New Professional on-line fast start 

 In Progress

It would be nice to have a series of webinars or videos that could be used to help orient a new District Executive before they go to PDL1. All in one spot on MYBSA.

On Line Training Courses 

 In Progress

A Scout leader recommended that on line training courses have noted the estimated time needed to complete & if the course must be taken without breaks.

Order registration forms  

 In Progress

It would be helpful for ordering registration forms to have a direct online order location for forms with confirmation and history available for registrars and office managers.

Out of Council transfer 

 In Progress

It would speed up processing time in registration if there was an electronic system in place to transfer a person from one council to another. Even if it required Scout Executive approval and the outgoing coucil registstrar acknowledgement. I have found that sometimes the unexpired membership card is not attached to the application and the new unit has a challenge obtaining the information from the family.

Personal Watercraft/Jet Skis 

 In Progress

In support of our collective goals of increasing membership and retention while simultaneously delivering relevant and engaging program, the “New BSA” has embarked on a new initiative to pilot Personal Watercraft, more commonly referred to as jet skis.

Read the ProSpeak article in the September 2009 issue at: http://www.scouting.org/ProSpeak/best_practices/watercraft.aspx
(Copy and paste the link)

Early in the spring of 2009 councils were invited to submit proposals detailing how they would potentially deliver a Personal Watercraft pilot program. The proposals were required to include details such as; location, training, safety, budget, equipment, promotion and staffing. It was anticipated that our first tests of this new concept would occur during the summer 2010. However, as a result of some great work by the Blue Ridge Mountains Council in Roanoke, VA, we were able to conduct our first pilot during their seven (7) week summer camp program at the Claytor Lake Adventure Base.

High level results of the first pilot are as follows:

• 280 Scouts participated in the pilot
• 90% stated the program “met” or “exceed” their expectations
• 90% of all youth indicated they were either “somewhat” or “very likely” to return to camp because of the PWC program.
• 35% stated participating in the PWC program increased their likelihood of staying in Scouting
• 59% indicated participating in the PWC program increased their likelihood of recommending Scouting to others

Moving forward, we have initiated the process of selecting additional councils to pilot the use of Personal Watercraft during 2010. All councils interested in being considered to pilot Personal Watercraft should submit their proposals to the Innovation Team (National Council), attention of Merril Davis, merril.davis@scouting.org, by November 30, 2009.

To access the proposal form, please click on this title at the top of this web page, then scroll down to find the .pdf file.

100th Anniversary BSA PEZ Dispensers! 

 In Progress

We Scouts and Scouters are big collectors. Why not have a Boy Scouts of America 100th Anniversary PEZ dispenser created? PEZ collecting is big business - vintage PEZ's collect upwards of $500 each! The production cost is $1.00 each and these would easily sell for $3.00 - $5.00 each. The minimum order is 750,000 and take seven months to produce - so we need to get crackin'!

National Office Hours of Operation 

 In Progress

With the recently announced plan to close regional offices, now is the time for the national office to move to a flextime schedule in critical departments such as Council Operations and Human Resources. Weekday hours of operation, for example, could be extended by three hours per day (one hour earlier in the morning to accommodate the Eastern Time Zone and two hours later in the evening to accommodate Mountain and Pacific Time Zones). Such a move would send a positive customer relations message to the field and would greatly limit criticism concerning the regional office closures.

On-Line Advancement 

 In Progress

Posted on behalf of Pack 277 Scotch Plains Adv Chair Domenick Iannaccone

When using the Internet Advancement Program there should be an error report generated for advancements not accepted by the system. This is common practice with other such programs. As it is now a comparison of the final report needs to be done by hand to compare to the preparers notes to find any inconsistencies.

National Level Keynote Speakers 

 In Progress

The opportunity to have a dynamic nationally recognized keynote speaker can really improve the quality of a special event and sometimes the attendance. It would be helpful if we used our combined buying power and relationships to get some negotiated deep discount rates for council's to use in booking a well known speaker. Either through signing them to a contract or having a formal process for requesting certain well known Scouting supporters without getting the inflated quotes from a speakers bureau or agent.

If we negotiated x number of appearences I am sure that we could meet the demand through major Council events and national conferences.

Free is obviously the best price for a speaker at a fundraiser, but a nationally known figure can bring a lot of attention in a smaller media market and would be worth it at a discounted rate.

Multicultural Scouting Coloring Book and coloring pages on the national site 

 In Progress

I would like to see our external communications develop a 4 or maximum 8 page coloring book for elementary age boys (mostly grades 1-3 or younger) that is multicultural and depicts scouting in the outdoors, doing community service and send key messages to parents. Councils can purchase these and use them as handouts at community fairs, church back to Sunday school events or other events as determined by those recruiting youth. The booklet can be used in many places including areas that have a difficult socio-economic environment. The cover, front or back, must allow possible corporate sponsorship opportunity and a location for councils to personalize their local web site and phone number. It must depict scouts from all nationalities throughout the booklet. It could also be used in a recruitment setting with charter partners when trying to organize a new pack.

