Streamline ScoutNET when registering new Unit Leaders, CCs and CRs 

When trying to input a new Unit Leader, CC, or CR, ScoutNET will not allow it if the unit already has someone registered in that position. This forces me to have to go in and manually change the position of the current Unit Leader, CC or CR before I can enter the new one.

If I am trying to input a new leader for that position, it should be obvious that the current leader in that position isn't holding that position any longer. Let's enable ScoutNET to make that change automatically, altering a current Unit Leader's, CC's or CR's registration status to another, non-conflicting leadership position (such as Committee Member).

"Go the Distance"/Retention Scholarship Program 

 Completed

Everyone agrees that greater retention is critical to sustained membership growth. I would propose a national level scholarship account for every Scout where they earn money towards secondary education with each advancement. It would provide a tangible and economic reason for remaining in Scouting and incentivize parents to encourage their children to continue. The award would only be paid out in full for the Scouts who make it to Eagle, but the amount earned to date could be viewed at any time.

The tracking would be based around Scoutnet advancements and the program could be funded by current Eagle Scout Scholarship designated dollars and the additional revenue generated from retention increases. Local councils could add prizes or contributions around making it from Webelos to Scout or participating in product sales and Family Friends of Scouting every year.

The idea being that once you have a substantial amount in the account you do not want to forfeit it by quitting. If Eagle is too much to ask then you could get lesser payouts at the various advancement levels in Boy Scouts, but nothing if you do not cross over.

Alternatively you could ask families to opt into a fund at registration with an additional $1 or $2 and make similar contributions at rechartering each year. The fund would be self sufficient with the dollars forfeited by those dropping out providing a great return to those that make it to Eagle. Smaller payouts could occur at Life or other advancements if the program works. This would encourage some parents to put some skin in the game and the payouts could be really attractive given the current low % of kids that make it to Eagle.

I am sure that tracking and administering this type of program would be a challenge, but something that forces parents and kids to think twice before calling it quits could be a great addition.

Empowering Volunteers to be Responsible for Membership Growth 

 Completed

Many of you may have heard the Chief Scout Executive tell the story about how in his first district he was not allowed to organize a unit until his membership chairman told his Scout executive he was ready. The volunteer “owned” the membership in the district and was as committed to growing Scouting as any professional Scouter. Over the years, it seems we have gotten away from volunteers on the district and council levels being actively engaged in membership growth. I’m sure there are some exceptions, and I would like very much to hear about these.

The purpose of this posting is to solicit your input. First, in general, is my perception about volunteer involvement correct? If it is, what do you think are the reasons? What can we do to re-engage volunteers in membership growth? If it is not, what is working in your council? It is my hope this dialog will result in constructive ideas that enable volunteers and staff to work hand-in-hand to grow Scouting, just as we do for things like training, camporees, day camps, etc.

I realize that the majority of the people reading this posting do not know me & have no idea what motivates me. You may think I am only interested in growth because that’s what is expected of me in my job as ACSE/COO of the BSA. Nothing could be further from the truth. Briefly, I have been involved in Scouting since I was 8 years old. As a youth, I was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Explorer, Eagle Scout, OA chapter chief and worked on summer camp staff. I have a grown son who was also a very active Scout. I want to see Scouting grow because I have experienced the benefits of the program as a youth, adult & a parent. But Scouting cannot affect someone’s life unless they are a member receiving a quality program. My motivation is this simple.

