Grand Knight Retention Sustaining the Council Maryland State Council Leadership Seminar June 24, 2017 Grand Knight Retention Sustaining the Council

No one joined the Order to attend meetings! What does retention mean to you? No one joined the Order to attend meetings!

Why was our Order founded? Retention Message Why was our Order founded?

Knights of Columbus

Retention Message Retention is an opportunity to align ourselves, and our Brother Knights, to living our Catholic Faith each day. Our members joined the Order to grow in their Faith Demonstrate that you are living this Faith Your Brother will be strengthened by your example. He’ll be encouraged to become a more active Knight, thus growing in his Catholicity, and helping our community and society align with God’s call. Called to be ‘agents of the New Evangelization’ Solidarity with our Priests – How does he know? Active in our parish – How are your Roundtables? United action in the public square – You are not alone!

Retention Admission process Mentor program Council programs Retention Team Personal contact

Retention Admissions Board Introduce Order and Council Build on baseline presentation Timing (recruitment to Admissions Degree)

“It pays to plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” Planning “It pays to plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”

Admissions Board

Welcome the New Member First Degree = “Welcoming” Degree Make sure our new Brother feels like a “real” Brother. Members receive: Virtue of Charity (Men want to give back) Rosary – Link to his Faith (Spiritual Formation) Lapel Pin - Link to the Order (Feeling of belonging) Shining Armor material – Link to Retention

Membership Retention Member Mentoring Each member is a valuable council asset. New members need to be introduced to council members and be paired up with a member to be his mentor. Have a “Welcome Night for the New Knights and their Families.” Mentor through Shining Armor (1st Year of Membership) Be involved in at least 3 council service programs. Attend at least 3 council business meetings. Receive Third Degree Meet with their council’s insurance representative. Recruit at least one new member. Present Shining Armor Qualification Card (#4294) to the council to receive award.

Why Mentor/Sponsor Becoming a Knight Unfamiliar organization Time consuming Ambiguous expectations Sponsor assistance can make all the difference! Ease anxiety and stress that comes with volunteering Build relationship with new member and family Enables member to focus on becoming active Ease new member transition Major impact on first impression of new member and family Establish routine communications Personal connection Council newsletter / website / phone tree Supreme & State website / newsletter

Sponsors make lifelong bond Include spouse and children in sponsor process Assess the needs of the newcomer and family Be proactive - make the initial contact Be helpful and sincere - listen Be responsive but honest If you don't know the answer, follow-up Meet the needs of member and family Get your family involved Be the information source for the new member Sponsors are not limited to helping new members Transfers Re-admission High risk members

Sponsor Interaction Exercise Activity groups – by table (5 minute drill) Discover an interesting, surprising and separate connection you share with each person in your team. A different connection with each person, not a single connection that every team member shares 'Interesting and surprising' does not include working for the same company, living in the same town or country or having the same color hair. Try to find a connection or something in common that surprises both of you.

Sponsor Interaction Exercise What sort of questions helped discover most information? How does mutual awareness (knowing each other better) help teamwork, cooperation, communications, etc? What normally prevents people from getting to know each other better? Sponsors Are A Critical Retention Source

Retain A New Member New member contact Recruitment process Proposer/Mentor interactions Friendly rapport with candidate & family Interest card/Form-100 timely follow-up Drive to/from Admissions Board Drive to/from 1st Degree Identify council program involvement Work calendars to meet for programs/mtgs Introduce Brother Knight to Benefits Advisor Work calendars for advanced degrees Introduce BK & family to other Knights Periodic follow-ups Questions about KofC What’s going well? What’s frustrating you? New member contact Recruitment process Admissions Board Degree progression Council meetings & events

Retention Council programs & activities Parish involvement Benefit to member & family Build on council history

Retain a Long Time Member Your council’s Knights and families have inspirational stories Capturing the history of your council cannot be delayed until it’s time for your 100th anniversary (or 50th, or even 10th) Capture the history of your council Plan a social event with the purpose of learning about your council Encourage those members who don’t attend meetings anymore to share their accounts of the ‘good old days’ in your council’s history

Retention Retention Team Retention Director Priorities and techniques

Retention Team Retention Director Retention plan Attributes of a good choice Designation process Retention plan Selection of team members Priority of efforts Game plan/techniques

Retain An Active Member Active members are already retained – What’s the point? Reach out to all of your Knights and family members Including the active families you see regularly is essential Practice your message on a friendly audience You’ll be more relaxed when listening to their comments and questions The more time you spend with those you “know”, the more you’ll learn about each other! Know your members and their families Know the rich history of your Order Live Fraternity

Get Members Interested Engage their interests Communicate Offer transportation Seek and answer members’ questions Introduce new members Give recognition “Be a Brother to a Brother!”

Retention is Fraternity in Action! When did you last reach out to a Brother Knight? Was he healthy? Employed? In need of assistance? How is his family? Most importantly, how did your interest make that Brother Knight feel? Keep it up – reach out and speak with another Brother Knight today [10 Min]How often should you connect with your members? How do you define ‘connect’? How many consistent connections can one Brother Knight maintain? How does your council get to everyone?

Spread the Word How do you share your GK message? How do you get feedback on GK messaging? How much of the council do you reach?

Keep Communicating The Laws of Forgetting Anonymous • We forget 50% of what we hear immediately. • We forget 75% of what we hear within 2 months. • Of the 25% we do remember, only 60% is correct, plus we add things that were never said in the first place!

Spread the Word Power of 10 Timely connections with all members Fraternal growth Diverse feedback

Retention Summary Communications/rapport before issues Active Retention Committee Stay upbeat – KofC is a great Catholic story!

Retain a Long Time Member So, who are the members we haven’t seen lately? 1897 Supreme Convention attendees Imagine their stories of the early days of the Order!