conference of grand masters national...
TRANSCRIPT
VERSION 3.0
MAY 1, 2019
CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS
NATIONAL COUNCIL
Order of the Knights of Pythagoras “A Prince Hall Community-Based Mentoring Program”
Website: www.kopknights.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: COGM - National Council, Knights of Pythagoras
App: https://cogmkop.teamapp.com/
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PURPOSE
The new National Council, Order of the Knights of Pythagoras (NCKOP) adopted by
Conference of Grand Masters (COGM) and Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodges serves
as an advisory board, assuming no powers except those agreed upon by the Most Worshipful
Grand Masters and their State Directors. Its purpose is to foster progress and well-being for
KOP organizations wherever dispersed around the globe. The NCKOP can issue state charters,
offer guidance, information, and training to jurisdictions. They will host annual and regional
meetings for discussing issues, training and finding ways to improve the KOP organization.
NCKOP meeting will be held once a year during the Conference of Grand Masters conference.
The regional meeting will take place during the COGM regional conferences. There will be
conference calls throughout the year.
Why Youth
Leadership:
As stated in the Youth Leadership Development – National Resource
Center for Youth Development website it reads: “In order for youth to
be prepared to work in partnership with adults, they need to develop
and enhance their leadership skills. Leadership training prepares
youth to manage time, work as a team, set goals, start conversations,
facilitate meetings, and make effective presentations. Promoting
youth leadership development is a great way to promote positive life
skills learning”. As an organization, we have the unique opportunity
to provide a long-term national youth program, which stands for what
we stand for “leadership” within the program and in our communities.
Through the KOP it is essential that we pass down these tools to our
youth, to empower them with these skills during their travel from
boyhood to adulthood.
NCKOP Goals: 1. Upgrade KOP program(s) to meet the needs/challenges of today’s
youth.
2. Implement a 47 jurisdiction KOP program strategy.
3. Updates to the ritual (issue/sell rituals to jurisdictions).
4. Update/modify the history of the KOP program.
5. Develop training manuals/workshops/training material.
6. Maintain a national web site for jurisdictions to utilize to support
their state program.
7. Develop a list of vendors for KOP gear to include but not limited to
the following; KOP berets, shirts, backpacks, items to sell, Khaki
shirts, etc.
8. Develop standard bylaws/constitutions that jurisdictions can use for
their purpose.
9. Issue jurisdictional KOP Charters to new KOP programs.
10. Develop an annual report to submit to the COGM.
11. Train State Directors on the various types of youth conferences and
how to market their youth program.
A National KOP Organization:
“The Knights of Pythagoras program provides Prince Hall Masonry with a long term
community-based mentoring program for youth.”
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13. Maintain a National Facebook page.
14. Revise the Mission Statement and create a Vision Statement.
15. Develop a Constitution and Bylaws to govern the NCKOP.
NCKOP continued: The NCKOP will serve as a valuable resource and guide to all KOP
programs that exist. It will also act as a chartering entity so that jurisdictions
can receive a state charter to implement their KOP program. NCKOP will
look into establishing a Scholarship Program for Youth Knights. An
application process will be given to all State Directors of the KOP. The
NCKOP will also work on providing a report to the COGM on the total of
KOP programs, youths being served, and total Sir Knights in the program
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS
National Council
Order of the Knights of Pythagoras “Our vision is to engage, train, & empower the next generation
of leaders.”
NATIONAL OFFICERS (Executive Board) PRESIDENT SD Michael L. Simms, Sr. (TX)
VICE-PRESIDENT SD Carl Albritton (VA)
2ND VICE PRESIDENT SD Dr. Scott Ferguson (KY)
SECRETARY PSD Lamar Howard (LA)
TREASURER RWGKD Ken A. Brown (Bahamas)
CHAPLAIN SD Noland Jones (OK)
ADVISOR GKD Elijah Bazemore (NC)
REGIONAL OFFICERS
REGION 1 SD John Hudson (NY)
REGION 2 WGD Arnold Hudson (DC)
REGION 3 SD Bobby Pearson (TN)
REGION 4 SD Dr. Scott Ferguson (KY)
REGION 5 SD Kenneth Ellis (AK)
REGION 6 SMK Melvin Lozan (WA)
REGION 7 SD Stanley Brooks (CO)
BAHAMAS RWGKD Ken A. Brown & OVERSEAS
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MISSION STATEMENT OF NCKOP
MISSION STATEMENT
The Knights of Pythagoras is a Youth Organization dedicated to teaching the principles of
manhood and dream building to young men.
We promote family values, leadership training, personal responsibility, and civic
awareness.
Our philosophy emphasizes partnership with the youth we serve; their parents, and
Prince Hall Masons to create a generation of men who are emotionally, socially and
economically strong.
National Council Order of the Knights of Pythagoras
Conference of Grand Masters, Prince Hall Affiliation
VISION STATEMENT OF NCKOP
“Our vision is to engage, train, and empower the next generation of leaders.”
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CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS (SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY)
The Conference of Grand Masters Prince Hall Masons, Inc. consists of Grand Masters of the
Jurisdictions that make up the Prince Hall Masonic Family.
The purpose of the Conference is to foster progress and well-being for Prince Hall Masons
wherever dispersed around the globe. It is an advisory board, assuming no powers except those
agreed upon by the Grand Masters when in attendance at any one meeting.
The objective of the Conference of Grand Masters Prince Hall Masons, Inc, shall be to
perpetuate fraternal harmony among the Grand Lodges of the Jurisdictions; to share
constructive ideas; to promote and encourage community involvement with the business sector;
to conduct educational workshops/seminars; to support charitable agencies that assist those
persons less fortunate than ourselves; and to extend strong educational support to our youth.
PRINCE HALL (EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH)
Prince Hall, one of Boston’s most prominent citizens during the revolutionary period, was the
founder of the African Lodge of the Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of Boston,
the world’s first lodge of black Freemasonry and the first society in American history devoted to
social, political, and economic improvement. (Excerpts from PBS.org)
Hall requested that the Massachusetts Congress create a school program for black children. Hall
cited the same platform for fighting the American Revolution of “Taxation without
Representation.” Although Hall’s arguments were logical, his two attempts at passing legislation
through the Massachusetts Congress both resulted in failure.] Hall then started a school program
for free black children out of his own home with a focus on Liberal Arts and classical education.
(Excerpts from Wikipedia.org) ***today in Prince Hall Masonry worldwide that legacy
continues as we train the next generation of leaders.
SUMMARY (NCKOP BENEFITS)
Jurisdictions with
KOP programs
1. Ability to have a national program by Prince Hall Masons, Inc.
that addresses the needs and challenges of today’s youth.
2. To serve in an Advisory Role to aid and assist KOP programs
worldwide.
3. Assist new jurisdictions in forming their own KOP program.
4. Assist jurisdictions currently with a KOP program in upgrading
their state program..
5. Maintain and update the current COGM Ritual for Private and
Public Ceremonies.
6. Jurisdictions will now be able to purchase copies of the ritual
from NCKOP for their program.
7. Collect information/data in order to provide a report to COGM on
how many youth are being served in the KOP worldwide.
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8. Host annual meetings for the purpose of training, discussion,
workshops, forms, presentations for Directors to train their staff,
and to bring together all KOP programs.
9. Host Regional meetings for the purpose of having a regional
program where jurisdictions can work closer together, training,
and discussion.
10. Ability to market the program on a national level so that both
national and state level programs can receive donations.
11. Create a nationwide brochure about the KOP program.
New KOP Emblems
and Logos
New KOP Flyers
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