Are You a Knight of Columbus?

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You should mention that to your priest and ask him what to do since they obviously don’t check their emails!
 
I personally think they went forward when they should’ve gone backward. They had a weird naval officer hat when we should be moving to larger capes and more renaissance/knightly looks. Y’know, like, knights? Just my two cents
 
Right! I’d forgotten what it was named. I didn’t actually know it was from that specific period, though. I thought it was much later, around the 1600-1700’s. Guess I need to brush up on my naval history!
 
I’m not mad about the new uniform (nor the combined degree). But I’m sad about the loss of regalia.

I can’t wear the new uniform – I’d look like a fat old man wearing a beret. (A cape and chapeau hide a multitude of faults)

Similarly I hope the new degree will be fruitful, even while I will be sad about the loss of some elements. (There is one element, however, that I am not sorry to see fall away (ooooh, mysterious!))
 
dochawk said:
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Jen95:
Any other Knights mad about the fourth degree colour guard regalia change, or should I not bring that up?
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Not mad, but I won’t be buying the third world paratrooper outfit . . .
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Hah! Yes, my husband won’t either. In fact, he’s quite annoyed that he bought his regalia a few months before they announced the new outfit.
 
As a young man I was heavily involved in the renewal movements that were sweeping the Church in the 1970s. I wouldn’t consider the K of C.

But after awhile I noticed the renewal movements were overlapping the same small group of intense people, mostly women. We weren’t really affecting Catholics in general. In hindsight I think we were attracting renewal minded people more than renewing people.

Those renewal movements have shrunk dramatically. But the K of C goes on. They include some from the renewal movements but most are the average Catholic men, somewhat stronger in their faith as a result of belonging to the K of C.
 
My issue isn’t with the changes or the uniform…my problem is how the decision was made, how it was announced and how it’s been handled. Anyone that’s been a Knight for a month know that Knights come with strong opinions. When I got the news of the new degree, I knew exactly who would have issues and that it would probably blow over fairly quickly…the uniform change, would not blow over quickly but more importantly, because how dissent was being handled by leadership, they were going to push guys that didn’t care one way or another into the dissent ranks out of principle…
 
I’ve heard a lot of complaints. I’m too new to buy it anyway but I’m keeping an open mind.
 
I’m not a fan of the new uniform, especially the beret…however, as FN (and some to be PFN) and looking at the age of my fellow Sir Knights, I may buy it only because I consider it an honor to stand watch one last time…the other issue I’ve come across is that I’ve had SK tell me that they don’t want the new uniform at their funerals and have left instructions with their families not to allow it…got to love them old grumpy guys…ok boomers!!!
 
I’m a Warden. They keep wanting me to move up and talk about possibly being the next GK. I don’t really want to do any other positions though. I suffer from Social Anxiety. I mean not severely, but I don’t like talking in front of a large group in a setting like that. I used to get terrified in school about doing class reports. I just can’t personally do anything like that.
 
esieffe said:
I emailed them a few times, and they never wrote back, so no.
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You emailed “them” who?
Did you go to the link, www.kofc.org/joinus first? You are able to join the order from there and be directed to the appropriate folks locally.

I also agree that you should mention it to your priest. If you have a local council and they are not responding to your emails, the priest can put you in personal contact with the council membership director directly.

Also of note, many priests are themselves knights. All 3 of ours are.

Best wishes & blessings,
 
jrgmercado said:
My issue isn’t with the changes or the uniform…my problem is how the decision was made, how it was announced and how it’s been handled. Anyone that’s been a Knight for a month know that Knights come with strong opinions. When I got the news of the new degree, I knew exactly who would have issues and that it would probably blow over fairly quickly…the uniform change, would not blow over quickly but more importantly, because how dissent was being handled by leadership, they were going to push guys that didn’t care one way or another into the dissent ranks out of principle…
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Not sure I’d have stepped up to SK about 6 mos ago if the uniform had not changed. The old one was, well, old. Classic yes, but I had zero desire to wear one, much less spend the money for it. I’ve not bought the new uniform yet but plan to.
That said, I’m 50, so the much younger men considering joining our order may have been yet less interested in wearing the old uniform.

As for dissenters, ok they exist. But we all at some time or another must realize things change. My comment to them, and there are a few in my council whining to whom I say this:
“Suck it up buttercup.”
 
Personally, I have a hard time justifying spending the money on something that I can only use for KofC events…I had my tux from when I got married and I’ve used it for black tie affairs. The only thing I bought for the old regalia was my chapeau, sword and gloves…and I only bought the chapeau because I have a big head. My assembly has a closet filled with donated equipment and we’ve actually supplied loaners.

The problem is that the dissenters tend to be the most active group in my assembly, my color corp which consisted of about 14 guys with 7 in white capes…hard to tell those guys to “suck it up” when they’ll talked the talk and walked the walk…I’m 43 so I’m one of those “younger men”
 
bassmansteiny said:
I’m a Warden. They keep wanting me to move up and talk about possibly being the next GK.
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That should not happen, and can only happen when something is already wrong in the council.

The progression from Chancellor to Deputy Grand Knight to Grand Knight is important, both to train the GK and for the quality of his work.

except in the case of someone that has a long active involvement, or was already an FN, putting someone straight into the GK job is cruel and abusive, and utterly unfair to the poor man.
esieffe said:
I emailed them a few times, and they never wrote back, so no.
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I know a former state deputy who has an email, but doesn’t know how to turn on the computer.

Emailing 80 year olds is often a pointless endeavor . . .
jrgmercado said:
the other issue I’ve come across is that I’ve had SK tell me that they don’t want the new uniform at their funerals and have left instructions with their families not to allow it…got to love them old grumpy guys
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I expect to be buried in my regalia.

And I, too, don’t see much point in an honor guard of this new uniform. *shrug*
jrgmercado said:
I had my tux from when I got married
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mine was specifically bought of the fourth degree. And when it mysteriously shrunk, I bought another.

And I scandalized the gal at an executive clothing store when I bought their top of the line tuxedo and had the cuffs hemmed for wear in boots rather than eastern shoes . . . :crazy_face: 🤣 😝

I actually have a pair of boots, spit shined, in their original box. They only come out after I arrive at the site. I guess that should be past tense now . . . but I have three more daughters to marry off . . . and my own funeral . . .
 
I’m sorry, I misspoke, I didn’t necessarily mean next in line. I meant they want me to be one down the road. My bad sorry for the confusion. However, I still feel the same way, at least for now. I don’t want to move any further up the chain of command, at least until/ if I get over this social anxiety of mine. Also may be they don’t really realize that I suffer from that. I don’t talk much during the actual meetings, but do during the fellowship/dinner before the meeting. Weird, I know. Lol. I do vote, I just don’t usually bring things up.
 
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