Newsletter of The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Knights of Columbus – August 2020
Celina - Coldwater - St. Henry - Fort Recovery - Sidney - Versailles - Greenville - Russia Covington - Wapakoneta - St. Marys - Minster -Russells Point - McCartyville - Springfield Urbana - Bellefontaine Fairborn - Eaton - Huber Heights - Vandalia - Englewood - Piqua Troy - Tipp City - New Carlisle - Dayton - Xenia - Beavercreek -Centerville - Kettering Hamilton - Fairfield - Harrison - North Bend - Monroe - West Chester - Carthage - Sharonville New Burlington - Norwood - Shandon - Wilmington - Morrow - Mason- Lebanon - Milford - Loveland - Springfield Middletown - Miamisburg - Franklin - Trenton - Cincinnati - Ripley - Fayetteville - Hillsboro - Greenfield - West Union - Waynesville
So Much to Cover (but not with masks) Hitting the Ground Running: So far the Supreme eMembership incentive of free membership for the year has been very successful, albeit sometimes confusing. When a council receives an email from Nick Gresko our State Membership Director, the council is encouraged to reach out to this eMember as ask them to join their council. Councils are chosen based on either the council number being entered then the eMember joins (online), by parish, or by location. On occasion the member might not be interested in transferring to your council in which case there might be another council closer or a council he has family. If he’s just not ready, just let him know he’s always welcome.
Remember an eMember is a “transfer” because he already is a member of the Knights and has a membership number. He does, however count as a +1 new member for your council’s Supreme Membership Quota when he takes his Degree. Social Distancing: There has been a lot of talk about social distancing and hosting gatherings whether they be council meetings or program projects. I have condensed some recommendations based on working from the “bottom up”:
First find out if your council members are comfortable with meeting in person. If the vast majority are not, then continue to meet virtually.
Second, find out the rules and restrictions of your meeting place. Some parishes have decided to close for any gatherings outside of Mass. Some have various restrictions based on what has been handed down from the Diocese. Determine if you can meet the facility’s requirements.
Third, follow any rules set in place by your local and the state government. You should also be aware of recommendations by the CDC.
Finally, please consider the safety of your brother Knights and their families when it comes to any activity. God willing, we will be out of this situation before the end of the calendar year.
The Safe Environment Program (SEP): Supreme established the Safe Environment Program around three years ago in response to protecting our youth. Completing the SEP is a requirement in order to earn the Star Council Award.
The Safe Environment Program MUST be completed by the following Officer and Chairmen:
• • • •
Grand Knight
Community Director*
Family Director*
Program Director
When your council submits their Form 185 and 365 the Grand Knight’s and the Director’s email addresses must be included on the form. These email addresses are sent a “link” to access and take the program. The emails will come from Praesidium, Inc. (praesidiuminc.com). *Background checks are required for the Community and Family Directors, they do not require disclosure of financial information.
You can find out more about the program by going to: www.kofc.org/safe.
There is a time requirement for completing the program. If for some reason you miss the deadline, the council can re-submit the Form 185 or 365 to restart the clock and you will receive a new email. Matching Funds Campaign: Letters have gone out to all the councils throughout Ohio asking for support of the 2020 Matching Funds Campaign which I am the chairman of. I fully understand that this might be a financially difficult year for some councils which is why Supreme has suspended Per Capita payments from this fraternal year (State per capita is still due). I hope this will help you to continue your support for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati through the Matching Funds Campaign. The sooner your donation arrives the more likely it will be matched! The letter and form is available on the State website.
Michael Felerski - State Advocate
d Circle of Honor! Growth a Ro ip To Tr By M. Stewart Vetter - State Membership Director
Have you heard, we’re on a Road Trip to the Circle of Honor! …and it’s making a pit stop at the Membership House for refreshments, motivation, and mayhem. Make sure to watch the video and join in the fun you can only get at the Membership House: www.kofcohio.org What is the Circle of Honor? It’s like Star Council but for Jurisdictions (States). It is the highest honor a state can receive and is based on recruitment and new council development. It is presented to the State at the Supreme Convention (Denver, CO in 2021). The membership goal for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for the 2020-2021 fraternal year is 500 new members. But in order for the Ohio Jurisdiction to be successful, the State Council wants to help our councils be successful. So the State Council is offering some incentives. Here is the first: Fast Start E-member 300 • $10 per member to councils for e-members with their council number included on their eMembership application (Required) • $10 per member to councils when an emember joins their council through degree • And if Ohio reaches 300 e-members before Sept 30, $10 per member additional to councils. REMEMBER: When an e-member joins your council he is a TRANSFER because by joining online he is already given a Membership Number. BUT: He counts as a +1 new member toward your council’s Supreme Membership Quota for the fraternal year and Star Council when he takes his Exemplification of Charity, Unity and Fraternity! You can keep tabs on our Road Trip’s progress on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/OhioKnightsOfColumbus The Arch - August 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 2 of 5
Training Online training opportunities are being offered in many areas of leadership this fraternal year. Steve Cohen, our Regional Training Director, is offering the following training sessions online via GoTo Meeting: Delta Church Drive This seminar offers instruction on how to Conduct a Membership Delta Church Drive and is geared toward Grand Knights, Membership Directors, or any interested brother Knight:
Monday, August 10th @ 7:00-8:00 PM
Council Experience The Council Experience seminar discusses why members join our Order, how to ensure we meet member’s needs. All Council Officers, Membership Directors, and Retention Committee members, or anyone interested. Two dates available:
Monday, August 24, 7:00-8:00 PM
Saturday, August 29, 10:00-11:00 AM
Council Growth Understanding why councils must grow is important to our mission as Knights. Training is for All Council Officers and Membership Directors, or anyone interested. Two dates:
Monday, August 17, 7:00-8:00 PM
Saturday, August 22, 10:00-11:00 AM
You Are Your Programs Successful councils are councils with great programs. A council’s reputation depends upon it’s programs. These are what people in our parishes and communities see. This is what makes us who we are. This seminar is recommended for all Council Officers, Program Directors, Faith-In-Action Directors, and any interested brother Knight.
