Re: Who does what.
(no name) ((no email))
Fri, 26 Jan 1996 11:08:35 -0600
Gregg wrote:
>From my statement on the Eagle Badge application discussion...:
>"We sometimes forget that the role of that (those) professional(s) is to do
>those tasks for us when we are unable to do so, "
>
>Mike,
>
>A slight correction. Everything in regards to the Eagle Badge application
>process you stated is inline with BSA policy except the above quote. No
>where in the job description is it expected for a DE to do the job of a
>volunteer.
While it is NOT in the "job description", ALL District Executives are
expected to perform staff functions "on behalf and in the physical absense
of" the KEY volunteers of his or her District (BSA's Southeast Region Adminstrat
ion Manual, page 14-5, second paragraph). To me, *placing
Paraprofessional hat on*, the District Advancement Chair IS a KEY Scouter
(okay...he or she is NOT a "Key Three" or "Key Five", the three or five
key members of the District's operation, depending on organization); however
there's some coordination that could have been made between volunteer and
pro that says "Hey Hugh...while you are gone on vacation, do you mind if
I review and approve those few Eagle apps that come your way? I'll give you
copies of what I've signed and what I disapproved...or better yet, I'll hold
the disapprovals for you until you return". *taking hat off*
I didn't say "DO HIS JOB FOR HIM PERMANENTLY", I wanted to say "Be a team
player and sub in for the absent team member...and keep him advised of what
you did for him."
> (BSA form # 14-615) There are 12 points to a DE's job
>description and doing the job of a volunteer is not one of them.
That is true in the "paper sense" but NOT in reality. I've found that as
a District professional, I had to not only do MY job, but the jobs of several
Unit Commissioners, my District Roundtable Commissioner, a Membership Chair
(because my SE wanted us all to do that function, period), a OA Chapter
Advisor, and on occasion, the Exploring Chair and the EPO youth chair.
The reason why I had to do their jobs in addition to mine, I would explain
that our District, like many, suffer from lack of Commissioners, that our
membership chair was "a name only" person, our OA Chapter and our Exploring
program was being revitialzed and those were brand new folks and the EPO chair
was a 15 year old that "was drafted" to serve as EPO chair by her father (the
District Chair).
I've also had to chair three District Committee meetings because our Chair was
out of town on business. While not written in the job description, Gregg,
these are things that are EXPECTED from the "District Executive Secretary".
>Program (of which the advancement program) is not
>one (of the critical functions of a district professional)
I strongly disagree with you on that. Yes, I've read and signed my job
description each year during my employment, but I'll tell you and anyone else..
.the DE or ADE or EE that DOES NOT GET HIS OR HER DIRTY with
*helping to plan and coach the planners* end up leaving the profession
because of "lack of program". Program is, in my opinion, the true "glue"
that bonds both volunteer AND professional TOGETHER. They see what the
pro has to do to "make it happen" from a background, and the professional
gets to evalaute, set goals and train and coach volunteers depending on
what gets done and what doesn't.
> The theory is for a DE to recruit the boys, fund the programs and
>recruit the human resources to provide a quality program.
In reality, the role is to ASSIST with the recruitment of youth and adults,
to ASSIST and LEAD in the funding of the District's program and the
District's share of the Council operation, and to LOCATE, COORDINATE AND
AQUIRE the appropriate resources (more than just human resources, this also incl
udes facility management and control, outdoor facility management and
control and sharing of resource information and leads with other members of
the Council's professional staff (and staffs of outside agencies when given
approval to do so)).
> Many other tasks
>are assigned by the local Scout Executive. A DE that does the job of
>providing a program for volunteers would not be a DE for long.
No. Those folks that can successfully "juggle" all five balls and maintain
growth and development get to be Field Directors and later on Scout
Executives! Robert McGinnis, a longtime Scout Executive of the Tri-State
Area Council in Huntington, West Virginia, thought that program was so
important in his professional's development, that included in the "critical
acheivement" listings of his pros, were two program-related tasks.
I say, that DEs that concern themselves more with funding and manpower
resources and not on program find that eventually they won't have a District
to manage. Program is what runs the train and forms the foundation for
growth in a District; with that foundation, you can raise the monies and get
the membership to support it much more easily.
You can't point to a District program and ask for money if there's nothing
there to point at.
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
co-Owner, Blackeagle Servics of Kentucky (502.826.7046) __)_
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