World Organization of the Scout Movement SCOUTING ORGANIZATION & GOVERNANCE

The Scout Movement is a voluntary, non-partisan educational movement for young people. Scouting is open to all, regardless of race or creed, in accordance with the purpose, principles and method conceived by its founder Robert Baden-Powell.

Its purpose is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and global communities. Scouting operates through a network of local groups supported by National Scout Organizations (NSO) in 161 countries.

World Scout Organization

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is an independent, worldwide, non-profit and non-partisan organization which serves the Scout Movement. Its purpose is to promote unity and the understanding of Scouting's purpose and principles; while facilitating its expansion and development.

It has had consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1947. It is recognized by the majority of UN agencies and governments and works in collaboration with other agents in the world of education and civil society.

The organs of the World Organization are:

The World Scout Conferences
The World Scout Committees
The World Scout Bureau.

World Scout Conference

The World Scout Conference is the governing body, the "general assembly" of Scouting, and is composed of all the members of the World Organization: the National Scout Organizations.

Its function is to consider the policy and standards of the Scout Movement throughout the world, formulate the general policy of the World Organization, and take the action required to further the purpose of the Movement.

National Scout Organizations must gain recognition from the World Scout Conference to become members of WOSM - and there can only be one NSO per country. In the case of a country having more than one Scout Association, a federation is formed for the purposes of national coordination and world membership. Member Organizations can be represented at World Scout Conferences by a maximum of six delegates.

The Conference meets every three years and observers authorized by their National Scout Organization are also eligible to register and attend the event. Delegations usually include International Commissioners, the Scout responsible for relations with WOSM and with Scout Organizations in other countries.

One of the functions of the Conference is to elect members of the World Scout Committee, admit new member countries, and select the venues for forthcoming World Scout Events, namely the World Scout Jamboree, the World Scout Moot, the World Scout Conference and the World Scout Youth Forum.

History of World Scout Conferences

Scouting was founded in 1907, based on an educational method developed by Robert Baden-Powell. It was not his intention to create an organization, but Scouting became very popular and spread quickly not only in the United Kingdom but spontaneously to many other countries.

After World War I, the Founder wanted to prove that young people of many nations could come together to share common interests and ideals. He organized what became the first World Scout Jamboree. During that event contingent leaders met and decided that some international framework was needed. Their informal meetings are now considered to have been the first International Conference. They decided that national Scouting leaders of all countries should meet together every two years.

The second Conference, in 1922, elected an international committee and defined their functions. A group was appointed to draft a constitution for World Scouting, which was adopted at the following Conference in 1924.

Aim

The aim of the Conference is to promote the Unity, Integrity and Development of the Scout Movement worldwide. This is achieved through a structure and content designed to:

• Facilitate exchanges of ideas and information between members.
• Formulate the general policy.
• Consider reports and recommendations from the World Committee and from Member Organizations.
• Conduct the formal business of the World Organization - elections, applications for membership, registration fees, amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, etc.

Past and Future Conferences

	Location	Date	Year	Member Countries attending	Participants attending
1.	London, U.K.	July, 29-30	1920	33	-
2.	Paris, France	July, 22-29	1922	30	-
3.	Copenhagen, Denmark	August, 18-20	1924	34	127
4.	Kandersteg, Switzerland	August, 22-28	1926	29	107
5.	Birkenhead, U.K.	August 7-9	1929	33	-
6.	Vienna-Baden, Austria	July, 27-29	1931	44	100
7.	Gödöllö, Hungary	August, 7-8	1933	31	-
8.	Stockholm, Sweden	August, 5-7	1935	28	100
9.	The Hague, Netherlands	August, 10-12	1937	34	-
10.	Edinburgh, Scotland	July, 26-28	1939	27	100
11.	Chateau de Rosny, France	August, 19-22	1947	32	150
12.	Elvesaeter, Norway	August, 8-10	1949	25	110
13.	Salzburg, Austria	July 31 - August 2	1951	34	150
14.	Vaduz, Liechtenstein	August, 8-12	1953	35	-
15.	Niagara Falls, Canada	August, 28-31	1955	44	-
16.	Cambridge, U.K.	August, 13-16	1957	52	226
17.	New Delhi, India	July 29 - August 3	1959	35	185
18.	Lisbon, Portugal	September, 20-24	1961	50	203
19.	Rhodes, Greece	August, 13-18	1963	52	260
20.	Mexico City, Mexico	Sept. 26 - Oct. 3	1965	59	270
21.	Seattle, Washington, USA	August, 11-17	1967	70	317
22.	Otaniemi, Finland	August, 21-27	1969	64	325
23.	Tokyo, Japan	August, 12-17	1971	71	400
24.	Nairobi, Kenya	July, 16-21	1973	77	363
25.	Lundtofte, Denmark	August, 8-15	1975	87	464
26.	Montreal, Canada	July, 18-23	1977	81	500
27.	Birmingham, U.K.	July, 15-21	1979	81	600
28.	Dakar, Senegal	August, 10-14	1981	74	511
29.	Dearborn, Detroit, USA	July, 18-22	1983	90	600
30.	Munich, Germany	July, 15-19	1985	93	800
31.	Melbourne, Australia	January, 11-15	1988	77	573
32.	Paris, France	July, 23-27	1990	100	1000
33.	Bangkok, Thailand	July, 19-23	1993	99	1058
34.	Oslo, Norway	July, 8-12	1996	108	1028
35.	Durban, South Africa	July, 26-30	1999	116	1000
36.	Thessaloniki, Greece	July, 15-19	2002	125	1225
37.	Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia	September, 5-9	2005	122	1254
38.	Jeju Island, Republic of Korea	July, 14-18	2008	150	1189
39.	Curitiba, Brazil	January, 10-14	2011

