Happy Birthday, Knights

One hundred and thirty years ago, on March 29,1882, Venerable Michael J. McGivneyand a handful of men from St. Mary’sChurch in New Haven became the firstmembers of the Knights of Columbus.That is the day the State of Connecti-cut officially chartered the organization

which we now celebrate as Founder’s Day. This year on March 29, Knights will celebrate the

130th birthday of the Order. Encourage each of yourcouncils to celebrate with a special Founder’s DayMass and First Degree Exemplification to help meetthe Orderwide goal of 13,000 new members in themonth of March.

Fraternal Survey Past Due

There is still time for your councils to submit the2011 Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728). It isvery important that each council file the FraternalSurvey. If the council is dormant or inactive, the dis-trict deputy may file the form simply by writing in thecouncil number, the words “dormant” or “inactive” andsending it in. Urge your councils to complete andsubmit the form immediately if they haven’t already

done so.The form is found on the Order’s website or in the

Council Report Forms Booklet (#1436). The Surveycan be faxed to the Department of Fraternal Servicesat 203-752-4108, mailed to the Knights of ColumbusSupreme Council Office, Department of FraternalServices, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510,or filed online at kofc.org/forms.

Council Payments Due

Remind all councils that the payment of the Janu-ary Per Capita Tax, Catholic Advertising Fund andCulture of Life Fund levies is due to the SupremeCouncil before April 10. Councils that fail to meet thedeadline are suspended. Remind grand knights thatthe delegates of suspended councils cannot beseated at the state convention until the councils arereinstated.

Celebrate Squires Month

Looking ahead, April is SquiresMonth. Recognize, promote andbuild up the Columbian Squires.There are several great ways tomark the occasion:

District Deputy ReminderMarch 2012

40 Cans for Lent – One can may make a differenceIf any of your councils have yet to start a 40 Cans for

Lent program, there is still time. The goal of the programis to ask each member of the council and of the parish(es)the council serves to donate one can of food for each dayof Lent. Encourage your councils to participate.

If the council collects and distributes a minimum of1,000 pounds of food and contributes 100 man-hours ofservice to the program, it will satisfy all the requirementsfor the Family Activity section of the Columbian Award ap-plication which needs to be processed at the SupremeCouncil by noon on Friday, June 29, 2012

The council should submit both the Food for FamiliesForm and the Columbian Award Application form (these

can be found at www.kofc.org/forms). For more information, contact Jason Porrello at (203) 752- 4571 or e-mail him at jason.porrello@kofc.org.

Let us hear from you. Use the new Supreme Council mail box for district deputies: dd@kofc.org.

• Honor the program by acknowledging that Squireshave been prepared to become Knights and scheduling a First Degree Exempification for 18-year-old Squires during “Squires Month.”

• Hold joint council/circle activities such as a Massand a breakfast in honor of the circle’s counselorsor Father Prior, or an awards dinner to recognizeSquires who have reached a new level in theSquire Advancement Program.

• Councils not yet sponsoring a circle could instituteor reinstitute one -- Call 203-752-4571 or e-mailjason.porrello@kofc.org for information or use theSquires Inquiry Kit Order Form (#2935) availableat kofc.org/forms.

Columbian Award Application(SP7) categories

The Order’s eight “Featured Programs” providecouncils with two ways to qualify for the Traditionallya council to sponsor four programs in each of the sixService Program categories (Church, community,council, family, culture of life and youth activities),and reports them on the Columbian Award Applica-tion (No. SP-7), due by June 30.

The second way to qualify is to sponsor one ormore of the eight “Featured Programs,” and meet theminimum participation criteria for that program. This

fulfills all four Columbian Award requirements inthat Service Program category. A council doesnot need to conduct all eight. For example, if acouncil participates in RSVP and sponsors aCoats for Kids distribution with a minimum of eightcases of coats given away, they’ve met all the re-quirements in the Church and youth categories.

To qualify for the Columbian Award, they wouldreport these programs, plus the four that theysponsored in the four remaining categories, onthe Columbian Award application. The eight “Featured Programs,” and the minimumparticipation criteria for each, are as follows:

Church – RSVP:Qualify for and receive the refund for supportingat least one seminarian or postulant.

