Fraternal Leader Advisory

August 2026

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Featured

FLA Live: August Edition – Fraternal Webinar Series

Join us Thursday, August 20 at 8:00 PM ET for the next edition of our monthly FLA Live! webinar series entitled New Initiatives to Jump-start Your Council. To help your council fill its calendar for the new Fraternal Year, we will do a deep dive into three recent programs and incentives. This includes one of our newest Family programs, Build-a-Bed; the Heart of the Gospel retreat; and showing how you can use the Food for Families program as a council membership incentive.

Officers Online Maintenance Outage

On the morning of Tuesday, August 11, Officers Online will be down from 2:00 am until 8:00 am for a major upgrade to the servers for our digital platforms.

This outage will affect Officers Online and supporting applications (Member Management, Member Billing and By-Laws Online), including College Council Conference Registration and Online Join.

Annual Council Audit Due August 15

The Council Audit changed from Semi-Annual to Annual for the 2025-2026 fraternal year. The new Annual Council Audit Report (#1295) is now live in Officers Online, due on August 15. Use the Annual Council Audit Worksheet (#1295A) to prepare the information to complete and submit your report. A training session for completing the Annual Council Audit Report is also available.

Council Audit Training

The Culture of Invitation – Church Drive Kit

Newly updated for the 2026-2027 Fraternal Year, the Culture of Invitation Church Drive Kit will make it easier than ever to personally invite every Catholic man from your parish to become a Knight of Columbus.

At the heart of the kit are two powerful tools – a personalized pulpit announcement and the membership enrollment cards – that help transform a general invitation into a personal one.

The kits are now live on the Supply Store and are free to order. View the new video How to Run a Successful Church Drive here.

Changes to the Star Awards

Some of the requirements for the Star Council Award and Star District Award have changed. They include changes to the Columbian Award and Founders’ Award, as well as updates to required forms.

Learn More

Officers Online Access

Officers and Program Personnel that were in a role for the 2025-2026 Fraternal Year that had access to Officers Online will continue to have access to Officers Online under the same Username, as long as they are in an officer role with access.

To clarify the status of your account, please use the ACCOUNT ASSISTANT link under the SIGN IN button. If you know your Username, but can’t remember your password, use the PASSWORD RESET option in the same location. For further assistance, please contact Customer Service at 800-380-9995.

Star Award Changes

Changes to the Star Council Award

The Star Council Award recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and council programs and activities. Some of the requirements have changed. They include:

Administrative

In order to ensure that a council has fulfilled all administrative requirements, they must submit the online Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728), Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#185), Service Program Personnel Report (#365), and Annual Audit (#1295).

Training for the Annual Council Audit Report can be accessed here.

Columbian Award

The requirements for the Columbian Award have changed significantly. Award requirements can be found here:

Training for the 2026-27 Columbian Award can be accessed here.

Founders’ Award

To earn the Founders’ Award, a number equal to 10% of Associate members on the July 1 council roster must meet individually with a field agent for a financial review (minimum of five and maximum of fifteen). A financial review with an insurance agent is a personalized check-in to evaluate your current financial protection, identify gaps or changes in your needs, and ensure your insurance and long-term financial strategies still align with your goals, family, and future plans.

Training for the 2026-27 Founders’ Award can be accessed here.

For a list of all the requirements to earn the Star Council Award, go to kofc.org/star.

Changes to the Star District Award

Some of the requirements for the Star District Award have changed. They include:

At least two councils in the district earn the Star Council Award. Districts with one council are not eligible.
Every council in district must submit the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728), Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#185), Service Program Personnel Report (#365), and Annual Audit (#1295).

For a list of all requirements to earn the Star District Award, go to kofc.org/star.

Training & Webinars

FLA Live: August Edition – Fraternal Webinar Series

Reminder: Monthly Council Spotlight

Each month, as part of our FLA Live! Fraternal Webinar Series, we feature a council that is excelling in membership growth, programs, evangelization, faith formation or building a strong brotherhood of men. We want to showcase YOUR council! Tell us the great things your council is doing in your parish and community. Please email us at fraternaltraining@kofc.org so we can put the spotlight on your council.

Fraternal Webinar Archives

Missed a fraternal webinar? Visit our archive of fraternal webinars to view them on-demand.

Training for Updated Awards Requirements

The requirements for the Columbian Award and Founders’ Award have changed! View our training sessions to learn more about these updated requirements:

The Columbian Award Explained

The Founders’ Award Explained

Training for the Online Annual Council Audit

The Council Audit Report is now submitted annually, due on August 15. To find out more about the process, view the Council Annual Audit training session.

