A Scouting district is an optional geographical area within the local council, as determined by the Council Executive Board. District leaders mobilize resources to ensure the growth and success of Scouting units within the district’s territory. Members of the District Committee are volunteers. The district trains adult volunteers, provides district programs for units (such as Twilight Camp and Camporees), assists in the formation of new units, and helps coordinate the annual giving campaign.
District Executive – The Council Professional assigned to the District.
The District Executive is your special Scouting friend and counselor and the full-time Scouting professional in the District. He or she is employed by the Council and reports to the Council Scout Executive. The District Executive is the only Scouter in the District other than Commissioners who wears the wreath of service in their badge of office.
You can expect your District Executive to:
- Provide professional coaching
- Propose unit service plans for your consideration
- Give inspiration and encouragement
- Maintain regular contact with the heads of your chartered organizations
- Provide vital behind-the-scenes administrative skills
- Work with and support volunteers
The District Committee
District Committee leadership includes the District Chairman, one or more Vice Chairmen, and Chairmen for the Finance Committee, Membership Committee and Program function. The Program function includes tasks to be performed related to Training, Advancement/Recognition, Camp Promotion/Outdoor, and Activities/Civic Service.
The District Chairman also appoints special and ad hoc committees.
The District Commissioner provides communication with the Commissioner Staff and the condition of all Scout Units.
District Chairman
The District Chairman is elected by the Charter Representatives and Members At Large, and approved by the Council Executive Board. The District Chairman leads the District Committee, initiates plans and helps committee chairmen carry out the functions of the district.
- Identify and recruit operating committee chairs
- Initiate plans and help committee chairs recruit their committee members
- Plan, with the DE, and preside over District Committee meetings
- Work with the District Commissioner and DE to stimulate and coordinate the work of the district.
- With the DE, ensure the completion of district goals
- Represent the District on the Council Executive Board, once elected
- Recognize individuals, committees, and chartered organizations for their accomplishments
- Support local and national Scouting policies, procedures, and practices
- Help secure support for Scouting from top community leaders throughout the District
- Track and attain goals for District’s achievement items
- Annually appoint a District Nominating Committee to select nominees for District Officers and Members at large
District Vice-Chair
- Identify and recruit operating committee chairs
- Initiate plans and help committee chairs recruit their committee members
- Plan, with the DE, and preside over District Committee meetings
- Work with the District Commissioner and DE to stimulate and coordinate the work of the district.
- With the DE, ensure the completion of district goals
- Represent the District on the Council Executive Board, once elected
- Recognize individuals, committees, and chartered organizations for their accomplishments
- Support local and national Scouting policies, procedures, and practices
- Help secure support for Scouting from top community leaders throughout the District
- Track and attain goals for District’s achievement items
- Annually appoint a District Nominating Committee to select nominees for District Officers and Members at large
District Finance Chair
- Responsible to the District Chair
- Ensure implementation of Council finance policies
- Serve as member of Council Finance Committee if so stated in Council bylaws
- Recruit and train Finance Committee on tasks provided by Council Finance Committee
- Ensure the acquisition of funds for the Council budget
- Maintain a cooperative relationship with the United Way
- Implement the Friends of Scouting (FOS) Campaign
- Develop prospects and retain the interests of contributors
- Support the Council Popcorn Program and other “project selling” programs
- Support the Council Endowment development
- Inform Units of Unit Finance Policy
- Review Units’ funding project applications
- Achieve District share of Council finance campaigns
- Support District activities that involve income and expenses, assuring proper policy and control
District Membership Chair
The Membership Chairman oversees all membership-related activities in the John Ross District. This individual is responsible for the creation of new Scouting Units throughout the district, and for supporting the membership recruitment efforts of existing Scouting Units.
