The Star Council award is the highest distinction any council can receive.  It is based upon meeting its membership and insurance goals as well as conducting and reporting at least four activities in each of the six program areas of the "Surge....with Service, and meet the 1st Degree requirements as defined below by Gary Nolan.   The award comes to the council from Supreme via the State Deputy.

Gary Nolan, Vice President for Growth and Ceremonials, September 9, 2011

To qualify for the Star Council Award each council will have to "host" or "participate in" four First Degree Ceremonials during the 2011-2012 fraternal year.The definitions of *'host" or "participate in" are as follows:

"HOST" - To "host" a First Degree Ceremonial means to be the sponsor of the exemplification, regardless of where the First Degree team or the candidate is from, and as long as at least one candidate is welcomed into membership in the Knights of Columbus, that council shall be given credit as the "host" of the First Degree Ceremanial. Each hosting council should invite all neighboring councils to participate in their First Degree Ceremonial. (see example below.)

"PARTICIPATE lN"  -  A council that provides at least one candidate that advances to membership in the Knights of Columbus shall have "participated in" a First Degree Ceremonial.

ln the following example: Council A hosts a First Degree, however their candidate cannot attend; Council B provides two candidates, and Council C provides one candidate. ln this scenario Council A would be credited as "host." Councils B and C would be credited far "partcipating in" the First Degree Ceremonial. The exemplification of the First Degree Ceremonial must be reparted on Form 450 by the District Deputy, which includes his comments; or the new Form 450C by the grand knight or financial secretary.  The host council should submit the Form 450C after each exemplification of the First Degree, even if as the host council, they do not have a candidate. The Form 450 and 450C are available to be submitted electronically fram the Knights of Columbus website at www.kofc.org. All councils are reminded that they have the ability to conduct their awn First Degree at their own council, and may read the parts (if necessary) or use the "Narration CD" in case they beccme shart-handed. The Official Suppliers have available higher quality and lower cost First Degree paraphernalia items and should be contacted directly for those items, along with Ceremsnial Baldrics.