You can also post it or single pages on our web site. Like many other sites for kids, this gives youth the opportunity to download blank coloring pages that they can print and color at home.

Depending on the content and message, grants that are written to expand Scouting in challenging areas could incorporate this material as handouts and recruiting tools and the cost would be covered if it contained message like, no smoking, no drugs, making key decisions based on our oath and law etc.

Honorary Military Service Knot on behalf of Mr. Les Salay 

 In Progress

Greetings,

My name is Lester (Les) Salay and I am Currently a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Unit Commissioner and Merit Badge Counselor.

I have earned several BSA "Knots" for my service to Scouting including many City of Los Angeles awards for my environmental Community Beautification activities and am also a recipient of the BSA's Medal of Merit for coming to the aid of others during the Metrolink train disaster that occurred in Porter Ranch, California, in September of 2008.

As an youth I have earned the rank of Eagle and subsequently joined an Explorer "ship" and then voluntarily joined the United States Navy and served my country during the Vietnam War.

I am one who wears his "Scout Knots" of achievement with pride, as I did so by wearing my Military medals of honor and my "Service Bars" while serving our great nation as a Naval enlistee.

I wish for consideration, that National Council would allow for the creation of a "Honorary Military Service Knot" for all those who have served our country and have given the many sacrifices in the name of Liberty and Justice regardless of which tour of duty they have participated in.

I have noticed in the years that there is a majority of Scouting Leaders, as myself, who at one time or another have been in a Theater of Combat or as a reserve member of the National Guard or other Military Commands (Army, Navy, Marines etc), even if not in a time of war.

It is my humble belief that any Scouter who has served his or her Country with pride and were willing to give their lives in a military service branch be awarded and allowed to wear a BSA "Honorary Military Service Knot".

Our soldiers, past, present and future should be granted the privilege to wear with dignity a "knot" deserving of their Service to God and Country and the Boy Scouts of America.

If considered, I already have a proposed design of the knot that will stand out and say "I have served my country with pride and am now serving our nation by being a leader and mentor in the Boy Scouts of America's program".

The design is one that will reflect a regulation "bar/knot" that has been used by the Military in the past but has now been retired for several decades.

This design will not infringe on the Military's "Service Bar" as it can be modified in a very small way ensuring all copy rights of distinction to the military will not be violated.

I am of the solemn opinion that this proposal be given as an opportunity for the Scouting World to recognize and once again reward those that exemplify not only the Militaries code of conduct, but also that of the Oath, we as Scouters have made to God and Country.

I believe that the Scouts who have served their Country should be recognized in this small gesture by the BSA to exemplify the merits of their service.



I thank you for the opportunity to submit this request and your consideration of its merit.

Should this be approved I can, and would be very happy to forward the design of the proposed knot and the requirements to have earned said distinction.

Kindly,

Les Salay
Adult Scouter
Vietnam Veteran

Unit Advancement/Membership 

 In Progress

When looking at the District Advancement report for a whole district, it is impossible to tell how many youth are in the units. The advancement report may say there are "X" rank, "Y" rank, and "Z" rank, and the total is _____. But, it does not tell us how many youth are represented in those advancements. Is it 15 advancement for 15 youth, 45 youth, or 60 youth. 15 advancements for 15 or 20 youth is pretty good, if it is 15 advancements for 60 youth it is not so good. Currently two reports must be run and manually compiled to determine the needed information. Can't we connect the two statistics and make the district advancement report more meaningful?
Council Advancement Committees and District Committees would be most appreciative of this information merger.

Thank-you,
Bill Price
Program Director
Quapaw Area Council, BSA

"Troop 123 meets here every Thursday, 7:00 PM" sign 

 In Progress

What ever happened to those signs that were proudly displayed in church social halls and school auditoriums for so many years? Is there value in bringing these back? Is this something the supply division can carry for sale to units and Chartered Partners?

Videogame Merit Badge 

 In Progress

Videogames and Scouting don't mix. Or do they? Our council has used Videogame tournaments as a means to recruit new boys into Scouting for years. First, we find a Troop to host a videogame tournament (non-violent videogame). We send out tons of flyers, gather numerous prizes, and obtain lots of food. The non-Scouts show up, sign-in with a parent (they have to register as a Scout to play in the tourney), and they start playing in the tournament. While the new recruits are not playing videogames, the host Troop teaches the new guys Scout skills, including first aid, how to set up a tent, knot tying, dutch oven cooking, etc. It is always effective and a lot of fun for all those involved. The new boys are invited to all future meetings but, I must admit, retention is low.
We plan to build on the popularity of the VG Tourneys and offer videogame merit badge at summer/winter camp. Merit badge requirements include but are not limited to:
1. Discuss the history of the VG industry and how it has evolved over the last few decades.
2. Discuss and describe videogame ratings with your MB Counselor.
3. Plan and host a videogame tournament for your Troop or patrol.
4. How has the internet changed the way videogames are played today?
5. Can VG skills be applicable or helpful in real-life situations or jobs?
6. What are the dangers of playing too many videogames for too long?
Whether you like the idea or not, ask a Boy Scout about this idea and watch his face light up. Thank you for considering.

