Article 1

Section 1. This Council shall be known as Father Thomas F.B. Carroll Council, No. 4566, Knights of Columbus.

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Section 2. The Council's regular meetings shall be held on the First and Third Tuesday throughout the year.

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Section 3. The initiation fee shall be $15.00 which will accompany the application fee.  The fee will be refunded in the event that the candidate is not accepted for initiation.

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Section 4. The annual dues for the membership shall be $40.00 which each member of this Council shall pay on the due date.  Honorary Members shall be required to pay dues of $15.00 per annum, except that honorary life members shall not be required such annual dues.

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Section 5. The annual election of officers shall take place at the first meeting in June.

Article 2

Section 1. Only members who are in good standing and who have received the honor of the orders exemplification shall be eligible to hold office in this council.  No member shall hold more than one office at the same time.  Only insurance members shall be eligible for the office of Financial Secretary and Treasurer.

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Section 2. The elected officers shall be as follows: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard, and Board of Trustees.

Section 3. The appointed officers shall be as follows: Financial Secretary, Chaplin, and Lecturer.  The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight.  The Chaplin shall be a Catholic Priest who shall be selected by the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, and Board of Trustees whose selection shall be made in accordance with any rules established by the Ordinary of the Rockville Centre Diocese.  The Grand Knight shall select the Lecturer annually.

Section 4. The Board of Directors will review and approve the following stipends:

• Financial Secretary: Ten Percent of Annual Dues Collected.

• Chaplin:  Annual dues and initiation fee if applicable are waived.

• Grand Knight: Five Hundred Dollars paid in June.

Section 5. The Council Officers shall perform the duties required of them by the Laws and Rules of the Order and these By-laws as follows:

Grand Knight

The Grand Knight is the council's chief executive officer. He is responsible for setting council goals and ensuring that all officers fulfill their duties in reaching these objectives. He presides over all meetings; appoints program and committee directors as needed; fills officer roles in the event of vacancies; countersigns checks and orders for payment; and oversees the council’s degree team. Ideally, the Grand Knight must complete the Safe Environment training. 

Deputy Grand Knight

The Deputy Grand Knight serves as the Grand Knight's right-hand man and fills in for the Grand Knight when he is not present.  The Deputy Grand Knight will serve as the chairman of the Charitable and Benevolent fundraiser. Ultimately, he assists the Grand Knight in leading the council and reaching council objectives. In some councils, the Deputy Grand Knight role might be used to groom a possible Grand Knight candidate for the following year. Finally, the Deputy Grand Knight may serve as a liaison between the council and other groups that share similar interests (i.e.; Parish Outreach, SVDP, pro-life club, etc.).

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Chancellor

The Chancellor assists both the Grand and Deputy Grand Knights in leading the council by engaging and strengthening the council's membership.  The Chancellor will serve as the Program Director and will conduct all committee reports during the meeting. The Chancellor should participate in the council's degree team and should serve on both the Admission and Retention committees. 

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Recorder

The Recorder has the responsibility of recording all meetings and events held by the council. He should record minutes, conversations, and other information helpful to the council and prepare them to be distributed to the membership in a timely manner. Additionally, he should help with council event notifications, and council meeting reminders, and assist with council social media responsibilities.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for managing the council funds, whether in bank or school accounts. He receives money from the Financial Secretary and deposits funds into council accounts. He is also responsible for paying all council expenses. He also balances and verifies the ledger and keeps the updated budget approved by the council.

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Advocate

The Advocate acts as a council parliamentarian. He should be knowledgeable in Robert's Rules of Order and Methods of Conducting a Council Meeting (#1937). He may seek legal assistance from the state advocate, should issues arise. The Advocate should be able to take on additional responsibilities as the council deems necessary.

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Warden

The Warden is responsible for the property owned by the council. He is also in charge of setting up meetings and leads both the Inside and Outside guards.

Inside/Outside Guards

The Inside and Outside guards carry out tasks given to them by the Grand Knight and follow the Warden's orders. They are responsible for checking membership cards and allowing entrance to meetings.

Trustees (3)

The Trustees advise the Grand Knight, supervise the council's financial matters, and conduct the semiannual audits. Usually, the immediate past Grand Knight will serve as a trustee.  They shall audit the accounts of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer at least every six months, and in January and July report their findings to the Council during a business meeting.

                           Appointed Positions

Chaplain

The Chaplain is the spiritual leader of the council. He nurtures the faith in council members particularly through the sacraments but also through spiritual direction, retreats, and other events and support. The Grand Knight should meet regularly with the council Chaplain to see how the council can best support the Catholic community.

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Financial Secretary

The Financial Secretary is chosen by the Trustees and the Officers of the council for a three-year term and approved by the Supreme Knight. He provides continuity in the council and has the responsibility of collecting dues as well as ensuring that the council's financial recordings are kept up to date. Additionally, he ensures that membership records are current, issues membership cards, files regular reports to the district, regional, state, and supreme offices, and submits the annual 990 to the IRS.

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Lecturer

The Lecturer provides brief spiritual discourses and reflections during business meetings for the “Good of the Order”. If the Lecturer cannot be present, he should appoint a council member to give the reflection for him.

Section 5. The following standing Committees shall be appointed as follows:

Program Director

The Program Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and oversees the Faith in Action areas of Faith, Family, Community, and Life.  The Program Director ensures that all his subordinate committees meet regularly and plan appropriate events. He communicates individual committee reports to the Grand Knight. Keeps accurate records of council programs for reporting on the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728) and the Columbian Award Application (#SP-7). Must complete required Safe Environment training.

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Faith Director

The Faith Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. Responsible for all faith-based council programs.

Family Director

The Family Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. Responsible for all family-based council programs.

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Life Director

The Life Director is appointed by the Grand Knight and reports to the Program Director. Responsible for all life-based council programs. The individual appointed to this position should be comfortable discussing and planning efforts within the context of supporting and affirming life in all stages and in all conditions. Notably, he strives to promote programs that support and encourage the advancement of the pro-life movement, people with intellectual disabilities and persecuted Christians.

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Membership Director

The Membership Director serves as the head of the Admission Committee and works to grow the council's membership through new and transfer members. He should actively identify potential recruits, plan recruitment programs, host informational meetings, and encourage council members to seek candidates. In addition, the Membership Director should ensure that a council has access to frequent degree exemplifications whether its own or local councils.

Article 3

Section 1. The election of officers shall be by ballot.  A majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to elect, except that where several of equal degree are to be chosen, a majority shall not be necessary, but all shall be voted for on one ballot and no ballot containing names of more or less candidates than there are such officers to be voted for shall be counted, and those receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected to the order of the number of votes received.

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Section 2. The Grand Knight shall appoint two members to act as Tellers.  After all who are entitled to do so have voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall then proceed to count the votes in full view of the Council.  One of the Tellers shall examine each ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read aloud the name or names written or printed on all legal ballots.  The Recorder shall tally the same and the result shall be announced by the presiding officer.

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Section 3. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month succeeding his election, unless excused by the Grand Knight.

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Section 4. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled, after notice to the members, by election at the regular business meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the vacancy was created.