Session 4. Your Job as a COR

Time:	30 minutes
Objectives:	As a result of this session, participants will be able to Understand their relationship to their unit, chartered organization, and council. Understand specific tasks of a COR. Be familiar with resources to do the task.
Training aids:	Flip chart and markers
Material for distribution:	Examples of national publications to help CORs do their jobs.

Your Responsibilities Are Important

As a chartered organization representative, you hold a key position in Scouting. While there is honor attached to this position, it is not an "honorary" one. Your primary function is to ensure that the chartered organization's Scouting program succeeds.

The COR is head of the "Scouting department" in the organization, and as such the responsibilities of the units and leadership is ultimately the COR's responsibility.

Unit Committee

Each Scouting unit (pack, troop, team, or crew) is managed by a group of adults approved by the organization who serve as the unit committee. The committee's principal responsibility is to select the best-qualified leaders for the unit and see that they are supported in carrying out the unit program. The COR maintains a close relationship with the unit committee chairman. The goal is for the COR to report to the organization programs, needs, and successes on a regular basis. The COR also shares with the unit the desires and needs of the chartering organization. Thus, communication between the organization and its Scouting program is through the chartered organization representative.

Communication With the Council

The Boy Scouts of America, in its relationship with chartered organizations, depends on the COR to be the liaison between the local council and the organization. As the representative of the organization, you have the responsibility to share information between the council and the organization and vice versa. In fact, you are a voting member of the district and council. The council is a grassroots organization in that there are more CORs than council members at large. So the control of the council belongs to the chartered organizations.

(Draw a three-legged stool. Under each leg write one of the three groups a COR interacts with. See the diagram.)

In summary of your responsibilities, think of a three-legged stool. The legs represent the unit, the chartered organization, and the Boy Scout council and its districts. The COR is the piece that makes the stool work.

Tasks

Now that we have discussed your responsibilities, what are some particular tasks that fall into your responsibilities?

List key words of each task on a flip chart titled "Tasks."

"Let's list some tasks:"

Encourage unit leaders to take training.
Promote well-planned unit programs.
Organize enough units to meet need.
Promote recruiting new youth members.
Encourage transition from one program to the next.
Assist in annual unit charter renewal.
Suggest Good Turns that benefit your organization and its community.
Encourage regular unit committee meetings.
Encourage active outdoor unit programs.
Promote earning advancement, including religious awards, and recognition of leaders.
Approve unit finance policies.
Represent your organization to the district and council.

Point out this is not an all-inclusive list, but a starting point.

Resources for Help

To help a COR do the job, the BSA has several resources available. The first line of help would be the staff and volunteers of the local district and council. Each Scouting district has a team of volunteers called a commissioner staff and another team of volunteers called the district committee.

A unit commissioner will be assigned to help your units succeed. He or she will periodically visit your unit meetings as well as be available to you and your unit leaders and unit committees. Your district committee (where you are a voting member) has people who can provide specialized help with Scout advancement, camping, and adult training. These volunteers are ready to help you and your unit as the need arises.

Teamed with the volunteers on a district and council level is a staff of professionals. These men and women devote their full time to working with volunteers and chartering organizations. The National Council also provides numerous books, pamphlets, and audiovisuals to help Scouting succeed.

Show a few examples.

Questions

Address any questions and move to the next session.