Attending:
- Chris Dempsey, District Chair
- Rose Godfrey, District Commissioner
- Michael Wrenn, Training Committee Chair (remote)
- Ron Ratto, Camping Committee Chair
- Charlie Howard-Gibbon, Nominating Committee Chair
- Linda Owczarz, Special Needs Committee
- Marcin Owczarz, Order of the Arrow Advisor (Wekemnayon)
- Richard Christman, Asst. District Commissioner
- Clark Cole, Unit Commissioner
- Robin Rees, Unit Commissioner
- Charles Hoffman, Unit Commissioner
- Ian McNemar, Cubmaster Pack 722
Agenda Items
Commissioner Service
- Unit renewal is almost complete, one unit is outstanding and is in progress
- Commissioner Conference, February 28th
- Request for Commissioners to ensure their units have a family Friends of Scouting presentation scheduled, Blue and Gold, and Courts of Honor are suggested venues.
- Council is focusing on bringing the unit training numbers up. Especially the Unit Leaders and Committee Chairs as these are scored in the unit metrics.
- The unit Training Manger, and Unit Commissioners can update most training records if the Scouting America database is out of whack. Scouts honor is accepted as proof if cards, or other documentation is missing.
Finance
- 2025 Friends of Scouting and Popcorn results were above their respective goals.
- Expect the FOS goals to be set lower to offset the increase in the council registration fee.
- Popcorn goal are expected to increase due to the great results in 2025.
- The FOS Community campaign team is planning this year’s dinner event.
- The FOS Family presentation to units should not be scheduled before 2/28 as the promotional materials and website may not be available till then.
- Still looking for a district Popcorn Kernal. Chris will reach out to last year’s Kernal.
Membership
- Our district had a decline of 4.06% as of Jan 1st. National decline was around 7%.
- Currently we have twice as many troops as packs. The ratio should be the other way.
Activities
- The Peralta Cup Pinewood Derby is coming up Feb 28th
- Units are encouraged to plan a super activity for the summer. This can be day camp for a pack, summer camp for a troop, long cruise for a ship, a high adventure for a crew, or a professional activity for a post. And please record this in Scoutbook+ to be reflected in the unit and district metrics.
- The District Recognition event is still scheduled for May. Possible dates are the 16th, 23rd, and 30th depending on the availability of the Alameda Elks Lodge.
Day Camp
- Camp Director and Program Director have completed Camp School Training.
- Need to get final financial approvals
- Working on event promotion.
Training
- LEAD had 400 attending. A second year of decrease in attendance.
- 2023: 550, 2024: 500, 2025: 400
- Ask your units why? Cost? Value? Location? Other reasons?
- Acorn Training Sessions (SMS and IOLS) will be at the end of March and April.
- We need more IOLS course council wide, as only a few districts are putting on the training, and they always fill up quickly.
- Currently the council is putting on six BALOO courses.
District Executive Representative
- Charlie Howard-Gibbons spoke on behalf of Jeff Smith who was unable to make the DOC meeting.
- Tony Mei is now the West Service Area Commissioner.
- The council is looking for West Service Area Function Role volunteers.
- Currently interviewing for an Alameda Area District Executive. The prior candidate is no longer available.
- Also, the Mission Peak District Executive has departed GGAC
- Our Service Area Field Director is also the Membership Professional for GGAC.
- If we need to get ahold of him, texting works best. His mobile phone was given out. If you need it, please contact our District Chair.