The Arch
Newsletter of The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Knights of Columbus – January 2021
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
When the New Year Feels Like the Old Year, be Positive In any normal fraternal year I would take the opportunity of the mid-fraternal year issue of The Arch to look at where we stand in membership recruitment. It is a great time to review where we are, but this year it’s different. The past few months have been very difficult.
distance ourselves). Because of this there are councils which will be streaming a rosary prayer service via their parishes video stream. This is also a good time of year for councils to place an ad on a billboard in their community which includes the phone number of a local pregnancy clinic. Rosaries could be prayed and streamed for the Feast of the Annunciation – Day of the Unborn Child which occurs on March 25th.
Like most everyone I have lost very close friends and brother Knights to the COVID epidemic. These were great men who had been a part of our Order for years. Some had been Knights for longer that I Here in the Arch I have heard of several councils still have been alive. These Knights were like fathers to able to host their Free Throw competitions which me after I lost mine a few years can be safely done by having ago. They were also “big” contestants signing up for time brothers to me as a person who slots or split into scheduled "Councils could also place a was the oldest child in my family. smaller groups to keep gathering celebration of life ad on a Mentally I have not been able to numbers down. Councils are billboard which includes the easily reconcile this. It hurts and making up “Care Packages” for phone number of a local will continue to hurt until this not only our first responder awful plague is over. families, those in our pregnancy clinic.” communities feeling When you couple these losses disconnected from the world due with not being able to do the things we love to do as to quarantining and for the homeless. Knights, at least not the way we used to, I am glad to be done with 2020. Don’t let 2021 be a repeat. Remember, our Order is strong not just because of As Knights of Columbus we are a social people who how we do things but what we do based in faith. like to do good things for our fellow man. So for the Our creativity knows no bounds when it comes to second half of the fraternal year let us stay positive helping our neighbors here in the Arch. and focus on the things we can do. Brothers there is much work which can still be done A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to present and we are still the men who can get it done. In the two checks, one to Catholic Charities and another to words of Cardinal Gibbons during World War I, “the Shared Harvest in support of their food bank efforts Knights do things.” So be not afraid to try those new within the Cincinnati Archdiocese. The idea came ideas you think of, and above all be safe in from our State Deputy and was agreed upon everything you do! unanimously by the state officers to support food banks in each of the six dioceses in Ohio during this Vivat Jesus! extraordinary time of need. A number of local councils already do something like this which gave Michael Felerski - State Advocate us the idea to help more. FYI – as of 1/5/21 the councils of the Archdiocese This year many of the March for Life events are are at 24% of our membership goal for the fraternal likely to be canceled do to restrictions on gatherings year. Thank you for all your recruitment efforts (even though I believe we could responsibly social during these times and keep up the good work.
By Michael Thomas
Growth
MEMBERSHIP – LIFEBLOOD OF THE ORDER! Happy New Year to my Brother Knights and to your families. As always, I hope that this column finds you and yours doing well and healthy. Before beginning this column, I looked back at one I had written in the past and noted that I had quoted Thomas Paine who said: “These are the times that try men’s souls”. When I wrote that, I was hoping that the dawn of the new year would give us a return to the “old normal” without masks and the fear and concern that a pandemic brings. Obviously, we do not have the “old normal” YET! But we have a precious gift from God, that which is HOPE. Rather than trying our souls, I have a better quote:
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11
Hope is clearly visible. Vaccines have been developed and distribution has begun. Thanks to the pending vaccinations, 2021 can be a better year than last. And even though we cannot yet get out as much as we would like – there is still much we can do NOW and to prepare for the FUTURE to grow our councils! I’m including a few ideas below:
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Plan MEMBERSHIP DRIVES o
In person, eventually – but in the meantime, you can still have informal membership drives by reaching out to potential members by phone, mail, website, tweet, and email
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Consider having a “virtual” membership drive using Zoom or other applications. Officers can discuss the Knights, our history, our contributions, and what the new member can do and what they will get from membership!
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For the future: Work with your pastor to plan in-person Membership Drives
MAINTAIN VISIBILITY in the parish and community! o
Wear Knights of Columbus gear to Mass and whenever you go out. You never know where opportunity will arise! I had a gentleman approach me in the local Kroger because of a Knights face mask I wear!