Green Friday 

 In Progress

There is a trend w/ companies adopting a "Green Friday" policy that would make sense for the BSA, too. For Green Friday, the company closes on selected Fridays throughout the year to conserve resources. During the designated Green Friday weeks, employees are expected to complete the week's work in four days. This gives employees several three-day weekends that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Alternative BSA Under Armour Field Uniform 

 In Progress

Let's pilot an alternative BSA Under Armour Field Uniform, as an alternative to the current uniform. This uniform will appeal to kids who represent a diverse, varied cross-section of America youth. This Field Uniform will have a look for today's 12 year old boy who may not want to be seen in public in his Boy Scout uniform. Let the price point be competitive, not too high end, but not discount. This Field Uniform will support attracting and retaining a larger market share of youth who may have not been Cub Scouts but see the popularity of Under Armour gear. Our Scouts are already wearing Under Armour products....so let's just try it!

Smoke Out 

 In Progress

It's time to ban smoking on all BSA property and at all BSA events.

Video / Web Broadcast of National Meetings 

 In Progress

The BSA should simulcast selected portions of National and Regional meetings. After returning from the Annual Meeting in Orlando it occured to me that there were a number of volunteers that would benefit from seeing any of the general, large gatherings. Could we simulcast these selected large gatherings on the web for volunteers and staff that are unable to attend the meeting.

Rover Scouting 

 In Progress

Rover scouting http://www.scout.org/roverscouts is a world-wide program for mostly older kids/young adults. The USA dropped this program in the early 1950's. We have so much talnet we kick out the door when they turn 21 we do not get access to again until and only if they have kids and they happen to be boys. So for the next 10-20 years, all those Scouts that went to college and had famiies are lost to us for an entire generation.

What better way to supplement our current program and actually utilize our alumni than set them up in the Rover Scout program. Here is a local (US) group that has revivied on a local level the Rover program. http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/king/personal/scouts/rovers/index.htm

We are fooling ourselves if we think all these kids that go through our program will return in later years. Young adults in college are still looking for adventure and service work. I work closely with a local Vietnamese Rover group who helped me start the whole family of scouting in a local Vietnamese church. They also wrote the national syllabus on Vietnamese scouting in the US. The Rover mission IS service.

Look it up. Research it then bring it back!

Let Units Print Their Own Membership Cards 

 In Progress

This was mentioned in the comments of an earlier idea, but I felt it needed its own entry to be considered independently.

The Online Advancement System has a feature that allows units to print out "temporary" membership cards. Let's alter this system and enable it to be the primary method of membership card distribution. For units, the ability to print (or reprint) cards at will would provide them with a fantastic resource, and another reason to go online and start using them. For Councils, it would be one less administrative process, freeing up staff time as well as a savings in production and postage costs. For National, it would help encourage more units to use the Online Advancement system, and increase the amount and accuracy of any advancement data it processes.

Another logical step would be to allow anyone who uses MyScouting the ability to print their own membership card. This would be especially beneficial to Youth and Adult Leaders who are not registered in a traditional unit.

People like to be independent and do things themselves. We just need to give them the tools.

Upload excel files into GL 

 In Progress

Another application to consider when developing the new Fiscals system - how about a way to upload an excel or data file into GL to create journal entries.

Segways at the Jamboree 

 In Progress

I just did a tour of Washington DC on a Segway. These Green machines would be great at the Jamboree.

Storytelling Merit Badge 

 In Progress

Leadership across all cultures, across millennia, has employed he art of storytelling to transmit tradition, values and vision. Today, storytelling is said to be the "secret language of business leadership." Storytelling requires the use of imagination, memory, insight, and creative joining of words, meaning with sound for a meaningful presentation to occur. Therefore, Storytelling enriches not only the literacy development but also the mental and social development of the young scout and fits well all scouting objectives. The storytelling merit badge would serve as a capstone to Communicant, Public Speaking and Debate badges.

Debate Merit Badge 

 In Progress

Leadership frequently requires effective use of persuasive reasoning, oftentimes in an extemporaneous setting against an opposing point of view. Learn to think and communicate critically and effectively in a formal, organized manner using the techniques and tools of formal debate. To be effective in debate, one must “be prepared”, be “mentally awake”. This merit badge builds on the skills of the Communications and Public Speaking merit badges to offer the scout additional opportunities to grow in confidence and presence in front of others.

100th Anniversary 

 In Progress

Has the Boy Scouts of America considered making a presentation to the Smithsonian of a very special Boy Scout item or items for display in 2010?

This could be on loan to the Smithsonian or given permanently to the institution to commemorate our 100th anniversary.

Jon Harthun/Chief Seattle Council