This January at Roundtable

Whether you're a new volunteer leader, or you've been involved for years, you've probably heard people talk about "Roundtables." Let’s explore some basic questions about Roundtables: Who? What? Why? When? Where? Future Navigator articles will explore other Roundtable topics.

Who: It's Your Monthly District Meeting

Roundtable is a monthly district-wide meeting intended for every volunteer in the district: unit leaders, district volunteers who support unit leaders, and professionals who provide additional district support. At every Roundtable, you will meet people who have attended for years, and people who are there for the first time. Everyone is welcome! Many Roundtables have over 100 volunteers present at that location in one evening!

We encourage volunteers from every pack, every troop, and every crew to attend monthly. Some units only send one person to Roundtable. Does the same one person from your unit attend Roundtable every month? How about having different people attend on different months, so one person doesn’t feel obligated?

Better yet, how about sending more than one person, so someone will be there if that one person who usually goes suddenly can’t attend? Your unit also will be better served if more than one person attends. Den leaders have different roles than Cubmasters or committee members. Scoutmasters and Crew advisors have different roles than committee members. Roundtables offer something in separate breakouts for each of those roles, and one person can’t possibly attend all of them.When unit leaders in all those positions attend, your unit will receive more valuable information that will enhance your unit program.

What Goes on at Roundtable?

• Information on district and council events for Scouts to attend
• Important council information, like the changing roles of professionals
• National changes in policies or programs, like changes in advancement
• Position-Specific break-out sessions, with useful unit program information
• Supplemental training and/or workshops, like recruiting or rechartering or FOS
• Networking with other volunteers with your Scouting role, to share ideas and program tips
• Other topics you suggest or request from the Roundtable team

Why Should I add Attend Another Monthly Scouting Meeting?

Some of you attend several monthly Scouting meetings. Thank You for your dedication to Scouting! If you’ve been told that Roundtable is just another meeting, and you wonder why you should attend, please reflect on the topics listed above.

Every one of those is intended, one way or another, to provide useful information that you can put to use to improve the quality of you unit’s program, which will help you provide a better Scouting experience to the youth members, and help with youth retention. You’ll also learn valuable tips and ideas from your peers to make your Scouting role easier and more fulfilling. That’s a good return for investing your time at a 60-90 minute meeting once a month.

When, and Where is Roundtable?

It depends on your district. All Roundtables take place during the first two weeks of the month, and are held in a central location within the district. Precise when and where information for each district can be found on the district web pages at www.northernstarbsa.org/districts

If you’re busy or sick and can’t attend your own district Roundtable some month, consider attending a neighboring district’s Roundtable and making new Scouting contacts.

See You There!

We hope to see you and your fellow Scouting volunteers at upcoming Roundtables. If you have other questions about Roundtable or Scouting in general, that’s the best place to get answers!

January Roundtable Emphasis