Commissioner Meeting

No Commissioners Meeting

 

District Operations Committee Meeting

Attending:

• Chris Dempsey, District Chair

• Rose Godfrey, District Commissioner

• Michael Wrenn, Training Committee Chair (remote)

• Ron Ratto, Camping Committee Chair

• Linda Owczarz, Special Needs Committee

• Marcin Owczarz, Order of the Arrow Advisor (Wekemnayon)

• Richard Christman, Asst. District Commissioner

• Robin Rees, Unit Commissioner

• Charles Hoffman, Unit Commissioner

• Charlie Howard-Gibbon, Member-at-Large

• Stephen Rodriguez, Member-at-Large

• Gary Baysmore, Member-at-Large

• Bonnie Bouey, Community Member

• Jeff Smith, FutureWest Area Field Director (remote)

Agenda Items

Welcome Remarks

• The current District Chair is introduced.  
• Chris Dempsey spoke of his Scouting past as a youth in LA and Santa Cruz, and as an adult Scouter.  He spoke of his professional career helping to improve the operations and quality of his company’s products to the benefit of the consumers.  
• He also spoke of his desire to help recruit Scouters and coordinate the District committees to improve the Scouting program in the District for the Units, and to have the District help the Council program and goals.

Nominating Committee

• The nominating committee presented two slates.  
• The first were nominations for District Members-at-Large.  The slate of 26 candidates was approved on unanimous voice vote.
• The second slate was for District Officers.  Only the District Chair position had a candidate, Chris Dempsey.  The other officers are still being recruited.  This slate was also approved on unanimous voice vote.
• All commissioners have indicated that they will continue in their position, and Rose Godfrey has agreed to remain as District Commissioner for the 2026 year.
• By the district operation rules, new Officers and Members-at-Large can be proposed by the District Chair during the year and be approved by the District Executive (or Field Director) and District Commissioner.
• New Commissioners can be nominated by the District Commissioner and approved by the Council Commissioner.

Professional Staff 

• Currently GGAC is interviewing candidates for the Alameda Area District Executive position.
• The prior candidate is no longer available.
• Jeff Smith will be the new Western Service Area Field Director.  He was the Assistant Director of Field Service for the Redwood Empire Service Area.
• Brian McGuire, Director of Field Services has left GGAC for another position.

Commissioner Service

• Unit renewal is almost complete.
• Three units have issues with their chartered organization Executive Officers, but these are being addressed.  The commissioners are working with the unit leaders and the council registrar.
• Some Posts have not started their renewal, but Rose announced that Stuart Mahler is working with them to renew.
• A Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner candidate, Jeremy Sutton,  has been identified but will not be available until fall of 2026.
• Still looking for a Scouts BSA Roundtable Commissioner.
• Still looking for an Assistant District Commissioner for units in the city of Alameda.
• Rose is grateful for all the current Commissioners who have renewed their service commitment. 

Membership

• Mark Hovermale has offered to help recruit Cub Scouts for  Packs in the city of Alameda.
• He and Richard Christman have identified two possible Chartering Organizations.
• Jennifer Dent is the new Scoutmaster of Troop 2202, she was the Committee Chair.
• Rose is putting together a team to aid in recruiting Cubs and Scouts BSA members in the San Leandro area.  This team includes the Committee Chair of Troop 503, Lynette Watkins.

Friends of Scouting

• Last year our district achieved 137% of our FOS goal.  The Community Event, honoring the Alameda County Fire Chief, was very successful, much more than the family contributions.
• A suggestion was made that the FOS flyers be brought to the next DOC meeting. 
• It was also suggested that the FOS district campaign be started earlier.
• A committee exists to plan the 2026 Community Event dinner.  Robin, Paul, Linda, and Richard.  It was suggested that David Stein be approached to join the committee.  It was also suggested that the current President of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, David Haubert, Eagle Scout, be invited to join, or chair the committee, as he is an active supporter of Scouting and was involved in recruiting the honoree for last year’s event.

Activities

• The Peralta Cup Pinewood Derby is coming up.  Jeremy Sutton is the coordinator.  A district email will be sent out.

Civic Service

• Scouting for Food
  • Oakland results exceeded previous collections.
  • Alameda County Food Bank sent a nice thank you letter for a cash donation and specifically thanked the Scouting for Food effort that initiated the contribution.
  • Alameda city units collected over 18,000 pounds of contributions.
  • The collection site at Three Crosses Church in Castro Valley filled two trucks
  • Some units also dropped off contributions to smaller community food banks after the early closure of the Three Crosses drop off site.
  • A request was made to expand the areas where flyers are dropped off to include potential contribution areas not normally covered by units.   This could be coordinated with recruiting drives to increase community awareness of Scouting and its value to the community.

Advancement and Recognition

• The plans for a district Eagle Recognition Dinner were discussed.  
  • A separate event for the Alameda troops will be held, similar to events held by the legacy Alameda City district.
• A May date is desired for the District Recognition Dinner.
  • Charlie Howard-Gibbon and Rose Godfrey are looking for a location and are proposing a Saturday or Thursday day.   
  • They are looking to put together a team to handle the dinner, the awards, and other logistics.
• Our District has three Silver Beaver recipients this year.  Ron Ratto, Mark Frey, and Richard Calvert.

Camping and Outdoors

• The Winter Camp Awareness seminar, put on by the Order of the Arrow was very successful, with over 500 attendees.
• The district Camporee is coming up May 1st-3rd.  
  • Chris Dempsey has stepped up to be the event Chair. 
  • The Order of the Arrow chapters are making good progress on developing the program for the event.
  • A medic has volunteered, as has a rangemaster for the Rifle Range.
  • Still looking for Archery and Tomahawk rangemasters.
  • A new patch, and perhaps event theme, will be needed due to copyright issues.  No response to our inquiries has been received from the copyright owners.
• The Council Camping Committee representatives, Richard Christman and Charlie Howard-Gibbon, shared information.
  • Royaneh and Wolfeboro are working on a Trek Programs that would attract older Scouts and include offsite destinations..
  • Council is concerned about why we are not getting as many Scouts to camp.  Price does not seem to be a factor.  Currently we are getting 60% of unit Scouts to camp. 
• Cub Scout day camp is still scheduled for this summer. A request to reserve Crab Cove in Alameda again will be submitted to the East Bay Regional Park District now that it is 2026 as the reservation could not be requested until January 1st.

Training

• Michael Wrenn informed the committee that BALOO training is now a council Level activity.  SMS and IOLS will continue to be a district activity.
• Scoutmaster Specific, and Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills are scheduled for March 14, and April 4-5.  Tina Michael is chair for the events. Registration is now open, and information will be sent to unit leaders.
• L.E.A.D. registration is still open.  All Scouters are encouraged to attend.
• The next BALOO training course is scheduled for March 28-29 at Camp Royaneh.
   An option to check in Friday night with Saturday breakfast is available.  Registration is now open.

Order of the Arrow

• The chapters provide logistics and instructor support for the Lodge’s Winter Camp Awareness seminar.
• The joint activity for both chapters had to be canceled as the venue overbooked the date.
• Klondike Derby planning is ongoing.  So far only one staff member has signed up. They are working on promotion and wish to remind units to register early as they have sold out the last few years.

Field Director

• Our new Field Director attended the meeting and is coming up to speed on the issues and capabilities of the district.  He encouraged us to reach out to him if we have need of his help.

Closing Remarks.

• Chris Dempsey thanked the members for attending and ended the meeting.