1. Welcome to
Position-Specific
Training for
The Scouting Committee
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2. We Will Cover
the Committee
Serving
Boy Scouts
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3. When it
Also Serves the
Varsity Scouts
3

4. And How One Committee Can
Also Serve the Venturing Crew
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5. Basic Training Overview
• Youth Protection
• Fast Start - there is a separate video for each
area; recommended
• This Is Scouting (Previously required,
recommended)
• Troop Committee Challenge
• Each of these are available online at
myscouting.org
• To be followed up with monthly in-service at
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Roundtable

6. The Aims of Scouting
Do Not Change
Across Differing Age Groups
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7. The Aims of Scouting
Do Not Change
Across Differing Age Groups
• Character development
• Citizenship training
• Mental and physical fitness
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8. What Scouting (All Three Phases)
Can Provide a Young Man
• Sense of belonging • Self-reliance
• Achievement and • Healthy interaction
recognition with others
• Self-esteem • Leadership
• Self-confidence development
• Self-discipline • Experience of
teamwork
• Significant away-from-
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home experiences

9. Adult Leadership
• Troop
• Scoutmaster
• Assistant Scoutmaster(s)
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10. Adult Leadership
Troop
•Scoutmaster
•Assistant Scoutmaster(s)
•Team
•Coach
•Assistant Coach(es)
•Program Advisors
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11. Adult Leadership
• Troop
• Scoutmaster
• Assistant Scoutmaster(s)
• Team
• Coach
• Assistant Coach(es)
• Program Advisors
• Crew
• Advisor
• Associate Advisor(s)
• Consultants
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12. Adult Leadership
• Troop
• Scoutmaster
• Assistant Scoutmaster(s)
• Team
• Coach
• Assistant Coach(es)
• Program Advisors
• Crew
• Advisor
• Associate
Advisor(s)
• Consultants
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13. Boy Scout Troop Organization
Asst. Scoutmaster Asst.
Scoutmaster Scoutmaster
Patrol Leaders’ Council
Senior
Patrol
Leader
Patrol Patrol Patrol
Leader Leader Leader
Patrol Patrol Patrol
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14. Varsity Scout Team Organization
Coach Assistant
Coach
Cocaptain Captain Cocaptain
Advancement High Adventure/ Personal Service Special Programs/
Manager Sports Manager Development Manager Events Manager
Manager
Squad Leader
Squad Leader
Squad Leader Squad Leader Squad Leader Squad Leader
Squad Leader
5-7 Young Men 5-7 Young Men 5-7 Young Men 5-7 Young Men
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15. Varsity Scout Team Organization -
Small
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16. Venturing Crew Organization
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17. Scouting Committee Positions
*Committee Chair
*Secretary/Treasurer - use as FOS Chair
*Outdoor/Activities Chair
*Advancement Chair
*Scouting Trainer
*Primary President (LDS Units)
*Membership & Registration Chair - consider
using the YM Secretary
ScoutParents Scouting Coordinator
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* “Must Have” positions in Zion District

18. Scouting Committee Positions
for Small Units
Note the consolidation for small units
*Committee Chair/Secretary/Treasurer
*Outdoor/Activities & Trainer
*Advancement/Membership Coord
*Primary President (LDS Units)
ScoutParents Scouting Coordinator
xx* “* “Must Have” Must Have”
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* “Must Have” positions in Zion District

19. Why So Many
Positions?
• How can a committee of one or two be a
committee?
• What are they supposed to do?
• Where do they find what they are supposed to
do?
• How do we get them to do their jobs?
• What would several functioning committee
members do for the morale of the typical leader?
19 • How could they help a struggling leader?

20. Fewer Committee Positions
*Normally there is a separate committee required
for each unit.
*This means a minimum of 3 each for Scouts,
Varsity, and Venturing.
*Including Program Advisers for a full Varsity staff
requires 5 additional positions.
*By using the district-recommended consolidation
of one committee, at least 11 positions are
eliminated, but the needed tasks can still be
accomplished.
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21. Which Comes First?
• Many times we find the sponsoring organization
fills the leader positions first, then starts looking
for individuals to serve on the committee, almost
as an afterthought.
• What is wrong with this approach?
• If one of the roles of the committee is to
recommend personnel to the COR, then it
stands to reason they ought to be the first to be
called to serve, so they can fulfill this part of their
task.
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22. Filling the Positions
• A full organization chart would have each of these positions
filled.
• It is the committee’s job to recommend candidates for most of
these positions to the COR, through the chair, when there are
22 vacancies.

