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
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Executive Committee
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Professional Staff
Bay Area Council
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2 counties in East Texas
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4 geographical areas (Districts)
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Coastal, Northern Star, Cradle of Texas, Thunderbird
District serves as a support system for the charter organizations
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Galveston (Headquarters)
Brazoria
Not a policy making entity
$1.5 – 1.7 mil. budget
Council made up of:
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Executive Committee
Executive Board (policy making body)
Council owns the assets of the Corporation
Bay Area Council (continued)
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Professional Staff of Council:
 manage the assets of the council
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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:
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District Chairman
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top volunteer in the district
District Commissioner
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District Committee
Commissioner Staff
serves as the quality control person
District Committee
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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
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Program
Activities
Advancement
Camping
Training
Venturing / Exploring
District Chairman
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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.
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Accepts and supports the goals of the council and district:
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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
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Key 3 Monthly meeting
Discuss district topics
Develop the district committee agenda
District Chairman
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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
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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)
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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
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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)
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Regular contact with heads of chartered organizations
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Keep district records up to date
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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
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Each District Officer
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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
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Key-3 Meeting:
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District Committee Meeting:
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Occurs once per month
Operating committee chairman, District Chmn.,
District Commissioner and District Executive.
Commissioner Staff Meeting:
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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:
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Occurs once per month
Information and training meeting for unit leaders
Conducted by Roundtable Commissioner and Roundtable staff
District Committee Meeting:
Worksheet
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Call to order
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Opening ceremony and/or invocation
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Welcome, Introductions and Recognitions
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Ask committee chairman to introduce the new members of their committees
Training feature of the month
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Keep this short and simple
No longer than 20 minutes
Highlights of the job that needs to be planned and executed tonight
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Touch on the highlights of this month’s work plan for each committee
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Announce time allowed for the operating committee meetings
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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
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Unit Service
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Operating committee meetings
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Specific unit needs requiring operating committee assistance
This will occupy the major portion of the evening
Reports and plans of operating committee meetings
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What was accomplished in the past month?
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What plans have been made to accomplish during the next months?
Reports of special committee and selected chartered organization
representatives.
District Executives Report
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Other business
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Hold an open forum if time permits
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Closing ceremony
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Adjournment
Commissioners Meetings:
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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:
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District commissioners
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Assistant council commissioners
Scout executive
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How often do we meet:
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Monthly
Purpose:
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planning, training, and reporting.
Assistant council commissioners can be assigned specific responsibilities
roundtables, training, conferences, etc.
Discussion Items:
(Commissioner Meetings)
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A timely training topic
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A district-by-district review of such items as commissioner
recruiting, unit re-chartering, and unit visits.
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Chance to hold districts accountable.
Future council activities
 FOS campaign
 Summer camp promotions
 Scout show
 Special projects.
Discussion Items:
(Commissioner Meetings)
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Opportunity for district commissioners to report on:
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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.
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A review of potential dropped units needing high priority
commissioner lifesaving.
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Problem solving
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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
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District Committee Member
-Other Key Points
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Team players
Agents of the Bay Area Council
Pledge support to Council:
 Resources
 Financial
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commitment (annually)
Adhere to the policies, procedures and practices of
the BSA
Required Paperwork
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Minutes
 District
Committee meetings
 District Commissioner meetings
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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”
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 Scout
meetings
 District banquets
 Scouting events