"Cub Scout RT492 - Council and District"

I've attempted to provide a road map showing the relationships between Cub Packs and leaders to those mysterious entities called the District and the Council.

In some cases I have listed the important services you should expect from various groups and individuals there. I have also listed your obligations: what you should do in order to deserve the best service.

I don't believe any district or council is perfect, so don't expect 100% but you should get most of the services on the lists. Remember, it's all being done by volunteers like you, along with a dedicated paid staff working on tight budgets and with critical priorities.

For Scouters who work for a district organization, I suggest reading Dennis Cook's article DISTRICT OPERATIONS MADE EASY.

Bill.

The district helps pack leaders in a variety of ways:

COMMISSIONER SERVICE:

There is an experienced volunteer Scouter called a Unit Commissioner assigned to help your pack. He or she can advise you on program ideas, administrative procedures, opportunities for your pack and is especially helpful at rechartering time.

ROUNDTABLES:

Another Commissioner service program. This is a monthly get together of pack and den leaders where program ideas for the following month are presented and discussed.

LEADER TRAINING:

A district committee regularly provides training courses covering various aspects of pack and den leadership.

ROUNDUP HELP:

Another district committee that provides training and support for recruiting boys and leaders.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS:

A district committee organizes a variety of special programs such as Webelos Woods, Scouting For Food, and district wide outdoor events.

DIRECT HELP FOR CUB PACKS:

Commissioners and district committees are there to help packs put on the best Scouting programs for boys and their families. If you have problems, call on your district!

The Council Helps pack leaders in other ways:

CHARTERS:

Issues local organizations charters to operate Cub Scout Packs, Scout Troops, etc.

CAMPING:

The council provides properties where packs may camp and various summer camp programs staffed by nationally trained directors.

POW WOW / UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING:

Large day-long training seminars covering a variety of subjects of interest to pack and den leaders.

SERVICE CENTER:

A local outlet where pack leaders can purchase badges and other Scout equipment.

INFORMATION:

The council provides regular mailings, internet access, and a Service Desk for all Scouters.

STANDARDS:

The council provides and enforces safety and operating standards that are consistent with National BSA policy and are designed to protect both youth and leaders and to support the aims of the Scouting Movement.

SERVICE DESK:

A place where pack leaders and other Scouters can get answers to questions asked in person or by phone, mail or email.

A Local Boy Scout Council is an independent non-profit organization that has been granted a charter from the Boy Scouts of America to organize and support Scouting units within a certain geographic area. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors that raises money, hires a Scout Executive - a professional manager- and owns property. The local council, in turn, grants charters to local organizations within its area to run Scout units - packs, troops, posts, ships and crews. Each of these Chartered Organizations designates a representative who collectively elect the board and the officers of the council and, in effect, own the council.

The purpose of the Local Council is to make quality Scouting programs available to all eligible youth within its boundaries. It does this by working with local organizations to organize and support Scouting Units.

A Scouting Unit is a Cub Pack, a Scout Troop, or other BSA youth group.

The local council is divided up into administrative areas called districts. A district usually has a definite boundary, encompassing a few dozen chartered organizations and sometimes works only with certain levels of Scouting (Venturing, for example). Each district has a volunteer organization that works directly with the units it is responsible for. They are guided and advised by one or more professional Scouters on the staff of the Scout Executive.

The purpose of the district is to work through chartered organizations and community groups to organize and support Scouting units. The support is directed toward making every unit successful. The end result of effective district support: more and more members receiving a better and better program.

The charter is the legal agreement permitting an organization to use the program of the Boy Scouts of America. The charter gives its adult and youth members certain privileges (uniforming, access, protection, etc.) In return, the organization agrees to adhere to certain BSA standards. Charters are granted to local organizations to organize packs or troops for example and to Councils to provide Scouting to a geographic area.

Charters are typically granted for a year and must be renewed annually.

Local Scout councils are chartered by the BSA National Council to provide Scouting. The council is, in effect, owned by the Chartered Representatives of all the Organizations who provide Scout programs within the council boundaries. They have the majority of the votes at the annual business meetings where the council officers and the Executive Board are elected.

The officers (the council president and other board members) hire a professional Scouter to be the Scout Executive (SE) who is responsible for the day to day operation of the council properties and programs.

The officers and the board, who are almost always volunteers, are responsible for setting council policy, funding the council operation and overseeing various activities such as district operation, camping, advancement and membership. They also select an experienced volunteer to be the Council Commissioner.