Community – Habitat for Humanity or WheelChair Foundation:

Council sponsors at least one Habitat projectproviding a minimum of 200 man-hours of serv-ice and donates at least $1000 to Habitat.

29 Founder’s Day (March 29,. 1882)

25 Annunciation of the LordKofC Day of the Unborn Child

19 St. Joseph’s Day

17 St. Patrick’s Day

March 2012

The Knights of Columbus and Special Olympics — A Proud Partnership

The Knights of Columbus believes that Special Olympics isnearly unparalleled in its ability to show the intrinsic worthand dignity of every single human being. These games buildstrength and character among the athletes; it only takes afew moments with the competitors to be inspired by the forceof their determination, and the true sense of God's love.

Although Special Olympics has grown in recent years, theorganization still need our continued support. Encouragecouncils in your district to organize fundraisers, events, anddonation drives that will continue to benefit this magnificentorganization. The Special Olympics are too wonderful tooverlook, and the Knights of Columbus are committed tobringing the games to all with intellectual and or physical dis-abilities.

Councils contributing at least 200 man-hours in support oflocal, regional or state Special Olympics activities and raisingat least $2,000 for Special Olympics satisfy all requirementsfor the Council Activities category on the Columbian AwardApplication form (#). The form may be found in the CouncilReport Forms booklet (#1436) or on the Order’s website atkofc.org/forms.

Council raises the funds for 100 wheelchairs at$150 – distributed by Global Wheelchair Mis-sion.

Council – Special Olympics

Contribute at least 200 man-hours of service tostate/local Special Olympics activities; donate atleast $2,000 for Special Olympics.

Family – Food for Families

Council provides 100 man-hours of service andcollects at least 1,000 pounds of food to be givento a parish food pantry or community food bank.

Culture of Life – March for Life or UltrasoundInitiative

Council organizes parish and communityparticipation to provide at least 100 marchers for a

local, regional or national March for Life.Ciouncil raises at least half the funds for purchase

of ultrasound equipment for a pregnancy care center (balance from Supreme Council)

Youth – Coats for KidsCouncil purchases at least 8 cases of warm winter coats through Coats for Kids to give to needy kids.

Day of the Unborn Child

On Sunday, March 25, 2012, the Order will observethe Knights of Columbus Day of the Unborn Child.Knights of Columbus families are asked to pray, fastand work to restore respect and protection for unbornchildren. The Day of the Unborn Child prayer card(#4665) is available in English, French and Spanishfrom the Supply Department. For more information,visit kofc.org.

District DD Name Jurisdiction Council Location

1 Gerardo D. Carstensen Velazquez Mexico Central 15444 Queretaro

1 Michael F. O'Reilly British Columbia 15445 Victoria

4 Richard M. Burke New York 15446 Mastic Beach

36 Robert E. Clum, Jr Ohio 15447 Lancaster

167 Ronaldo M. Chavez Texas 15448 Brownsville

15 José A. de la Torre Gutierrez Mexico Central 15449 San Julian Jalisco

M-20 Oscar T. Cabrillos Mindanao 15450 Brgy. 4, Talakag

NCD Robert McLaren Colorado 15451 Denver

12 Stephen R. Zanone Kentucky 15452 Lexington

9 Henry R. Moore Arkansas 15453 Fort Smith

3 Robert J. Wyma Michigan 15454 Grand Rapids

V-74 Clarito C. Medalla Visayas 15455 Brgy Calumpang

22 David E. Walsh, Sr. Pennsylvania 15456 Limerick

4 Bohn Peterson South Dakota 15457 Brookings

69 Fred Russell Ohio 15458 Canton

B-41 Santiago V. Barba Luzon 15459 Bucloc - Daguioman

4 Krzysztof Zuba Poland 15460 Ozarow

FDD Kevin Donovan Connecticut 15461 Stamford

22 Frank Hyke Washington 15462

94 New York 8721 Webster

District DD Name Jurisdiction Círcle Location

C92 Carlos A Jomen Mindanao 3302 Alamada No Cotabato40 Bernard M Lammer Iowa 5557 Des Moines31 Dirk A Griffin Maryland 5558 Frederick25 John J Crosson Arizona 5559 PhoenixA12 Joaquin E Sta Maria Luzon 5560 San Mateo Rizal

New Councils and Circles