Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Local knight recruits 200th new member

State Membership Director Wally Streit is convinced of the value of the Knights of Columbus. In fact, he's so convinced that he's managed to convince more than 200 other Catholic men to join the order.

Streit recently joined a rare group in the 1.6-million-member Knights of Columbus when he became one of only eight knights to have recruited 200 members or more.

As of April 20, Streit had signed up 212 members in three years.

"It's very time-consuming, that's for sure," he said in an interview. "I don't sign up a member unless I spend some time with him in his home or he goes to an information session."

"I don't believe in hard-selling either," he said. "We make sure we get members who are quality members who want to do something for the order."

Streit enlists new members through campaigns he spearheads in parishes as well as keeping a personal list of prospects to whom he keeps returning.

But his personal secret is no secret. "I believe so strongly in the order and in recruiting new members."

"If every one of these new members did two little projects every year for the Knights of Columbus, that's a lot more than I could ever do alone."

Streit says when a man joins the Knights, that new member's faith will be reinforced by his involvement in the organization. As well, the member will contribute to the good of the Church through his involvement. Finally, every new member enables the order to do more good works.

"I'm quite proud of being in the 200 Club," he says. "I never thought I'd get to 100, let alone 200."

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