Indiana State Council Officers

Gilbert E. "Gil" Spisak

State Deputy

Home Council: 9114 - Nativity of Our Savior, Portage, IN
Home Assembly: 240 - Father Sorin, Valparaiso, IN

Worthy Brother Knights,

As we continue through the late fall and the approach of winter and Advent seasons, there is much work ahead. We remain committed to our MISSION in November, and we are grateful for the continued dedication of all our Knights.

Mission of the Order

The Knights of Columbus empowers Catholic men to live their faith and serve their family, parish, community and country.

A Special Thank You to Those Who Accepted the Mission:
Did you complete your October Mission to invite a Catholic man to join our ranks? To help grow our charitable works and offer a Catholic man the gift of Knighthood! As we know, many hands make light work, and we want to thank those who have already accomplished their mission to invite and bring in a new Brother Knight to help increase our Charitable works and to continue serving/increasing his Faith.

To the Knights who are still working to bring a new Brother into the Order: keep going! Your efforts are invaluable, and the mission is one that benefits our communities and strengthens the Order. Together, we can achieve even greater things!

As we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, we express our deepest thanks for all that GOD has blessed us with. The State Council wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and continued success in fulfilling our shared mission!!

We at the State Council want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU! to all Veterans who have served, especially to those who Gave ALL for our country. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

A Heartfelt THANK YOU to Fred Schmits and Sandy

The State Council Officers, Chairmen, District Deputies, and Knights of Columbus across Indiana want to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude and recognition to Fred Schmits and his wife, Sandy, for their years of dedicated service to the Indiana Knights of Columbus State Council.

At the “young age of 87,” Fred is retiring from his role with the State Council, and we would like to honor him for his outstanding contributions over the years.

Fred has served in numerous leadership positions, each with the highest level of dedication and commitment to the Order and our community. Some of the many positions he has held include:

Indianapolis Archdiocesan Coordinator
District Deputy #28
District Deputy #30 (during his time as a State Chairman, when the DD position was vacant)
State Program Director
State Council Director
Past President, Financial Secretaries Association
K of C Board of Trustees Member, Gibault Children's Services
McGivney Health Care Center Board Member, Gibault Care Center
And many other roles too numerous to list.

Fred’s service has spanned many years, and his commitment has made a lasting impact on the Order, especially in our charitable works and community outreach. In addition to his work with the Knights, Fred is also a retired judge, further exemplifying his lifelong dedication to service and leadership.

We are deeply grateful for Fred and Sandy’s tireless efforts, and we wish them both a well-deserved retirement filled with joy and peace.

Thank you, Fred and Sandy, for everything you’ve done!

Membership Inviting
EVERYONE – KNIGHTS and ALL Councils should be Inviting men to Join Us! – As “Fishers of Men”!

Inviting and Bringing Men into the Order to Join Us!
It’s not about a number.
It’s not about a reward.
It’s about mission. It’s about obligation.

Every Catholic man deserves what you and I have.
Catholic men are waiting. They are waiting to be invited. Just ASK!
With CHRISTmas approaching, give a Catholic man the gift of KNIGHTHOOD!

Remember, the strength of our programs and charitable causes depends on the collective effort of our members. We are Men on a Mission, and need new members added to our brotherhood, to help work on the programs while increasing our faith – HAVE YOU ASKED SOMEONE TO JOIN US ON OUR MISSION! It’s up to you to ask and invite at least one new member to help us with our programs and charitable causes! As the saying goes “Many hands make light work!”

Let's work together to continue Father McGivney’s legacy and make a meaningful difference in the 2024-25 fraternal year.

Please use the following link in English, https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/join/join-kofc.html
or the Hispanic “Join Us!” QR Code for the when inviting:

Código QR hispano - ¡Únete a nosotros!
(Hispanic QR Code – Join Us!)

Join online for free!
As we continue to celebrate Blessed Michael J. McGivney's Beatification, please enter the Promo Code BLESSEDMCGIVNEY to join online for free. *

Check out this video from the Supreme Knight
https://players.brightcove.net/802593642001/y6FLiIa0f_default/index.html?videoId=6362678418112

Fishers of Men
This is a Very good webinar – Register to view this past webinar on Inviting men to Join us!

Let us be the “fishers of men” God is calling us to be.

Register for a Special Webinar: Becoming Fishers of Men
Even though the date passed, On Tuesday, Oct. 1 there was a very good fraternal training webinar about renewing our culture of invitation and becoming “Fishers of Men” for the Knights of Columbus. Discussion:

Why it’s time to build

How to extend the invitation

New and updated resources to support Church Drives

Tips and best practices for inviting men to join, from a successful recruiter

And remember, if you couldn’t join us live, it will be available on-demand afterwards. Be sure to sign-up to ensure you get the link for this important webinar.

November Webinar: Midyear Checkup for Your Council

Join Supreme on Thursday, November 21st at 8:00 PM ET for an informative fraternal webinar entitled Midyear Checkup for Your Council.

The midyear checkpoint is the optimal time for your council to assess what works, what doesn't work, and how you can make the most of the rest of the year.

In this webinar, Supreme will showcase some best practices and significant accomplishments, as well as have an honest dialogue about common obstacles your council may encounter, and how they can be overcome. They will also delineate an outline for success for the remainder of the year, so your council can be well on its way to earning the Star Award.

And remember, if you can't join the webinar live, it will be available on-demand afterwards. There is still time to sign-up to ensure you get the link for this important webinar. Click on the button below to register.

Below is a list of the upcoming Training Sessions, and Remember that if you can’t attend that day you can always watch it later.

