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As we move toward mandatory or required training for adult leaders, perhaps we should consider implementing a continuing education requirement. Each leader being required to earn a certain number of CEU's based on their position. CEU's could be earned, for example, by attending Roundtable, a training session, presenting at a training, mentoring a new leader...

Of course this would be dependant on a method of tracking training attendance within Scout-net, an issue which is supposed to be addressed as we move to mandatory training.
There are so many road signs advertising directions to churches, fraternal organizations, etc. I suggest we add road signs in every community pointing the way Scout Service Centers and Scout Shops.
Getting commitments from volunteers to attend an all day Saturday " Day of Training", Pow-wow, or University of Scouting is getting more and more difficult. One of our Cub Leaders forwarded this idea for consideration.
It's a"Brown Bag Scouting" concept. He said why can't we do this over lunch. How about one day a month we host a mini training or info meeting at a Brown Bag lunch.

We could have a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout topic.

For example: Merit Badge Couselor Orientation, Program Planning, Good Den Meetings, Troop Cooperative Games, Building a Pack Committee, Running a Pinewood Derby, Getting the most from Summer Camp, Ceremonies & Recognition, How to conduct a Board of Review, Boy Behavior, Knot Tying, Recruiting the right volunteer, etc. Just to name a few. It might take some time to catch on, but we could reach volunteers without asking them to come out another evening or a Saturday during family time. Cost to the council would be minimal, handouts or a few supplies.
What do you think ?
The Give Every Kid a Chance gadget has been a useful tool for the last several years. One addition that would allow it to be more meaninful to Unit Serving Executives would be to let the gadget drill down to the district level.

We already have that ability on the National, Regional, and Area Level, why not the district level.

Thanks for your consideration.
A Scout works on his advancement while participating on camping trips, troop meetings, etc.

Why not consider giving credit to a Boy Scout Leader for the outdoor skill requirements while on Troop Campouts, Camporees, etc. A Troop Trainer can be the person like a Pack Trainer to coach this individual.
On myBSA, as a resource, add a listing of licensed local council suppliers by council number so local council employees can easily answer inquiries from volunteers, parents, etc.
As we all understand too well, the days where we train on Saturdays from 9-3 are getting short. With MyScouting fast becoming a great tool, why not recruit and council certify some of the best of the best trainers throughout the country to serve as online mentor-coaches to new leaders. This one-one relationship could really help a new leader have ready access to best methods with the encouragement and friendship provided by the coach/mentor to be there as questions and frustrations arise. The leaders could plug in a zip code for proximity if they choose. The coach mentors would be required to be approved by their Scout Excutives and have a staff advisor (perhaps on National staff) to go to if questions fall out of their line of expertise or comfort level.
The desire for our volunteers to go to the internet for their literature needs is inevitable -- and in many ways, is already occurring.

Putting all the simple, one-page two page forms, in PDF in easy to find function categories (like advancement, camping, finance, membership, etc.) on the national website would be the best.

For literature that is normally sold, like leader and committee handbooks, a subscription could be sold to have online access to PDF versions of the handbooks. These online subscriptions could be a complete access subscription, or tiered subscriptions according to basic and advanced needs.

I think a lot of Scouters (including myself), especially experienced folks, would appreciate the ability to get what they need, and print the pages needed for the immediate need.

This certainly would take time to research consumer desire, subscription structure, appropriate parameters, etc. but is something we should do. For my own hobbies and personal interests, I already participate in online subscriptions, and it just seems like it is time for the BSA to do the same.
As a unit commissioner, I encourage hispanic leaders to get involved and get trained. 'This is Scouting' should be available in Spanish as well as other online training modules. Alot of these parents are initially introduced to scouting for the first time when signing up as volunteer. 'This is Scouting' is a huge informational foundation everyone should start with. Like Bob said "the hispanic market is enormous" and we should accomodate their first language.
In order to help data management, make unit leader lists easily portable to excel files.. Currently we have to do one group at a time... for instance, all Scoutmasters, All ASM, etc. One at a time.
I know up until around 1965 it was possible for an adult to earn the eagle rank. Out of the first nine eagles earned, at least one was an eagle scout. I know some of the arguments for and against allowing this. On the for side, greater parental involvement, parents can earn the rank alongside their son, especially good in first generation scouting. On the against side, less of a drive to achieve the rank as a youth since they can always earn it later on.

