Transcript Slide 1
School of the New Knight Being a Knight of the Order of the Temple, and what Commandery is all about Sir Knight John E. Helcl, II Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Commandery of Minnesota, 2014-2015 Past Commander, Cyrene Commandery #9, 2012-2014 (Revised March2015) Course Topics ✠Structure from Constituent Commanderies to the Grand Encampment ✠Expectations of a Commandery, Officers, Knights; and the Ralph Kirk Award ✠Uniforms, Regalia, and Procurement ✠Question and answer session A Commandery’s Duties Meeting the metric… What is expected out of your Commandery and the standards for the Ralph Kirk Award The Ralph Kirk Commandery of the Year The standards for the Ralph Kirk Award are excellent guidelines for your Commandery’s yearly duties and activities. The Kirk award is given by the Grand Commandery of Minnesota every year at the annual York Rite Grand Conclave to two Minnesota Constituent Commanderies that has exhibited and extolled the virtues and good works expected of all Knights Templar. There is one award for Commanderies with membership 100 Knights and up, and one for Commanderies under 100 Knights. Kirk: Basics Events outlined by the Kirk award most often can earn points for your Commandery one of two ways. -If your Commandery hosts and presides over such an event -Three or more Knights from your Commandery attend an event at another Commandery Additionally, Commanderies can earn points by what ritual steps they include for the opening and closing of their respective Asylums, assigning duties to Officers and Knights, and other important tasks. Kirk: Faith Activities ✠Christmas ✠Easter Observance ✠Ascension ✠Attend Day Observance a Church service in uniform ✠Sponsor ✠Host Observance a minister to the Holy Land presentation by a Holy Land Pilgrimage award recipient minister Kirk: Asylum ✠Open a Conclave in quorum ✠Open & Close with Prayer ✠One being the “Lord’s Prayer” ✠Drill/Sword ✠Including ✠Education ✠Conclave ✠(har Manual Practice Inspection practice at Conclave starts punctually har har!) Kirk: Civic & Public ✠Participate ✠Donate ✠Flag in a parade to a local cause presentation ✠For a Public or Masonic event ✠Installation of Officers ✠Newsletter ✠Up-to-Date Website or Online Communication Kirk: Ops & Logistics ✠Officer ✠Term planning meetings plan drafted by Commander elect ✠Appoint a Master of the Sword (D&C) ✠Advance six officers from a prior term ✠Assign a Contact Committee Knight ✠Timely submission of completed Annual Report Kirk: Ritual and miscellany ✠Confer the Orders of Knighthood ✠Assist another Commandery with conferring Orders ✠Knight ✠Visit new Sir Knights (recruitment) a Commandery ✠Support ✠Holy a Knights Templar program Land Pilgrimage, KT Eye Foundation, Etc… Kirk: Grand Duties Attend Grand Conclave: Officers Attend Grand Conclave: Knights Attend a Grand Comm. Sponsored Event Participate in a G.C. Committee Honors: KCT, KTCH, & Gold Shield Years of service awards Think outside the fuzzy hat Dare to do more Dare to do different Think big, and unify other Commanderies in your goal or vision Don’t be afraid to fail, fear mediocrity and slowly burning out Ask for help- from your fellow Knights and sister Commanderies Verify your intentions with the Grand Commandery Q & A and Miscellany Open floor for discussion