Venturing
Venturing Guide
Meetings

The following meetings help carry out the purposes and functions of an Aaronic Priesthood Venturer Crew: 
 

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Midweek activity night.  The Venturing program is intended to be held weekly on ward YM-YW activity night.  These weekly meetings should generally include: 

1 ) 

Participation in combined YM-YW activities

2 ) 

Monthly Crew Meeting, a business meeting conducted by Robert's Rules of Order where Crew business is conducted, including the presentation of, recommendations for, discussion of,  approval of, and evaluation of Crew activities.

3 ) 

Experience Area/Priesthood Purpose activities, which are planned and conducted by young men experience area chairmen in the Crew.

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Crew Presidency Meeting.  This should be conducted at least monthly, probably as a part of Priests Quorum Presidency meeting.  The Presidency should use this time to make sure that plans and preparations have been made for coming Crew activities and programs.  Attendance should include the Bishop and youth members of the Quorum/Crew Presidency plus Advisors. 
 

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Crew Officers Seminar.  Usually conducted once a year in the fall (or additionally, after a major change in the Crew Presidency) to prepare for a new year of activities.  A Crew Officers Seminar will likely be more enjoyable and productive to the boy leaders involved if it is done as an overnighter in a summer home or the like.  Preparations are largely the responsibility of the adult advisors.  This seminar usually includes some training on roles and leadership, activities to bind the group together, and laying out a calendar for the coming year.  Attending are Crew youth leaders and advisors, and if possible the adult Crew Committee Chairman (Bishop).  In small crews, all youths may be invited.  A successful Crew Officers Seminar provides a clear road map for the coming months and enables the youth crew officers to begin assuming leadership of their own crew and activities. 
 

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First Nighter.  This meeting is usually conducted shortly after completing the Crew Officers Seminar and creating the 12 month calendar.  Typically, LDS Crews use this meeting primarily to present the calendar of events that have been scheduled to parents of the youth.  The First Nighter may also be used to interest other young men in the program of the Crew and recruit their involvement, including "less active" quorum members and non-members of the Church. 
 

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Crew Committee.  The Crew Committee is the adult support for the Crew.  It should meet monthly.  The committee should maintain the crew's program capability inventory, provide consultants for crew activities, approve the overall crew calendar, and see that the crew has trained adult leaders and an active program.  To the extent possible, fathers of crew members should be asked to serve on the  committee, and should be assigned as consultants for their sons' activity area assignments. 

  At each Crew Committee meeting, the Advisor should review the calendar at least through the next round of activities for each experience area, informing each consultant of the date and objectives for the next activity which their corresponding young man will be leading.  These consultants should be trained to understand that their role is to help their Venturer succeed in his leadership assignment. 
 

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Venturer Officers Association (VOA).  The Crew President or an appointed representative of the Crew should attend meetings of the nearest VOA.  This may be at the Stake (Zone), District, Area, or Council level.  The purpose of the VOA is to provide communication to all Crews and to plan Venturing events at a broader level.

 

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