Fraternal Training is Easy to Fit Into a Busy Schedule

Visit kofc.org/training to locate online training for state, council, district and assembly officers. These training sessions are available on demand, and the average length is only 30 minutes! Suggested Training by Officer Role is a great place to get started.

Programs

Coats for Kids

High-quality, low-cost coats are now available for purchase in the United States and Canada. Ask your state council how you can participate in its Black Friday or Boxing Day promotions! For more information and resources to run the program.

ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy)

Include a baby bottle drive or another fundraiser for a local pregnancy resource center or maternity home on your program calendar. Program resources can be found at kofc.org/asap. K of C-branded baby bottles can also be found on Supplies Online. Through the program, for every $500 a council donates to a pregnancy resource center or maternity home, Supreme will donate $100 more (up to $400 for $2,000 donated).

Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

Now is the time to reach out to local schools and ask them to participate in this year's Essay Contest. You can also put together a committee of members to judge the essays – they will love reading the entries. For more resources, and for this year’s essay topic.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

This month marks the 100^th anniversary of the beginning of the Cristero War. Promote devotion to the Mexican Martyrs and members of the Knights of Columbus with your council and parish. Review the program guide sheet to learn more.

Celebrating Our Catholic Heritage

Feast days offer the perfect opportunity to celebrate the faith and cultural heritage of your parish. Pick a significant date for your parish community and review the program guide sheet for ideas!

Forms & Resources

Updated for the new Fraternal Year – The Culture of Invitation – Church Drive Kit

Created with one mission in mind: to make it easier than ever to personally invite every Catholic man over the age of 18 to become a Knight of Columbus.

At the heart of the kit are two powerful tools – a highly personalized pulpit announcement and the membership enrollment cards – that help transform a general invitation into a personal one.

The full kit includes:

Membership Enrollment Card (250) (item 11881)
24 Hours Can Change Your Life (250) (item10099)
Fraternal Benefits Card (250) (item 11730)
Sacred Heart Icon Prayer Card 11520 (1,000)
Membership Outreach Guide – Your step-by-step guide to running an effective church drive using the new resources and approach!

Also included in the kit is a QR code linking a new video How to Run a Successful Church Drive. (Please note, this video is currently only available in English).

The kits are now live on the Supply Store and are free to order, containing materials for a successful Church Drive at a parish of up to 800 Sunday Mass attendees.

Fraternal Leadership Resources Sent to Council Leaders

Updated fraternal resources have been sent via mail to your council's financial secretary. These resources reflect changes for the upcoming fraternal year including new guidelines for the Founder's Award and Columbian Award. Here is the full list of materials that your council's financial secretary will receive:

Fraternal Leader Success Planner #5033
Fraternal Excellence Guide #11619
Faith in Action Guidebook #10907
Protocol, Meetings and Ceremonials Book #11620
Officers Online Access Infographic #11208
Suggested Training By Office Infographic #11843
Cor Leader Guide #11500
Cor Formation Content Guide #11696
Working With Men’s Ministries #11934
Fishers of Men Guidebook #24-0237

Officers Online Access

NEW: Annual Council Audit

Council Audit Training

Grand Knight

Highlights for Grand Knights

Submit the Annual Council Audit Report (#1295) due August 15. Use the Annual Council Audit Worksheet (#1295A) to prepare the information to complete and submit the Annual Council Audit Report in Officers Online.
Review the 2026-2027 requirements for Star Council.
Make sure your council has submitted the Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#185) and Service Program Personnel Report (#365) which were due by June 30. Submitting these forms via Member Management is the best way to ensure officers and directors receive timely access to Officers Online and critical communications from the Supreme Council. Your council must submit these forms to be eligible for the Star Council Award.
Appoint an Evangelization and Faith Formation (EFF) Director to support Cor in your council this fraternal year. Please submit your (returning or newly appointed) EFF Director as soon as possible, using this Council EFF Director Submission Form. This form supplements your council personnel report #365 as there is not a space for the EFF Director on the #365 at this time.
Build a strong leadership bench by identifying future leaders of your council, empowering them to run initiatives, and mentoring them on fraternal operations.
Contact your District Deputy to schedule the Installation of Council Officers.
Complete your Safe Environment training and confirm that your Program, Family and Community Directors have done the same. Directors will automatically be removed from their positions if they do not complete the required training within 45 days of appointment. Council and member status can be checked using the Reports tab on Officers Online.
Every Faith in Action program is an opportunity to put your faith into action and step into the breach. Visit the Faith in Action Resources page for more information and highlights.

