4Hệ Thống Tổ Chức(System of Organization)

ObjectiveUnderstand how the different organizational units of TNTT are linked together to form a national society.

Fact Finding

TNTT in the US – One Whole, Many Small PartsThere are approximately 15,000 members of TNTT in the US, under the leadership of 1,500 Leaders. With such a large group, there needs to be a system that maintains order and unity while still allowing each local group the flexibility to deal with its own unique circumstances, TNTT follows a hierarchical structure of organization from teams of 5-8 members, up to National Headquarters.

Chapter (Đoàn) – One per Parish/CommunityBecause TNTT is a Catholic organization, it must operate under the support and supervision of Catholic authorities. Therefore, TNTT is fundamentally connected to local Vietnamese parishes/communities. TNTT exists locally in the form of chapters. Each chapter operates under the leadership of the Chaplain (usually the pastor) and the Leader Council. Because the chapter may also have many members, ranging anywhere from 30 to 500+, it too is divided into smaller parts. The organization for a chapter is as follows: Teams < Branch < Group < Chapter.

Team. A team is the smallest organizational unit of TNTT. It is made up of 6-11 members of the same gender and age. It is led by a Team Captain, and Assistant Captain (both are TNTT students)

Branch. A branch is a collection of 3-5 teams of members with the same gender and age. It is led by a Branch Director (a Leader).

Group. While the number of teams and branches may vary, there are 3 groups in every chapter based on age range: Ấu Nhi (6-9 years), Thiếu Nhi (10-13), Nghĩa Sĩ (14-17). Note some chapters have a 4th group called the Eucharistic Knights (18 and above). A group contains all the branches that fall in its age range. All three groups form a chapter.

League – One per DioceseAreas with large Vietnamese Catholic populations may have several vietnamese parishes/communities with TNTT chapters. Three or more chapters within the same diocese can unite to form a league. A league operates under a Chaplain and a Leadership Council. The League Chaplain is appointed by the Regional Chaplain and the League Leadership Council is elected by the members of the Chapter Cabinet.

RegionA Region consist of all the leagues and chapters within many states. In the US, there are 8 regions: Northeast, Mid East, Southeast, Central, South, Northwest, West, and Southwest. If a chapter is not a part of a league, it is considered independent and reports directly to the Region. Otherwise, it reports to the league, and the league reports to the region. Currently, only the Southwest, South, and Southeast have leagues. All other regions are a pure collection independent chapters.

National HeadquartersAll eight regions together form TNTT in the US and follows the leadership of the National Council. TNTT in the US is led by the General Chaplain and the National Leadership Council.

World Headquarters??TNTT organizations exist in many places outside the US, including Canada, France, Australia, and in various refugee camps in the South Pacific. However, these organizations do not follow the same leadership and operate independently of each other. There is no World Headquarters for TNTT.

TNTT’s Organization Chart

Summary TNTT in the US is a large organization TNTT needs to be unified and flexible. The organization structure of TNTT is

composed of different units, made up of smaller units.

Doi < Branch < Age Group < Chapter < League < Region < TNTT in the US

Homework1. What is the smallest unit of organization in

TNTT?2. What is a branch?3. What are the requirements to form a league?4. How many regions are in the US? Name

them?