November 2011

November 2011: 'Tis the Season for Rechartering 

Doug Klemm
Pocono District Commissioner

The leaves have fallen and the weather has turned colder.  There is a special feeling in the air.  This can only mean that it's that season again.  Yes it's.... RECHARTER TIME!  Rechartering can drive your Scouting professional and commissioners crazy.  It can even befuddle even the most seasoned Scouter, but it doesn't have to be that way.  Just follow this simple four step plan for an easy rechartering season:

  1. 90 Days Before Recharter Day- Send a copy of your roster to your Scouting Professional so they can check to see if everyone you have listed is registered with the BSA.  If not, then you have plenty of time to get a new application submitted.
  2. 60 Days Before Recharter Day- The unit committee should meet with the unit commissioner or a member of the commissioner staff and go over which members are rechartering with your unit.  Identify those who are no longer active and make contact with them to see if they plan to return.  Identify any leaders who are in need of completing the required training to recharter in their position.  This is also a good time to recruit new youth and leaders.  Set a date to meet with the Chartered Organization for a recharter meeting.
  3. 45 Days Before Recharter Day- Have a unit recharter meeting with the unit commissioner, unit volunteers, the Chartered Organization Representative, and the Institution Head for your organization.  At this meeting identify those who are re-registering, fill out all forms, get the proper signatures, and collect all the fees.  This is a good time to go over the Journey to Excellence results from the past year and review those for the upcoming year.
  4. Recharter Day- Districts usually hold these in the beginning of the month at the end of the recharter year.  This gives the unit plenty of time to correct any problems and submit their recharter paperwork on time.  Submitting your rechartering paperwork is an easy requirement to fulfill for the Journey to Excellence program.  Bring all of your forms and properly signed charter.  Please note that this must be the FINAL COPY and not a DRAFT COPY.  Make sure you have a check ready to pay the necessary rechartering fees.

Follow this simple plan and it will help avoid any problems to make a smooth rechartering process.  So from all of us on the Council Commissioner staff, we would like to wish everyone to have a happy and hassle free rechartering season.