April 2008

April marks the beginning of the fourth and final quarter of this fraternal year. It is time when we, the leaders of our Order in Kansas, must review our progress in reaching the goals set at the beginning of the fraternal year.

In-making my review as State Deputy, I find we are having a great year in programming with new records being set and participation increased. In membership, we are showing a positive growth rate directly attributed to membership recruitment activities of many councils. With continued efforts in recruiting we will meet our goals of reaching the Circle of Honor.

Everything in our Order depends on you, the members. As Knights of Columbus members, you should be dedicated and proud of what you have accomplished. Recruiting new members is every member's privilege and responsibility and it's the only way to sustain your council's growth. The prospects are out there waiting to be asked.

With men joining our Church at Easter and high school graduations in May, there is a new source for prospects. I challenge each member with a son, nephew, friend or brother graduating this spring, to recruit them into the greatest fraternity of catholic men, the Knights of Columbus. These young men coming into adulthood are our responsibility. We must offer them the tools of our Order and show them how to help one another and those less fortunate. We must invite these young men to join our Order and encourage them to become active. This is a choice they must make, but uncles, brothers, friends, or we, as fathers, must give them the opportunity and encouragement to make this choice. Make sure your council schedules a first degree to give these young men the opportunity they deserve.

We have only three more months this fraternal year to reach our membership goals. To do this, we need every council active and every member recruiting. I challenge you to give membership recruitment your best effort. If you do, we will have the best membership year in our history. Together we can, and must, give this "Experience of a Lifetime" to all eligible catholic men.

Vivat Jesus
Don Wagner, State Deputy