Trick or Treat for Scouting 

Across the country we face various degrees of access to schools and hence to youth. Although I was shocked to learn that less youth are actually trick-or-treating these days due to increasing safety concerns, the fact remains that Halloween is the one day where children literally come to us. In my district I am encouraging unit leaders and parents to simply stick Avery labels or stickers on all their candy inviting boys to come and visit their next unit meeting. This should serve two purposes. First, if a boy missed out on the fall roundup sign ups it should be another invitation to Scouting. Second, by placing the Cub Scout or BSA logo on the candy it is an effective method of creating brand awareness within the target audience. The cost of doing this is essentially nothing more than ink and label paper while you can be certain that 100 percent of the marketing is reaching its intended target. I gave out candy bars with stickers to boys at our roundtable meeting last week and before they had eaten the candy they were already wearing the stickers on their uniform. I saw it as just another unexpected benefit.

Another Text Scheme 

Politics aside, Obama's campaign made a giant stride forward this year in terms of how he reinforced and solicited a connection from his constituents. One of the ways his campaign did this was by asking supporters to text their name to a certain number during mass gatherings. Once supporters did that the campaign entered them into a database and kept them in the loop via frequent updates. With all the opportunities we will have in the coming year including, as another post suggested, a color guard at the Super Bowl this would be a terrific chance for us to bring some lost Scouts into the fold.
Imagine, the call is put out at the Super Bowl for all former Scouts to text their highest rank to '555-555-5555.' Instantly you have reestablished a connection with a working phone number to someone who was a Scout. Maybe 20 percent of the viewing audience will respond but that's still 20 or so million people perhaps. Respondents could then be invited via text to fill out a centennial survey online where further biographical information could be shared. These lost Scouts could then be included in the entire year of 100th anniversary celebrations and be made to feel welcome in the Scouting family once again. They could be called to serve as a volunteer or might be more receptive to future calls to support local councils. At the very least we would have gathered some statistical data and perhaps build a new communications delivery infrastructure which bypasses traditional more costly and imprecise media methods.

Take a stand on the environment 

 In Progress

Just as we require all of our leaders to abide by the Scout Oath and Law in order to set a good example for our young men I believe the time has come for the National Council to regulate its local councils when it comes to their environmental impact. Our resident camps still use Styrofoam trays three meals a day during the summer for example. I understand there are costs involved with investing in silver and plates and water usage and electrical bills to consider but we would not allow one of our councils to cut similar corners if the savings came at the expense of safety. Given the hyper-sensitive climate we live in regarding climate change and going green I would not want to see a story exposing such waste on the news. Far better for the BSA to garner some national attention for taking a lead role on the issue and help councils address the impact being environmentally conscious would have on their budgets.

Scoutmaster Memo 

 In Progress

We've all seen the video or heard the phrase that goes something like 'We're not trying to steal your boys,' but I feel like some Scoutmasters need more coaxing. In my district I have a longtime leader who has erected such a wall even though he has an active 'Venture Patrol' with several assistants in tasked with supporting the boys. They even wear the Venturing uni but neither I, the CR or Unit Commissioner have been able to persuade him that his boys are missing out by not being coregistered as a crew. Besides the new unit organizer knot, perhaps some other incentive could be installed to help encourage these long-standing volunteers to go green. I don't know if it would merit a knot but surely there is something that could be done.

Team up with USPS 

 In Progress

Each time I move after I change my address the post office sends me a confirmation/welcome letter filled with coupons and ads for various businesses. I understand that the Home Deport coupons likely help defray the cost of such mailings but I wonder if the BSA could leverage a deal with the USPS to get our local council contact information included in these mailings. At the very least perhaps we could be included in the list of vendors you are asked to select from when you change you address online. This might help keep Scouting on families' radar during the entire moving process and prevent some boys from slipping through the cracks. It might also spark interest in some families who had never contemplated Scouting where they were before.

Create Venturing Base Model 

 In Progress

I have been trying to figure out why people are still fuzzy on Venturing a decade after its creation. From my conversations with long-time Scouters it seems that the Venturing program's greatest strength is stopping people from taking the plunge. The possibilities of a Venture Crew are limitless. A Crew can speacialize in any number of areas but there simply isn't a Floor Model we can market to Scouters who are used to (and comfortable with) the step-by-step method of starting a Troop or Pack.
When people used to order cars (so I am told) they went to the dealer and took a look at the base model and then custom ordered the bells and whistles. Venturing needs this base model available so Scouters don't feel as intimidated by the lack of structure.