Recognition is among several honors state Knights of Columbus receive at annual Supreme Convention in St. Louis
By Andy Telli
Steve Comm, right, immediate past state deputy
of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus, accepts the prestigious Circle of Honor award from Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson during the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention held Aug. 1-3 in St. Louis.
The Tennessee Knights of Columbus were honored with several awards presented at the awards ceremony of this year’s Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, held in St. Louis Aug. 1-3.
Stephen Comm, immediate past state deputy and a member of Council 9282 at St. Stephen Church in Old Hickory, accepted two awards from Supreme Knight Carl Anderson on behalf of the Tennessee State Council.
The first award was the Supreme Knight’s New Council Development Award, earned by achieving the goal set by the Supreme Council for new councils chartered during the fraternal year of July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017. During the year, two new councils were chartered in Tennessee, the first at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville and the second at the Church of the Nativity in Spring Hill.
The second and more prestigious award was the Circle of Honor awarded to Tennessee for the first time in the past six years.
To become a member of the Circle of Honor, a jurisdiction must meet or exceed its objectives in new members, net growth (after deducting for suspensions, deaths, and transfers out of state), and Star Councils. Star Council is the highest award given by the Supreme Knight to a council recognizing net growth in membership and participation in the order’s insurance program. This past year, Tennessee had 22 Star Councils against a goal of 18.
“This is a great moment for the Tennessee Knights,” Mr. Comm said. “Every Knight, from the state officers and staff, to the brothers in the councils, deserves recognition for being a part of this. Special recognition goes to Kevin Petitte, our membership director this past year, for his enthusiasm, devotion and tireless energy in keeping all of us focused on the reasons we all became Knights of Columbus — to serve God, our Church, and our fellow man.”
Petitte is a resident of Arlington and a member of Timothy J. Coyle Council 9317 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cordova.
Additionally, Mr. Comm was presented the Past State Deputy Award, which is given to all state deputies who have finished their term of office, in recognition of the demanding work and personal dedication that the position requires.
