Membership Recruitment Training
B. Dan O’Hara, IPSD
Supreme Membership and
Program Coordinator
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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Membership Recruitment
Training
How do we Recruit?
Region 2
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Every Knight has a responsibility…
…to promote growth of the Order, as
well as ensuring valuable and
effective programming is being
conducted within the church and the
community. So…
…WHY DID FR. McGIVNEY CREATE THE
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS in the first
place?
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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Ask any non-member of
the Order from your
parish about who the
Knights of Columbus are
and they will most likely
say one of two things:
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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1. You give away a lot of
money to Charity; and
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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2. You have pancake breakfasts!
PANCAKES!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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Is that it?
PANCAKES??
Is that all we are known for?
Don’t get me wrong, but shouldn’t we be
known for a whole lot more??
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
And what is it that we do? Does it not
appear odd that even though we may
have been in a Parish for 30 or more
years, the first question people ask us
when invited to come into the Order
is:
“What do you do???”
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
• Because we haven’t properly
trained our Recruitment Team
on how to conduct and be
prepared for a Blitz we really
don’t have a meaningful answer
to the “What do you do”
question.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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So we proceed to add…
…and card nights…umm…
…and we help the Church…
…and we march in parades…
…and we raise money…uh
…and oh yeah, sell tickets…
…B-I-N-G-O…….
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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And the prospect’s wife says:
“ All you are doing is taking
my kid’s dad away from
them. What is in it for us?”
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Well – what is in it for her family?
• Do you know how to answer her?
•
Do you know what the Knights of Columbus
will do for her and her family?
• Do you know how her husband belonging to
the Order will help her family?
• Do you know about many of the other things
we should be known for?
Let’s take a look!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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Did you know to tell her:
The Order offers free, accidental death
benefits for the member and his wife?
The Order insures “uninsurable”
children?
At no cost, the Field Agent will assist
the widow of a deceased member with
all paperwork following his death?
We promote Faith, Family and
Community?
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
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Membership
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As committed as we are to the Catholic Church, so
are we to our communities.
By actively and financially supporting Special
Olympics, by leading the charge in pro-life, by
safeguarding the environment or working with
the Wheelchair Foundation in providing
wheelchairs to those in need, Knights of
Columbus members all over the world have
helped countless communities prosper.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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FAMILY:
As fathers and husbands, serving our
families is not only part of what we
do, it’s part of who we are. To that
end, Knights of Columbus councils
offer programs that strengthen
family and marital bonds by holding
numerous family focused events.
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LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR
INSURANCE PROGRAMS!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
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WHAT ELSE DO WE OFFER THE FAMILY?
First and foremost, the Knights of Columbus
are committed to family.
1. We assist our members to become better
fathers and Catholic husbands.
2. We provide faith based, family programs.
3. We promote fun events for the entire family.
4. We encourage family prayer.
5. We Offer School bursaries/scholarships
6. Fathers for Good!
7. Squires program for young men.
8. We BELIEVE in your family!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
•
In 1882, a young
parish priest named
Father Michael J.
McGivney brought
together a small group
of Catholic men and
formed the Knights of
Columbus. That’s
great, but why?
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
As Catholics in the 1800’s,
life was tough. If you
admitted to being
Catholic it impacted the
quality and pay for the
jobs you might get. It
impacted where you could
live and what involvement
in your community you
might be able to have.
We where a minority, a
despised minority.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
There was no Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, that did not
come until later, so being
Catholic had its challenges.
Father McGivney had pride
in his faith, he became a
priest to help others to build
their faith and stay strong in
spite of the challenges they
were sure to face because
of the being Catholic.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Another challenge that was
facing us was the extreme
growth of secret societies,
societies that promised
strength in numbers and
prosperity
for
its
members – but little else.
The concern was that
these organizations had
no basis in faith and many
of these societies in fact
went against the teachings
of the Catholic Church
and our values.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Another challenge for
Catholics were the
road blocks in the
world of finance.
One of the strongest
financial products
available - life
insurance, was
unavailable to
Catholics even if you
could afford it!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Quite simply, if you were
Catholic you where
automatically
disqualified, you could
not protect your family,
even if you wanted to.
Father McGivney
understood this too,
that’s why the Order’s
Insurance program is
the foundation of the
Order’s financial
strength.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Father McGivney
needed to
provide an
option to his
parishioners.
