None of these awards are “automatic”…you must apply to be considered! All state award entry forms can also be found on the State Council Website or in the appropriate reports booklet.
Ontario State Council Awards Checklist
The deadline for ALL State program awards submissions is MARCH 15. Applications received after March 15 will not be considered. As the annual deadline is March 15th, projects that were conducted in the 12-month period of April 1 and March 15th will be considered.
This page contains information on the following awards.
- Trillium Award (SO-11) – details
- Service Program Awards (STSP) – details
- State Deputy Longevity Community Service Award (SO- 40) – details
- Pope John Paul II Culture of Life Award – details
- Best Multi Council Project Award (SO-20) – details
- Jack Clancey Special Olympics Award (SO-45) – details
- John P. Rodina Seniors and Widows Program Award (SO-41) – details
Supreme Council Awards
- Star Council Award – details
- Columbian Award (SP7) – details
- Father McGivney Award (no application necessary)
- Founder`s Award (no application necessary)
TRILLIUM AWARD (SO-11) – Due to State Office March 15th
Most Councils should qualify by meeting basic program requirements and filing the paperwork
- Councils must apply to receive this award – the application (SO-11) is a checklist – takes only a moment to fill out
- Submit to State Office electronically or by mail by March 15th
- It has been divided into categories Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the criteria that has been submitted by the council.
Trillium Award (SO-11)
Candidature pour le prix trillium (SO-11)
Award Criteria
Councils MUST meet the following criteria to qualify for the award:
- Bronze Five mandatory and Six Electives
- Silver Five mandatory and Eight Electives
- Gold Five mandatory and All Electives
Mandatory Requirements
- Council MUST have completed the June and December audits
- Report of Council Officers (Form 185) due at State Office by July 1st MUST be completed
- Report of Service Program Personnel (Form 365) due at State Office by August 1st MUST have been submitted
- Fraternal Survey Report (Form 1728) due at State Office by January 31st MUST have been submitted.
- Council MUST set up and/or Maintain a Retention Committee (G.K. and Trustees)
Elective Requirements
- Participated in Rose Sunday, monument for the unborn or other Pro-Life program
- Participated in the Family Hour of Prayer Program, vocation program, RSVP, establishment of a Parish Round Table or other Church programs
- Participated in Basketball Free Throw or Hockey Challenge or Soccer Challenge
- Participated in the K of C charities raffle
- Has Increased or will be increasing membership by 2.5% by March 1st, as per Supreme report, or has assisted in the Formation of a new Council since July 1st
- Participated in the Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest, or Youth Leadership Camp, or sponsorship of a Squires Circle, or actively supports an alternative youth program
- Participated in the Family Recognition Function of Family of the Month or Family of the Year, or conducted a social family event
- Participated in a Seniors’ program or widows program or similar activity for seniors
- Has increased or will increase insured members by 2.0% by March 1st as per Supreme report or has insurance program by a Field Agent/General Agent at a general meeting (If your council does not have an assigned field agent – contact Awards Director for further information regarding alternate qualification in this area)
- Actively supports, financially or otherwise, the Arthritis Society — (other than Ontario K of C Charities Raffle) or another registered charity in the province of Ontario
DON’T FORGET THAT YOUR DISTRICT DEPUTY MUST APPROVE YOUR SUBMISSION
SERVICE PROGRAM AWARDS (STSP) – Due to State Office March 15th
Service Program Awards – due to State Office March 15th
- Councils must apply to be considered for service program awards – use entry form STSP from the link below or in your Grand Knight package
- Submit one entry per project to be considered to the State Awards Director c/o the State Office
- Best project awards and honourable mentions will be awarded in each of the “Surge with Service” program areas.
A SEPARATE REPORTING FORM MUST BE COMPLETED FOR EACH PROGRAM CATEGORY.
- Life
- Faith
- Family
- Community
Service Program Awards (STSP)
Prix du programme de service conseil provincial
TIPS FOR PREPARING SERVICE PROGRAM AWARDS ENTRIES:
FOCUS ON THE PROJECT ITSELF AND REALLY DRIVE HOME THE IMPACT THAT IT CREATED ON OTHERS. PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE IN THIS AREA
SELECT A SECOND PERSON WHO WAS INVOLVED WITH THE INITIATIVE TO REVIEW YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE SUBMISSION TO THE STATE OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE FULLY DESCRIBED THE INITIATIVE –AND IN A MANNER WHERE IT CAN BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD BY A THIRD PARTY
PHOTOGRAPHS ARE A GREAT ASSET IN DRIVING HOME THE ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ACHIEVED
DO NOT FOCUS ON THE MEAL OR SOCIAL EVENT YOU HELD AFTERWARD TO CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS AS THIS IS TANGENTIAL TO THE UNDERTAKING ITSELF
- The deadline for submissions for Service Program Awards is March 15th
- Submit all applications and supporting documents to the State Office, Attn. Awards Director
- Consider assigning an Awards Chairman/Coordinator for your council to coordinate entries and collect information from each project chairman for submission
- You may submit as many projects as you like in each category for awards consideration
- You may choose to submit your entries together as one awards submission package, or send in forms from time to time up to the Mar. 15th deadline.
