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Council 10937 By-Laws

BY-LAWS
Knights of Columbus
REVEREND ROBERT F HOULIHAN S.J.
COUNCIL NO. 10937
HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO
Adopted September 10, 2011
Page 1 of8
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
S
ection 1. This Council shall be known as REVEREND ROBERT F HOULIHAN S.J.
COUNCIL NO. 10937, Knights of Columbus.
Section 2. The initiation fee shall be 15.00 except that for applicants under 26 years of age it
shall be 10.00 and for Priests and religious it shall be nil. One-half of the initiation fee shall
accompany the application but it shall be refunded if the application is rejected.
Section 3. Each member shall pay annual dues. The dues shall be payable quarterly in
advance at the first regular meetings in January, April, July and October. The annual dues of
members shall be 36.00, except honorary members who shall pay the sum of State and
Supreme Council per capita charges and levies, and honorary life members who shall pay
nothing. A reduced rate of dues for insured members under 26 years of age may be
established, but it shall not be less than 3.00 per year. Except as stated above, the dues of
associate and insurance members shall be the same.
Section 4. The Financial Secretary shall receive annual compensation, payable in quarterly
installments at the end of each quarter, from the council an amount equal to 8 percent of the
moneys collected on account of dues from both insurance and associate members.
ARTICLE II – Elections
Section 1. The annual election of officers shall take place at a regular business meeting held
between May 15 and June 15 of each fraternal year. At least two months before the annual
election, the Grand Knight shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three who shall prepare
a slate of candidates for the elective council offices. This slate shall be presented to the
council not later than the regular business meeting preceding the meeting at which annual
elections are to take place. Other nominations may be made from the floor and nominations
may not be closed until the election meeting has convened and the members are ready to
ballot.
Section 2. The election of officers shall be by ballot and a majority of all votes cast shall be
necessary to elect. When only one candidate is proposed for a particular office and no further
nominations have been made from the floor, the presiding Grand Knight shall declare the
individual elected by acclamation.
Section 3. The Grand Knight shall appoint two members to act as Tellers. After all who are
entitled to do so have voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall then
proceed to count the votes in full view of the Council. One of the Tellers shall examine each
ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read aloud the name or names
written or printed on all legal ballots. The Recorder shall tally the same and the result thereof
shall be announced by the Grand Knight.
Section 4. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or
without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month of July succeeding his election,
unless excused by a vote of the Council, and must present himself for installation at the time
specified in the notice issued by or through the State Deputy or District Deputy, unless
excused by such officer. Otherwise such office shall be considered vacant.
Section 5. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled, after notice to the members, by
election at the regular business meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the
vacancy was created.
ARTICLE III – Officers
Section 1. Only members who are in good standing and who have been initiated in the first
three Degrees of the Order shall be eligible to hold office in this Council. No member shall
hold more than one office at the same time.
Section 2. The elective offices shall be as follows: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight,
Chancellor, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard (two
Outside Guards may be elected) and Board of Trustees.
Section 3. The appointive officers shall be as follows: Financial Secretary, Lecturer, and
Chaplain. The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight. The Chaplain
shall be selected by the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Board of Trustees in
accordance with any rules established by the Bishop of the Diocese. The Grand Knight shall
appoint the Lecturer.
Section 4. At the last regular business meeting in June of each year, the Council shall
determine the amount of bond to be given by the Treasurer and Financial Secretary in
addition to the bond furnished by the Supreme Council. The Treasurer and Financial
Secretary shall not take office or be installed, or receive any money or property of the Council
until they have furnished such bond and the same has been approved by the Board of
Trustees. The premium on said bond shall be paid by the Council.
Section 5. The Council Officers shall perform the duties required of them by the Laws and
Rules of the Order, and by these By-Laws and such other duties as the Council may direct.
Section 6. Except when notice of application shall be published as provided by Section 110
of the Laws and Rules of the Order, it shall be the duty of the Grand Knight, as early as
practicable before each regular meeting, to file with the Recorder a list of candidates to be
