Council #6824 follows suggested guidelines in nominating and electing council officers. During the April and May Council Meetings nominations are accepted by any member. Nominations may be emailed, texted, or voiced in person at a meeting.
- The Nominee must be a Knight in good standing with the council
- Any Knight in good standing is eligible for any position, regardless of experience.
- The nominee need not be present (but will not be put to a vote until an acceptance is received by the Grand Knight in person or writing.)
Voting occurs after nominations for that position in the May meeting. If only one nomination has been accepted, voting occurs by verbal assent. If two or more nominations have been accepted, voting occurs by written secret ballot with the winner announced at that meeting.
The duties of each position are summarized below. Note that some positions are elected, while others are appointed.
ELECTED POSITIONS
Grand Knight
The Grand Knight is the council’s chief executive officer. He is responsible for setting council goals and ensuring that all officers fulfill their duties in reaching these objectives. He presides over all meetings; appoints program and committee directors as needed; fills officer roles in the event of vacancies; countersigns checks and orders for payment; and oversees the council’s degree team.
Deputy Grand Knight
The Deputy Grand Knight serves as the grand knight’s right-hand man and fills in for the Grand Knight when he is not present. Some deputy grand knights serve as their council’s program director. Ultimately, he assists the Grand Knight in leading the council and reaching council objectives.
Chancellor
The Chancellor assists both the GK and DGK in leading the council by engaging and strengthening the council’s membership. His primary responsibilities include recruiting and retaining members. The Chancellor is charged with strengthening the member’s interests in council activities and should serve on both the Admission and Retention committees.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for the safekeeping and maintaining records of all council funds and accounts. He is responsible for depositing money into the council’s accounts and provides a certificate of such monies to the Grand Knight. He is also responsible for payment of all expenses. He also balances and verifies the ledger and keeps the updated budget approved by the council.
Advocate
The advocate acts as council parliamentarian. He should be knowledgeable in Robert’s Rules of Order and Protocol, Meetings, and Ceremonials (#11620). He may seek legal assistance from the State Advocate, should issues arise. The Advocate should be able to take on additional responsibilities as the council deems necessary.
Recorder
The Recorder has the responsibility of recording all meetings and events held by the council. He should record minutes, conversations and other information helpful to the council and prepare them to be distributed to the membership in a timely manner.
Warden
The Warden is responsible for the property owned by the council. He is also in charge of setting up meetings and leads both the inside and outside guards.
Inside/Outside Guards
The Inside and Outside Guards carry out tasks given to them by the Grand Knight and follow the Warden’s orders. They are responsible for checking membership cards and allowing entrance to meetings.
Trustees (3)
The Trustees advise the Grand Knight, supervise the council’s financial matters, and conduct financial audits. Usually the immediate past Grand Knight will serve as a trustee.
APPOINTED POSITIONS
Chaplain
The Chaplain is the spiritual leader of the council. He nurtures the faith in council members particularly through the sacraments but also through spiritual direction, retreats and other events and support.
Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary is chosen by the trustees and the officers of the council for a three-year term and approved by the Supreme Knight. He provides continuity in the council and has the responsibility of collecting dues as well as ensuring that the council’s financial recordings are kept up to date. Additionally, he ensures that membership records are current, issues membership cards, files regular reports to the district, regional, state and supreme offices and submits necessary forms to the IRS.
Lecturer
The Lecturer provides brief spiritual discourses and reflections during business meetings for the “Good of the Order”. If the Lecturer cannot be present, he should appoint a council member to give the reflection for him.
Program Director
The Program Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and oversees the Faith in Action areas of Faith, Family, Community and Life. The Program Director ensures that all his subordinate committees meet regularly and plan appropriate events. He communicates individual committee reports to the Grand Knight.
Faith Director
The Faith Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. Responsible for all faith-based council programs.
Family Director
The Family Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. Responsible for all family-based council programs.
Community Director
The Community Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. He is responsible for all community-based council programs. He directs programs that support and encourage service to the community that fight poverty, aid the individual, promote athletic events, and sponsor larger programs and campaigns. He should be comfortable contacting and coordinating with organizations that align in key areas of community assistance.
Life Director
The Life Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. Responsible for all life-based council programs. The individual appointed to this position should be comfortable discussing and planning efforts within the context of supporting and affirming life in all stages and in all conditions. Notably, he strives to promote programs that support and encourage the advancement of the pro-life movement, people with intellectual disabilities, and persecuted Christians.
Membership Director
The Membership Director serves as the head of the Admission Committee and works to grow the council’s membership through new and transfer members. He should actively identify potential recruits, plan recruitment programs, host informational meetings and encourage council members to seek candidates. In addition, the Membership Director should ensure that a council has access to frequent degree exemplifications (whether its own or local councils) and should work that each member reaches at least the third degree in a timely manner.
Retention Chairman
The Retention Chairman works to keep the council’s members active. He implements programs and practices that provide mentors for new members and regularly communicates with the members to encourage their participation. At times when a council wishes to suspend members, they must have the Retention Chairman reach out to members and ask them to keep their membership or to transfer to another council.