Council Organization

Unit and Leader Support

The Volunteer Leadership in Scouting

Scouting has always been a volunteer-led organization and that is true today.  The staff of the national and local councils are hired to support the leadership of a great cadre of volunteers to provide the highest quality Scouting program to the largest number of youth possible.

The Gulf Ridge Council is governed by an Executive Board consisting of the Council President, Council Commissioner, Vice-Presidents of the Council and Council Members-at-Large (which include the District Chairmen and other volunteers). The Council President, Council Commissioner and Vice-Presidents make up the Council Executive Committee.  The Council President, Council Commissioner and Scout Executive comprise the Council Key 3.

For more information on the key volunteer leaders of the council, click here.

In addition to the Executive Board and Executive Committee, we have a staff of District and Unit Commissioners--volunteer Scouters who work directly with units and leaders to help provide the highest quality Scouting program possible.  The Commissioner Staff is led at the local level by the District Commissioners (see each district page for contact information for our District Commissioners).  On the council level, leadership comes from our Council Commissioner. To reach our Council Commissioner, click here.

NEW, NEW, NEW! 

Here is a link to the Commissioner Orientation Training, online version.  For the time being, we are utilizing the training as it appears on another council's web site so a few of the references may seem misplaced, but the training itself will be the same. All commissioners should take advantage of this Fast Start training module.

The Professional in Scouting
The Boy Scouts of America provides a program for young people that builds desirable qualities of character, trains in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops their personal fitness. Scouting serves more than 4 million young men and women in every part of the country through more than 300 local council service centers. Nearly 4,000 professional Scouters lead, guide, and train more than a million volunteers.  Click here for contact information for our Gulf Ridge Council staff.

Scouting remains a volunteer organization. The role of the professional staff is to work with volunteer committees and community leaders to recruit, train, guide, and inspire them to become involved in the program of Scouting.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The professional Scouter in an entry-level position is assigned to a district or service area within a local council. The job responsibilities are broad and varied. Duties include promoting, supervising, and working in the district or service area through volunteers. Different aspects of the professional Scouter's job include:

• Sales. The professional Scouter is responsible, through volunteers, for extending Scouting to religious, civic, fraternal, educational, or other community-based organizations.
• Service. Major emphasis is placed on service. The professional staff ensures that all Scouting units are served through volunteer commissioners, regular roundtable meetings, training events, and activities.
• Finance. The professional Scouter has responsibility for securing adequate financial support for Scouting in the assigned area. Working with volunteers, professionals recruit leadership for the Friends of Scouting and finance campaign efforts to meet the financial needs of the council.
• Administration. The professional Scouter administers the Scouting program in the assigned district or service area.
• Public Relations. Professional Scouters must recognize the importance of good working relationships with other professionals and with volunteers. Scouting depends on community support and acceptance. Professional leaders must have good communication skills and be able to tell Scouting's story to the public.