What I would suggest is an in-depth exploration of the pros and cons of recycling the concept of adult eagles, possible changes in requirements, different knot to signify difference, and so on. I for one am in favor of the idea or at least exploring it further.
There should be a space on all Training forms and Progress records to include the persons BSA ID number. This would eliminate errors and increse processing time.
There are many interesting ideas that are being posted on this site. I’m glad to see that so many people are thinking about how to better Scouting.

We have one of the best programs in the youth development field, and it’s become that through the great work of volunteers who serve on national committees who care a great deal about the development of the youth in their communities. Many of those volunteers are experts in their chosen field which includes youth development. Just as we ask every unit serving executive to surround themselves with the right volunteers in the correct roles in a district we should have the same at a national level. We have great volunteers, but not all can fill every roll in Scouting equally.

As we move forward with the continued evolution of the Scouting program I would hope that we are using these top level volunteers who have the expertise to really develop programs that youth need and not just a program that some people think youth want. There is a huge difference between need and want, and we have to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the youth we are serving.

Now the Scouting program has to be attractive to youth so they join and can be a part of the fun and adventure, but we must meet their fundamental development needs. We can’t afford to just have fun things to do. Fun with a purpose is a phrase that has been used around Scouting. We need to remember this phrase as move our great program into the future.
We love reading about Scouts in the News on the national home page. The stories on Scouters abusing Scouts and others, are a downer, important to hear, and I don't want to sweep them under the rug.

When the judgment is final and the details made public, could we append the articles with a recap/reminder of the YP guidelines the perp violated? Something that would refocus our disappointment and anger about something in the past, to a very specific YP guideline we can make sure is re-emphasized in our portion of the Scouting world today?

I know legal and risk management will have something to say about this idea. I know we couldn't do it on every case. The kernal of what I am suggesting is a regular reminder, tied to a current news event, that when specific YP guidelines are violated, Scouts are hurt. That by renewing my commitment to fully implementing YP guidelines, my Scouts have real protection. I may not be able to protect the world, but I can win in my corner of it.
Keep up the good work!
-Jerry Dees
Each person that accesses the online tutorials provides their contact information and email.

Many of these individuals often begin leading scouts without actually being registered with BSA and they never receive any additioanl training or council information. If we had access to this information, we could contact these adults to attend our local trainings and get them registered. We could track training progress, etc.

If this information exists, it is not being provided to my peers.
It has always amazed me how many trees have to die to support the paperwork of the Boy Scouts of America. One of the most glaring examples of this has been our approach to applications for both youth and adults. Ways to reduce the number of youth applications that a boy has to fill out from Cubs to Venturing is a discussion for another day.

My suggestion is that our registration department consider strategies that will permit chartered organizations, as well as districts and councils, to "promote" an adult from one position within that organization to another position, even if it's in a different unit. This would especially be useful to our favorite sponsors - those that sponsor units from all families of Scouting.
I just got back from PDL-1 a week ago and one thing that I noticed during that training was that all but one of the thirty-one of us there did not have a well-organized, or fully manned district. Most of us were simply inheriting districts that had a chair for each committee if they were lucky. Most of them were not lucky.

I know one of the best ideas I took away from training was given off-handed talking about group recruiting events to fill district's swiftly. It had to do with having local organizations, such as service clubs, fraternal organizations, churches, and businesses take ownership so to speak of a committee. What I would like to do once district nominations are completed at the beginning of next year is to begin making presentations at these organizations telling of a specific committee need and asking for volunteers to fill that committee.

I have been able to find little more than a few paragraphs discussing a group recruiting event and would welcome any suggestions anyone has to enhance this concept and make it more effective. What has worked well for you in group recruiting?