Description of the Duties of Council Officers

At our last meeting, the question arose on what the duties of the various council officers are.  Note that the list I found is the bare minimum- a council doing this will be reasonably alive, but will not achieve many goals.  I found the following resource at Supreme:

CHAPLAIN

• Serves as spiritual advisor to your council’s Knights (and their families).
• Provides a spiritual message to Knights during council meetings.

GRAND KNIGHT

• Presides over all meetings.
• Appoints program and membership directors.
• Appoints committees as needed.
• Countersigns checks and orders for payment.

DEPUTY GRAND KNIGHT

• Assists the grand knight with operation of the council and any other duties assigned to him by the grand knight.
• Presides at council meetings in the absence of the grand knight.
• Serves on the council’s Retention Committee (Recommended, but not required).

CHANCELLOR

• Responsible for encouraging members’ participation in council programs. Assists the grand knight and deputy grand knight with their duties.
• Serves on the council’s Admission Committee (Recommended, but not required).

FINANCIAL SECRETARY

• Collects dues from members. Responsible for sending billing notices and initiating retention measures.
• Ensures that the council membership records are updated and that new members sign the constitutional roll.
• Files various reports and membership/insurance transactions with the Supreme Council Office.
• Responsible for completing and submitting the proper Form 990 (U.S. only).
• Keeps the seal of the council and affixes it to membership cards, resolutions and other official documents as necessary.

RECORDER

• Responsible for keeping and maintaining a record of council meetings and maintains all correspondence of the council.
• Oversees all council communications and social media pages (Recommended, but not required).
• Oversees council calendar (Recommended, but not required).

TREASURER

• Responsible for handling council funds.
• Receives money from financial secretary and deposits it in the proper council accounts.
• Responsible for paying all council expenses, including assessments from the Supreme Council.

LECTURER

• Responsible for providing suitable educational and entertaining programs during the “Good of the Order” section of council meetings.

ADVOCATE

• Acts as parliamentarian for the council.
• Should have a working knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order, Charter, Constitution & Laws, council by-laws and Method of Conducting Council Meetings (#10318).
• Responsible for seeking legal assistance from the state advocate when necessary.

WARDEN

• Responsible for supervising and maintaining all council property.
• Sets up council chambers for meetings and degree exemplifications.
• Oversees inside and outside guards.

INSIDE/OUTSIDE GUARDS

• Attends the doors of the council chamber, checks current membership cards and allows entrance.
• Assist warden with his responsibilities.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

• Supervises all financial business of the council and conducts semiannual audits.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

• Works with the grand knight in scheduling council programs.
• Manages chairmen and other Knights responsible for implementing the council’s programs and activities.
• Keeps accurate records of council programs for reporting on the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728) and Columbian Award Application (SP-7).
• Keeps council’s public relations chairman informed of all programs for promotion.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

• Collaborates with the grand knight on council membership goals.
• Manages the Recruitment Committee, Retention Committee and Insurance Promotion Committee.
• Plans and coordinates the council’s schedule of recruitment programs.

RETENTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

• Creates and updates the new member plan, guiding Knights through the first months and year of membership.
• Contacts members in danger of being suspended and discusses their reasons for decreased activity.
• Examines reasons why Knights become inactive and plans attractive programs to reengage the council's membership.