The Greater Yosemite Council serves the following Central California counties: Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne. The Greater Yosemite Council is divided into 7 administrative districts, covering the areas shown in the map. The districts are:
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.
