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I’d like to see a ‘National Scout Spirit Day’ where members, youth and adults, show their support of Scouting by wearing their uniform to work and/or school. Monday, February 8, 2010 would be a great day to kick off this day as an annual event for all Scouting membership. In addition to recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Scouting in America, such an event would promote membership, public awareness, and Scouting pride. We have enough time to promote the date and get the word out nationally; encouraging all of our membership to proudly display their support of Scouting. Imagine February 8, 2010 dawning with BSA color guards conducting flag ceremonies at schools and businesses across the country. Can you envision the impact such an event would generate nationally for our membership, along with the positive media attention for Scouting?
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Findyouthinfo.gov has a database that has a program tool which provides you with information about program designs that successfully deal with risky behaviors. The Program Tool database contains risk factors, protective factors, and programs that have been evaluated and found to work. While many other similiar youth organizations are on this list, neither Boy Scouts of America nor Learning for Life are on this program list. More information and guidelines for nominating programs for this list can be found at:
http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/cf_pages/programtool.cfm#faq1
I think it would be really helpful, both in buidling our case in fundraising and recruitment to be on this list.
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I was chatting with my barber about how he had over 10 different subscriptions to various magazines from Sports Illustrated to People Magazine. I was curious because I thought it must have cost him a fortune to keep all those subscriptions current, but he said they were free to him. Apparently there is a service that does that for barbers, dental and doctor offices, and I am sure other places as well.
I am not sure if it cost Sports Illustrated and other magazines to be in that service, but if it wasn't too costly, Boy's Life should be one of the many subscriptions there to read for children as they wait...it just might turn a few more boys onto the idea of Scouting.
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Can national or the regions lend out 8-foot folding executive recruiting displays or retracting banner signs for use at career fairs? I was at a major university's career fair yesterday, and was really struck by the displays that most of the employers had. They did a great job of catching your eye and you could see the employer's booth from across the fieldhouse. These things aren't expensive overall-- less than $1000... But we in the local councils do executive recruiting so rarely that we wouldn't get much bang for our buck. I'd love to see an executive recruiting display kit that could be shared among councils.
I had 18 Eagle Scouts talk with me yesterday, 9 resumes, and 5 really serious candidates. I believe that we would be a much stronger movement if we had a more professional "Be an Executive Manager with the Boy Scouts of America" display.
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With all of the many creative minds designing recruitment flyers, why not have a central location where these templates can be downloaded by DEs for district use. Maybe even have a rating system for best flyer design!
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As everyone knows, we are competing heavily with sports in recruiting cub scouts. The kids are interested, but the problem is parents just don't have enough time! This is especially true in rural districts. Why not affiliate cub scouts or a form of it with sports and the local sports organizations to draw kids in!
One possible solution:
Offer a seasonal fall membership (August - December) for less than or equal to $5.00. Or, it would be better if it was free. However, kids would have to pay for their advancements/awards. The local sports center or an outside local organization that would work with the local sports center would be the charter organization.
- Kids that joined up with this seasonal membership unit would work solely on sports, x game style sports, and maybe some other outdoor activities that any active DAD could teach. The focus would be on earning "Sports belt loops and Pins" from the Academic and Sports Program Guide. !!!As we all know, kids that advance or earn something immediately are more likely to stay in the program!!!!
- The kids could then be introduced or move into regular cub scouting units.
- Sports teams or leagues would partner with the local scout district. It would allow those teams or leagues to use the BSA advancement / awards program, while introducing the kids to scouting in a fun way.
(What I envision) - The local sports league would offer this FREE membership program to all boys cub scout age. One or several sign ups would be held. The scouting district would actively recruit DADS to be coaches for actual teams and this Free Membership Program. Before or after practice or on special days, the boys would gather at the Sports Center to work on Sports Belt Loops, Pins, and any other special advancements. Cub Scout units would be encouraged to participate as coaches / teachers. Award ceremonies would be held in conjunction with practices, games, or etc every week or biweekly.
The program would only last two months in the fall and two in the spring with the goal of introducing kids to cub scouts in a fun way, let them earn something, and provide sports leagues an opportunity to begin an advancement / awards program.
Advantages:
- Low key time commitment - only two months
- Activities DADS and KIDS would be interested in
- Kids would immediately and easily be able to EARN something
- Volunteers and parents would see the benefits of the Cub Scout Advancement Program.
- Increase scouting's visibility
- Encourage older Boy Scouts and Venturers to volunteer by teaching an easy sports program.
- IT WOULD AFFILIATE CUB SCOUTS AND SPORTS TOGETHER AND SHOW THAT IT IS OKAY TO DO BOTH!
Moderator Comments
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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.
Moderator Comments
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