Columbiettes seek to catch wave of new members

While membership in the Knights of Columbus and their auxiliary, the Columbiettes, booms in some regions and internationally, local leaders are launching efforts to revive their ranks.

“We will go out into the parishes,” said Donna Byron, president of the New York State Council Columbiettes and a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena in Albany. “We need to have a personal touch.”

To help, the New York State Council has produced a new recruiting brochure and is encouraging local chapters to recruit at the parish level. Their campaign responds to Americans’ growing reluctance, or inability, to join groups, clubs and associations.

 “In general all fraternal organizations are in trouble with membership,” said Len Yanazzo, conference chairman of the Capital Conference Officers of the Knights of Columbus and parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park.

Up downstate

In some parts of New York, however, the ranks of Columbiettes are swelling. “Nassau County has a lot of new members who are young,” she said. “I don’t know what the secret of Nassau County is.”

One possible reason for the growth there is that Long Island chapters are affiliated with parishes, Mrs. Byron said. In the Albany diocese the chapters encompass whole cities and are made up of parishioners of multiple parishes.

Knights rising

Mr. Yanazzo said after Pope Benedict XVI’s spring visit to New York City interest in the Knights of Columbus increased. “People were really affected by the Pope being here,” Mr. Yanazzo said. “We’ve gotten lots of phone requests to join.”

The Knights of Columbus reported an increase in membership at its recent convention in Quebec City. The international organization reported that it gained 21,894 new members over the past year. Domestically, Texas had the most new members: 2,479. Interest in the organization also increased in the Philippines and Poland.

Distaff no more

Recently, Knights of Columbus chapters in Rotterdam and Troy have disbanded due to decreases in membership, he said.

This presented a challenge for the Columbiettes, the women’s auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. Mrs. Byron said that Columbiette chapters can only exist where there is a Knights of Columbus council. When a Knights council disbands the Columbiettes have to find a new chapter to join or disband.

Nationally, the Columbiettes are considering allowing chapters to exist without a Knights of Columbus counterpart. “We would like to continue even if the Knights close,” Mrs. Byron said. “We would like a chance to survive.”

New draft

Whether a change is made, Mrs. Byron said the key to the Columbiettes survival is recruiting. But today, she said, many women are too busy. “We have the same problem as everyone else,” she said. “Men and women today don’t have the time.”

When Mrs. Byron joined the Columbiettes in the 1960s she was a stay-at-home mother with three small children. “I wanted to get out of the house,” she said.

Joining gave her the opportunity to make friends and participate in social and volunteer projects. “Once you join you get more rewards than you thought,” she said.

Good works

Mrs. Byron said the New York State Council of Columbiettes provides financial support for the Transcription Program for the Blind and for seminarians and retired women religious. Each local chapter has its own fund raisers and events to support these causes. The local chapters can also choose other charitable causes to support, Mrs. Byron said.

Women who might be interested in joining the Columbiettes shouldn’t worry that membership will drain their free time. “Most chapters meet once a month seven times a year,” Mrs. Byron said. “They don’t meet in July or August or in January.”

Personal payoff

For Mrs. Byron, the benefits of being a Columbiette are the friendships formed and the satisfaction of helping others.

Mr. Yanazzo said there are many benefits to being a Knight of Columbus as well. Being a Knight, he said, helps Catholic families become closer to the Church. There are many social activities for families like breakfasts and picnics, he said. The Knights sponsor poster contests and sports events for children and scholarship programs. The Knights also support many charitable causes, he said.

“The public view of Knights is seeing the Fourth Degree Knights in their tuxedos and capes in parades,” Mr. Yanazzo said. “There is more to the Knights than that. Knights are very charitable and give hours of manpower and money.”

The Knights can also offer some peace of mind. The organization was founded to protect the bread-winner in families, Mr. Yanazzo said. The organization was founded by Rev. Michael McGivney in 1881. The men who joined with Father McGivney vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith. The Knights took care of the widows and orphans of deceased members. This effort grew into the Knights of Columbus Insurance program.

(Those who are interested in learning more about the Knights of Columbus or the Columbiettes can call their local chapter. Additional information is available at www.kofc.org or www.columbiettes.com.)

 (08/28/08)