Online Training Schedule

As we reach the midpoint of the fraternal year, take some time for online training! Conducted by experienced Fraternal Trainers, these hour-long sessions provide practical guidance and useful tips to enhance your skills and keep your council running successfully.
Register for upcoming online sessions by clicking on the links below.
Even more sessions have been recorded and are available to watch on demand! Trainings are archived after each live session, and can be found in our library of on demand training.

Note: All Times are Eastern

November 7, 2024 8:00 PM......Conducting Activity Drives

November 13, 2024 10:00 PM..Guidelines for Conducting Council Meetings

November 19, 2024 8:00 PM....Recruitment Strategies

December 2, 2024 8:00 PM......Navigating Council Forms

December 10, 2024 8:00 PM....Transitioning from Online to Council Membership

December 11, 2024 10:00 PM..Grand Knight Advanced Training

December 17, 2024 8:00 PM....Membership Retention

Chairmen, Directors, and District Deputies Needed for 2024-25 State Team
We are still seeking individuals to fill several key State positions. If you are interested in becoming a State Chairman or District Deputy and wish to assist your Brother Knights, please let us know. This is an opportunity to contribute your ideas, support, and leadership to enhance our state’s efforts in faith and charity.
We need a State Family Director, Indianapolis Diocesan Chairman, and College Council Chairman – Anyone interested should send an email with contact info to Statedeputy@indianakofc.org.

Gibault Children’s CHRISTmas Wish List
Please see the Children’s CHRISTmas Wish List in the Gibault October Newsletter on pages 5 & 6 - https://www.gibault.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/October-2024-Newsletter-Website.pdf

Disaster Relief – Hurricanes Response
Bill McDonald, our State Disaster Relief Chairman is requesting donations to support the disaster response team’s efforts to help with recovery for the hurricane damage affected areas.
To donate, please submit your donation check to Charity Fund Inc. made payable to Indiana State Council and mail to CFI Board Treasurer, PSD Paul Zielinski, 4974 Roxbury Ct.
Pittsboro, IN 46167 and Disaster Response in the Memo line.

Life Resources – https://indianakofc.org/Programs/Life-Director

National March for Life - Washington, DC – January 24th, 2025
https://marchforlife.org/national-march-for-life/

Please contact our State Pro-Life Chairman, Mike Velasco (prolife@indianakofc.org), for information on reserving your seat for the trip to the National March for Life – We need you to attend and help continue the March, since many States and politicians are working to continue abortions.

We Need YOU in attendance, Reserve your seat NOW! We need to fill the seats on the Charter Bus!

THANK YOU to the following councils hosting our Regional Town Hall / Huddle Meetings:
Evansville Diocese – Princeton Council #1131
Lafayette Diocese – Kokomo Council #656
Fort Wayne – Council #451
South Bend – Council #553
Gary Diocese – Michigan City – #12951
– Highland – Council #16008
Thank You to these councils and all who participated at the meetings!

FORMS
State:  https://indianakofc.org/Resources/Forms/Indiana-Council-Forms
Supreme:  https://www.kofc.org/en/for-members/resources/council-forms.html
It's important to make sure all forms emailed are submitted in the required PDF format according to the State Program Guide. Forms submitted in other formats JPG, GIF, or PNG might not be accepted and could cause processing delays. If you need any help with converting files or have other questions, contact your District Deputy or the State Trainer, Mike Kovacs (trainer@indianakofc.org) or State IT-Admin, Roger Reuss (itadmin@indianakofc.org)!

Advent and CHRISTmas approaching – Merry CHRISTmas!
With the start of this Holiday season after Thanksgiving and the shopping season starting, we need to remember to “Keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas”, since HE is the reason for the season!
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of shopping, gatherings, and celebrations, it’s easy to become distracted by the commercialization of CHRISTmas. You may encounter people wishing you a “Happy Holiday” rather than a “Merry CHRISTmas,” and while the sentiment is kind, we must remember to “Keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas”. CHRIST is the reason for this season, and we have the opportunity to share His message with those around us.
It’s unfortunate that some retail stores have even instructed clerks not to say “Merry CHRISTmas” for fear of offending others. But we, as people of faith, can continue to spread the joy of CHRISTmas by courageously offering a heartfelt “Merry CHRISTmas!” to everyone we encounter.
Let’s honor the birth of our Savior and keep His name at the forefront of our conversations and greetings this Advent and CHRISTmas season.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Blessed and Merry CHRISTmas!

THANK YOU to all the Councils and Knights who participated in the “Coats for Kids!”
To All Councils, Assemblies, and Brother Knights:
Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. We look forward to collaborating with you throughout the year. Your actions, deeds, and service exemplify Christ’s teachings and help us grow in faith and charity. As Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said, “Striving to be first in Faith and Charity will point the world to Jesus Christ.” “We are MEN on a MISSION!” - A Mission from God!
The 2024-25 State Team of Officers, Chairmen & Directors, and District Deputies are eager to serve and work together to advance our mission. Contact us if you need assistance or information.  https://indianakofc.org/Contact-Us/State-Officers
Happy Veteran’s Day to ALL Our Veteran’s!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from our State Family of Officers, Director’s, Chairmen, and District Deputies – WE Wish YOU the BEST!

Vivat Jesus and God Bless!

FAITH IN ACTION – Indiana Knights – First in Faith, First in Charity!

Gil Spisak
Indiana State Council - Knights of Columbus
State Deputy
statedeputy@indianakofc.org
webpage HERE
Vivat Jesus

Vivat Jesus and God Bless!

Gil Spisak
Indiana State Council - Knights of Columbus
State Deputy
statedeputy@indianakofc.org
Contact State Officers

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