- Responsible to the District Chair
- Maintain open communications with the Council Membership/Relationships Chair
- Establish year-round plan and objectives for Unit and membership growth
- Track and attain membership growth objectives
- Recruit and train new-Unit organizers
- Work with District Commissioner and District Training team to provide new Units with training
- Plan and conduct youth and chartered organization surveys
- Cultivate relationships with potential chartered organizations and community groups
- Organize new Packs, Troops, Crews, Teams, and Posts
- Analyze District level membership figures for all programs
- Be sure a new Unit is under the care of a Commissioner before the organizer leaves
- Conduct membership events in the District:
- Roundup plans
- Together plan
- Relationships conference
- Track and attain membership growth objectives
Program Functions
Training Chair
- Reports to the Vice Chair
- Establish District training objectives to train leaders, not just run training courses
- Participate in Council Training Committee meetings dealing with training policies, program, and procedures
- Recruit and orient Training Committee members and Course Instructors
- Prepare an inventory of all leaders who need training
- Plan, schedule, and coordinate an annual District training program based on training inventory
- Evaluate and report on training progress
- Maintain Unit and District training records
- Offer training opportunities to every Unit leader
- Promote attendance at all training courses
- Give special assistance to untrained Unit leaders
- Give special attention to training new Units and new leaders in existing Units
- Approve applications for District training recognitions
- Support Wood Badge and Den Chief training and specialized training such as Pow Wow
- Track and attain training objectives
- Implement Council training program
- Support local and national Scouting policies, procedures, and practices
Advancement & Recognition Chair
- Reports to the Vice Chair
- Stimulate advancement and recognition of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Crews, Ships, and Posts
- Ensure advancement and recognition remain in accordance with National Council’s requirements and procedures
- Recruit and orient District Advancement Committee
- Establish advancement goals for District’s Units
- Develop a plan to achieve District advancement goals, and track goal attainment
- Assist Packs, Troops, Ships, and Crews: evaluate progress as required
- Provide the Council with recommendations of youth and adults qualifying for special recognition
- Coach Troop leaders in methods for conducting Boards of Review and Courts of Honor
- Give special assistance to Units with poor advancement progress
- Recruit and train an adequate group of Merit Badge Counselors for the District
- Produce and maintain a Merit Badge Counselor Directory
- Recommend Unit and District Scouters for special District and Council recognition (Meritorious, Silver Beaver, etc)
- Implement Council advancement and recognition program
- Review and approve Eagle Scout service project plans
- Participate in or conduct Eagle Scout Boards of Review
Activities Chair
- Reports to the Vice Chair
- Develop and implement a plan for activities in the District
- Ensure activities remain in accordance with National policy
- Recruit and orient District Activities Committee
- Support and strengthen Units by ensuring visability and balance of District activities
- Promote and conduct displays and skill events:
- Booth shows
- Camporees
- First aid contests
- Swim meets
- Window displays
- Shopping mall shows
- Plan, promote, and conduct special Scouting Anniversary Week activities
- Coordinate activities at the District annual meeting and Scouters’ recognition dinner
- Implement Council activities
- Conduct an annual poll of Unit leaders to determine Unit needs and wishes for District activities
Camping and Outdoor Program
The District Camping and Outdoor Program Chair is in charge of overseeing all camping activities for the District.
Camp Promotions Chair – Order of the Arrow Representative
- Reports to the Vice Chair
- Recruit and orient District Civic Service Committee
- Develop and implement a plan for civic service projects in the District
- Recruit and guide Civic Service Committee
- Ensure Good Turn ideas through Unit participation in civic service and community activities
- Promote proper uniforming at special activities
- Implement Council civic service programs
- Promote program visibility in the community
- Support Scouting For Food, Spring Cleanup, Camp Work Days, and other Good Turn For America activities
Outdoor Chair
- Reports to the Vice Chair
- Develop annual schedule of projects and events; including Camporees, Klondike, etc
- Recruit and orient District Outdoor Committee
- Implement the Council outdoor promotion plan
- Assist Unit committees in understanding and implementing their outdoor program
- Assist Council Committee with outdoor program facilities
- Give guidance on health and safety concerns
- Track and attain outdoor objectives
- Understand each Unit’s outdoor record
- Work with Commissioners to help Units plan a year-round schedule of outdoor program events
District Commissioner
District Commissioner assigns Unit Commissioners to individual units. The purpose is to provide guidance and resources to unit leaders and committees for organizing quality programs, and to address specific needs or issues as they arise.
Assistant District Commissioner
Serves as an advisor to the District Chairman & District Commissioner.
Monthly District Committee Meetings
Our district committee meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm at Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church ( 1733 Battlefield Pkwy, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 ). Consisting of chartered organization representatives (CORs) and elected district committee members, the district committee coordinates the functions of the district.