It is very important that the elected officers of your council know their roles, execute them well, and lead by example those who will follow. The proper progression of chair officers begins with the guard positions and ultimately leads to your election to the office of Grand Knight. Your progression does not end with the Grand Knights’, position instead it leads to the office of Trustee of your council. The word end is not used as a final position mark because after Grand Knight has completed his elected time in office the three year sequence as Council Trustee follows.
One word of caution is appropriate. NEVER, feel that you have accomplished the top and you are no longer needed.... past Grand Knights are key to maintaining continuity within the council, with membership recruitment and programming. You have followed the progression of the chairs of the council. You have learned and experienced and now you possess the keys that when used properly to assist the new chair officers will make your council even stronger and better.
An early caution, sometimes it is difficult to give up ownership and authority. However, always remember that you had your moment in the sun and now that honor belongs to the new Grand Knight. Be available to advise, encourage and assist him, and allow him to lead and direct the council.
Lets take a look at the minimum Progression of Chair Officers for any council:
(This is an example primarily for a small council, larger councils can and will use other elected positions in the chairs.)
The first elected positions should be those of the guards. They are responsible to assist the Warden in assuring that only members are admitted to the council chambers for meetings and ceremonials and that order prevails during the meetings. They are the aides to the Warden and thus take their directions from him. These positions are held from two to four years depending on your council’s plan for succession of officers and how long each holds office.
The next position is the Warden. He is responsible for protocol in the council chambers and he is charged to see that only qualified brothers are allowed in the Chamber. He is also responsible for the property of the council, ceremonial items, council officer jewels, council robes and the proper set up of the council chamber for all meetings and ceremonials. The Warden accomplishes all of this with the aide of the guards, who he is mentoring to the next chair.
The Warden generally moves up to the next chair position, that of Recorder, he is the officer who is responsible for maintaining the written records of the proceedings of the council. This position is frequently referred to as the final training chair. At this stage, the member has learned the rules of order, the ceremonials and now finishes with the recording of all that happens in council meetings.
There are other chairs that a member can be elected to such as the Council Treasurer or the Council Advocate. Often these are positions that are filled by business professionals who maintain these officers for a few years longerthan then the normal council progression time frame.
The Financial Secretary (FS) is not a chair office. It is an office appointed by recommendations from the council to the Supreme office. Normally, a council will recommend two candidates to Supreme and the Supreme Council, with approval of the State Deputy, will appoint an FS for a term of three years. This appointment is renewable. It is very important that the F.S. an the Treasurer have compatible personalities, it has been noted that the average burn out of a financial officer is maxed at nine successive years.
The position of Lecturer is also an appointed position, appointed by the Grand Knight. It is the Lecturer’s responsibility to provide programs or activities to instruct and entertain the members at the conclusion of the business meeting. It is recommended that he use the Supreme Library to help provide programs for enjoyment and or instruction of the council members. This programming is provided during the meeting prior to the Chaplain’s summation and closing prayer.
Although not an elected position, the Lecturer is someone who can be considered a candidate for one of the lesser chair positions, especially when a chair position is vacated due to illness or because a chair officer must relocate due to job relocation.
The Chair position of the Deputy Grand Knight (DGK) is that of the right hand of the Grand Knight. It is the DGK. who is normally also the Program Chairman for the Council, it is through his direction that the various committees’ complete successfully their assigned tasks. It is from this office during the elected tenure that the DGK. does the final honing of his skills for the next position ..... Grand Knight.