“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!”

2. “2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” National Strategic Planning 2006 – 2010 OVERVIEW

3. “2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Our vision nationally is: “The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.” Our vision locally is: “The Greater Cleveland Council, is consistently developing new and better ways of delivering its premier character development program to an increasing number of youth. Through trained and caring volunteers, it will offer fun and adventure and provide programs proven to develop good citizenship and leadership skills. Its focus on physical, moral and emotional development will increase a young person’s capacity to successfully deal with personal and family issues and to understand the commitment and responsibility of community membership. “

4. National Strategic Plan Goals • Increased dramatically at all levels of Scouting the number of engaged, accountable volunteers : • Add 1 million new volunteers and provide them with training. • Increase the number of Centennial Quality Councils/ Districts/ Units. • Increase the number of active, engaged, and trained commissioners.

5. THE NATIONAL FACTS • Percentage of youth retained was an average of 65.4. • Percentage of direct contact leaders trained was an average of 40%. • Market share based on the density of total available youth served in each program: • Cub Scouting: Average of 17.7 percent. • Boy Scouting: Average of 14.9 percent. • Venturing: Average of 2.3 percent.

6. Volunteers-key ingredient in providing a quality program: • Lack of trained adult leadership. • Not enough trained volunteers who participate regularly. • Lack of available time. The Boy Scouts of America was founded on the premise— “Volunteer involvement and the training of leaders are critical in providing a quality program.”

7. MEASURES OF SUCCESS • Unit level volunteers registered compared to number of units and number of youth in December 2005 was: • 9.35 volunteers on average per unit. • 2.56 youth per registered adult at all levels. This was a slight decrease from 2004.

8. STRATEGIES TO MEASURE OUR SUCCESS Quality Award Recognition changed in 2007 to the Centennial Quality Award: • Recognize councils, districts and units with the annual award in the achievement of excellence in providing a quality program to a growing youth population. OLD NEW

9. Basis For Award Name The Centennial Quality Award is named in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.. The new award will begin in 2007 and continue until 2010. Note: If the award is earned for all four years of the program, there will be a special distinction to recognize groups at all levels (unit/district/council) in 2010.

10. KEY ISSUES FOR CHANGE • Membership loss for six consecutive years. • Little or no involvement by volunteers in support of new-unit organization. • Small new units being organized: • 70% have 10 or fewer members registered. • 21% have five or fewer members registered.

11. KEY ISSUES FOR CHANGE • Weak new units organized with: • No trained leaders or few leaders trained. • Lack of commissioner service to assist with support. • Operational strategies need to be changed to reverse the downward trend. • Disproportionate amount of time spent by district executives on new-unit organization that has a small return on time invested.

12. COMMITMENT FORM DEVELOPMENT • Not part of annual rechartering. Completed on calendar year basis. • Focus on new strategic plan. • Designed for simplicity. • High degree of volunteer involvement in goal-setting and follow-through. • Creates an enhanced commissioner service mission with units.

13. COMMITMENT FORM DEVELOPMENT • Commitment form lists requirements with interpretation supporting award. Complete all numbered requirements. • In order to Qualify for the award answers the question: “Did we accomplish the goal of providing a quality program to our youth?” • One form used by all programs – Packs/Troops/Crews • Signed by volunteers/professionals from the unit/district or district/council or council/area.

14. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE • By September 30th- Implementation packets and commitment forms shipped in bulk to councils. • By October 31st- All councils share program with staff, executive board, district committees, and commissioners. • 10/21: Reviewed with District Chairs and District Commissioners • District Executives Need to review at October District Committee Meetings. Involve District Chair and Commissioner! • By November 15th- All councils share the program with their unit leaders through roundtables or special meetings. • Greater Cleveland Council will promote through Trailmarker and special mailing to unit leaders inviting them to the November Roundtable

15. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE (Continued) • Between November 15th and December 31st: All districts have commissioners/key district leadership meet with each unit to secure their commitment to earn the award. Once completed, turn signed form into council for recording. • January 3rd-5th: Council staff participate in Growth Conference to establish “draft” goals. • Saturday, January 27th: Council Key Scouter/District Training. Districts will meet in breakout sessions to finalize 2007 Centennial Goals based on summary of unit goals within their district.