- Be sure to submit applications in the correct category. The easiest way to determine in which category a program belongs is to ask the question: “Who benefits from this program?” For example:
A community-wide art auction to benefit the refurbishment of the parish church is a Church activity, not a community one.
A free throw competition for all youth throughout the community is a youth activity, not a community one.
A blood drive among council members to benefit a Knight is a council activity.
A council-sponsored blood drive to benefit area hospitals is a community activity.
A fund-raiser to benefit a member and his family is a fraternal project and thus it is considered a council activity, not a family activity.
Don’t forget that Pro-Life activities now have their own category.
- Consider the following areas when preparing an entry for a project or activity:
Nature of the activity. Does it demonstrate the objectives of the Service Program – Catholic, family, fraternal, service?
Participation of membership. How many members participated? What percentage of the entire membership participated?
Results. What were the benefits derived from sponsorship of the project? How did the results affect the Church, Community, Council, Family, Pro-life or Youth?
Program originality. Was the program something new or is it longstanding?
Committee planning. How effectively was the program organized?
Delegation of responsibility. How many members served as workers? Planners? What type of organization was established for the implementation of the project?
Publicity. If appropriate, how effectively was the program publicized throughout the area in community media, council bulletin, church bulletin etc.?
- The cover page of every entry MUST be the standard entry form (#STSP) provided by the Supreme Council office. Judging awards is a difficult task, especially if information is buried in pages of text. Though not the only basis for judging, the number of members involved in a project and number of volunteer-hours expended are statistics that make comparison of one project with another an easier task. Similarly, the project summary on the entry form is important in determining the extent of the council’s involvement.
- Clear and concise is your best bet. The Awards committee must be able to easily identify what each program intended to accomplish and how this was achieved. Entries should be designed to make that information as straightforward and accessible as possible. Submitting too little or too much information can make judging difficult. Photographs and newspaper articles are good additions to entries, but the projects are primarily judged on the basis of the effectiveness of the program as explained in the project’s description.
- Contact the State Awards Director if you need assistance or require more information.
STATE DEPUTY LONGEVITY COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD (SO- 40) – Due to State Office March 15th
Councils must apply to be considered – use entry form SO-40 (See Link below)
Submit one entry per project to be considered based on longevity criteria
Longevity Community Service Award (SO-40)
Prix de longévité (SO-40)
The Ontario State Council has established the State Deputy’s Council Longevity Community Service Award to recognize council sponsored community service projects that are unique by virtue of their continued support to the local community.
Each year a project will be chosen and recognized from a list of submitted candidate projects meeting the following criteria;
- The project must have been active for 10 consecutive years or more.
- The project must still be a current project of the council
- The project must involve the participation of the council membership (simply providing financial support or the operation of a bingo does not qualify).
- The project must readily highlight the Knights of Columbus in the local community
Applications for this award (see link above) must be submitted to the Ontario State Office Attention: State Deputy signed by the Grand Knight and the District Deputy by Mar. 15th
The award will be presented at the State Convention by the State Deputy.
POPE JOHN PAUL II CULTURE OF LIFE AWARD – Due to State Office March 15th
Councils must apply to be considered – use entry form in booklet or download undernoted link.
Pope John Paul II Culture of Life Award
Prix de la culture de la vie Pape Jean-Paul II
Initiatives in any of the following categories are eligible for submission.
- Church
- Community
- Council
- Pro-Life
- Youth
- Family
Award Criteria
In order to apply for this award, your Council must participate in at least 5 of the following activities over the fraternal year:
- Sponsor or promote a Pro-Life Symposium in your Parish, Community or District
- Encourage participation in a local or the National March for Life (assist in transportation needs)
- Develop or sponsor a Pro-Life educational programme for the school age children in your parish, district or community
- Organize in your parish, district or community, a “Day for the Unborn”
- Organize in the parish, district or community, a “Mass for the Unborn” (if applicable at the site of a monument for the unborn)
- Organize and or participate in a Life Chain in your parish, district or community
- Organize and participate in the Roses for Life Programme (with proceeds going to Right to Life etc.)
