The district exists by the authority of the local council
and is represented on the council executive board by its
district chairman. Units are where it all happens. Units
are why all councils and all districts exist.
The local council is chartered by the National Council
as a policymaking body. The district has no policymaking
authority. Councils establish policies and programs. Districts
implement the programs and policies of the council in their
respective territories.
The council is no stronger than its districts. Districts
are the arteries through which the council program flows
to chartered organizations and their units and through
them to youth. One of the major responsibilities, therefore,
of the top council leadership is to build strong districts
through capable district personnel, both volunteer and
professional. Careful guidance of district nominating committees
in the selection of district officers and district members
at large is vital.
All districts are responsible for four standard functions:
membership, finance, program, and unit service. The structure
for carrying out these four functions may vary, but the
functions remain the same.
The purpose of the council is to guide and support its
districts in carrying out these four functions. In so doing,
the districts and council achieve the purpose and mission
of the Boy Scouts of America.
Membership Function
The membership function strives for growth through the organization
of new Scouting units, and growth through new members joining existing
units.
Finance Function
The finance function sees that the district provides its share of
funds to the total council operating budget.
Program Function
The program function concentrates on helping
Scouting units with:
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Activities and civic service
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Advancement and recognition
Unit Service Function
The unit service function provides direct coaching and consultation
by district volunteers for unit adults to help ensure the success
of every Scouting unit.
The membership, finance, and program functions are carried
out by members of the district committee.
The unit service function, however, is carried out by
the district commissioner staff, a group that meets and
is trained separately from the district committee.
The order in which the functions
are listed is not meant to suggest the order of their
importance, but the natural interrelationship and
flow of the functions. The movement cannot achieve
its purpose without first organizing units and enrolling
members. The district cannot support its units without
the funds to do it. Unit programs are supported by
the district through its program functions and unit
service. All four functions are equally important
and necessary. If one suffers from lack of attention,
all the work of the district suffers.
The functions of the district include
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Extending opportunities for youth
to join a pack, troop, team, or crew
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Helping existing units provide
a quality program for their youth
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Marshaling the resources of the
territory in terms of volunteers and money
Its specific duties are selling the
use of Scouting and providing the essential services.
The district committee sells the use of the program
to community organizations and helps to organize new
units. It provides those things essential to successful
Scouting that the chartered organization cannot easily
provide, including
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Guidance in the selection of
unit leadership
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Training for unit personnel in
the techniques of good program
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Inter-unit activities that stimulate
good unit program through participation and competition
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Promotion of the BSA camping
and outdoor program
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Promotion of the BSA advancement
program by providing merit badge counselors and
coaching unit committees on advancement procedures
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Giving guidance to units through
effective commissioner service
The district serves as a vehicle by
which Scouting services and programs are carried to
the chartered organization and units. It serves
as a sounding board for chartered organization and
unit needs and thus enables the consideration of those
needs as the council program is planned. It also participates
in determining the council budget and fund-raising
for the financing of its program
The needs of today and the needs of youth are great. Your
plans should match these needs. Set high but realistic
objectives, and your satisfaction in their achievement
will be proportionately great.
