Attending:
- Chris Dempsey, District Chair
- Rose Godfrey, District Commissioner
- Rian Tiernan, District Executive
- Charles Howard-Gibbon, West Service Area Chair (online)
- Ron Ratto, Camping Committee Chair
- Nikki Maguire, Advancement Chair (online)
- Melanie Smith, District Eagle Coordinator
- Gary Baysmore, Member-at-Large (online)
- Stephen Rodriguez, Member-at-Large
- Bonnie Bouey, Host, Community Member
- Robin Rees, Unit Commissioner
- Paul Smith, Unit Commissioner
- Mark Hovermale, Crew 2 Advisor
- Charles Hoffman, Unit Commissioner, Communications (online)
Agenda Items
Nominating Committee
- Report by Charlie Howard-Gibbon
- David Stein, Cubmaster of Pack 296 and former member of the Peralta District DOC has accepted an invitation to become the Vice-Chair of the district Finance Committee. This was unanimously approved by the DOC membership.
- The Nominating committee is still looking for a Membership committee chair.
Special Needs Committee
- Report by Gary Baysmore
- Wente Scout Reservation, Camp Royaneh, and Camp Herms have all passed the ADA compliance certification.
- Thanks to Tony Mai, Aaron Burny-Welch, Ed Barnes, and Wes Truex who did the inspections this summer.
- Camp Wolfeboro and Rancho Los Mochos will have their inspections this month.
Scouting for Food
- The DOC members who were leading the Peralta region site coordination have had to step down for health reasons. Replacements are needed.
- Stephen Rodriquez will provide a job description/bullet points for the site coordinator role to assist the replacement once identified.
Membership
- Only a few units have not had a joining night event.
- A discussion was held about how Lone Cub Scouting could bring in youth that cannot handle large groups, or otherwise are restricted in attending normal activities.
- A discussion was held about the various units in the district that were below the minimum desired size, showing lack of growth, a decline in membership or otherwise in trouble.
- Packs 97, 1076, and 202 were identified as most in need of assistance.
- Many of the units with issues do not have a dedicated Unit Commissioner.
- Paul Smith volunteered for P 1076 support. He has stepped up from the Commissioner Corps to lead the outreach.
- Metrics for the district units were reviewed.
- Total number of registered youth were down 4% over last year.
- Cub Scouts were down 10%
- New youth in all programs were down over last year, 244 vs 400 new youth.
- Cub Scout retention is at 52%, with many quitting the same year they initially join.
- Only 116 of 335 direct contact leaders are fully trained.
- Hazardous Weather training has significantly improved, but still far from the desired level of 100% of direct contact leaders.
- Half of the units lack a Unit Commissioner, or are struggling.
- Several packs are at capacity and are refusing to recruit or accept new Cubs.
- Conversely several packs are at risk of closing as they lack parents willing to step into leadership roles.
Activities
- Webelos Woods has not had any signups. A decision was made that if no signups were received by Sunday 10/4/2026, the event will be canceled.
- Roundtable for this month will be Oct 14th and will be virtual. An email will be sent to all Scouters.
- Scouting For Food
- The council website has a listing of all drop off locations
- Need a Peralta region site coordinator.
- Alameda has the Elks Lodge as a dropoff site, but a coordinator is needed.
Sites on Bay Farm Island and Coast Guard Island are being explored. - Tres Rancho region will not be using the Three Crosses Church this year
Our Lady of Grace in Castro Valley, and the San Lorenzo Village Home Association in San Lorenzo are confirmed. Each site has a site manager. - Informational Door Hangers have arrived and will be available at the Alameda Office. Rose will contact the legacy Tres Ranchos units to arrange delivery of their flyers.
Friends of Scouting
- The Family FOS campaign has concluded for this year. It will restart in the November / December timeframe with presentations to units desired to be done in the January / February timeframe.
- The committee is exploring potential honorees for the Community FOS campaign.
- A potential date and location for the event is December 1st, at the Alameda Elks Lodge.
New Units
- New packs need a commissioner, and resources for activities.
- A number of community members associated with the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay have expressed an interest in starting new units.
- Rian is working with the American Legion post to establish them as a charter organization.
Other items
- The district Camporee still needs a Chair. The OA chapters are working on developing new events for this year’s camporee.
- Commissioner meetings will normally be on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Alameda Scout Office.
- Virtual Roundtables will be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
The quarterly in-person Roundtables will be announced as locations and times are finalized.- The District Chair will be sending an agenda to the Commissioners for their review and feedback.