- Support and or assist at your local Hospice in a volunteer capacity
- Provide support to local Crisis Centres for Pregnant Mothers
- Provide support to facilities for Unwed Mothers
- Organize in your Catholic High School’s an essay contest for “Respect of Human Life”
Submit one entry per Council
NOTE: More than 5 activities may be listed. If the council wishes to do so, they may attach photographs, newspaper clippings, and/or a more complete description of each of their listed activities.
BEST MULTI COUNCIL PROJECT AWARD (SO-20) – Due to State Office March 15th
- One council should submit the application, listing all councils involved in the project on the form.
- All the councils involved in the project will receive a plaque
- Councils use the standard entry form (STSP) to submit (See Link Below)
Best Multi Council Project Award (SO-20)
Prix multi-Conseils de l’État de l’Ontario (SO-20)
JACK CLANCEY SPECIAL OLYMPICS AWARD (SO-45)– Due to State Office March 15th
- For the most outstanding contribution to Special Olympics
- The project must involve direct participation of the council membership.
John. P (Jack) Clancey Award for Support to Special Olympics Ontario (SO-45)
Prix John P. (Jack) Clancey pour appuyer Olympiques spéciaux Ontario (SO-45)
Each year, a council will be chosen from a list of candidates who meet the following….
- Number of hours put forth for Special Olympics Ontario in different programs and games. (Volunteer service with all levels of Special Olympics Ontario by council members and their families-games, events, programs, special initiatives, etc.)
- Number of members helping out for the cause. (Announcers, athlete escorts, presenters, program management, planning, coaching, etc.)
- Number of events that K of C Members and families volunteer towards Special Olympics. Each Council must participate in at least 4 events to qualify. (K of C Flag Relay, athlete leadership programs, school and community support, etc.)
- Fundraising or financial support to help members of a Special Olympics Ontario team or individual. (Adopt-An-Athlete, Blue Jays Day, mail, phone donations raised, monthly giving, etc.) These fundraising initiatives count as one event your council participated in.
- Event(s) conducted by the council on behalf of Special Olympics Ontario.
- Squires’ circles that participate with the assistance of Knights must be counted towards all the totals (man hours, events, etc.)
- Submissions can be for the entire council throughout the Fraternal Year or for each event with a minimum of 4 events needed to qualify.
Submissions should be sent to Ontario State Office.
JOHN P. RODINA SENIORS AND WIDOWS PROGRAM AWARD (SO-41) – Due to State Office March 15th
- The program must involve and benefit senior members of the Knights
- The program should also extend to the widows of deceased Brothers if possible and appropriate.
- The program is from April 1 to March 15 of the current year
- The program must involve the direct participation of the council membership
John P. Rodina Seniors and Widows Program Award (SO-41)
Prix John P. Rodina pour les programmes pour aînés et veuves (SO-41)
One of Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney’s aims in establishing the Knights of Columbus in 1882 was to form a network of support for the widows and families of deceased Catholic men. In today’s context, the Order continues to accomplish this aim by providing support to members who are advanced in age and extending support and fraternity to widows of deceased Brothers.
The Ontario State Council has established the John P. Rodina Award to recognize council organized programs that are designed for the benefit and enjoyment of seniors and the widows of deceased Brother Knights.
Each year, a program will be chosen from a list of submitted candidate programs that meet the following criteria:
- The program must involve and benefit senior members of the Knights of Columbus (seniors are defined as individuals aged 65 and older for the purpose of this award).
- The program should also extend to the widows of deceased Brothers if possible and appropriate.
- The program must be a new or current project of the council conducted within the period of April 1 – March 15TH of the current year (retroactive consideration of programs from previous years will not be considered, but information about the history of the program in previous years is encouraged and might be helpful when selections are made).
- The program must involve the direct participation of the council membership i.e. providing a donation to a seniors centre would not qualify, but providing a donation to a seniors centre and having brother Knights run a program activity at the seniors centre or driving seniors to or from the centre would qualify for consideration.
- The program could be a single activity or a series of activities throughout the fraternal year. Simply involving seniors and widows in Council activities will not stand alone as qualification for the Award, but may be considered as part of an application
Applications for the John P. Rodina Award (see link above) must be submitted to the Ontario State Office, Attention: State Awards Director signed by the Grand Knight by April 1. The award will be presented at the State Convention in April.
You can’t win if you don’t submit!!!!!