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: cogmkop@gmail.com

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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