COUNCIL ACTIVITIES:
The Council Activities program seeks to promote programs that allow for fraternalism with the membership. Some suggestions from the Supreme Council include activities regarding athletics, blood donor clinics, socials, cultural, and public relations.
Historically, Father Bonner Council has included the following activities as part of its Council Activities Service Program:
Council Newsletter
The council puts out a newsletter 10 times per year, which provides meeting minutes, special events advertising, reports from the executive, notice of birthdays/anniversaries, and general interest articles. All members are welcome and encouraged to provide material for consideration.
Council Website
The council maintains a website to assist with the dissemination of council information.
Services found on the website include the following:
Members are encouraged to assist the website committee with:
- Council membership roster
- Council executive roster
- Council events/activity calendar
- Newsletter archives
- Council publication archives
- Event photo galleries
- Grand Knight’s monthly message
- Related links for the Order, the parish, and the Catholic Church
- providing content
- suggesting content or functional enhancements
- assisting with website administrative duties
Charities Appeal
Each year, a state-sponsored Jeep Cherokee raffle (Alberta-wide) involves Knights to sell tickets to family/friends, and in the shopping malls. Proceeds go to various charities including battered women’s shelters. This activity has typically been one of Fr. Bonner Council’s more successful events, as for 9 years straight, our members sold more tickets than any other council in the jurisdiction of “Alberta – Northwest Territories”, some years by more than double. Assistants are required to:
- sell tickets at specific time slots
- assist delivering and returning the demonstration vehicle to/from the malls
- phone committee for finding volunteers
- booking mall times
- assist with bookkeeping (tracking ticket sales)
- collecting ticket books from members
First Degree Initiation Team
This team works city wide to introduce new members into the 1st Degree. New team members are required, so that backup is always available in event of schedule conflicts for existing team members.
Fourth Degree Representative
This member reports to council on 4th Degree news, activities, and encourages Major degree members (members of the 3rd Degree) to become 4th Degree members.Hearts and Flowers
This program provides official messages from the council to those who are seriously ill, or to families who have just experienced the loss of a loved one. On behalf of the council, the chairman arranges the delivery of sympathy and get-well items when appropriate.
Phone Committee
This committee contacts members to inform them of significant events, and to search for volunteers for key events (i.e. – Award Night). Participants on this committee will be given a list of members to contact, with specific details as to the nature of the call, and any subsequent details that are relevant. Typically, phone-outs take place 4 to 5 times per year, with anticipated effort being 1 to 3 hours per phone-out.
State Curling
State sponsors a “State Curling Bonspiel” in a different location in the province each year. Fr. Bonner Council typically sends at least one rink (4 curlers) to represent Fr. Bonner council at this event, and more rinks if the interest is there. The council partially subsidizes the costs, so to encourage participation. All members are eligible, as long as the event is not full.
State Golf
State sponsors a “State Golf Tournament” in a different location in the province each year. Historically, many members of Fr. Bonner Council register as a group and participate. All members are eligible as long as the event is not full.
Awards Night
The Council Activities Director is responsible for managing the committee for the annual “Awards Night” which happens in June, as a wrap up barbeque for the council, to install the new council officers for the upcoming Columbian year, and to provide recognition to the efforts of the membership at large. Volunteers are required for organizing the event, purchasing and preparing food, providing door prizes, and event cleanup.
