Membership

Reaching Out to Our Current Members as Well as New Candidates

Recruitment to the council membership is another function similar to a program of its own. Trying to make sure that everyone who would like to join our group, has an opportunity to do so is an ongoing challenge. In days past we would have a current member sponsor a new candidate for membership. That sponsor would make efforts to stay in touch with the new candidate until they were initiated as a Knight, and often beyond that in a mentorship type of role. These days that can be difficult to manage. The world turns at a bit of a different pace than it used to. There used to be days when your employer might pay you to particiapte in community service activity while taking time away from the office. There were opportunities for service clubs to create sports teams and foster fraternailsm in that way. And of course the demand for our attention and spare time or money is much much different than it used to be. The value for someone to give up some spare time to go and vollunteer in the community used to have more impact than it currently does. With our attention forever being pulled in every direction with the newest shiny objects or flashing lights, 500 tv channels on demand, and the same demand on our familes, spreading us even thinner, the idea of joining a service club and commiting even 10 hours a year is a hard sell. The question more than ever has become, “What is in it for me?” Its a legitimate concern, and it demands better than ever of any club that hopes to recruit you.

So what we hope to do is find ways to show you a return on your investment of time and patience. Its tricky to quantify, but there is already great value in being a part of this group, in that you meet and work with amazing people. You participate in fulfilling activities that make a difference to people around you. You learn and grow in faith, knowledge, experience, love, chairity, unity, and general support of you as a Catholic man, son, brother, husband and father. In addition to that, you have every opportunity to champion an effort that you feel passionate about. We arent asking you to join simply so we can show you what we do. We equally want you to show us what you can do. What you bring to the table is as valuable to the group as what the group brings.

Strengthening Our Faith Along the Way

In addition to all of that, we really want to focus on our faith formation work. What sets us aside from other service clubs is exactly that. We are Catholic, trying to do Cathoic works and grow in our Catholic faith. Its a hard hill to climb, becuase none of us ever feel qualified to lead that charge. And men can be a tough crowd for sure. But the value many of us seem to be seeking is in finding ways to just explore our faith and learn what it means to be better men guided by God. That may be the single most important directive we are tackling, but its not the only one.

It Takes All Kinds of Men

Not everyone likes to go to meetings. Thats ok. You dont need to go to the meetings to be a Knight. There are other things you can do. Not everyone likes to work Bingos or other fundraisers. Thats also ok. Not everyone likes to work pancake breakfasts either. Also ok. Not everyone appreciates participating in funerals. We get it. But please realize you get out of this what you can put into it. There are many many programs and activities you can be involved with. If you join our council and can only participate in one program a year, that is enough. Some guys participate in many programs each year, and then life takes them another direction for a while so they cannot participate in anything. The fact is that no one is taking score. No one is watching to make sure you meet some sort of quota of activity. You wont be kicked out for not being there for something. No one is going to corner you at mass or the grocery store to challenge you on why you werent at something. They may ask you if you are ok, becuase we all care about each other. But thats probably all. The truth is that the door is open for you. You are invited to all of it. There isnt a reality that you can take it all in. Its ok to pick and choose. Its ok to try and fail. None of us are perfect. But as a group we get closer to that standard the more of us there is to try and tackle the scope of things we do. Whatever you can contribute, no matter how big or small, is worth our time, and hopefully therefore also worth your time.

New Ways to Connect and Engage

We are creating things like this website in an effort to reach more potential memebrs, as well as exisiting members who are a little inaccessible for various reasons. With the roar of the modern world, we are trying to reach out and interact in new ways that may help everyone reach back a little more.

If you are interested in finding out more or just want to understand better what being a member of Fr. Leduc Council 7061 means, feel free to talk to any of our members. Each one will have a unique perspective on it and can share with you access to more members who can speak about it.

Joining is as simple as signing up, getting initiated, and paying annual dues. The annual dues for the Fr. Leduc Council are $35 per member ($30 per member plus $5 for the memorial fund), due every January for that calendar year. Send your interest to gk7061@kofc.ab.ca or fs7061@kofc.ab.ca, ask at the parish office for contact info, or talk to any Knight you can find. We are everywhere once you start looking.