The Grand Knight is responsible for the welfare of the council. He presides over council meetings, acts as an ex-officio member of all committees, appoints a membership and programming director, convenes officers for a monthly meeting, and ensures all necessary reports are submitted to the state and Supreme Council. He should also be aware of the council’s financial status and ensure that his signature appears on all checks drawn. The grand knight is a member of the Advisory Board with general supervision of the council’s Columbian Squire circle.

His jewel is an Anchor which is suspended from a purple ribbon. The Anchor is indicative of Admiral Christopher Columbus and has also been a variant form of the Cross for centuries.

Meetings

• Represent the Council at State Council meetings
• Preside over all meetings
• Chair the Board of Trustees
• Send invitations in the name of the Council
• Greet all guests to Council meetings and functions
• Call special meetings by himself or upon written request of 7 members
• Report on officer absent from 3 consecutive regular meetings to the District Deputy
• Act as Chaplain in the absence of the regular Chaplain
• Read all notices of the Fourth Degree

• Appoint a Nominating Committee of three members not sooner than two months in advance of elections
• Appoint two Tellers to count the ballots during the election of officers
• Appoint a Lecturer
• Appoint an Organist
• Select the Chaplain, with the Trustees and DGK
• Appoint an admissions committee of seven members
• Appoint all committees and directors and serve ex officio as a member of all committees

• Refer all applications for membership, except from priests or religious, to the Admissions Committee within five days
• Read all applications approved or not reported within ten days by the Admissions Committee at the next regular business meeting
• Refer to any council in the same city applications which have been read, so that they may register their objection, within three days of their regular meeting
• Read all applications for membership at the next regular meeting following their referral to and the approval or failure to act within three business days of the regular meeting of another Council in the same city, for balloting by the Council, unless the other Council objects
• Refer any objections of another Council to the Admissions Committee for reconsideration
• Refer to the State Deputy any applications from outside the parishes of All Souls, St. Rita, or Christ the King for his consent
• Inspect the ballot box prior to balloting for candidates with the DGK
• Count the votes in balloting for candidates with the DGK
• Present all applications for membership to the FS
• May stay the initiation of an elected member with good cause, with the approval of the DD, subject to reconsideration of the Council at the next regular meeting
• Certify, if a member is receiving any degree at another council, that that member is in good standing, under Council seal
• Provide the Recorder with a list of candidates to be balloted prior to each regular meeting
• Order the ballot of any member requesting a transfer into the Council
• Sign applications for transfer from an incoming member with the FS following approval by the Council
• Issue a membership card to a member known to be in good standing if the FS is absent
• Notify the Supreme Secretary of a member’s ipso facto forfeiture, with the FS

• With the Treasurer and FS, prepare a Council budget
• Read the Treasurer’s Receipt and corresponding Voucher of Deposit at each regular meeting
• Read all bills against the Council at each Council meeting
• Sign a Form 1 Order for supplies including membership cards
• Countersign an Order on Treasurer completed by the FS for payments to Supreme or State Council
• Countersign an Order on Treasurer completed by the FS, upon approval of the Board of Trustees, for payments not to Supreme or State Council, for amounts of $500 or less
• Countersign an Order on Treasurer completed by the FS, upon approval of the 2/3 vote of the Council at the next meeting after prior notice, for payments not to Supreme or State Council in excess of $500
• Countersign checks completed by the Treasurer
• May have access to and possession of the books of the Council at any time

• Transmit to the Accused notice of the charges within five days
• Impose the penalty accorded to a member who pleads guilty or fails to answer in ten days, for an offense
• Forward to the DD the charges and answer of a member who pleads not guilty within ten days
• Ensure all reports are filed on time
• Serve on the Squires Advisory Board
• Schedule, monitor, and may serve on the First Degree Team
• Participate in the Honorary Membership Ceremonial