Local Organization -- Kingwood United Methodist Church (KUMC)

Based upon the recommendation of the local council, the national organization grants charters to a local organization to use the Scouting program. In the case of Troop 1377, Kingwood United Methodist Church is the "chartered organization". The chartered organization uses Scouting:

• under its own leadership,
• to serve families and youth for which the organization is concerned (either within the organization, outside the organization, or both), and
• to help the group or organization accomplish its objectives.

Kingwood United Methodist Church -- Scouting Web Page

Chartered Organization Responsibilities

By receiving a charter from the Boy Scouts of America, Kingwood United Methodist Church (KUMC) agrees to:

• conduct Scouting in accordance with its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the BSA,
• include Scouting as part of its overall program for youth and families,
• appoint a chartered organization representative who is a member of the organization and will represent it to the Scouting district and council, serving as a voting member of each,
• select a unit committee of parents and members of the organization who will screen and select unit leaders who meet the organization's leadership standards as well as the BSA's standards,
• provide adequate and secure facilities for Scouting units to meet on a regular schedule with time and place reserved, and
• encourage the units to participate in outdoor experiences.

The Chartered Organization Representative (COR)

The Chartered Organization Representative is also known as the COR. The BSA has also retained the alternate title of "Scouting Coordinator", which is used by the United Methodist Church.

The COR holds a key position in Scouting -- the position is not an "honorary" one. The COR's 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 are 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 on a regular basis to the chartered organization about the unit's programs, its needs, and its successes. 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, the COR has the responsibility to share information between the council and the organization and vice versa. The COR is 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.

The COR's Tasks

The COR's tasks include:

• 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 the chartered 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, and
• represent the chartered organization to the district and council.

This is not an all-inclusive list, but a starting point.