Detailed information about the Council Officer positions is available below.

Appointed positions are assigned by the Grand Knight
Supreme positions are assigned by the Supreme Officers of the Knights of Columbus

SK means Sir Knight
PGK means Past Grand Knight
PFN means Past Faithful Navigator (4th Degree)
KCHS means Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

Grand Knight (GK)

The Grand Knight is elected annually by the council members and does the following: (1) Presides over council meetings and the details are outlined in the flyer "Method of Conducting a Council Meeting" (#1937), (2) Acts as an exofficio member of all committees;(3) Appoints membership / Program directors and works with them on selecting Servive Program activities chairman, membership recruitment teams along with retention chairman, (4) Convening officers for monthy meetings, (5) Appoints special committees not mandated by laws of the council, (6) Oversees the exemplification of the first degree and finally, (7) makes sure all reports and reporting forms required by the state or Supreme Council office are submitted on time.

The Grand Knight oversees the work of the council's admission committee and must appoint a committee composed of 7 members. The Grand Knight monitors the work and makes sure the results are in line with the laws governing the actions of the committee.

The Grand Knight interacts with the financial secretary and treasurer to ensure the council is meeting its financial obligations to the Supreme and State councils, and others. The Grand Kinght countersigns all orders drawn and signed by the financial secretary and all checks drawn and signed by the treasurer. He reads the vouchers from the financial secretary of moneys paid to the treasirer amd from the treasurer of moneys deposited in the bank. In this way, the Grand Knight monitors the performance of the financial secretary and treasurer, working with them to help the council meet is financial obligations. In accordance with section 130 of the "Charter, Constitution and Laws" (#30), each financial secretary, upon appointment by the Supreme Knight, is bonded automatically in the amount of $5,000. Additional bonding may be provided at a cost of $7.00 per thousand by contacting the office of the supreme secretary. The same will apply to the council treasurer when the "Report of Officers" (#185) is received at the Supreme Council office.

The Grand Knight is a member of the Advisory Board charged with general supervision of a Columbian Squires circle sponsored by his council.

Finally, The Grand Knight along with the Deputy Grand Knight and Trustees are responible for recommending a chaplain. This is in accordance to section 128 of the (#30) "Supreme Charter, Constitution and Laws". The Grand Knight also appoints a Lecturer. 

Deputy Grand Knight (DGK)

The second in command in a local council. The DGK does the following: (1) Assists the GK in the operations of council affairs and is responsible for duties assigned to him by the GK. (2) The DGK presides at the meetings amd funtions as the GK when GK is absent. (3) The DGK is a member of the advisory board charged with general supervision of the Columbian Squries circle sponsored by the council. It is suggested the DGK along with the trustees serve on the council's retention commettee.

Chancellor

The third in the commend in a local council. The Chancellor does the following: (1) Primarily, he assists the GK and DGK in the execution of their dities. (2) He takes charge of the council when both GK and DGK are absent. The Chancellor, with the cooperation and support of the GK has the important duty of strengthening the members' interest in council activities. It is recommended the chancellor serve as chairman of the council's Admission committee. The chancellor is also a member of the council's columbian Squires circle ceremonial team.

Recorder

The recorder is responsible for the following: (1) Keeping records of all the actions of the council and (2) Maintains all corresponsence of the council. The recorder should use the "Recorder's Minute book" (#143), This book is available from the Supreme Council Supply Department) to record the minutes of all council meetings.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is an elected official and is in charge of handling all the council's funds. The Treasurer does the following: (1) He receives money from the financial secretary and issues receipts. (2) He deposits all money in the proper council accounts and provides a voucher or certificate of deposit to the GK for each transaction. (3) He is responsible for issuing payments to the Supreme Council on all assessments made by it to the council and for all orders of the council. (4) Finally, he is responsible for keeping accurate accounts of the monies in the general expense fund of the council and the amount of money in any special funds set up by the council.

He must be able to provide up-to-date records on these accounts to the GK, Financial Secretary or the trustees.

The Treasurer, in accordance with section 130 of the "Charter Constitution and Laws" (#30), the treasurer is automatically bonded in the amount of $5,000 upon receipt of the "Report of Officers" (#185) at the Supreme Council office. Additional bonding may be provided at a cost of $7.00 per thousand by contacting the office of the supreme secretary.

Advocate

The Advocate is the parliamentarian (a person who is an expert in the formal rules and procedures of an organization) for the council and need not be a part of the legal profession. However, he should be familiar with both the laws of the order as stated in the "Charter, Constitution and Laws" and the council's by-laws. When the by-laws need to be revised the Advocate serves as chairman of the committee.