balloted upon at such meeting.
Section 7. At the end of each semiannual period, the Board of Trustees shall meet and audit
the several books of this Council. In each January and July, the Board of Trustees shall
make a full report of their findings, including the receipts and disbursements of the moneys of
this Council for the previous semiannual period, the balance on hand to the credit of each of
the various funds at the end of each semiannual period, and the assets and liabilities of the
Council. The Grand Knight shall issue the call for such meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Section 8. Where a member ipso facto forfeits his membership, the Grand Knight and
Financial Secretary shall immediately notify the Supreme Secretary of such forfeiture and
shall immediately send notice in writing to the member. The notice shall state with
particularity the reason for the forfeiture and the date the forfeiture occurred. In those cases
relating to ipso facto forfeiture for failure to pay council dues, such notice shall not be sent to
the Supreme Secretary or to the member until an officer or a member of the Retention
Committee shall contact the member and endeavor to have him retain his membership.
Section 9. The Recorder shall file all reports in a filing book to be provided for that purpose
and the same shall be preserved as a part of the records of this Council.
ARTICLE IV – Meetings
Section 1. The monthly business meeting of the Council shall be held on the second
Saturday of each month, at such a time and place as the Council may designate. Eight
members shall constitute a quorum at business meetings.
Section 2. All meetings of the Council shall be presided over by the Grand Knight, who will
ascertain from the Warden if all present are possessed of the current membership card.
Section 3. The order of business and procedure for all regular business meetings of this
Council shall conform to Section 125 of the Laws of the Order.
Section 4. Special business meetings can be convened: (1) by vote of the Council at a
preceding regular business meeting; (2) by direction of the Grand Knight; (3) by the Grand
Knight upon the written request of seven members stating the object of the meeting. Due
notice of special business meetings and their purpose shall be given to each member in the
usual way and no other business shall be transacted at any such meeting.
Section 5. The following shall be the order of business and procedure at special business
meetings:
    1. Call to Order
    2. Warden’s Report on Membership Card
    3. Prayer
    4. Roll Call of Officers
    *5. Opening Ode
    6. Special Order of Business
    7. Prayer
   *8. Closing Ode
*Parts of the order of business marked with an asterisk may be omitted.
Section 6. It shall be the duty of all officers to attend each meeting of the Council. In case of
inability of any officer to attend a meeting, due notice shall be given to the Grand Knight and
arrangements made to have all necessary books and papers in the possession of such
officer at the meeting. If a Chair Officer is absent from a meeting, the presiding officer shall
designate a member to act for him. If an elected officer, without reasonable excuse approved
by the Grand Knight, is absent from three consecutive regular business meetings, the Grand
Knight may report this fact to the District Deputy for such action under Section 92(b) of the
Laws and Rules of the Order as the District Deputy deems appropriate.
Section 7. In the absence or inability of the Grand Knight the Deputy Grand Knight shall
preside and he shall execute all of the duties of the Grand Knight. In the absence of the
Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight the duty of presiding shall devolve on the other
officers of the Council in the order in which they are named in Section 126 of the Laws and
Rules of the Order.
Section 8. If any meeting shall fall on a legal holiday said meeting shall be held the following
day unless the Council, by vote at a previous business meeting, annuls such meeting or fixes
a different date for such meeting within the month for which it is scheduled.
ARTICLE V – Balloting for Candidates
Section 1. The Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight shall privately inspect the ballot box,
both before and after the ballot, and the Grand Knight shall announce the result. The Warden
shall be responsible for the balloting of candidates and shall distribute ballots to all members
present. He shall place the ballot box on the salutation table and take his place six feet
therefrom. He shall then request that all officers vote and after they have voted, he shall
request the members to vote. They shall advance in single file and deposit their ballots. No
member shall pass the Warden until the member preceding him has voted. After all who
desire to do so have voted, the Warden shall exhibit the ballot box to the Grand Knight and
Deputy Grand Knight and they shall count the votes. If the number of negative ballots cast
does not exceed one-half of the members present, the applicant shall be declared elected,
otherwise rejected. The exact number of negative ballots shall not be stated. If more than
one candidate is to be balloted for at a meeting, the Grand Knight may announce that the first
ballot shall be a general one upon all the candidates, and if not more than one-half of those
present shall cast negative ballots upon the such general ballot, no other ballots shall be
