We understand that Templars is new to everyone, especially you and your team of confrères. That's why we created the Confrères Guide - Inaugural Chapter Meeting Agenda. This document will be your lifeline for the Inaugural Chapter Meeting. We have spelled out everything that you - as the Lead Confrère - need to say during the meeting. Print a copy in preparation for the meeting.
As for the Brother Templars, they will need copies of these three documents to get the most out of the meeting:
1. Inaugural Chapter Meeting Agenda - As this is the first chapter meeting, much of your time will be spent discussing the Templars' Honor Code and Work of the Order. You will also review the Chapter Offices and nominate members for each position.
2. Chapter Officer Nominations Resource - Simply print one out for each member. Each Templar will fill this out during the Inaugural Chapter Meeting.
3. Templars Altar Serving Plan - This document, while distributed to everyone, will be handled by 3-5 members of the chapter who volunteer to complete this document and present it for Father's approval.
Finally, before you go, there are two more documents we'd like to surface:
1. Minutes Template for Inaugural Chapter Meeting - As this is the first chapter meeting, one of the Brother Templars will need to handle this task until the Draper is elected. He will likely want to take minutes on his phone; just make sure that he sends them to you so you can pass them along to the parents.
2. 📧 Email to Parents → Inaugural Meeting Minutes - Like our other templates, you just need to edit the relevant information and hit send.
This, admittedly, feels clunky. We promise this process will become much easier once your chapter officers are elected in your 2nd Chapter Meeting.
The 2nd Chapter Meeting is when the baton is passed from the confrères - who have been spearheading the chapter's efforts thus far - to the Brother Templars. But before we get to that point, we do have a few things to take care of:
1. Confrères Guide - 2nd Chapter Meeting Agenda - Just like the Inaugural Chapter Meeting, we've provided a guide for the 2nd Chapter Meeting as well. Print it out and read through it before the meeting.
2. 📧 2nd Chapter Meeting Pre-Reads Email Template - As the Templars are not fully in command of the chapter - at least not yet - the Lead Confrère will need to distribute this information to the Templars and the parents.
As far as the Brother Templars are concerned, you'll want to make copies of each of the following:
1. 2nd Chapter Meeting Agenda
2. 2nd Chapter Meeting-Minutes Template - Just make one copy of this document. It would be ideal if the same Templar who took minutes for the Inaugural Chapter Meeting would agree to take minutes for this meeting as well. Of course, once the Draper is elected, the duty of recording meeting minutes will belong to him.
At last, the moment you've all been waiting for: the election of chapter officers.
The process for officer election is outlined in paragraphs 101-106 of the Rule of the Order. Chapter brothers may also benefit from reviewing the responsibilities of each office (paras 61-77).
Once officers are elected, invite them to the folder in your chapter's Google Drive entitled ⚔️ Chapter Officers. This will provide a central place for officers to keep track of documents.
While your responsibilities as a confrère will lessen after officers are elected, they will still need your guidance and input to effectively execute the duties of their office.
Your Chapter Success Coach is also an excellent resource to help your officers understand their new duties. Feel free to send them this link to book time on your coach's calendar.
In the early weeks of your chapter's existence, coordinating and executing the first Templars-served Mass is the primary goal.
At your Inaugural Chapter Meeting, 3-5 members volunteered to review your parish's current serving norms and propose new ones, with Father's approval of course. Once Father has approved the changes, take time to discuss and rehearse these changes within a chapter meeting.