World Scout Committee

The World Scout Committee is the executive body of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. It is responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of the World Scout Conference and for acting on its behalf between its meetings. The Committee is composed of the following members:

Voting members

• Twelve elected members, each from a different country. They are elected by the World Scout Conference by secret ballot, for a six-year term. (Note: The World Scout Conference in 2008 decided that, starting at the next World Conference in 2011, elected members will serve for only three years, but be eligible for re-election for one additional term.)

Ex-officio non-voting members

• The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of each duly elected Regional Scout Committee
• The Secretary General of the World Organization
• The Treasurer, who is appointed by the World Scout Committee
• A member of the Board of the World Scout Foundation

 

World Scout Committee Voting Members with

Outgone Secretary General:  Mr. Luc Panisod.

The Committee normally meets twice a year, usually in Geneva, Switzerland. Its Steering Committee, consisting of the Chairperson, two Vice-Chairpersons and the Secretary General, meets as needed.

Extended World Scout Committee & Youth Advisors

World Scout Bureau

The World Scout Bureau is the Secretariat of the World Organization. The Bureau is directed by the Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, who is appointed by the World Scout Committee and is also the Chief Executive Officer of the World Organization.

The World Scout Bureau consists of its world headquarters and Regional Offices.

History and Location

The Bureau was first established in London, England in 1920. It moved to Ottawa, Canada in 1959, and to Geneva, Switzerland in 1968. Regional offices are located as follows, with the principle office being listed first:

• Africa Region: Nairobi, Kenya; Dakar, Senegal and Capetown, South Africa
• Arab Region: Cairo, Egypt
• Asia Pacific Region: Manila, Philippines
• Eurasia Region: Kiev, Ukraine and Yalta-Gurzuf, Ukraine
• European Region: Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium
• Interamerican Region: City of Panama, Republic of Panama

Functions

As the secretariat of the World Organization, the World Bureau has a number of Constitutionally-defined functions.

• It assists the World and Regional Scout Conferences, and the World and Regional Committees and their subsidiary bodies in the fulfillment of their functions. This includes the preparation of meetings and the provision of the necessary services to implement the decisions of the various bodies.
• It provides services for the promotion of Scouting throughout the world.
• It maintains relations with national Scout organizations and helps them develop Scouting in their country.
• It promotes the development of Scouting in countries where it does not exist.
• It supervises the organization of international and regional Scout events such as world and regional jamborees.
• It maintains relations with international organizations whose activities are concerned with youth matters.

The World Bureau's operations are financed partly from the annual registration fees paid by National Scout Organizations, based on their membership. Other support comes from foundations, corporations, development agencies, and individuals.

Support also comes from the World Scout Foundation, which is building a capital (endowment) fund. Contributions to the Foundation are invested permanently to produce a regular income for the benefit of the World Organization. The Foundation also channels non-capital donations for World Scouting.

WOSM Secretary General

The Secretary General is appointed by the World Scout Committee of which he/she is an ex-officio member. He/she is the Chief Executive Officer of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and directs its Secretariat, the World Scout Bureau. He/she promotes and safeguards the interests of the Movement.

                                     

Scott Teare was selected as Secretary General of WOSM in September 2012 and began his new assignment on January 1, 2013. A career-professional from the Boy Scouts of America, Scott comes to his position as Secretary General with a vast knowledge and understanding of the Scout Movement.

Fully engaged in Scouting as a youth, Scott attained the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award, the Eagle Scout Award. In 2012, he also received the highest honor in World Scouting, the Bronze Wolf Award.

A professional career with the Boy Scouts of America has prepared Scott well for his responsibilities as Secretary General. He has worked with volunteers from major businesses and industries, as well as leading government officials. His career afforded him an expertise in volunteer recruitment and training, fund raising, budget management, staff leadership and a complete understanding that Scouting changes the lives of young people. Scott has often said:

 “Let there be no doubt in the minds of anyone within the sound of my voice… Scouting is the best and largest leadership development program for young people anywhere on this planet. Period. End of story!”

Scott Teare graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He has attended numerous professional development courses inside and outside of Scouting. His professional Scouting career included the positions of District Executive, Finance Director, Endowment Director, and Scout Executive (CEO of a local BSA council), before he joined the BSA National Staff.