taken. If such announcement is made, and no more than one-half negative ballots are cast
upon said general ballot, all candidates so balloted for shall be declared elected. If more than
 one-half negative ballots are cast upon said general ballot, then an individual ballot shall be
taken on each candidate.
ARTICLE VI – Committees
Section 1. In addition to the Committees provided for in the Laws and Rules of the Order, the
following Service Program Directors shall be appointed:
(a) Program Director whose goal will be the direct involvement and personal commitment of
the council and membership in a program that will establish the Knights of Columbus as truly
a Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization.
(b) Membership Director to have supervision of a comprehensive program of recruitment and
retention for his council.
(c) Director of Church Activities to promote a program that will enable the membership to
respond to the constant call for the active participation of the laity in the work of the Church.
(d) Director of Community Activities whose responsibility it will be to make the council aware
of its life within the community and to develop programs that will be of service to the
community.
(e) Director of Council Activities who will be concerned with the promotion of brotherhood
through athletic, cultural and social programs. Additionally, he will be responsible for the
development of public relations in the council.
(f) Director of Youth Activities to provide the youth in the community with the means and the
opportunity to become personally committed and involved in meeting the challenges of our
times. He will also be responsible for the promotion of the Order’s junior organization, the
Columbian Squires.
(g) Director of Family Life Activities to promote activities and programs within the Council that
would strengthen and support the family life of its members.
(h) Such other Committees as may be required by these By-Laws or may be established by
the Council or its Grand Knight.
Section 2. Except as herein provided, all Committees shall be appointed by the Grand Knight
and the first person named on the Committee shall act as Chairman thereof. Standing
Committees shall serve for the current fiscal year or until their successors have been
appointed. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.
ARTICLE VII – Funds
Section 1. All moneys obtained from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting
for or in the name of the Council or under its direction or authority, shall be considered
Council Funds and shall be forthwith delivered to the Financial Secretary, who will give his
official receipt therefore and who will report at each meeting the amounts so received and
from what source and shall deliver the same to the council Treasurer and take his receipt
therefore.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys received from the Financial Secretary in a
bank to the credit of the council. Disbursements from this fund shall be made only by check
signed by the Grand Knight and Treasurer. The Deputy Grand Knight shall have the authority
to sign council drafts only in the event of the Grand Knight’s absence. The depository bank
shall be furnished with a copy of this section.
Section 3. No money in excess of 500.00 shall be paid or transferred from the Treasury of
this Council, (except such moneys as the Council is called upon to regularly pay for its
current expenses and as provided by the Laws and Rules of the Order or for purposes
approved by the Supreme Council or Board of Directors), unless by a two-thirds vote of the
members present and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular
business meeting at which notice in writing of a resolution of intention to pay or transfer such
money and the purposes and amount to be paid or transferred shall have been given and
regularly read.
Section 4. All bills shall be presented to the Recorder and by him read to the Council before
being referred to the Board of Trustees. In case a bill is not approved by the Board of
Trustees, it shall be referred back to the Council for action.
ARTICLE VIII – Funerals, Etc.
Section 1. Upon the death of a member in good standing, the Memorial Committee shall give
notice to the members and, if time permits, shall request them to assemble and pay their
respects to the memory of the deceased at a time and place to be indicated in such notice.
Section 2. When notice of the death of a member in good standing is received, the Memorial
Committee shall forward to the family of the deceased a message of condolence on behalf of
the Council.
ARTICLE IX – Miscellaneous
Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present
and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular business meeting at
which a resolution in writing providing for such amendment shall have been read and notice
of the proposed amendment shall have been given to the members in writing or in the council
publication at least five days prior to the second meeting.
Section 2. Procedure and debate shall be in accordance with the Laws and Rules of the
Supreme Council, the Supreme Board of Directors, these By-Laws and the Rules of
Parliamentary Law known as “Robert’s Rules of Order.”
These By-Laws amended by vote of the Council, September 10, 2011.
Paul Sciera
Grand Knight
Michael McGinnis
Recorder
Date of Institution: June 1, 1992
Approved:
<Council Approved Date>
JOHN A. MARRELLA
Supreme Advocate
Advocate

