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A challenge that college councils constantly face is the development and turnover of leadership. In four years, men must become leaders, guide their councils and then train others to do the same. New officers elected in the spring must quickly embrace their roles if they are to utilize summer vacation as a planning opportunity for the fall semester.
In addition to having outgoing leaders train the new elects to replace them, here are some best practices to effectively develop leadership in your council:
Install Officers if Possible Before the End of the Term
Install Officers if Possible Before the End of the Term
Coordinate an Officer Installation Ceremony with the District Deputy before the end of the school year. This allows each newly elected officer to officially assume his roles and responsibilities prior to summer vacation. The Officer Installation Ceremony is an open event and an opportunity for friends, family and the campus community to join for the ceremony and a reception afterward.
Conduct One Business Meeting after Elections
Conduct One Business Meeting after Elections
Councils should have one business meeting after elections to allow the newly elected leaders a chance to address the council on their plans and initiatives for the coming year. This meeting should not wait for the fall as plans for a fall rush/recruiting week should be in the works over the summer.
Utilize a Junior as Grand Knight
Utilize a Junior as Grand Knight
Although any Third Degree member can be grand knight, councils have found success electing a junior as grand knight who can then mentor the next grand knight as a senior. Furthermore, this prevents a senior grand knight from dividing time between making post-graduate plans and leading the council.
Offer Leadership Roles to Freshmen
Offer Leadership Roles to Freshmen
Offer leadership roles and responsibilities to freshmen. Have honorary outside and inside guard roles that are given to promising freshmen; invite them to officer meetings; and allow them to manage part of an event. From there, responsibility should grow by giving them more leadership responsibility with events and elect them to a higher officer position sophomore year. Develop several men who could assume the position of grand knight.
NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS
NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS
Here are five simple ways for newly elected/appointed officers to prepare for the coming year:
- Meet with the Knight Who Previously Held the Position.
For most officer positions, a single meeting will be enough to discuss what the role involves and to explain any tricks of the trade. For positions like grand knight, it may take several meetings to completely discuss all that's involved. At this meeting, anything that needs to be handed over (such as the recorder's minute book; checkbooks for the treasurer; access/passwords to the council's email account, Facebook or website) should be given to the newly elected officers.
- Meet with Your New Grand Knight (If you're the grand knight, meet with each of your officers).
Each officer should meet with the newly elected grand knight to discuss his role during the upcoming year. Ask what goals he has in mind for you and the council. Also talk about a special event or focus that you'd like to work on in the upcoming year. There's always flexibility to expand and define the officer role, so make sure you take the time now to discuss this with your grand knight and plan for the year ahead.
- Get to Know the Other Catholic Group Leaders on Campus.
Other Catholic organizations on campus have also selected leaders for the coming year. Start out collaborating with these groups by meeting their leaders. To reduce the burden on the grand knight, each officer can serve as a liaison for one group.
You goal is to augment their mission.
- Start Planning for the Fall Semester.
Schedule business and officers' meetings and plan a recruitment drive for early September. Begin filling in service projects, faith programs and social events. Successful college councils typically hold two non-meeting events per week. For councils not up to this activity level, start by holding three non-meeting events a month -- one service, one faith and one social. From there, begin to schedule events more frequently, eventually to the level of two per week.
- Pray for your work as an officer, the members of your council and those people your council will impact.
Having a robust prayer life is an extremely important aspect of being a Knight and especially important for officers. By maintaining your focus on God you can best serve your council and campus community.
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