Brother Knights,
As we approach the end of the first quarter of the Fraternal Year, all I can say is WOW! We are in the middle of the largest growth the Order has seen since 1983. Many Councils in South Carolina are already part of this statistic. Council 17760 and 6891 have already passed the 100% mark of their annual intake quota and have earned the Supreme Incentive for the first quarter. Council 6892 is only one member away. And many more Councils are getting Fraternal Benefit Events and Membership Drives scheduled.
Some of this success would not be possible without the engagement of our Hispanic Brother Knights. On September 3, my family and I attended the 25th Anniversary picnic for Blessed Trinity Council 12274. They began an amazing journey two years ago to integrate their Council with the Hispanic community for the betterment of the Parish. I could not have been prouder to see Charter Members engaging with their Hispanic Brothers all afternoon! The efforts at Blessed Trinity have contributed to the many successes at other Councils throughout the State. As the Supreme Council recognizes September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month, I challenge you to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic men and their families in your Council, Parish, and communities.
The second quarter of the Fraternal Year is always a busy one. From recruitment drives to fall festivals; from soccer shootouts and coats for kids to the approaching holiday sea[1]son; and this year we are asking you to explore bringing COR to your Parish. We had three Knights participate in the COR training in New Haven, CT at the end of August. Their report and information were distributed to all Grand Knights. I am pleased to report that we already have three Councils actively implementing COR at their Parish. As we receive feedback, we will communicate best practices to all. If your Council needs assistance in finding resources or getting started with COR, please contact Alexander Kirby at axkirby@gmail.com or 843-607-3464.
I pray for continued success in all your programs, activities, and efforts. Please reach out to your District Deputy for any assistance. Remember this weekend, to spend an extra five minutes in prayer, and to ask a man to become a Knight. If done in the right order, there is no stopping us!
Jeffrey Crouch
State Deputy
Semper Fidelis!
