Service Delivery Task Force

On July 30th, the Board voted to appoint a Task Force of experienced volunteer leaders to develop recommendations for reorganizing the current District Service Structure. This decision is in response to significant changes in membership, staffing, and volunteer capacity.

Our current district model was designed to serve over 600 Units and more than 15,000 scouts and is supported by 7 Unit Serving Executives. Today, our membership, available volunteer base, and staffing levels are significantly smaller. Duplicative efforts across districts, budget constraints, and professional staffing realities demand a more efficient, scalable, and sustainable structure.

The core Task Force is chaired by Patrick Grace and includes Rick Smith, Alan Wolfson, Tom Whelton, Craig Donais, Brian Sevigney, and Jeff Towne. All volunteer members are long-serving Scouters who have held key roles, such as District Chair, District Commissioner, Council Commissioner, Area Commissioner, and VP of District Operations, and bring deep operational and local knowledge to the table. The Task Force is supported by our professional staff, Jay Garee and Deric Wertz. Other members will be recruited as the process progresses to serve on subcommittees, including Unit Service, Membership, Program, and Advancement.

This group has been operating as an informal, ad hoc group for the past couple of months to define the problem and discover solutions employed by other Councils. The group believes it is feasible and now is the time to establish a formalized and properly socialized project to develop a unit service model that serves New Hampshire.

The Task Force will bring forward a detailed recommendation to the Board. The expected outcome is a streamlined service model that replaces the current District structure.

No. However, we have researched and reviewed several different models that other councils, facing similar challenges to ours, have adopted. While there are some attractive elements to some, it is time to share what we know and engage with our Units and District Leaders to ensure that we develop a model that will serve the Scouts of New Hampshire.

As they currently exist, most likely. As mentioned above in Question #2, the current model was developed for a structure and membership that no longer exist. The end state will be the dissolution of current district boundaries and structures. Volunteers, supported by the Professional Staff, primarily Member Care, will coordinate and provide all unit services.

Many of their roles will evolve or transition into new positions within the new unit service model or council-level roles. Volunteer input will be essential in shaping how this happens.

Yes, and more consistently. The goal is a better-resourced, responsive, and proactive unit service model staffed by trained Commissioners and supported by Unit Serving Executives (USEs).

Program delivery, events, and training should not change significantly as we moved these functions to a centralized model several years ago. The Order of the Arrow, in a separate initiative, recently updated its bylaws to allow chapters to operate independently of Districts. Advancement, primarily the Eagle Boards, will need some attention and input from Scoutmasters and other stakeholders to operate in a centralized manner.

The target go-live date is January 1, 2026. Planning, feedback, and training will take place throughout the remainder of 2025.

A series of town halls, listening sessions, and surveys will be announced soon. We want your voice at the table
as we shape the future of Scouting in New Hampshire. Additionally, a page for the realignment is on our website at www.nhscouting.org/servicedelivery. You will also find the FAQs and a Jotform for feedback and questions there.