EFF Director

Highlights for EFF Directors

Cor Central: The quarterly newsletter providing valuable resources to successfully implement and sustain Cor was sent to the State and Council EFF Directors on July 8. If you or someone on your team isn’t receiving the newsletter, you can sign up here: Subscribe to Cor Central
If a NEW Council EFF Director has been appointed for the 2026-2027 fraternal year, please submit this EFF Director Form online (either by the Grand Knight or the new appointee) to ensure all Cor communications are received.
Now is the time to prepare for a strong start to the new fraternal year. Begin by developing a plan to promote Cor in late summer or early fall. Review the updated How to Promote Cor resource for practical ideas and tools.

District Deputy

Highlights for District Deputies

Ensure all your councils have submitted the Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#185) and Service Program Personnel Report (#365). Submitting these forms via Member Management is the best way to ensure officers and directors receive timely access to Officers Online and critical communications from the Supreme Council. Share this short video tutorial if necessary.
Remind your councils to submit the Annual Council Audit Report (#1295) which is due August 15. Also available for councils are the Annual Council Audit Worksheet (#1295A) and a new Training Session.
If you have not held your District Meeting, schedule it now and use our recommended agenda and notes as a guide.
After checking in with your councils, complete an Annual Report on Council Status (#944) for each council in your district, whether functioning or not. These easy online reports should be submitted right after the District Organization Meeting and are due by September 15. This form is required for Star District Award eligibility.
The Installation of Council Officers for each council in your district should be completed as soon as practical and as close as possible to the start of the new fraternal year. The script can be found in the publication Protocol, Meetings, and Ceremonials (#11620), which is available to download, or can be ordered through supplies Online.
Work with your councils to schedule at least one Exemplification of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity per month in the district. Share the schedule with all your councils.
If any of the councils in your district are “inactive” or “dormant” please work with your state officers on a corrective action plan. If you need assistance with council mergers and reactivations, we're here to help. Email councilreactivation@kofc.org.

Financial Secretary

Highlights for Financial Secretaries

Make sure you have access to Officers Online and Member Management and Member Billing.
The Report of Officers Chosen for the Term (#185) and Service Program Personnel Report (#365) were due by June 30. Use the easy Member Management application to submit yours if still necessary.
Review the Fraternal Excellence Guide (#11619) for the latest information on council operations and the role of Financial Secretary.
Check your council's supply inventory and order Candidate Kits (#531) and other supplies as needed. Printed material over two years old should be discarded and replaced.

Featured Officer Announcements:

August 20 at 8:00 PM ET - FLA Live: July edition – New Initiatives to Jump-start Your Council Register Now
Changes to the Star Council Award and Star District Awards All Requirements
Officers Online Access – check your access for the 2026-2027 fraternal year – Infographic
Annual Council Audit – use the new report form and worksheet – Annual Council Audit Report Annual Council Audit Worksheet
The Culture of Invitation – Church Drive Kit – Updated for the new Fraternal Year – How to Run a Successful Church Drive

Employment Opportunities

The Knights of Columbus Fraternal Mission Department has fantastic job opportunities. Visit our website to find one that matches your skills and goals.

Fraternal Leader Advisory

FLA Live: August Edition – Fraternal Webinar Series

Officers Online Maintenance Outage

Annual Council Audit Due August 15

The Culture of Invitation – Church Drive Kit

Changes to the Star Awards

Officers Online Access

Changes to the Star Council Award

Administrative

Columbian Award

Founders’ Award

Changes to the Star District Award

FLA Live: August Edition – Fraternal Webinar Series

Reminder: Monthly Council Spotlight

Fraternal Webinar Archives

Training for Updated Awards Requirements

Training for the Online Annual Council Audit

Fraternal Training is Easy to Fit Into a Busy Schedule

Coats for Kids

ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy)

Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Celebrating Our Catholic Heritage

Updated for the new Fraternal Year – The Culture of Invitation – Church Drive Kit

Fraternal Leadership Resources Sent to Council Leaders

Officers Online Access

NEW: Annual Council Audit

Highlights for Grand Knights

Highlights for EFF Directors

Highlights for District Deputies

Highlights for Financial Secretaries

Featured Officer Announcements:

Employment Opportunities

Important Links

Fraternal Operations

Training & Webinars

Celebrate McGivney

Forms

Programs

Membership Benefits

Merchandise & Supplies

Ceremonials

Inviting Men to Join

Engage Your Members

Thank you for your service to the Order.

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