Wednesday, August 26, 7:00-8:00 PM.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must sign up in advance since there is limited capacity to log onto these virtual seminars via GoTo Meeting. Use the following link to sign up and indicate which event you would like to attend using the checkboxes located at the bottom of the form before submitting.
https://fs22.formsite.com/stambrose/5vxv3xhvzo/index.html When you have completed your form you will receive an email notification of your registration.
The Arch - August 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 3 of 5
Fraternal Benefits Insurance By brother Knights, for brother Knights Insurance is the original sign of our fraternal commitment to one another. it is the embodiment of brother Knights coming together in mutual support.
The roots of our insurance program stretch back to 1882 and the basement of St. Mary’s Church. Then, we were a small mutual aid society, providing $1,000 to the widows of our departed brothers. today, we also offer much more, to many more people. We offer our members life insurance, annuities, disability income and long-term care policies.
While managing for such growth, the order has accelerated efforts to make K of C insurance better positioned to withstand today’s challenges and those of the future. the supreme Council has focused on a series of initiatives to “harden the core” of our operations, to achieve higher levels of professionalism, and to bring greater efficiency and productivity to our operations.
The Knights of Columbus Difference Our approach to insurance can be summed up
in a simple phrase: “insurance by brother Knights, for brother Knights.”
This phrase defines all of our insurance products: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance and retirement annuities. We have recently expanded our life insurance offerings to include universal life. All of our products are designed with one goal in mind — financial security for our families. in the past year, we provided that security to more families than ever before.
Here are some key amounts from insurance operations for the year ended December 31, 2019
• Insurance in force reached $113.5 billion. • New life insurance sales in 2019 were $8.4 billion. • Assets grew to $26.9 billion. • Surplus ratio was 11.7 percent.
Performance during the current global pandemic is dramatic proof that these initiatives are succeeding. once again, our business is ranked in the fortune 1000. We earned a financial strength rating of A+ (superior) from A.M. best.
• Annualized premiums rose to $144.7 million.
In April, as the coronavirus pandemic spread, standard and Poor’s released its review of north American life insurance companies, ranking them from strongest to weakest based on their financial strength. out of hundreds of companies, only six received the highest rating. the Knights of Columbus was one of them.
The Knights’ insurance program enables the order to meet not only its financial obligations, but its charitable aspirations. The insurance program’s success depends on the hard work of our brother Knights who serve as agents. they are crucial partners in the order’s growth as a business and as a brotherhood.
• Annuity deposits were $527.6 million. • Refunds to members (dividends) were $233.1 million.
This is an excerpt from the Annual Report of the Supreme Knight at the 138th Supreme Convention.
A complete copy of the report can be found at WWW.KOFC.ORG/CONVENTION/2020/
Jason C. Staas, MS, FICF
General Agent
KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS
YOUR SHIELD FOR LIFE
LIFE DISABILITY INCOME LONG-TERM CARE RETIREMENT
The Arch - August 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 4 of 5
Cincinnati Archdiocese Quick Reference Guide 2020-2021 State Sites… State Council Website: Facebook Page:
www.kofcohio.org
www.facebook.com/OhioKnightsOfColumbus/
Arch Sites… Dayton Chapter: Cincinnati Chapter: Facebook Page:
www.daytonkofc.org
www.cincykofc.org
www.facebook.com/ArchCincykofc/
The Arch…
A newsletter featuring relevant news and information for Knights in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati published eleven time a year. It can be viewed and downloaded at:
http://www.daytonkofc.org/DayCh_Arch_Newsletter.html
To subscribe for delivery directly to your email inbox, please contact Michael Thomas at:
michaeldthomas@aol.com
2020 Matching Funds
2020-21 Support Our Seminarians
State Advocate Michael Felerski
1580 Gelhot Drive, #234
Fairfield, OH 45014
Immediate Past State Deputy Kevin Miller
1101 Arbor Oaks Lane
Galloway OH 43119
mfelerski@icloud.com
km8007@att.net
2020-21 Measure Up
Archdiocese Membership Team
State Warden Jim Maslach
4927 Autumnwood Lane
Brunswick, OH 44212
kofcjkm@gmail.com
Tom Wuebker I-70 North wuebker@hometowncable.net
Michael Thomas Dayton [Chapter area] michaeldthomas@aol.com
Dan Warnock Cincinnati [Chapter area] danjowarnock@yahoo.com
2021 Super Cash Bonanza State Treasurer Jeffery Kiliany
559 Walnut Street
Leetonia, OH 44431 jtktg@yahoo.com
Retention
Michael Freil [Ohio West]
mcfreil2019@gmail.com
State Community Director
2020-21 State Per Capita Payments
Tim Mangan
tjmangan@icloud.com
State Secretary Mark Sirausa
15398 Silver Pine Court
Perrysburg OH 43551-1261
District Deputy Coordinator
cuzza52@gmail.com
Andrew Nuckols anuckols@cinci.rr.com
The Arch - August 2020
On Facebook: ArchCincyKofC
Page 5 of 5