THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA RIVERS STATE SCOUT COUNCIL 1ST RIVERS STATE SCOUT HEADQUARTERS COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE. SCOUTING ORGANIZATION: SET-UP & GOVERNANCE. Presented by: Olusoga Sofolahan (Olori Omo-Oba) (LT) (MBA, MSC. MNISM, FCE)

                                                                                                   

CONVOCATION:

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is the non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland.

The mission of WOSM is "to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society".^[1] WOSM is organized into regions and operates with a conference, committee and bureau.

SCOUT ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP:

1.    World Scout Conference:

The World Scout Conference (WSC) is the governing body and meets every three years, preceded by the World Youth Forum. The World Scout Conference is the general assembly of Scouting and is composed of six delegates from each of the member Scout associations. If a country has more than one association, the associations form a federation for coordination and world representation.

The basis for recognition and membership in the World Scout Conference includes adherence to the aims and principles of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and independence from political involvement on the part of each member association.

The Conference meets every three years and is hosted by a member association. At the World Scout Conference basic cooperative efforts are agreed upon and a plan of mutual coordination is adopted. The Conference directed the move of the World Scout Bureau from Ottawa Canada to Geneva on May 1, 1968.

2.   World Scout Committee

The World Scout Committee is the chief executive body of the World Scout Conference and is composed of elected volunteers. The World Scout Committee represents World Scout Conference between the meetings of the full conference.

The World Scout Committee is responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of the World Scout Conference and for acting on its behalf between its meetings. The Committee meets twice a year, usually in Geneva. Its Steering Committee, consisting of the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen and the Secretary General, meet as needed.

 The Committee has 14 members. Twelve, each from a different country, are elected for six-year terms by the World Scout Conference. The members, elected without regard to their nationality, represent the interests of the movement as a whole, not those of their country. The Secretary General and the Treasurer of WOSM are ex-officio members of the Committee. The chairmen of the regional Scout committees participate in the World Scout Committee meetings in a consultative capacity. The World Scout Committee has set up work streams to address the top strategic priorities, as defined by the World Scout Conference, which at present include:

• Youth involvement
• Volunteers in Scouting
• Scouting's profile (communications, partnerships, resources)

3.    World Scout Bureau

The World Scout Bureau is headquartered in Geneva Switzerland and has offices in six regional divisions:

ü European Region: Geneva, Switzerland; Brussels, Belgium and Belgrade, Serbia

ü Arab Region: Cairo, Egypt

ü Africa Region: Nairobi Kenya, Cape Town South Africa and Dakar, Senegal

ü Asia-Pacific Region: Makati City Philippines; Australia; and Tokyo Japan.

ü Interamerican Region Ciudad del Saber, Panama

ü Eurasian Region: Kiev, Ukraine.

The World Scout Bureau (WSB, formerly the International Bureau) is the secretariat that carries out the instructions of the World Scout Conference and the World Scout Committee.

The WSB is administered by the secretary general, who is supported by a small staff of technical resource personnel. The bureau staff helps associations improve and broaden their Scouting by training professionals and volunteers, establishing finance policies and money-raising techniques, improving community facilities and procedures, and assisting in marshaling the national resources of each country behind Scouting.

The staff also helps arrange global events such as the World Scout Jamborees, encourages regional events, and acts as a liaison between the Scouting movement and other international organizations. A major effort in the emerging nations is the extension of the universal Good Turn into an organization-wide effort for community development.

4.   Africa Regional Office:

The Africa Scout Region is the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, headquartered in Nairobi Kenya, with satellite offices in Cape Town, South Africa, and Dakar, Senegal.

The Africa Region services Scouting in Sub-Saharan Africa and neighboring islands that are recognized members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). Currently, the region has 37 member National Scout Associations/Organizations and 11 potential members. There are about one million registered Scouts in Africa, though it is suspected that there are about twice that number in the region.

The large nations of Mali, Guinea-Bissau and the Central African Republic, and several smaller nations, are not yet WOSM members, for various reasons.

5.   National Scout Organizations:

161 National Scout Organizations are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. These are listed below. The newest member, Belarus, joined on 5 September 2010.

Only one national Scout organization can be recognized in a country. In some countries the National Scout Organization is a federation composed of more than one Scout association.

Of the 161 National Scout Organizations, 127 belong only to the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and 34 belong both to WOSM and to The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Of the 127 National Scout Organizations which belong only to WOSM, 101 are open to boys and girls in some or in all program sections. 20 are only for boys. All 34 National Scout Organizations which belong both to WOSM and to WAGGGS are open to boys and to girls.

6.      State Scout Association:

State Scout Association is a Set of the National Scout Organization and is out with the responsibilities of implementing the Strategies that are set by the National in their respective States. The State Association is led by a State Scout Commissioners with various Assistance in Technical, Administrative and Logistics Positions. For activities to be thoroughly disseminated, the SSC utilizes the supports of the State Headquarter Commissioners and members of the State Scout Council and Management Committee.

What are the compositions of the State Scouts Council Members?

What are the compositions of the State Scouts Committee Members?

7.      Divisional Scout Council:

The Divisional Scouts Council is the combination of two or more Districts Councils to form a Division. The Divisional Commissioner serves as a coordination point between the Districts under the Division and the State Scout Council.

8.      Districts or Local Association:

The District or local Association is the coming together of two or more Group Scout Council within a District. The District is headed by a District Commissioner who is responsible for the facilitation of activities within the District and reports same to the Divisional Commissioner for onward transmission to the State Scout Council.

9.      Group Scouts Council:

The Group Scouts Council is the combination of Cub Pack Leader, Scout Leader, Venture Unit Leader and Explorer Team Leader, all working together under the same Council. The body is headed by a Group Scout Leader that coordinates the activities of the Group with the support of the Group Scout Committee.

What is the Composition of Group Scout Council Members?

What is the Composition of Group Scout Council Members?

10.    Cub Pack/Scout Troop/Venture Crew/ Explorer Team:

11.    Six/Patrol/Unit/Crew

                   

GOOD HUNTING