Wayne Brock
Assistant Chief Scout Executive/COO

Suggestion for a new Regional Support Position 

Has anyone given consideration to a staff position on the National or Regional level that specializes in unit organization and recruiting to support local councils? Would it be beneficial to all to have a person that can go to individual councils for boots-on-the-ground, one-on-one or small group, hands-on, on-the-job training?
Some councils, especially small ones, are cash strapped and consequently are shorthanded. The SE is not in a position to spend much time training the new field executive(s), especially in the area of recruiting and unit organization. The new professional is handed a book or DVD and told to read it and get after it. We all know this happens, and agree that it is not the best situation but it is reality. It is not what we like or want, but outside conditions force this upon us at times. Yes, CPD teaches recruiting in PDL-1, but they are only able to spend a small amount of time on it, and with a large group at that, so there is not the advantage of one-on-one or small group instruction, hands-on teaching, nor is there the luxury of working out detailed methods suitable for specific areas of a school system, district, council, or even state.
For one reason or another, many councils and/or districts don’t have volunteers who have the time and/or talent to do good boy talks and roundups, and thus the councils are in membership decline. The Regional Recruiting Specialist (or whatever other title you might think appropriate) could come in and spend a few days or a week working with both field staff and volunteers to help get them up to speed, or to help polish their techniques. The Recruiting Specialist could also host cluster/area training seminars from time to time, so that several councils could benefit at one time. These training sessions could be held for either professional or volunteer groups, or both.
In some councils that are missing field staff and cannot afford to hire the needed staff, and are desperately needing membership so that they do not lose United Way or special grant funding, this person could come in for a week or two to boost membership. With the right preparation, in one week this person could generate more than 100 new youth for a council that is short handed, and that could pay big dividends for that council at the end of the year.
The Recruiting Specialist could also be invited to visit councils and audit their recruiting/unit organizing procedures to help them identify ways to improve them. A written report could be generated so that in subsequent months, the local council staff could review the suggested improvements to see if they are following the suggested plan, and if it is working. With feedback, our overall methods utilized in various councils could be compared and maybe would bring about changes for the benefit of all. The Specialist could also work with the other National staff to help plan and develop the recruiting plans that are delivered to the local councils each year.
There are some professionals in our organiation that have a special talent when it comes to recruiting and unit organization. There are some guys out there who can recruit 15 and 20 Boy Scouts in one roundup meeting, who can recruit more than 200 Cub Scouts a month, who can start new packs with 25 and more leaders, and who can start 4-6 new units in a month. It seems a waste of their talent to keep them confined to a district in a local council when they could help many more districts and councils succeed.

Let me access recharter roster changes before March implementation 

 In Progress

My council does all recharters starting Jan 1, but they don't get implemented until March 1. Before handing over the paper charters I'm going through a district membership report (excel spreadsheet) of all my adults blacking out dropped adults, typing in new adults, and changing positions and adding email addresses. I'm doing this so that I can send emails to people to get trained in January and February. If I just hand over the paper charters to the registrar I would essentially just be totally blind for two months until the charters are implemented. Is there a better way to do this? Could National make it so I could access my post-charter roster (with email addresses too please) before it's implemented? Please don't tell me to look in ScoutNET one unit/person at a time with not even a copy/paste feature. This would essentially require me to do the same thing I'm doing now, typing out each change by hand, very time consuming and tedious.

Outsourcing Fulfillment for National Distribution Center 

 In Progress

By outsourcing the fulfillment side of the National Distribution Center to a company like Amazon or UPS, BSA could leverage their global sourcing and logistics strengths while reducing BSA’s capital commitment and still retain control of the brand and marketing of BSA merchandise. This would allow us to save money and focus our energies and resources towards the most important things – increasing membership and retention.

Transfers from other Councils 

 In Progress

When a transfer comes from another council sometimes they don't fill out the transfer sheets for either youth or adult. This is a problem because I have to either e-mail or call the registrar and have them send in the profile. I know on the new applications there is a place to fill in the membership number. If that is provided there should be a way in Scoutnet to bring up the person profile or there should be a way.

Online Membership Registration 

 In Progress

Please, please, please!!!!

We are doing many things online, please focus on online membership registration. We can allow for people to make digital signatures, pay online, (mark LDS units to bill LDS stakes), and input email addresses for unit leaders, committee leaders, and COR's to digitally sign registration forms as well. As we work to protect our youth, our volunteers have become more frustrated with the added paperwork. It we could streamline this by allowing people to register online, it would revolutionize where I could spend my time (more service to units!!!).

"No Child Left Inside" "Nature Deficit Disorder" 

 In Progress

In follow up to Bob's blog post over the summer and the book "Last Child in the Woods", Scouting nationally needs to be able leverage this concept as we introduce "Scouting to the America public" again as part of our 100th Anniversary celebration.

Locally in 2009, our Friends of Scouting and Membership Theme will both be "No Child Left Inside." We think by combining this idea into our fund-raising and marketing plans we will be able to have many touch points with parents and donors, who all seem to agree that our kids are "too plugged in" and not spending as much time outdoors.

In May of 2009 we are hosting a "No Child left Inside" Hike with the Girl Scouts of our area to bring awarness to the terrible growing "Nature Deficit Disorder" amongst our young people. We hope to message to parents, donors and the community that Scouting is well positioned to address this growing epidemic.

Evite for Cub Scout Recuitment 

 In Progress

We need to equip our current evangelists "cub scout leaders and parents" with the tools to support our recruitment efforts.

Having an "evite type" invitation/template for our scout leaders to use would enable them to invite other prospective parents to join scouting. As we all know people want to be in the "in" or "keep up with the Jones'".

Creating a viral evite type cub scout recruitment avenue will allow families to see other families that are involved in scouting or looking to join, thus creating a tipping point to making it the "in thing" for families in a given neighborhood to be involved with.

There needs to be both a cub master/den leader option to create the template and an avenue for people to input other prospective parents in the original template.