BAY AREA COUNCIL
DISTRICT OFFICERS ORIENTATION
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
WHO IS THE BAY AREA COUNCIL?
Parents & Scouts
Unit Committee Members
Unit Leaders
District Committee
Unit Commissioners
Council Executive Board
Executive Committee
Professional Staff
Bay Area Council
2 counties in East Texas
4 geographical areas (Districts)
Coastal, Northern Star, Cradle of Texas, Thunderbird
District serves as a support system for the charter organizations
Galveston (Headquarters)
Brazoria
Not a policy making entity
$1.5 – 1.7 mil. budget
Council made up of:
Executive Committee
Executive Board (policy making body)
Council owns the assets of the Corporation
Bay Area Council (continued)
Professional Staff of Council:
manage the assets of the council
recruit volunteer manpower
serve as campaign manager for the Investment in Character Campaign
provide quality service to charter organizations and grow the membership in the program
Scout units in the District are overseen by:
District Chairman
top volunteer in the district
District Commissioner
District Committee
Commissioner Staff
serves as the quality control person
District Committee
sub-committees and a staff of unit commissioners (will be reviewed further in the
agenda).
Not a policy making or governing body
Only Council Executive Board has the authority to make policy and govern
Any Questions to this point?
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE….
ORGANIZATION…
ORGANIZATION
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District Chairman
Commissioner Staff
Membership
Finance
Program
Activities
Advancement
Camping
Training
Venturing / Exploring
District Chairman
Key person (with clout) in the community
Recruits the best manpower available to serve on District Committee.
Member of the Council Executive Board.
Team player and council supporter.
Accepts and supports the goals of the council and district:
Growth in Membership
Investment in Character.
Presides (with the District Executive) over the District Committee
meeting each month.
Meets with the District Executive and District Commissioner
Key 3 Monthly meeting
Discuss district topics
Develop the district committee agenda
District Chairman
Serves as a partner with the District Executive
Must be in constant communication with each other to stay informed.
Committed to the district goals
Journey to Excellence
Recruit chairman
District sub-committees
Ensure completion of District goals
Annually appoint a nominating committee
Nominees for district officer positions
Nominees for members-at-large.
District Commissioner
Must be approved by the Council Executive Board
Ensure healthy program in the scout units
Recruits staff of unit commissioners
1:3 ratio (commissioner to units)
Serves as the quality control expert
Committed to district goals
Journey to Excellence
Conducts a Unit Commissioners meeting
Each month
Ensures a quality Roundtable meeting
Each month for Unit Leaders.
Maintains a healthy & positive relationship with unit leaders
District Commissioner (continued)
Attends the monthly district committee meeting
Support local and national policies, procedures and practices
Is a team player
Attend Council Commissioners meeting
Every other month
Assistant District Commissioner may attend instead
Stay in constant communication with the District Executive
Have a good working relationship
District Executive
District Chairman
Understand and support the vision of the Council
District Executive
Provide professional coaching
Follow their lead!
Don’t reinvent the wheel!
Propose plans and agenda
Pencil drafts for consideration
Suggest & implements action plans
Recruiting district personnel
Give inspiration and encouragement
District Executive (continued)
Regular contact with heads of chartered organizations
Keep district records up to date
Arrange for the council’s office services
mailings
meeting notices etc.
Develop his / her own work schedule
Work with and support volunteers
Provide vital behind the scenes administrative Skill
Key Leadership Information
Each District Officer
Serves a one year term.
Key District Leadership
Reviewed annually for effectiveness and support of the Council vision
May be removed by Council Executive Board
Nominating Committee
Standing Committee
Set up to review effectiveness of the current District Leadership
Must be approved by the Council Executive Board
District Executive
Consults with nominating committee
Review each District Member at large for continued service
Current District Leadership does not appoint their replacements or is
involved in the nominating process
Key District Meetings
Key-3 Meeting:
District Committee Meeting:
Occurs once per month
Operating committee chairman, District Chmn.,
District Commissioner and District Executive.
Commissioner Staff Meeting:
District Chairman, District Executive, District Commissioner
Occurs once per month before the District Committee Meeting.
Occurs once per month
District Commissioner, Unit Commissioners and District Executive.
Roundtable:
Occurs once per month
Information and training meeting for unit leaders
Conducted by Roundtable Commissioner and Roundtable staff
District Committee Meeting:
Worksheet
Call to order
Opening ceremony and/or invocation
Welcome, Introductions and Recognitions
Ask committee chairman to introduce the new members of their committees
Training feature of the month
Keep this short and simple
No longer than 20 minutes
Highlights of the job that needs to be planned and executed tonight
Touch on the highlights of this month’s work plan for each committee
Announce time allowed for the operating committee meetings
As each item is discussed, be sure an assignment is made, accepted, and recorded
on the work plan in each committee meeting
District Committee Meeting: cont’d
Unit Service
Operating committee meetings
Specific unit needs requiring operating committee assistance
This will occupy the major portion of the evening
Reports and plans of operating committee meetings
What was accomplished in the past month?
What plans have been made to accomplish during the next months?
Reports of special committee and selected chartered organization
representatives.
District Executives Report
Other business
Hold an open forum if time permits
Closing ceremony
Adjournment
Commissioners Meetings:
Nerve Center of Council’s Commissioner operations
Major purpose:
Motivate and support district commissioners
Maintain a high level of unit service in the districts
Council commissioner presides
Who Attends:
District commissioners
Assistant council commissioners
Scout executive
How often do we meet:
Monthly
Purpose:
planning, training, and reporting.
Assistant council commissioners can be assigned specific responsibilities
roundtables, training, conferences, etc.
Discussion Items:
(Commissioner Meetings)
A timely training topic
A district-by-district review of such items as commissioner
recruiting, unit re-chartering, and unit visits.
Chance to hold districts accountable.
Future council activities
FOS campaign
Summer camp promotions
Scout show
Special projects.
Discussion Items:
(Commissioner Meetings)
Opportunity for district commissioners to report on:
health of their units
Give specific statement on unit coverage
Special unit service projects
Major needs of the district.
Roundtable activities and attendance, commissioner
training programs, and other special commissionerrelated business.
A review of potential dropped units needing high priority
commissioner lifesaving.
Problem solving
At least once a year, make a list of problems that have been confronted by
district commissioners. Select a problem for each monthly meeting. Break
participants into work groups of three to six persons to devise solutions for
the problems. After 15 to 20 minutes, reassemble and have groups share
their solutions. The staff adviser includes a comprehensive list of solutions in
the meeting minutes.
Ultimate Goal
Achieve Journey to Excellence Gold
Level
Council benchmarks
Council goals
Health markers for BAC
District Committee Member
-Other Key Points
Team players
Agents of the Bay Area Council
Pledge support to Council:
Resources
Financial
commitment (annually)
Adhere to the policies, procedures and practices of
the BSA
Required Paperwork
Minutes
District
Committee meetings
District Commissioner meetings
Person responsible : The District Exec.
Summary
Recruit Youth
Organize Units
Give good service
Recruit people with influence
Recruit people to give money
Recognize “your volunteers”
Scout
meetings
District banquets
Scouting events
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