Supreme Convention News from Supreme Director Elect Logan Ludwig
Brothers,
The 125th Supreme Council annual meeting celebrated our past, present, and future!
Our Order was blessed with the presence of the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Bertoni, who promised
to take a personal interest in the cause for canonization of our Founder, Father Michael J. McGivney.
Cardinal Bertoni was also effusive in his praise for the Order's membership and insurance efforts, and
he told our delegates that he would be sending an excellent report on the Knights of Columbus to the Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI. The Order should be proud to have such strong support from his eminence and the
many cardinals and bishops and other clergy who were in attendance at this historic event.
Now is the time for us to capitalize on the momentum gained from such an historic meeting. Illinois can
demonstrate its leaderhip in the Order by doubling our recruiting efforts so we can show the Vatican
Secretary of State and the Holy Father that we are worthy of their praise and the title, "strong right
arm of the church". Our State Deputy, Phil Barone, and his membership team has set the bar high; Illinois
is to recruit 3,000 new members during the fraternal year. We are currently the 4th largest jurisdiction
with 71,202 members in 438 councils statewide. However, Michigan is right behind us and closing fast with
70,212.
Congratulations should go out to our Immediate Past State Deputy, Paul Havrilka, Jr. who was named to the
Supreme Knight's Circle of Honor during the convention's Award Ceremony. Congratulations on this noteworthy
achievement! Illinois should be proud that this is the 5th time in the last 7 years that Illinois has
received this prestigious award. Of course, Illinois would not have been there had it not been for the
efforts of countless of our Supreme program consultant, the state memberhip team, district deputies,
grand knights, membership directors, field agents and degree teams from throughout Illinois making new
member recruitment and member retention job #1. It's because you recruit the candidates and hold the degrees
that Illinois is so successful.
I want to also congratulate the outstanding effort and leadership of 51 councils who achieved Star Council
award this year and the 10 district deputies that achieved Star District. Congratulations also to Council
#3788 in Ingleside who received honorable mention for its programming efforts.
Illinois was also recognized at the Supreme Convention for its charitable contributions of $5,820,242.
We finished 4th in the Order behind Ontario, Texas, and Quebec.
So, Illinois, we have our work cut out for us. I'm sure everyone agrees with me that Illinois can achieve
the Circle of Honor Award every year, that we can be #1 in charities, and that we can be the top
jurisdiction with the most Star Councils in the Order.
Dedication, teamwork, and unity as one family under God will make it happen this year.
Fraternally,
Logan Ludwig, PSD
Supreme Director Elect
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