Effective use of your CHARTERED ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE.

[Ojoman]

All too often the COR of a unit is a ‘placeholder’ to meet the requirements of getting a charter issued. In reality the COR is a powerful position within the unit, district and council. The duties and responsibilities can be found here: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/511-421(16)_WEB.pdf and few volunteers, even at the district and council level really understand or appreciate the power of this position.

The Chartered Organization Representative is an automatic member of the district committee and also a voting member of the Council Executive Board. While it is rare, a group of COR’s could alter and/or impact the direction of a council or certain council policies. An active COR can insure that a unit receives the support from the district and council that it needs to flourish.

Technically the institutional head and/or the governing body of the partnering organization selects the COR but the reality is that generally the COR comes from among the units leadership and parents and oftentimes only is called upon to approve adult registrations and to sign off at recharter time. Smart units will work at getting a COR that will understand and accept this important role and represent the units interests and bring light to those issues that impact unit recruiting, retention, fundraising and program.

Congratulations to those units that have solid, functioning COR’s and good luck to those that need to find the appropriate person for the position.