Venturing Officer’s Association (VOA)

What is the VOA: VOA stands for “Venturing Officer’s Association. We are a group of Venturing Crew youth leaders, elected by our peers at our annual business meeting, to serve in the following positions; President, Vice President of Program, Vice President of Administration and Secretary. The VOA is also comprised of District VOA presidents, representing each of the thirteen districts that make up the Greater Pittsburgh Council as well as youth chairpersons selected to give leadership to specific VOA sponsored events. The VOA also has a number of adult Advisors who are specifically matched with officers and youth event chairpersons. Every youth leader has an adult advisor.

What do they do:       We develop an annual program plan of events to bring Venturing youth and crews together from throughout the Council. Our annual coordinated program consists of youth leadership development programs, like the Venturing Officer’s Leadership Conference, and Venturing Leadership Conclave. Skill based activities, such as the annual ski and snowboard weekend, and special “Fall Activity”, which features a new skill area each year. High Adventure programs such as the GPC-VOA Superactivity conducted every other year (2002 – Alaska Trek, 2004 – Aloha Adventure to the Hawaiian Islands) and RangerQuest – which is a weeklong sampling of local High Adventure opportunities. We also work to support the operations of the Council by providing Venturing support to Leadership Development, Summer Camping, Youth Advancement and Adult Recognition and membership recruitment. We also foster communication to and between crews throughout the Council through our web site www.gpc-venturing.org and our quarterly newsletter “The Venturing Courier”. To support these efforts we conduct monthly meetings at Flag Plaza the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30pm-8:00pm. We also conduct an annual recognition dinner to recognize outstanding group and individual efforts as well as elect our youth VOA Officers for the upcoming year.

How can I become involved: You can become involved through representing your district, becoming elected to the VOA as an officer or volunteer to serve as a chairperson or staff member for a VOA sponsored event. Every crew officer is invited to participate in the VOA meetings and offer their services in developing and executing VOA events.

Are there additional leadership opportunities in Venturing? (Regionally and Nationally) Experience in the VOA does much to prepare a youth for future service to the organization through the Northeast Region VOA and the National VOA. You must be nominated by your local council with the approval of the Council Executive Director in order to run for Regional or National Office. Although leadership experience in your local crew is helpful, it’s not necessary. However, if you are not a crew leader, you should seek permission from your Crew’s Leadership to serve on the District or Council VOA.