District Membership Committee

The district membership committee is primarily responsible for relationship with community organizations, the organization of new units in order to provide opportunity for youth membership growth, and youth recruitment. Cultivation of present chartered organizations is extremely important. This is done through continuous expressions of appreciation, invitations toorganizational heads to visit Scouting events, and recognitions for tenure and exemplary support from organizations.The relationships function at the district levelis not as formalized as at the council level. Itis mainly a "door opening" function which follows up efforts made by the council membership/relationship committee. A committee person for each of the three major categories of organization—religious, educational, and civic—should be sufficient.

New-unit organization and unit reorganization are major responsibilities of the membership committee. All new-unit organization originates with this committee, and unit reorganization is generally done in cooperation with the commissioner staff, which has the ongoing responsibility of rechartering units. Commissioners are accountable for keeping units alive and healthy, but they often need the support of the membership committee to help get units reorganized. Instead of a planning body, the district membership committee is an action group. They conduct the events and activities that will reach out to serve more youth.

 

District Membership Chairman

The chairman is responsible to the district chairman and serves on the council membership/relationships committee. The person who fills this role must have leadership ability and the capacity to manage a team working on a variety of activities. The chairman needs to be able to motivate committee members and to inspire them to meet district membership objectives. The chairman must be a good adult recruiter.

Use Selecting District People to determine the number of people needed on this committee for your district.

 

District Membership Committee Tasks

  1. Gather information

    • Work with the district executive to establish a district growth plan for new-unit and membership growth in the district.
    • Plan and conduct boy-fact surveys to find out how many boys there are of Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Varsity Scout age.
    • Analyze district membership figures on the number of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers for the past several years.
    • Find out where units of each age level are located to help decide how many units of each type will be needed and where.
    • Track membership growth throughout the current year.
    • Develop a list of all potential chartered organizations in the district.
    • Gather information about various types of community organizations, as well as individual organizations within each type.
    • Plan and conduct career and hobby interest surveys with Venturing-age youth.
  2. Cultivate relationships with community organizations
    • Encourage community organizations to use the Scouting program.
    • Act in close liaison with council leadership to maintain or regain Scouting access to schools.
    • Conduct district relationships conferences for heads of charteredorganizations and chartered organization representatives.
    • Promote the religious emblems program.
    • Share information with other district Scouting leaders about how to work more effectively with various types of organizations.
  3. Organize units
    • Recruit and train organizers for new units as well as those needing reorganization.
    • Organize new packs, troops, teams, and crews.
    • Conduct a together plan—a plan to bring Scouting to a number of organizations.
    • Reorganize units that need a new start.
    • Make sure that new or reorganized units are under the care of a member of the commissioner staff before you leave.
    • Promote the whole Scouting family (the organization of packs, troops, teams, and crews in the same chartered organization). Some councils have established a "Whole Family of Scouting" award, which stimulates chartered organizations to have the whole family of units.
  4. Help youth join existing units
    • Plan and carry out district roundups and other youth recruiting campaigns.
    • Help existing units develop a plan of year-round recruiting and a willingness to look for new members.

    • Keep a list of all Scouting units that have not added new members during the past six months. District Scouters help coach units that show no growth in members.