Guidelines for Political Activity

Guidelines for Political Activity

Since this occasionally surfaces as a hot topic of discussion, we decided to include this entire article in the newsletter. From the:

Knights are first and foremost Catholic citizens who are members of their communities and constituents of their elected officials. A citizen most effectively petitions his elected official as an individual voter. Ordinarily, there is no need to refer to one’s membership in the Knights of Columbus when petitioning an elected official. The message we want to send is “I am an informed constituent who has a principled stand [against / in favor of] your public policy choices and I vote.” As Pope Benedict XVI has reminded us: “It is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States comes to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness.”[1] To help members answer this call to faithful citizenship effectively, the Knights of Columbus provides the following list of political activity “DOs and DON’Ts”:

DOs

* DO become active in the political life of your local community;

* DO register to vote and encourage others to register to vote;

* DO initiate and participate in robust “get out the vote” efforts to bring voters to the polls in all primary, general, and special elections;

* DO become informed on public policy issues of fundamental interest to the Catholic Church at the local, state, federal, and international levels;

* DO become acquainted with public policy initiatives of the national conferences of Catholic Bishops as well as state and provincial Catholic conferences;

* DO study and reflect upon the teachings of the Catholic Church so as to develop a well-formed Catholic conscience – a good place to start would be to review relevant sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, available at http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM ;

* DO order booklets on specific issues of fundamental importance to Catholics published by the Catholic Information Service, http://www.kofc.org/un/en/cis/index.html ;

* DO share with others the Catholic Church’s teachings on moral issues of fundamental importance to society;

* DO advocate for Catholic positions on local and national legislative and other issues of fundamental interest to the Catholic Church. This includes participation in action alert announcements that seek to make the voices of Catholic citizens heard on legislation of fundamental interest to the Catholic Church;

* DO write letters to the editor of local newspapers;

* DO know your elected representatives and their positions on issues of fundamental interest to the Catholic Church;

* DO correspond with your representatives and let them know that you support the Catholic position on issues of fundamental interest to the Catholic Church;

* DO thank representatives for their actions taken on issues of fundamental interest to the Catholic Church;

* DO join the Supreme Council and your State Council in advocating for public policy issues. When doing so, echo the sentiments and wording the Supreme Council or your State Council have already articulated; and

* DO VOTE!

DON’Ts

* DO NOT engage in any partisan political activity in the name of the Knights of Columbus. Partisan political activity is defined as including activity that seeks to endorse or oppose a candidate or party in a campaign for public office.

* DO NOT make partisan political statements in the name of the Knights of Columbus. A partisan political statement is defined as including statements that seek to endorse or oppose a candidate or party in a campaign for public office.

* DO NOT, on behalf of your local council, congratulate or admonish public officials in the name of the Knights of Columbus.

* DO NOT, on behalf of your local council, take a position on a matter of public policy unless you are joining a position the Supreme Council or your State Council has already articulated;

* DO NOT distribute any Knights of Columbus member lists or contact information to political campaigns or to individuals running for office;

* DO NOT use an official fraternal title in connection with your personal political activity, except to convey biographical information; and

* DO NOT use Knights of Columbus facilities, including, but not limited to, email accounts, social media, fax machines, letterhead and the like, in connection with partisan political activity.

[1] ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THEIR “AD LIMINA” VISIT, Consistory Hall, Thursday, 19 January 2012 http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2012/january/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120119_bishops-usa_en.html (last vistited March 16, 2012)