Located in the heart of Tennessee, our district strives to meet Scouting objectives, while providing an exciting climate in which Scouts and their Units can thrive. Our District includes many strong Troops, Posts, Crews and Packs located in both Rutherford and Cannon Counties.
Trail of Tears District Leadership & Committee
The District Key 3
District Chariman:
A volunteer selected by the district nominating committee annually and elected by the district members. District chair's may serve one or more years and are responsible for organizing the district committees and naming chairs to each.
District Commissioner:
A volunteer selected by the district nominating committee annually and recommended to the council. District commissioners may serve one or more years and are responsible for organizing the commissioner staff to provide service to the units of the district.
District Professionals: Mike Cowles, Sr. District Executive (615) 330- 3831
A professional assigned to the district by the council. District executives (who may have different titles) are responsible for working with the district chair and district commissioner to conduct the day-to-day business of the district.
The District Committee
District Committee
District Operations Handbook
National Organization of Scouting
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 camporees, and Scouting shows, assists in the formation of new units, and helps coordinate the annual giving campaign.
The district committee also provides the unit with a unit commissioner. The unit commissioner gives direct coaching and consultation to the unit committee and other adult leaders.
The volunteers on the district committee can be a helpful resource to the unit committee. Call upon their guidance when needed.
The Scouting professional who provides district service is the district executive. He can be very helpful in showing the unit committee how to accomplish the unit's program goals.
The unit is owned and run by a sponsoring group called a chartered organization. The chartered organization receives a national charter yearly to use the Scouting program as a part of its youth work. The local council helps the chartered organization understand the program, however it is the chartered organization's program and is part of the chartered organizations youth work. These groups, which have goals compatible with those of the Boy Scouts of America, include religious, educational, community groups, fraternal, business, labor, and professional associations.
Each chartered organization using the Scouting program provides a meeting place, selects a Scoutmaster, approves the unit adult leadership, appoints a unit committee of at least three adults, and chooses a chartered organization representative.
The leadership structure and makeup of each unit are spelled out in the BSA Rules and Regulations. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Varsity Teams are for boys. Venturing is for young men and young women. A volunteer adult member (e.g., Scoutmaster) heads the Troop (Pack, etc.). They are assisted by other volunteer adult members (e.g. Assistant Scoutmasters) who attend, guide and instruct at the meetings of the Patrols (Dens, Teams).
A Local Unit is directly chartered to the sponsoring group by the Executive Board of the BSA based on a favorable recommendation from the Local Council. Once a Charter is granted, it is subject to revocation by the Executive Board in the exercise of its sole judgment. In most instances, charters are issued to existing organizations (church, civic, etc.). In some instances a charter may issue to a unit of interested and qualified citizens formed specifically for that purpose. In either case (existing organization or community unit) the applicant is obliged "to provide adequate facilities, supervision and leadership for a period of at least one year and to make an effort to provide youth members with an opportunity for a quality program experience as set forth in the official literature of the BSA.
Active adult leadership is required for each pack, troop, varsity scout team and venturing crew. Using the Scout Troop as an example (the requirements are similar for each) the leadership consists of the three members of the unit committee plus a Scoutmaster and the assistant Scoutmaster(s). Collectively they are known as the unit Scouters. All must be recommended by the Local Council and then approved, commissioned and registered as adult members by BSA. Commissions of Scoutmasters and assistant scoutmasters are issued on an annual basis.
The chartered organization representative is the liaison with the unit's sponsor. As a member of the chartered organization, that person will know the most effective ways to get the organization's assistance and maintain a mutually satisfactory working relationship with the chartered organization.
The chartered organization representative:
-
Is a member of the charter organization
-
Serves as head of the "Scouting department" in the organization
-
Secures a unit committee chairman and encourages training
-
Maintains a close liaison with the unit committee chairman
-
Helps recruit other adult leaders
-
Serves as liaison between the unit and the chartered organization
-
Assists with unit rechartering
-
Encourages service to the organization
-
Is an active and involved member of the district committee and the local council
Each local unit must be under the supervision of a unit committee consisting of three or more qualified adults (at least 21 years old) selected by the chartered organization. For each Pack, Troop, Varsity Scout team or Venturing Crew there must be one adult who registers and serves as the unit leader. That person must be approved by and registered with the Local Council.
The unit committee's primary responsibilities are supporting the Unit Leader (Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, etc.) in delivering a quality unit program, and helping unit administration. As the unit committee works on behalf of the chartered organization, the unit must be operated within the organization's policies.
In the chartered organization relationship, the Boy Scouts of America provides the program and support services, and the chartered organization provides the adult leadership and uses the program to accomplish its goals for youth. A review of the Chartered Organization Fast Start video and the viewer's guide will prove helpful in understanding this relationship.
Ref: Troop Committee Guidebook, BSA; Cub Scout Leader Book; The Chartered Organization Representative; Chartered Organization Fast Start Video and Viewer's Guide.
See also: Official BSA on-line Web Site, BSA Description and History and the Federal Charter
Reference: http://www.usscouts.org/aboutbsa/bsaorg.asp