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COMMITTEE FAST START for NON-COMMITTEE BSA Leaders

Understanding Committees

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OUTLINE Types of Committees What Committee Type Works Best The Committee Organizations Roles/Responsibilities Committee Programs How a Committee Functions Common Misconceptions Committee Guides Questions

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Types of Committees

BSA recommends 4 Committee Types Venture Committee Varsity Committee Scout Committee Cub Committee

How do you know which Committee Type is correct for a given Unit?

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What Committee TypeWorks Best

Committee Type Factors Traditional LDS Church Organization

Based on Priesthood year groups Based on Ward youth numbers

Meets the needs of the Unit Can change as the Unit changes Committee comprises people officially

called by Bishop and by volunteers

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What Committee TypeWorks Best (Cont’) Traditionally Wards have 2 Committees

Cub Committee Scout Committee covering…

Scouts 12-14 Varsity 15-16 Ventures 17-18

Large Varsity/Venture programs Some Units – 1 Committee over all 4 Yes, some Units have no Committee

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The Committee Organizations BSA Committees vs. LDS Committees

Similar functions/slightly different names All Committee functions should be covered Primary and Young Men Leaders - CALLED Committee members have important roles Committee members support each other

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Committee Roles & Responsibilities

Chartered Organization Representative Member of the District – Not on Committee

Unit Committee is - Board of Directors Supports - Cubs/Scouts/Varsity/Venture Performs many administrative functions Assists Cub Master, Scout Master, Varsity

Coach and Venture Advisor Committee makes it all come together

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CommitteeRoles & Responsibilities

Ensures that quality adult leadership is recruited and trained.

Provides adequate meeting facilities Advises leaders on policies relating to

youth and Chartered Organization Supports leaders in program

execution Is responsible for finances, adequate

funding and funds disbursements

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CommitteeRoles & Responsibilities

Obtains, maintains and properly cares for unit property and equipment

Ensures the unit has a monthly outdoor activity program

Serves on boards of review and courts of honor

Supports leaders in solving problems

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CommitteeRoles & Responsibilities

Provides for special needs Helps with Friends of Scouting Helps with behavior problems

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CommitteeRoles & Responsibilities

Part of the Committee Cub Master, Scout Master / Asst Scout

Master, Varsity Coach, Venture Advisor

Parent Volunteers as needed Not part of the Committee

Chartered Organization Rep - District

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Committee Programs Annual Unit Recognition Board of Review Equipment Purchase and Storage Fund Raising Youth Leadership Training Quality Unit Awards 2 Deep Leadership Youth Safety

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Committee Programs (cont’) Publicity Parental Involvement Unit Calendar Unit Newsletter Courts of Honor/Pack Meetings Adult Leader Training Annual Planning Eagle Project Approval

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Committee Programs (cont’) Summer Camps/Activity Registration Support Chartered Organization Tour Permits/Permission Slips Physical Examinations Award Purchases Youth Records at Council Rank Advancement Unit Library Resources

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Committee Members Chairperson Secretary (Primary Sec/Young Men Sec) Treasurer (Ward Finance Clerk) Outdoor/Activities Coordinator Advancement Coordinator Chaplain (Normally not filled in LDS Units) Training Coordinator Equipment Coordinator

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Chairperson Organizes Committee Ensures Committee functions are covered Promotes relations with Chartered

Organization and Unit leaders Give policy guidance Prepares Committee meeting agenda Presides over Committee meetings Ensures representation at Roundtable Charter review and re-chartering annually

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Secretary

Keeps meeting minutes Handles publicity Family newsletter - events and

activities Conducts Unit Resource Survey Family Night Programs and Activities Reports on previous meetings/actions

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Treasurer (Financial Clerk)

Handles all Unit funds: checking/savings

Supervises fund raising projects Lead annual unit budgets

preparations Reports monthly at Committee

meeting

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Outdoor/Activities Helps secure use of camp sites Serves a transportation coordinator Ensure a monthly outdoor program Promotes National Camping Award Promotes attendance at camp activities Secures tour permits Reports monthly at Committee meeting

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Advancement Encourage youth advancement in rank Work with scribes to maintain records Arrange for boards and courts of honor Oversees merit badge counselors lists Coordinate with local Council on actions Build and maintain Unit reference

library Report monthly at Committee meeting

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Training

Ensure leaders are trained Maintain up-to-date training materials Work with District: train all Leaders Responsible - Youth Protection

training Encourage Junior Leader training

Unit, District, Council and National levels Report monthly at Committee Meeting

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Equipment Coordinator

Supervises/helps procure equipment Works with Quartermaster on

inventory, storage, and maintenance of equipment

Makes safety checks Encourage safe equipment use Reports monthly at Committee

meeting

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How a Committee Functions Monthly Committee Meetings Supports all BSA Programs Supports Cubs, Scouts, Varsity and

Ventures Supports Unit events and activities Ensures all Committee leaders are trained Support each other: replace dead wood Understand District/Council functions Understand overall Committee functions

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The Committee Meeting

Chairman Report Review of Past Activities

Cubs, Scouts, Varsity, Venture Secretary Report Treasurer Report

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Committee Meeting (cont’)

Outdoor/Activities Report Advancement Report Training Report Equipment Report Review of Future Activities

Cubs, Scouts, Varsity, Venture Long Term Goals/Planning

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Common Misconceptions

The Committee Chairperson can do it all

Eagle earned = Committee does it Cub Master and Scoutmaster can do it Scouting is easy – anyone can do it Committees run by themselves Committees are on their own All Bishoprics know what is required

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Committee Guides Committee Guides are available

Available at Trading Post Committee Roundtable training

64 wards X 8 Committee members = 512 Average Roundtable attendance is 15

Committee Challenge is the Specific Leader/Basic training for Committees 2 times per year – encourage attendance

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Questions