The SE hires a staff of professional Scouters, camping and office personnel and other specialists necessary to maintain an effective council operation. A professional is appointed to advise each council committee to ensure that its activities follow BSA policies and guidelines. Other professional Scouters are assigned as District Executives to guide the District Committees and Commissioners.

The district is organized around the Key 3:

The District Chair who heads the district committee,

The District Commissioner who leads the district Commissioner Corps, and

The District Executive, who may be aided by professional assistants.

The District Chair is nominated by the District Nominating Committee and is elected at the annual district business meeting and approved by the Council Executive Board. Chartered Organization Representatives have the majority of votes at these meetings. District Chairs with strong leadership and organizational abilities can have a profound positive effect on their district, the committee and the units they serve. If they are ineffective, their duties and the duties of absent committee members often fall to the District Executive resulting in uneven district operation.

There are several sub committees:

Finance which organizes various district fund raising projects.

Membership which analyzes membership needs and opportunities.

Program which provide special services such as training, advancement, camping and activities.

The District Commissioner is nominated by the District Nominating Committee and is elected in a similar manner. They usually have many years of experience in a variety of Scouting programs and have strong leadership and organizational abilities.

This person is the professional Scouter assigned by the council Scout Executive to guide the Commissioners and the members of the District Committee to successfully make Scouting happen. Typically, the DE is young, was a Scout and often is enthusiastic about the program. They are well trained by the National Council in district organization and in BSA policy and can be very helpful to pack leaders in these matters. They mostly, however, lack experience as a pack or troop leader. Don't expect them to be especially helpful in questions about den or pack programs - your Commissioner and Roundtable staff will probably have more Cub Scouting experience than your DE.

EXPECTATIONS

OBLIGATIONS

Pack Leaders should expect the DE to be knowledgeable and helpful on matters like BSA and Council policy, council/district resources.

More importantly, expect your district to be fully staffed with experienced, trained volunteers who actively communicate, advise and help pack leaders.

The more you see of district volunteers and the less you see your DE, the better and more valuable the DE.

Establish respectful relations with your DE. Respect their personal time and direct questions to district volunteers as much as is practicable.

Your main obligation is to make your pack's program the best. But also think about:

Cooperating with your DE on reaching membership and Friends of Scouting goals.

As you gain Scouting experience consider helping out district committees or other district projects.

Most Scouters agree with the official position of the BSA that our program is so valuable to American youth that it should appeal to the majority of them. Therefore we tend to judge how good our program is by measuring the number of members: how many join and how many stay. If we believe that our program is that good, then we should expect more boys to join our packs and most of them should remain members right through Webelos II. In short, we can't teach citizenship, build character and encourage fitness to boys until they are members of our dens and our packs.

The council and district membership committees organize new Scouting units in under-served neighborhoods and provide unit leaders with recruiting and retention help.

Membership growth is an important factor in measuring the quality of districts and councils.

EXPECTATIONS

OBLIGATIONS

Pack Leaders should expect lots of help to prepare for their spring or fall roundups. There should be flyers, posters, parent guides, etc. available from the district.

Training on how to organize a roundup and support at school boy-talks and rally nights should be available.

Commissioners and the Order of the Arrow may help with Webelos graduating to Scout troops.

Carefully plan to recruit new boys each year and to provide them with trained leaders and a fun filled Scouting program.

Work with your chartered organization, and the administrators of where you recruit to establish harmonious relations.

Be visible in your community.

Turn in completed applications as soon as they are approved and paid for.

Provide a stable leadership corps and program that retains members.

EXPECTATIONS

OBLIGATIONS

Chartered Organizations should expect regular reports detailing their council's financial statements and how funds are allocated.

There should be adequate spending for camp maintenance, leadership training and field support (DE salaries).

Camp facilities should be clean, safe and available to packs.

The Council Service center should be helpful and be available by telephone, in person and by email.

It is the duty of volunteers to adequately fund Scouting in their community. Each pack should support their council's family campaign (Friends of Scouting, etc.) by scheduling a pledge night and appointing a pack coordinator. If able, contribute to your council's campership fund to ensure that no boy is denied camp because his family can't afford it.

If your family gets a lot out of Scouting, consider one of the major support levels.

EXPECTATIONS	OBLIGATIONS
Pack Leaders should expect the UC to be in contact with the pack leadership at least once a month. Should be knowledgeable and helpful with all phases of Pack and Den programming and procedures. They should be familiar with district/council activities and should be a valuable resource in rechartering.	Ensure that the UC gets to meet all leaders and pack officers. Share your aims and concerns openly with your commissioner and listen to any advice given. Invite the UC to pack meetings, leaders meetings, campouts and B&G banquets. If the UC assigned to your pack seriously fails your expectations, request a replacement from the District Commissioner.