23. Duties (Job
•
Descriptions)
The district has detailed job descriptions
available.
• We started with the basic job descriptions from
National.
• From there we added items, based on our
experience.
• We considered needs of the unit young men and
their leaders.
• Needs of the district and council were also
addressed.
23 • We included roles specific to LDS units.
UtahScouts.Org; Districts; Zion; Scouting

24. Some Details
• Chairman - makes personnel recommendations
to COR, conducts/directs monthly committee
meeting, receives accountability reports, looks
for needs, makes assignments, follows up
• Secretary/Treasurer - makes note of
assignments, conducts annual surveys, works
with youth historians, prepares budgets, unit
FOS Chair
• Outdoor Coord - maintenance of equipment,
Tour Plans, Special Programs/Events advisor to
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Varsity, Youth Coordinator for Venturing

25. More Details
• Advancement Coordinator - points out individual needs of
advancement, arranges/coordinates/conducts boards of review,
maintains records, obtains awards, is a resource person for
Eagle procedures, recommends adults to receive appropriate
awards and recognition
• Trainer - to be an experienced Scouter, orients new leaders,
presents short in-service at committee meetings, keeps track of
leaders who have/need various types of training, promotes youth
leader training programs - den chief, troop/team/crew leadership
training, Timberline, and All-Stars
• Membership - registers young men and adults during the year,
leads the rechartering process in September, inputs
Troop/Team/Crew data for rechartering of the three units,
secures Den Chiefs for Cub Dens
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26. Roles of the Committee
• Serves as a Board of Directors for all three areas
• To be a support to the Unit Leaders and District
• Fulfill many of the “little” but time-consuming
needs
• Paperwork – does it ever end?
• Boards of Review – standing monthly assignment
• Advancement – something for everyone every
quarter
• Outings – don't forget transportation and food
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• Each member should have specific
responsibilities

27. Additional Roles of the
Committee
• Each unit to be under direction of the Committee
• Assure at least a one year outline for each unit’s
plans
• Provide a force of stability for the programs
• Accountability - see that the intended programs
are delivered
• To have at least 7 members (4 if identified as a
small unit, Zion District Requirement)
• Experience has shown that a larger committee
generally ensures stronger, more stable units
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28. The Scouting Committee
Is Supported by
• Chartered organization
• District and Council, through
• District Roundtables/Huddles/Forums
• District Committee
• District Training Team
• Commissioners
• District Executive
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29. Resources Available To Help Committee
• Articles (each area) in Scouting Magazine
• Internet sites (ea area) Council, National, Other (see
Google)
• Scout (each area) Committee
Guidebook
• Scout (each area) Committee
Challenge
• Scoutmaster Handbook
• Varsity Scout Guidebook
• Venturing Leader
Manual
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• Venturing Handbook &

30. Where Can We Find
Committee Members?
• Parents (Who doesn't have time for their son?)
• Sunday School Teachers
• Home Teachers & Visiting Teachers (LDS units)
• Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles, and other
relatives
• Non-member family friends
• Older members of the sponsoring organization
• People who love young men
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31. What Can Be Done If The
Committee Isn’t Functioning?
• Offer to help the Chair.
• Talk to the Chartered Organization
Representative.
• Talk to the Unit Commissioner.
• Suggest additional names to the Chair.
• Lead out with personal service. Encourage
others to do the same.
• Repeat the above.
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32. Points of a Good Committee
Agenda
• Conducted/directed by the Chair, using a printed
agenda
• Prayer, Scout Oath, Scout Law
• Visual review of announcements and calendar,
commented on only as needed
• Trainer presents a short in-service lesson
• Leaders outline successes and challenges
• Each committee member reports on their
stewardship
• Problems and needs are identified
32 • Chair makes assignments

33. A Recommended
Committee Agenda
• Due to its importance, the Zion District has developed a
recommended agenda, covering the three programs,
expanded from the skeletal one from National intended
for only one.
• It is intended as a “Return and Report” agenda with many
intentional details to aid all in seeing one another’s
responsibilities, allowing a strengthening of the
committee’s ability to function as a team.
• When leaders realize they have a team behind them they
are more likely to:
• Feel accountable.
• Deliver the intended program.
• Be strengthened as they sense this system of
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support.

34. Early Warning Signals -
Items Which Signify Unit Needs
• Irregular meetings • Limited
• No written program Roundtable/Huddle/For
• Little advancement, um attendance
awards, or recognition • Weak Scouting
• Few in uniform committee
• Seldom participate in • Limited parental
district events involvement
• Insufficient outdoor • Minimal youth
program leadership
• Lack of discipline
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• Leaders not fully

35. Signs of a Strong Program
• Youth-led program
• Regular advancement, awards, and recognition
• Lots of traditions
• Leaders aware of, and following, safety guidelines
• Annual program planning
• Youth and leaders wearing uniforms
• Leaders who are Wood Badge trained - at least
one additional in each unit each year
• Regularly qualifies for Journey to Excellence
award
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36. Committee Summary
• Learn your duty
• Do your duty
• Encourage others to do the same
• A need to have a full and functioning committee
• Meet regularly
• Follow a written agenda
• Support the leaders
• See that the intended program is delivered
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