First organization meeting guidelines and proposed agenda

First organization meeting guidelines and proposed agenda

First Organization Meeting
Lutheran Association of Scouters

(SUGGESTED GUIDELINES AND AGENDA)

Who should attend:

1) Invited Church/Unit representatives;

2) Organizing committee members;

3) Council scout Executive (or assigned staff advisor);

4) Council Relationship Chairperson;

5) Representatives of ELCA and LCMS church organizations;

6) Scouters of Lutheran Faith working with non-Lutheran Chartered units plus district and council scouters (Lutherans);

7) Regional (or Area) NLAS representative (if possible).

RECOMMENDATION - do not expect top unit leaders to take an active leadership role in forming an association, or committee, because of their already busy time involvement with the youth.

Meeting arrangements:

1) select date, time and location most accessible to the majority of persons who should attend;

2) literature display (Lutheran church/Scouting literature, Lutheran Religious Program Packets, etc.);

3) Coffee and snacks (optional).

Promotion:

1) build roster of those who should be in attendance;

2) personal letter from chairperson and/or Scouting officer;

3) individual personal follow up to insure participation;

4) preliminary stories in council news-letter, handouts and announcements at all major district/council functions;

5) request (and expect) support of the council staff in encouraging attendance from their Lutheran churches and chartered units.

Proposed Agenda

Action step	Assigned to
1) Welcome and call to order (self introductions if helpful)	Acting Chairperson
2) Opening Prayer	Clergyman
3) Purpose of gathering (what we hope to accomplish tonight)	Acting Chairperson
4) Comments by BSA Council Representatives a) Council Scout Executive b) Council Relationship Chairperson	BSA Council Representative Council Scout Executive Council Relationship Chairperson
5) Comments by ELCA and/or LCMS representatives (if present)	ELCA/LCMS Representative
6) What a local Lutheran Association of scouters can achieve	Member of organizing Group
7) How a Lutheran Association of scouters group functions (leadership structures/committees/membership)	Member of organizing Group
8) Membership in the National Lutheran Association of scouters	NLAS Representative (if present)
9) Question and Answer Period	organizing Group and others
10) (if all seems favorable) Temporary organization (until elections can be held) a) select acting Chairperson b) select acting Vice-chairperson c) select acting Secretary d) select at least two additional persons to plan for second meeting (these 5, or more, persons act as a nominating committee for By-Laws, Statement of Purpose, Resolution to organize, etc.)	Acting Chairperson
11) Announce date, time and location of the second meeting (this will be the formal organizational meeting)
12) Closing comments and prayer	Acting Chairperson and Clergy