The Order of the
Knights of
Columbus was
his answer.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
To Succeed in membership growth you must:
• Learn about your product, the Knights of
Columbus…
• …use your resources and ask questions if you’re not
sure about something. Learn about the free accidental
death benefit available to members and their wives.
• Learn about the Knights being world leaders in the
battle for the protection of life. Learn about insurance
coverage for the uninsured children of our family
members. Learn about the more than $1.3 Billion our
Order has donated to charities in the last 10 years
alone.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
•Learn about the $73 billion of insurance our
Order has in force to protect it’s members.
•Learn that during this recession, the Knights of
Columbus did not lose one penny.
•Learn that in the US the Knights of Columbus
are now one of only 3 insurance companies
that have maintained the top rating given by
Standard & Poors and AM BEST. And in Canada
only ONE company holds that designation –
the
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Ways in which the Prospect’s family may already have been
touched by the Knights of Columbus:
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Attending a KofC parish event or activity
Supporting Special Olympics
Supporting Habitat for Humanity
Support of Catholic schools
Many councils sponsor Seniors residences
Vatican broadcast of special Masses
Altar server appreciation
Food bank/soup kitchens and Blood donors
Family Rosary/Hour of Prayer Marian Devotion
Local Memorials to the Unborn
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Researching a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s)
Fought Roe V Wade for the past 40 years
Non-government Organization (NGO) at the UN
Inserted and won the right to maintain “under God” in
the US pledge of allegiance
Rebuilt the façade of the Vatican
Local “coats for Kids” and “food for families” programs
Kid’s substance abuse poster and essay contests
Support Big Sisters, Big Brothers, Boy Scouts
Keep Christ in Christmas and Christmas Hampers
Light up for Christ
9-11 Hero’s Fund
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
And most IMPORTANTLY when speaking to a
prospect and his wife…
• Speak from your heart! Tell them what the
Knights of Columbus means to YOU.
• Tell them what inspired YOU to belong to
the Order.
• Tell them how membership in the Order has
benefitted YOU and YOUR family.
• Tell them why YOU believe you want THEM
to belong with you to the BEST, CATHOLIC
LAY ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD!!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
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IF you believe in who we are, IF you
love the Order and IF you have the
knowledge you need, then getting a
family to belong to our family is easy.
But be honest about what the Order is.
We will not be for everyone, because
we will not change who we are to
match what someone else wants…
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Membership Recruitment Training
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…But then, the Church isn’t going to
change either and that has proven to
be the right decision. The Order is
based on our faith, be honest about
that, don’t cloud that aspect looking to
be politically correct or sensitive to
those who would have us change our
organization to match the flavour of
the day.
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Membership Recruitment Training
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The order is made up of 100’s of thousands of men,
just like you and me. It’s been said that some have a
natural talent for things in life, and others have a
great work ethic. Personally, I would take a great
work ethic over talent any day. Stay focused, stay
challenged and talk to a lot of men about the order.
That is what will grow the Order, all of us who
believe, working and bound together like the threads
of a cable we are strong, and together we will bring
the Order to every Parish and Catholic family. But
don’t fall for the “quality vs. quantity” trap.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
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Training
Just remember:
- Belief with Passion,
- Knowledge with
Confidence, and a
- Winning, positive
attitude –
WORKS.
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
Membership Recruitment Training
Prepare Yourselves and you will
succeed!
Make our new member and his family feel
welcomed!
Treat him like he really is…your BROTHER!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
THOUGHTS OF A NEW MEMBER
“I see you at the meetings, but you never say Hello.
You’re busy all the time you’re there, with those you really know.
I come to the meetings, but I’m a lonely guy.
The new ones feel as strange as I, as the old ones pass us by.
Darn it! You folks urged us to join and you talked of fellowship.
You could just cross the room, you know,
But you never make the trip.
Can’t you just wave, or nod, or stop and shake a hand;
And then, go back, and sit among your friends?
Now that, I’d understand! I’m going to be at the next meeting.
And I hope that you will spend, the time to introduce yourself …
Because, I joined to be your friend!”
Author: unknown
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SHOOT FOR THE
MOON!
Even if you miss, you
will land in the
STARS!
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar
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With the program we have just reviewed, let’s
look at an unsuccessful approach and then a
successful one.
List some of the challenges we encounter as
recruiters.
As a group, let’s come up with some better ways
to handle these challenges.
What works for you as a recruiter?
With what you have just learned, how many
members can you recruit this year?
Knights of Columbus Membership Recruitment Seminar