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john.clarkson

john.clarkson
Member since : Nov-11-2008 (Verified)
5 Ideas, 16 Comments, 50 Votes

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Ideas Posted

The McKinsey study and reorg plan left out at least 2 major areas: how we govern the web and how we create training. Although training (for youth members, adult volunteers, and employees runs through nearly everything we do, there are no generally agreed upon standards for how it is created, distributed or evaluated. In what is a "learning organization" this seems like an imperative.

What are our most effective training tools? Is "classroom" really the best method for training our professionals? In the age of the web and the multi-purpose cellphone, what are the most cost-effective electronic tools at our disposal? What's emerging that would work better, faster, cheaper? What do we spend on training and what results do we get?

I am NOT suggesting that we create another group or department, instead we need a cross-disciplinary team that would look into our processes and outcomes, and shed some light on one of our core functions as an organization.
Moderator Comments
3/24/09
From: Wayne Brock, Assistant Chief Scout Executive, Chief Operating Officer

John, I agree completely. I will take the lead to see that such a cross-disciplinary team is organized.
39
Who cares what kids think?

Other kids.

Let's set up a camera at the Scouting Museum, then ask visiting Scouts to sit in the video box and respond to a question such as: ...what's the biggest problem in the world today?...and what should be done?


We post the edited result on our new You Tube video channel.

Build on it. Ask Scouts (out there) to post more ideas to us at the BSA You Tube channel (and then on to Boys' Life).
Moderator Comments
3/31/09
From: Jim Wilson, Media Services & Public Relations Department Manager

This will require funding and will be added to our list of action items for the future.
One of the most powerful things I've heard on the radio (NPR) lately is the ongoing collection called StoryCorps. The format is simple: two people are recorded as one recounts a personal story that the other was involved in. The resulting edited pieces (perhaps 2-4 minutes each) are often quite moving.

Why not apply the idea here? On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary, ask Scouts and Scouters to tell us about their most moving Scouting moments. We'd post these on then National website and ultimately store them in a National Story Archive in association with the National Scouting Museum.
Moderator Comments
2/18/09
From: Michael Ramsey, Director of Brand Management

Under review for budget and resources. As a side note, the Scouting Museum has a project where they are collecting recording’s from volunteers. As an alternative, I suggest looking at 100th Anniversary Hall of Leadership for stories on scouting volunteers who make a difference. As it grows it will be a great resource for stories.
Scouting stories are our most powerful marketing asset. I propose a series of short video messages for inclusion on our www.scouting.org site. Topics might be suggested by the words of the Scout Law: Thrifty, Cheerful, Brave, etc.. These little essays would reflect on the meaning of the words, with each including a true story to drive the point home.

A piece on "cheerfulness" for example, could begin against the backdrop of our current tough economic times, and end with a story about a real Scout who's done something to live up to the "word" (the Little Sioux and ArrowCorps 5 events could yield examples of many virtues).

Our CSE, Bob Mazzuca would be our most powerful spokesperson for this. We could expand to the National President and National Commissioner, as well as other outstanding Scouters. This might be a nice way to place some deserving "brand builders" --widely known or not--under the national spotlight.

Cost would be minimal. We'd author the pieces in-house (indeed, these ought to be scripted, to make every word count), delivered to camera before a simple background (white or limbo). We would publish these at least once a month on www.scouting.org, with a "comments" section to our homepage to get feedback. Downloads in full-HD resolution could be put to use in local councils as keynotes for local events.
Moderator Comments
8/6/09
From: Michael Ramsey, Dept. Manager, Brand Management

Good idea. Under review.
It would be helpful to be able to sort through what is already an impressive number of ideas with keywords. Keep up the good work, IE!
Moderator Comments
This idea has been assigned to the Innovation Team. We will include this suggestion in one of our upcoming team meetings and will keep you posted on the results.
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Comments Posted

john.clarkson 2 months ago
Like it, as long as it is positive and avoids dragging us into a culture war. Yes there are lots of wonderful books out there, and we ought to create a literary board to find the ones we can promote. Boys' Life would be a great vehicle for doing this, if indeed they have not already done so.
john.clarkson 2 months ago
An excellent idea. Why not extend it to include a way in which ALL Scouts could gain a voice in policy matters, perhaps through a representative model.
john.clarkson 2 months ago
There are decks that tell us ABOUT WTLB, but none I know of that are a WTLB message, per se.Can you clarify what slides you are seeking?
john.clarkson 2 months ago
Wayne has obviously touched a nerve here; over 8,000 words have been submitted in just 6 days. The overall sense, as I read these posts again, is (1) intense agreement that there's a disconnect between the volunteer and professional roles in driving membership, and (2) that this rupture should be repaired.