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Create a newsletter that exhibits what your council does for the parish and community!
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Provide informative literature about the Knights and your council!
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Consider a YouTube video about your council and provide links to it in your church bulletin!
MAINTAIN CONTACT with your current members! Don’t forget them! o
Hold virtual meetings for officers and members
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Stay in contact with an e-mailed bulletin
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CALL your members, especially the older members and the infirmed – find out what you can do to help them. This is part of our mission!
The Arch - January 2021
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By Michael Thomas
Continued •
Growth
INNOVATE - Do what you can to gain new members o Ensure that you have an advertisement and notices in your church bulletin o Publicize the e-membership link o Bring new members in through the new Degree quickly o Make sure your Council checks for e-Members – these men have already signed up contact them and get them degreed and into your council! o Get approval to leave membership materials in the church lobby o Reach out to members and parishioners for potential members! o Request permission to contact new parishioners and the new Catholics admitted to the faith. o Reach out to former members and lapsed insurance members o Seek approval to use the parish directory to contact possible members.
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INCENTIVES – MARDI GRAS 400 – BEADS & BUCKS PROGRAM o
From January 1 through Ash Wednesday (February 17) - The State Council will pay your council $50 per member when we reach 400 new members
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Don’t let this incentive turn to dust by missing out!
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We’re all in this together – Councils get $50 if we make 400 new members by February 17, but $20 per member if we don’t make it!
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Take advantage of the State Deputy’s money!
Thank you all for the hard work and effort that you have provided during these difficult and frustrating times. I know it hasn’t been easy – but your efforts will pay off – and are appreciated!
Lastly – as an Archdiocese Membership Director, we are all here to help. I have literature and membership materials and advice (some useful). Please reach out to me or one of the other Membership Directors – we want you to succeed in sharing the gift of Knighthood!
God Bless each of you and your families. Please stay sate.
Vivat Jesus! Mike Thomas – Archdiocese Membership Director (Central)
The 2021 Super Cash Ticket Distribution is Coming Saturday February 20th In Dayton and Cincinnati, details soon! The Arch - January 2021
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Fraternal Benefits
I
am happy to report that late in the afternoon on December 31st, the Order crossed the threshold for its most productive year in terms of protecting the financial future of Catholic families. That's right, in the very year that Blessed Michael McGivney was elevated to the honors of the altar, and perhaps one of the most challenging years in recent memory, the Order shined forth its vision for the financial protection of Catholic families more than ever before.
How did our Field Force find a way to completely change the traditional way they market and sell our products and within a month find a way to adapt to those changes and make them work? With council meetings and functions canceled, in-person masses prohibited for most of the year, membership recruiting down and the typical methods for how many of our agents work turned upside down…how did our field force still find a pathway to success?
What can you say about a Field Force of agents who faced the most difficult conditions in the "8 Field Agents in the Western history of the Order and Ohio Agency, (4 in their very found a way to not only salvage the year but actually first year with the Order), who qualified for the Million conquer those conditions and set a production record in the Dollar Round Table” process? What can you say of the 9 men who joined our team during the year as new agents and helped us to become the most productive agency the Order has ever had in the State of Ohio? What can you say of the 8 Field Agents in the Western Ohio Agency, (4 in their very first year with the Order), who qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®?
For those looking from the outside in, these questions may be difficult to answer. But not for us in the Arch. We know that the professionalism and focus of our brother agents on the mission of the Knights of Columbus will always come shining through. The unique culture that our field force shares with the membership makes us unlike any other financial institution. We are truly by Knights and for Knights. We are brothers, one and all. What we have is very special, and when we look back to 2020 it will be forever evident that our Field Agents are our greatest fraternal benefit. Vivat Jesus!
Jason C. Staas, MS, FICF
General Agent
KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS
YOUR SHIELD FOR LIFE
LIFE DISABILITY INCOME LONG-TERM CARE RETIREMENT
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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 times a year. It can be viewed and downloaded at:
http://www.daytonkofc.org/DayCh_Arch_Newsletter.html
Or at kofcohio.org > For Members > Diocesan Pages > Cincinnati
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
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