Council Director:   Brother Phill Doucette

Public relations activities are also included under the council activities section of the Service Program. Serving under the director of council activities, public relations personnel are charged with the responsibility of keeping the council’s membership accurately and constantly informed of current and future events. Additionally, the image of the council must be maintained within the community through the use of newspapers, radio and television. People deserve to know the good work your council does. To fulfill these obligations, the public relations chairman and his committee members must work closely with all Service Program directors and council officers.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Every council should have a monthly bulletin for its members. This may be a letter from the grand knight, a mimeographed paper, a printed folder, booklet or news sheet detailing the council’s news, programs and business. Such a publication arouses the active interest of members and keeps them informed. Copies of all bulletins issued by your council should be forwarded regularly
to the Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services, as well as the K of C field agent and general agent serving your council.

A principal means by which a council can develop public knowledge of our Order is through the use of newspapers. Each public relations committee should release regularly to all local Catholic and community news editors announcements concerning: Church, athletic, civic, cultural, social, family, fraternal and membership projects; committee appointments; meetings
and plans; council meeting programs, speakers, etc.; and international programs of the Order. In some communities, special promotion opportunities can be found through feature section articles on the council or Order; fraternal page stories; human interest items about members; special editions for state council meetings; and weekly council news columns. 

Establish a council homepage on the Web. Also, regularly consult the Order’s Web site at www.kofc.org for up-to-date information and news.

• Preparation of a council’s history is an important form of long-term public relations. Best sources of historical data are the recorder’s minutes book, listings of council officers and program chairmen, rosters, newsletters, scrapbooks, etc.

• Utilize the electronic clip art version of the Order’s emblem, a personal computer and printer to create a variety of personalized council stationery. 

FRATERNALISM
• Maintain a strong, friendly and fraternal atmosphere throughout your council and among its members and families. Make sure new members feel welcome. Offer programs that create interest, maintain enthusiasm and build pride in membership.
• Sponsor joint programs with with your Squires circle and with other fraternal groups in your community. Invite leaders of other fraternal benefit societies or service-oriented organizations to your council affairs — social, athletic, cultural, etc.
• Begin or revive the practice of having everyone wear an identification badge during your council meetings and activities.
• Include an annual “Recognition Night” in your council activity schedule. 
• Present degree certificates to the members of each degree class immediately following an exemplification.
• Observe “National Fraternal Week” held annually in the United States. Urge the mayor or some other public official to issue a “Fraternal Week” proclamation. Publicize fraternal activities sponsored by the council.
• Publish annually a council directory and distribute it to all council members. List contact information for your council’s K of C insurance agent and make sure he gets a copy of the directory. Such a directory not only enables members of a council to become better acquainted with their fellow Knights, but can be used as a basis for forming “fast-contact” committees or “telephone squads.” List the current Supreme, state, district and council officers, Service Program directors in your council, Fourth Degree officers of your local assembly, and Squires circle counselors and officers. List every member’s name, address and telephone number and arrange them alphabetically by parish. You may want to include each member’s occupation, his wife’s name and other useful information. The inside cover could contain a calendar of the fraternal year.
• Celebrate Founder’s Day. March 29 is the anniversary of the day the Knights of Columbus was granted a charter by the state of Connecticut. 

CULTURAL
• Fully utilize the council lecturer when preparing material for the “Good of the Order” section of a meeting. The grand knight appoints the lecturer to provide suitable education and entertainment programs for the council. He is responsible for the “Good of the Order” section of the council meeting. It’s up to him to plan and present worthwhile programs that will help build meeting
attendance and benefit the attending members. 
• Invite speakers from your community to appear in a series of lectures for your members and their families to discuss the arts and entertainment. Plan demonstrations, exhibits, movies and talks by educators, artists, musicians, etc.
• Plan an annual Knights of Columbus Art Festival and feature exhibits by local artists. Award prizes.
• Conduct a “Show and Tell” program where members and their families can exhibit and discuss their own handiwork, crafts, collections, etc.
• Urge group attendance at concerts, operas, musicals or plays.
• Consider open meetings, the Good of the Order section of business meetings or family events as opportunities to conduct a film program. Showing a film can be a good way to add interest and diversity to your events. The Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services can provide your council with a listing of various film titles available to councils.

SOCIAL
• Plan council dances in connection with various holidays — New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Canada Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. These dances may be formal or informal, depending on council preferences.
• Conduct an annual “Open House” for members and their families. It can be held in conjunction with a holiday or at any time of the year. Clean and decorate the council home, invite your members and families and receive your guests with the council’s most gracious hospitality. Plan special entertainment — games, dancers or singers, films, etc.

• Use the occasion of your council’s anniversary as an opportunity to sponsor varied social
activities. Sponsor a First Degree exemplification; recognize any members who share the council’s
birthday; show slides or prepare a photo display of significant events in the council’s past
year or entire history; exhibit trophies and awards, council scrapbooks, etc.
• Incorporate social events into your Founder’s Day program — March 29. You can hold a dance,
a community reception, a banquet, an awards ceremony or any number of Founder’s Day festivities.
• Institute a “Family Night” possibly on the second Tuesday of each month, or the fourth
Friday of each month or every Thursday. Encourage council and Squire circle families to participate.
Serve a meal at the event such as pizza, spaghetti, burgers and hot dogs, etc., and charge a
minimal fee to cover expenses. Conduct activities for the whole family, such as speakers on the
topics of drugs, pro-life activities, crime, etc., indoor and outdoor athletic events, board game
competitions and whatever else you can think of.
BLOOD DONORS
• Give blood, the gift of life. The blood donor program is successful only because so many councils
are participating in this “fraternity in action” project. Donor ages are 18-66 years and any
healthy person can safely give blood up to five times a year.

ATHLETICS
• Sponsor council clubs, teams, leagues, tournaments and contests for members in:
• Table Tennis • Baseball • Fishing • Basketball
• Curling • Bowling • Softball • Golf
• Volleyball • Hockey • Hunting • Soccer
• Tennis • Football • Billiards • Swimming
• Conduct sports clinics for youngsters in the neighborhood or community. Enlist the support of
former sports stars who are members of your council or reside in your area.
• Plan an annual group outing to a professional sports event.
• Consider sponsorship of teams in Little League, Junior Hockey, Babe Ruth, Pony League, etc.
• Promote competition with your Squires circle, other Knights of Columbus councils or
other fraternals.
• Sponsor sports demonstrations, exhibits, movies and talks by coaches, officials, players,
sportswriters, etc.
• Invite local sports stars to participate in an annual “Sports Night” for your council.

 Vatican Links:  FRATERNAL LIFE IN COMMUNITY |  |