A re-emphasis on volunteer selection and development is implied in most of these posts. Not all agree on what to do with the professional role itself. While some want to specialize DE's further as salespeople, Tom Jansen has pointed us away from the "sales" model toward a"facilitiator/coach" where expertise lies in building succesful processes and then developing the manpower to run them. Several have suggested that we stop counting Scouts or Units signed, and look at the number volunteers engaged, and at qualitative measures.

This is not radical thinking. Re-appreciating the Commissioner Service and the Charter concept are as "old school" as you can get. It is also realistic thinking, given the cost of adding more "boots on the ground", to go to a diffusion, instead of a direct service model for the DE.
john.clarkson 3 months ago
What's been said above is wise and merits careful reading. I'd only add this: for decades we've built a wall between professionals and volunteers, and placed responsibility for growth squarely on our side of it. This has contributed to a culture of mutual suspicion that, sadly, continues to be reinforced by our actions.

That wall needs to be deliberately challenged and deconstructed if we are to thrive. One concrete way might be to re-frame ProSpeak as a vehicle for professionals and committed volunteers. Another might be to develop and evaluate volunteers with the same intensity we do professionals.
john.clarkson 6 months ago
More frequent, shorter vicdeos will work better. Bob's great at the short message, based on a quick story, closing with a vital litte truth. Place these on scoutng.org and releaase at least 1 a month.
john.clarkson 7 months ago
The invitation to form a Scout unit should be very near the top in our new more marketing-oriented public Scouting.org website.
john.clarkson 7 months ago
A great idea--and very do-able. You'd have to deal with some youth-protection concerns but it would be easy enough to put what is absolutely necessary to know into a short video and place that online. We'd offer an inter-active checklist along with an application that could be forwarded to the appropriate local council party.
john.clarkson 7 months ago
The whole trend of communications is online--not in print. Online is faster, easier to access for the user and upgrade for the publisher.
john.clarkson 9 months ago
There's a reason why we don't see the uniform worn in public or at school. The epaulets and neckerchiefs are particularly dated. Maybe we could move the rank displays to a backpack, vest, or belt decoration?

As most BSA physiques I've seen would not be well-suited (sorry) to the Under Armour-Nike fitted look, why can't we lean to the more functional Patagonia-REI-Ex Officio look?
john.clarkson 9 months ago
Not a good idea. For one, Cub Scouting provides the "tribe" experience boys need at this age. Boys and girls are socialized very differently throughout childhood, and we have a great program for the age when their ways relating finally begin to merge, in late adolescence (Venturing). It is a shame that GSUSA does not provide a more vigorous program for girls, but we'd lose one of the best reasons for our existence if we took this step.
john.clarkson 9 months ago
A great idea. Why not develop the information as a podcast (performed by real Venturing officers) and post it on the web?
john.clarkson 11 months ago
Yes, "greenwashing"(faking environmental responsibility) is widespead these days, but BSA can legitimately claim to having taught positive environmental values for decades(we did not invent "leave no trace" but sure have embraced it). We could do more, by promoting "greener" camping practices, teaching Scouts to measure home and school carbon footprints, and making the next Jamboree the greenest ever.
john.clarkson 1 year ago
Durn good idea. Cheap and possible to do while retaining BSA brand.
john.clarkson 1 year ago
good eye! Will forward to the web team....
john.clarkson 1 year ago
Yup. But there are reasons for the scope creep. One may be that mediocre volunteers will gravitate toward the mediocre tasks---regardless of how unproductive. And others may be content to let them busy themselves that way. Overall, the clutter of irrelevant tasks grows and it's increasingly harder to see what is really relevant.