EXPECTATIONS

OBLIGATIONS

Pack Leaders should expect a monthly roundtable meeting that provides program help for Pack leaders, den leaders, Webelos leaders and pack committee members.

It should provide at least an hour's worth of help specifically aimed for the den and pack programs in following month. It should feature games, ceremonies, projects and other fun activities.

If the Roundtables are helpful, all leaders and committee members should attend regularly.

If the quality is poor, at least one representative of the pack should attend to learn of district and council opportunities for Cub Scouts.

Pack and den leaders should offer to contribute their knowledge and skills to improve the Roundtable program.

EXPECTATIONS

OBLIGATIONS

The district training committee should provide a series of training classes that are convenient for all new leaders and unit Scouters taking on new positions. These classes should be timely, well publicized, and be staffed by experienced, articulate and helpful trainers who, themselves, are well trained.

The council should provide more training in the form of Wood Badge training, Pow Wow or University of Scouting and promote other national and region training opportunities.

It is the responsibility of every leader and committee member to know their duties and obligations to their Chartered organization, to the youth members they serve and to the Boy Scouts of America. In other words, to be trained. Any Scouter who is not trained, jeopardizes the safety and well being of the youth and may foment disrespect with the public toward the Scouting Movement through ignorance and mistakes.

Leaders should feel free to attend training in other districts or councils.

EXPECTATIONS	OBLIGATIONS
Pack Leaders should expect the Council and District Camping Committees to provide a stimulating BALOO training and Webelos Leader Outdoor Training.	Take advantage of all the council and district opportunities you can. Prepare for each according to the recommendations and plan carefully. Each pack is required to have a BALOO trained committee member in order for the pack to camp (and your pack should camp), to have and read, and to follow the requirements in, the Guide to Safe Scouting, and, if required, file a Tour Permit.

Most district provide adequate service to packs and troops and are staffed by good people. Occasionally, however, a district will really mess up and leave the units and leaders to fend for themselves. The fact that most districts are OK doesn't help much if you can't get the help you need.

Here are some suggestions of what you can do when help doesn't show up.

No or Poor Commissioner Service -

A Commissioner serves your pack as a sort of general practitioner. It's having a knowledgeable outsider give you a good check up.

Without Commissioner service a pack may miss valuable opportunities, or leaders may start practices that are not in their best interests. A good Commissioner should detect this and suggest corrective action.

Occasionally, you may even be assigned a Commissioner who is not in your pack's or your CO's best interests.

What Can You Do?

Hassle your DE and your District Commissioner to provide better service. Enlist the voice of the Chartered Org. Rep. (CR) for support.

Look up ex leaders and invite them to visit your pack and assess your operation. They may be able to objectively appraise things better than the guys in the trenches.

Use the various pack and program evaluation charts:

Pack Quality Unit

Commissioner's Work Sheet

Try to be objective - follow any recommended actions.

Become a ReCharter Guru. Maintain good pack records, learn the recharter process (Your Council Registrar may be a resource). Use Online rechartering.

Learn to get useful information from your Council newsletter and website. Send your CR to district committee meetings and at least one leader to Roundtables.

Inadequate Training

Your leaders can not operate effectively or safely with inadequate training. Your leaders must be trained.

What Can You Do?

Check for training opportunities in other districts or even nearby councils. You don't have to be trained by people in your district.

Use your Pack Trainer to check for training opportunities and coordinate training for all leaders.

Use the online services for Fast Start and Youth Protection. Go to your council website and follow their directions.

Bill's Unofficial Cub Scout Roundtable A compendium of Ideas For Cubmasters, Den Leaders and those who help them.
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HOW CUB PACKS ARE HELPED BY THEIR

DISTRICT AND COUNCIL

WHAT KIND OF HELP?

The district helps pack leaders in a variety of ways:

The Council Helps pack leaders in other ways:

WHAT IS THE COUNCIL?

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT?

WHAT IS A CHARTER?

HOW IS THE COUNCIL ORGANIZED?

HOW IS THE DISTRICT ORGANIZED?

YOUR DISTRICT EXECUTIVE:

MEMBERSHIP

(Why is it Important?)

MONEY

(Why do they need it?)

YOUR COMMISSIONER:

ROUNDTABLES:

TRAINING:

CAMPING:

ADVANCEMENT:

What Can You Do If your District Doesn't Help?

No or Poor Commissioner Service -

Inadequate Training

EXPECTATIONS	OBLIGATIONS
If you are lucky, expect support for rank progression at training and Roundtables.	Turn in advancement reports even if you suspect that no one ever looks at them.