The Advocate should have knowledge of the "Robert's Rules of Order" and the Supreme Council flyer "Methods of Conducting a Council Meeting" (#1937). An understanding of both documents would help keep meetings on track.

When needed, the advocate shall seek legal assistance from the state advocate. In matters of trail of council members, the advocate shall prosecute the charges on behalf of the council

Warden

The Warden is the "Watchdog" and is responsible for supervising, maintaining all of the council's property Except the property of the Financial Secretary. The Warden does the following: (1) sets up the chamber for meetings and degrees. (2) Appoints and supervises guards for ceremonial exemplifications. (3) Oversees the Inside and Outside guards and make sure they are fulfilling their duties assigned to them by the Warden.

Inside and Outside Guards

Inside Guard-This guard makes sure members sign in.

Outside Guard-This guard tends to the outer door to make sure members / visitors have current membership cards.

Both guards help out the Warden with the 50 / 50 and issuring the name tags.

The Board of Trustees

The board of trustees consists of the GK, and 3 members elected by the council. The Trustees do the following: (1) Supervise all financial business of the council. (2) Serve as auditors for the semiannual audits. (3) Oversee the work of the financial secretary and treasurer.

The GK is the chairman of the board. It is suggested that the board of trustees and the DGK serve on the council's retention committee.

The trustees serve a 3 year term. After each election, For example, the person that is 3 years goes to 2 and then to 1 year.

Grand Knight Appointed Positions

Chaplain

The GK appoints a priest in accordance with any rules established by the bishop of the diocese to serve as council chaplain.

The primarily function of the Chaplain is to be a spiritual advisor to the brother knights and families of the council. He is expected to make a report at council meetings. The chaplain's report, scheduled in the "Method of Conducting a Council Meeting" (#1937), consists of any business matters relative to his office and a brief talk by him on any religious matters. The chaplain should also serve as an advisor to the Church activities director and members of the committee.

Lecturer

The Lecturer provides suitable educational and entertaining programs under the "Good of the Order" section of the meeting. This section may include the following: speakers, presentations on special topics, etc.

Organist

This person is the music director of the council.

Surpreme Appointed Position

Financial Secretary (FS)

The FS is underscored by the fact that he is not elected by the membership, but his appointment - upon the recommendation of the GK and trustees - is approved by the Supreme Knight for a period of 3 years. His work has a direct effect on the following: members, fellow officers, the state council and the Supreme Council.

The duties of the FS revolve around 2 key areas and they are (1) financial and (2) membership records.

Financial Records

The FS collects and receives all money that come into the council from any source. He turns that money over that money over to the treasurer for deposit in the council account. In accordance with section 130 of the "Charter, constitution and Laws" (#30), each FS, upon appointment by the supreme knight, is bonded automatically in the amount of $5,000. Additional bonding may be provided at a cost of $7.00 per thousand by contacting the office of the supreme secretary.

One function of the FS is to collect money, in the form of dues from members. He sends out billing notices before the start of the billing period initiates retention measures to prevent members from being suspended for nonpayment of dues.

Membership Records

The FS must ensure that new members sign the constitutional roll of membership at the time of their First Degree. He also applies to the Supreme Councel office for honorary and honorary life membership cards for qualified members.

The FS also does the following: (1) Handles supply orders for members with the supreme council Supply Department. (2) Files the "Report of Officers" (#185) with the Supreme Council office and (3) Reports all membership / Insurance transactions to the Supreme Council office in a timely and correct manner

When a FS wishes to retire from his office, he should send a brief statement of resignation to the supreme knight. The statement should designaate a final date by which the resignation is to be effective accourding to the wishes of the FS. It is to be remembered, however, that every financial secretary has been appointed on the condition that he will remain in the office, if needed, until the supreme knight has been able to appoint the new FS. Upon receipt of the financial secretary's letter of resignation at the Supreme Council office, the appropriate forms for the nomination and appointment of the new financial secretary will be forwarded to the grand knight

Since the duties and responsibilities of the financial secretary are varied and so complex The Supreme Council makes the following available: A financial secretary's Handbook (#1410), An audiovisual production - The Financial Secretary - Our Answer Man, available at no charge, except postage and handling - from the Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services. This has been created to help him and council members understand his task more completely., Personal computer software, Associated reports, Supplies to assist financial secretaries to automate record keeping / billing tasks, Information on hardware requirements and ordering information for the software. The supplies may be obtained by contacting the Supply Department or the Department of Membership Records (See the "Financial Secretary Personal Computer" section on page 52 for more information).




Knights material provided by Michael Hart