We have shared with you that an integral part of our 2012 strategic plan is to grow Catholic Knights financially and fraternally through mergers. Our successful experience merging the Catholic Knights of America with Catholic Knights in 2005, and the Catholic Funds with Ave Maria Mutual Funds in 2007, affirms that we are better together.

After careful review and deliberation, the Boards of Directors of Catholic Knights and Catholic Family Life Insurance approved moving forward with merger discussions. On July 31, 2009, the organizations signed a formal letter of intent to merge.

Catholic Family Life Insurance, headquartered in suburban Milwaukee, Wis., has 45,000 members who are located predominantly in the Midwest and New England areas. We have worked jointly on numerous fraternal projects over the years and share a deep mutual respect for each other’s contributions to our shared Catholic faith and fraternalism in America.

The next step in the process is to negotiate a merger agreement. We anticipate the result of merger talks will be a signed merger agreement no later than December 1, 2009. Finally, delegates from both Societies will vote by mail on the merger during the first quarter of 2010.

This is an exciting opportunity for the members of both Societies. The economies of scale achieved through the merger will add to our financial strength that gets passed on to you through dividends and member benefits. The merger also allows opportunities to enhance our services and provide more community outreach. By coming together we are proactively shaping our fraternal future. Together, we are better.

Our Triennial Convention in October will allow time for information sharing and delegate input. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.