The State Convention is just around the corner. By now, all Councils should have selected their delegates and alternates, and the properly signed and sealed credentials submitted to the State Committee handling this.

With the convention here, there is not much time left to recruit new members for this Columbian Year. But that is not permission to quit recruiting. All of us as members should be keeping our eyes open to see who in our parishes is not a member for our Order. We have an obligation to talk to these men and offer them the chance to join us in the experience of a life time.

I know that a lot of the recruiting phrases and slogans can sound trite and contrived. I had the wonderful experience of growing up with a salesman as my father. My dad had the knack to be able to describe things so they always sounded good. He also had integrity, so he never tried to sell a product he did not believe was as good as he said. Form my boyhood experiences with my dad, I learned the same lesson, and I commend tt to all of us. Learn about the product, get to know it, and believe in it. It will be easy to talk up membership in the Knights when we are living it and believe in it ourselves.

Another way to recruit is to give a sterling example of Catholicity in our own lives. As we all heard in the various charges of the degrees we have taken, we strive to make our lives examples of the principles of the order. This is one of the best ways to recruit. When non-members see that we enjoy what we are doing, they naturally tend to have thoughts that lead them to inquire about the Knights. Be ready for them. Always know where to get hold of recruiting materials quickly. A question or query from a nonmember should be answered directly or with a pamphlet within a dya. Don’t wait until next Sunday when you see the man again. By that time, he will have forgotten the question he asked and we will lose an opportunity for a new member.

As I have mentioned to the Grand Knights I am in need of a District Warden. This is a responsible position that can be a DD-in-training. If you become a DW, you are not required to be the next DD. I became a DD without having been a DW. But, I need a DW because I have not yet mastered the art of bi-location. Two of our Councils both meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month. Trying to cover both of these meetings is a challenge. The DW can represent the DD when there is this type of conflict. And I promise I will provide a transcript of the monthly report to the Council for the selected, appointed, and installed DW.

Any 3rd Degree member is eligible to apply for this position, except for Grand Knights, due to the conflict of interest. However, DW might be a great follow up assignment for those GKs who will be completing their term and not seeking re-election. If anyone is interested, call me

Vivat Jesus!,