Adult Application - Suggested Changes 

 In Progress

Here are a couple of suggested changes to the adult application. If others have additional suggestions, post a comment.

The place for the e-mail is not longer enough. Many people have e-mail addresses that are longer than the space currently available, particularly after the @ symbol.

It would also be nice if there was space for multiple e-mail addresses.

The right-hand column is often missed when filling out the application. Would it be possible to move that from the right side to either the left side or perhaps just below their personal information and just above their signature.

Electronic Applications/Payment 

 In Progress

Why not allow a paperless option for joining Scouting? The application would be sent by email to the committee chair, etc for approval. And I as DE would be notified that the app is in process, I would approve it, and the registrar would give final approval without having to retype anything. And money would be paid online as well. All along the way we could hide the applicant's social security number to protect even more from identity theft.

If a leader doesn't have email, I as the DE would see the jam and just call them myself to get their approval by phone and sign in their place, just like I can on paper apps.

If the parent or child signing up doesn't have Internet they could still do it the old fashioned paper way.

I don't know about other Councils but we have a room full of unlocked file cabinets full of years and years of paper apps. They have social security numbers on them and could easily be stolen. And how many people saw the social security number in between the applicant filling it out and me getting it? Not to mention it's a waste of space and a waste of trees. This would also solve another problem. Sometimes I don't get an application until 6 months after the applicant started the process. If I had been notified about the applicant I could have been aware and encouraged the process along and notified the person about upcoming trainings. This would also save the units on postage and me on gas taking them to Council.

I think especially for the Latter-day Saint units, the application process should have the ability to be started by other adult leaders like the Bishop of the ward who gives the calling.

After the application is completed the applicant should be redirected to fast start training and to mybsa to see their training record.

Change Leader Positions During the Year 

 In Progress

We all have leaders that change position during the year within a unit, particularly those that go from being a Tiger Den Leader to a Wolf Den Leader or a Bear Den Leader to a Webelos Den Leader or any other host of combinations in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing. Right now the only way to change a leader's position is wait to do it at recharter time or have them fill out a new adult application.

I understand and completely support the fact that the Committee Chair and the Chartered Organization Representative as well as the Scout Executive or Designee need to sign off on that change. Is there a possibility of developing some sort of one page form that would allow a unit to change a leader's position mid-year without having to go through all the paperwork of filling out a new adult application? The appropriate signatures could still be on it as needed, but the form could be very simple and allow these sort of changes within a single unit.

My suggestion would only be applicable if a leader was changing positions within a single unit. If they were transferring to another unit, I could understand the need for a new adult application.

By doing this, the right leaders would receive the right information. As an example, when getting ready for the Webelos to Scout transition process, my Scoutmasters want to know who the 1st and 2nd year Webelos Leaders are. Unless they fill out a new adult application or wait till recharter, I won't know for sure who the Webelos I den leader is.