Committee Chairs, Bobwhite Blather, Page 10

October 15, 2012

Conflict management and unit parents

We’ve recently discussed some situations you might run into on your troop or pack committee where members have a difference of opinion and you, the committee chair, need to step in and help resolve it. What happens when one or more of your parents blindsides you with a gripe?

Parents who aren’t as involved in Scouting as you are sometimes don’t understand the program as well, and can see a unit working normally as being dysfunctional. Friction can also develop among parents, or even between boys, and the people “in charge” are looked to for a solution.

Frequently, these problems arise as the result of an incomplete understanding of Scouting’s mission, aims and methods. Continue reading “Conflict management and unit parents”

October 1, 2012

Conflict management and the unit committee

Anytime two or more people come together, there is potential for conflict. This is true of all organizations, including Scouting units. Everyone is likely to have a different idea of how things are supposed to work, and when personalities clash, decorum can go out the window and we can lose our focus on why we are Scouting volunteers: to help the boys have a successful program. Continue reading “Conflict management and the unit committee”

September 17, 2012

Helping your committee succeed, part 2

Helping your committee succeed goes beyond motivation and instilling confidence. There are a number of actions you should take to move your committee performance forward. These include delegation, empathy, enabling and recognition.

Practice effective delegation

The committee chair should think of himself or herself in much the same light as a circus ringmaster. Continue reading “Helping your committee succeed, part 2”

September 3, 2012

Helping your committee succeed, part 1

Beyond agendas, meetings and paperwork, the committee chair’s job includes supporting, inspiring and helping your committee members succeed in the jobs you have recruited and selected them for.

Continuing in our series aimed at the new committee chair, this article will go into the many ways you can encourage your committee members and help them enjoy their roles supporting the troop and its Scouts.

Continue reading “Helping your committee succeed, part 1”

August 20, 2012

The committee chair: Primary responsibilities

A recent article aimed at the new committee chair listed a few things that I’ve found to be helpful when starting the job or any job in Scouting. But what are the actual responsibilities of the committee chair?

Hopefully if you’ve been to training, or taken it online, you can answer that, according to the handbook. The committee is generally responsible for the mechanics of the unit, and while a lot of miscellaneous items fall to the committee chair, the main points include: Continue reading “The committee chair: Primary responsibilities”