The Tar Heel Knight

Greetings from the mountains of western North Carolina.
 
It’s 10 PM. - do you know where your bylaws are?  That may sound familiar to those of you from the Northeast, who heard the similarly phrased question “It’s 10 PM – do you know where your children are?” every night.
 
As your State Advocate, I frequently field questions related to the bylaws – at the Supreme, State, and Council levels.  In receiving a question this week about a council’s bylaws, it got me thinking:  How many know where your bylaws are?  If you’re a newer council who may have just voted on them, you likely do.  But if you belong to one of the councils in this state that are 25, 50, even 100 years old…and never voted to update the bylaws, do you know what’s in there?  Have you and your council members read them?  Do you know where to find them on Officers Online?  I offer you this challenge this month – find and read your council’s bylaws.  If you’re stuck and are unsure on how to access them, ask your District Deputy.  If he doesn’t know, ask me.  I have access to the bylaws of every council in the state and I will be happy to assist you.
 
We’re heading into December, which means we’ll be together in Durham celebrating the State Convention before you know it.  You will start seeing a lot of information about the “Countdown to Convention”.  There is one item on that list that gets sent to the State Advocate, and that is any resolution to be considered for presentation at the convention, including for the position of State Warden.  Those resolutions must be voted on at your council’s December or January meeting, and submitted to me, signed by your Grand Knight, by February 1.  That is a hard cutoff date.  No resolutions received after February 1 will be considered.
 
On November 22, we held our first Servant Leadership event with keynote speaker Supreme Director/Past State Deputy Colin Jorsch.  For those of you who were unable to make it, Colin’s talk is available on demand for your viewing.  I encourage you to take the time to view it:  https://bit.ly/47knBVb.  Unfortunately, the delicious spaghetti dinner served up by Council 939 is not available on demand.  I wasn’t even able to find a QR code with a scratch and sniff option.
 
I wish you and your families a fruitful Advent and a very merry Christmas.  There are a lot of rich liturgies this month, and I encourage you all to really reflect on the Word of God in December and the “reason for the season.”  And I encourage you to cherish the time you have together.
 
“May it be done to me according to your word.” – Luke 1:38b
 
Vivat Jesus!