THE HONORABLE ORDER OF KENTUCKY COLONELS, INC.
“The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Inc. is irrevocably dedicated to and is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes…”
Every year, The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, utilizing contributions from individual Colonels from all over the world, provides financial support to Kentucky charitable and educational institutions and organizations. The funds have been utilized for the purchase of wheelchairs for muscular dystrophy victims -- for the distribution of Jesse Stuart books to school children – actually, for a multitude of causes far, far numerous to list.
Political connections? Sure, we have them… We even throw a big party every year in honor of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. However, the legalistic language typed at the top of this page, from the legalistic document that defines and establishes our being, is quite simple in its meaning: The purpose of The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is to aide and promote the Commonwealth and its citizens.
Granted, we do rely on a political being for the creation of our members. However, from the absolute beginning, the Honorable Order has operated, as directed, in a non-political fashion. “The beginning” was late one Saturday afternoon in May of 1931. A group of Colonels wishing to organize into a unit met with Governor Flem Sampson. Minutes of that meeting show the Governor directed the attendees to “formulate a society to more closely band together this group into a great non-political brotherhood for the advancement of Kentucky and Kentuckians.”
Today, over 75 years later, the Honorable Order continues to exemplify the ideals spelled out in that organizational meeting May 4, 1931. Today, the Order is a non-profit corporation with IRS section 501 (c) (3) status. The Board of Trustees has awarded the title of Commander in Chief to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. However, the Governor has no legal or political control, in fact no input, direct nor indirect, into the affairs of the order beyond the appointment of Kentucky Colonels who are then invited to participate in the activities of The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
The affairs of the Order (corporation) are directed by a 10 member Board of Trustees, all of whom serve without pay. Day to day operations are managed by the Senior Ambassador, Colonel Glen Bastin. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is the Commanding General. The current Commanding General is the Honorable Jim Lindsey of Louisville, Kentucky. The Board of Trustees has awarded the title of Commander-in-Chief to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. However, the Governor has no legal or political control of the affairs of the Order. Please explore this web site to learn more about The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
Thank you for remembering the Good Works Program in your charitable giving.
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