
• Ensure the candidate meets with the Admissions Committee and gets a chance to document his pastimes on a Member Interest Survey (Form 1842). If the council does not have an Admissions Committee, ensure the completed survey is forwarded to the applicable service program director(s). They will discuss upcoming council activities that should be appealing to the candidate. Follow up with the candidate in about 3-4 weeks to ensure he was contacted.
• Tell the candidate that the field agent will arrange to meet with him and his spouse, if married, at no cost nor obligation after his Exemplification to explain the fraternal benefits available. Follow-up with the candidate in about 3-4 weeks to ensure he was contacted.
• Relay applicable details to the candidate: location of the Exemplification, time to arrive and what to wear, how much money to bring for his pro-rated dues and initiation fee, if applicable, and approximate length of the ceremony (about 30-35 minutes), and if food will be served afterward.
• If escorting a candidate to another council for the Exemplification, do the following:
  • Obtain a Third Degree membership card, a Third Degree certificate, and a candidate kit. If your council has a Welcome Folder and/or gives new members K of C branded merchandise, obtain those items.
  • Ensure the new member signs your council’s Constitutional Roll at an appropriate time.
  • Advise your Grand Knight to notify the host Grand Knight and/or District Deputy that your candidate will be attending.
  • After the Exemplification, present the new member with the following:
    • Third-Degree membership card and certificate
    • These Men They Call Knights booklet
    • How to Pray the Rosary card
    • Shining Armor Qualification card
    • Blessed Michael McGivney Canonization Prayer card
    • Welcome Folder and swag if applicable
  • Relay the new member’s contact data to whoever distributes council news.
• If the candidate does not attend the Exemplification he was expected to attend, determine when the next local Exemplification will occur and encourage him to attend it. Do not necessarily wait for your council’s next Exemplification because the candidate might lose interest in joining. Yes, it is ideal for the candidate to participate in his council’s Exemplification, but the goal is to make him a council member quickly after he expresses interest in joining.
• If the candidate is unable to attend an Exemplification in person or a local one is not scheduled in the near future, offer the candidate the option of attending Supreme’s On-Demand Exemplification. After the candidate accesses the On-Demand Exemplification page, he should:
  • Click the applicable Invitation button (English, Spanish, or French)
  • Click the View Now button on the You’re Invited page.
  • Enter your council number, which you should provide to him in advance.
• After the candidate attend the On-Demand Exemplification, immediately notify your council’s Grand Knight and Financial Secretary and provide the new member’s contact information to whoever distributes council news.
• Advise the new member and his spouse, if married, about how your council communicates upcoming activities and encourage them both to read the communications.
• At the new member’s first few council meetings, introduce him to his Brother Knights so he feels welcome and comfortable. Sit next to him during the meeting so you can clarify council operations and any information that is confusing. Offer him a ride if he has difficulty driving at night. By treating your recruit like a family member, he is more apt to remain committed and may get his friends to join.
• If your council provides its members with name badges, ensure the council orders one for the new member and he receives it.

Ongoing Responsibilities

• Monitor your recruit’s progress toward the Shining Armor Award. The purpose of the program is to get new members active as early as possible in the many facets of the Order and provide incentive to maintain their involvement. The new member can track his progress on the Shining Armor Qualification card that is part of the Candidate Kit. If he did not receive one, obtain one for him. Ensure the Grand Knight receives the card when all requirements are met and presents the member with a Shining Armor Award certificate and lapel pin.
  
  The following must be accomplished during the new member’s first year to qualify:
  • Be involved in at least three council Faith in Action programs.
  • Attend at least three council meetings.
  • Attend an Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity.
  • Meet with the council’s insurance representative or attend a fraternal benefits night.
  • Sponsor at least one man who becomes a member of the Order.
• When you receive your annual dues notice, call your recruit and see if he received his notice. Remind him that promptly paying his dues keeps him in good standing with the Order, which includes continued access to fraternal benefits for him and his family, helps offset the council’s recurring operating expenses, and assists his Brothers’ ongoing good works supporting a broad scope of charitable activities.
• If it has been a while since your recruit attended a meeting, call him to see how he is doing. If your conversation brings up something he is dealing with, offer the council’s help and support. Being there for him demonstrates that we are truly a fraternal organization. If applicable, convey the upcoming important events and urge him and his family to take part.
• Talk to your recruit about joining the local assembly by attending the Patriotic (Fourth) Degree. The Virginia District Master schedules the exemplification ceremony at different times of the year around the state. Wives are welcome to attend the ceremony, lunch or dinner, and any other related activities. He will receive a degree certificate, assembly membership card, and lapel pin. Remind him that he is responsible for both council and assembly dues.
• Actively monitoring your recruit enhances the chances of learning that he is relocating and allows you and the council to maintain contact with him.
  
  If the member no longer resides in your local area, follow these steps to locate a council near his current address:
  • Access Supreme’s website at kofc.org.
  • On the menu bar of the Home page, select Get Involved > Find a Council.
  • In the Find By drop-down list, select the Country/Zip Code option.
  • In the Country field, select the United States of America.
  • In the Zip/Postal Code field, input the member’s Zip Code.
  • Click the Find button.
  • Make note of the councils near the member’s new address.
  • After you locate nearby councils, provide the information to the member and encourage him to transfer his membership so can he remain active.
• With the member’s permission, you can also contact the councils close to him and make them aware of a transfer-in opportunity. Forward his new address, phone number, and email address to the financial secretary and assembly comptroller, if applicable.