16. In Order for the rollout of the Centennial Award to be successful, we MUST involve, challenge and hold accountable our district commissioner staff

19. CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD UNIT REQUIREMENTS • Emphasis on more direct contact trained leadership. • Retention of existing members and recruitment of new members. • Additional adults involved in unit program as a part of the National Parent Initiative.

20. CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD UNIT REQUIREMENTS • Improvement of advancement and award earning status over previous year. • Increase in outdoor program or activity participation. • Importance of program planning and providing finances to sustain a quality program.

23. CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS • New units established based on the needs of the district. • Growth in percent of traditional membership or density. • Increase in retention of members and units.

24. CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS • Recruitment of additional commissioners and importance of monthly unit visits. • An increase in trained and active district committee members.

27. CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS • Growth in percent of traditional membership or density. • Importance of growth in new units. • Emphasis placed on increased member and unit retention. • Balanced council budget/operating fund.

28. CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS (Cont.) • More trained, active, engaged unit commissioners and new volunteers at all levels. • Emphasis of active key 3’s and more trained district committee members. • Maintaining or adding youth-serving executives. • Securing endowment gifts through an active committee.

29. RECOGNITION

30. Frequently Asked Questions 1. When will the unit award commitment forms be available to councils? Unit award commitment forms for each council will be shipped in bulk in early fall prior to the implementation meetings to discuss with units, district, and council volunteers. They are also available to download from the national Web site - www.scouting.org. 2. How does a unit become eligible for the Centennial Quality Award? Unit leadership will meet with their assigned commissioner or a district level volunteer to review the unit's program and establish program objectives. This must be done prior to February 15, 2007. It is no longer a part of the rechartering process.

31. 3. When will units be able to qualify to earn the award? When all requirements are completed beginning no earlier than October 31st, 2007 but no later than the end of the year 4. When will the recognition items be available? All recognition items will be available starting in August 2007. Unit ribbons will be shipped to councils in bulk by August 2007. Individual uniform emblems, individual pins, and unit award plaques for those who qualify will be available to order from supply beginning in August 2007. (Remember a unit qualifies for the award after October 31, 2007.)

32. 5. Does a council/district/unit have to meet all of the new award requirements to earn the new Centennial Quality award? YES, they do have to qualify for all requirements in order to achieve the award. 6. On the unit commitment form, are the references to participation in product sales, conducting a unit FOS presentation and the number of unit commissioner visits required to qualify for the award? NO. It is on the unit commitment form for informational and encouragement purposes. Each of these areas will help provide a better quality program experience for a unit. The unit's answer will not impact the earning of the award.

33. 7. How does a December 2006 rechartering unit get recognized for the Quality Unit award? The new Centennial Quality Awards program is completed on a calendar, not a charter year. In moving from the current award to the new one, the council will recognize their units who recharter this December with a special council recognition. 8. How do you use the additional goals section at the bottom of the interpretation form to impact qualifying for the award? The additional goals are key areas that may need attention to improve a unit, district, or council program. They can be used on a case by case basis to measure the success as a part of the award requirements. Setting additional goals and their achievement will be determined by the volunteer and professional leadership at each level.

34. 9. What qualifies as an outdoor or activity per month? Each unit establishes a goal at the beginning of the year on the number of outdoor events or other activities. (Pack meetings can count as one activity per month. Packs are also encouraged to conduct or attend outdoor camping events periodically during the year.) Crews/Ships/Troops/Teams do not count their regular meetings and patrol meetings as outdoor events or activities. 10. How is recruitment of new adults defined? Commitment and involvement by more registered adults is the overall goal. The training provided to them is critical in engaging them in better support of the program. Each unit should provide an annual orientation for all parents.

35. QUESTIONS?

36. Centennial Quality Awards Program Every youth of Scouting age should have the opportunity to experience the premier youth development program in America— “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!”