“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Centennial Quality Awards Program “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!”

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Our mission has not changed. Our mission has not changed. The principles of Scouting have not changed. The principles of Scouting have not changed. We have a great history. We have a great history. We have an honorable tradition. We have an honorable tradition.

“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.”

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” How will we achieve success? Our national strategic plan will guide us with five pillars supported by measurable, specific goals or objectives.

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Pillar I: Every youth has an opportunity to be involved in a quality Scouting experience— Increase market share and/or growth. Increase market share and/or growth. Increase the number of new members. Increase the number of new members. Improve member retention. Improve member retention. Increase the number of units. Increase the number of units.

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Pillar II: Every local council is fiscally sound— Reduce the number of councils with annual operating deficits. Reduce the number of councils with annual operating deficits. Increase local councils’ unrestricted net assets. Increase local councils’ unrestricted net assets. Increase local councils’ endowment fund assets. Increase local councils’ endowment fund assets.

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Pillar III: The number of engaged, accountable volunteers is dramatically increased at all levels of Scouting— Add 1 million new volunteers and provide them with training. Add 1 million new volunteers and provide them with training. Increase the number of active, engaged, and trained commissioners. Increase the number of active, engaged, and trained commissioners. Increase the number of Centennial Quality Councils/ Districts/Units. Increase the number of Centennial Quality Councils/ Districts/Units.

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Pillar IV: Local, regional, and national chartered organizations and strategic alliances are identified and engaged— Increase the number of chartered organizations and strategic alliances. Increase the number of chartered organizations and strategic alliances. Conduct a national development campaign to fund phases of the Strategic Plan. Conduct a national development campaign to fund phases of the Strategic Plan.

“2010—When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!” Pillar V: Enough of the right professionals are identified, developed, and retained in the right positions at all levels, with a focus on inclusiveness— Increase number of youth-serving executives. Increase number of youth-serving executives. Increase number of minority/female professionals. Increase number of minority/female professionals. Improve employee retention. Improve employee retention.

VISION AND FOCUS A year of research A year of research Focus on helping every local council to become Focus on helping every local council to become fiscally sound Launch a campaign to engage 1 million new volunteers Launch a campaign to engage 1 million new volunteers Salute chartered organizations and other strategic alliances and highlight our tradition of service Salute chartered organizations and other strategic alliances and highlight our tradition of service Celebrate our 100th anniversary Celebrate our 100th anniversary.

PILLAR 3—VOLUNTEERS The number of engaged, accountable volunteers is dramatically increased at all levels of Scouting: The number of engaged, accountable volunteers is dramatically increased at all levels of Scouting: – 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.

New Centennial Quality Awards Program One Key Focus of the National Strategic Plan— Pillar 3—VOLUNTEERS “Increase the number of Centennial Quality Councils/Districts/ Units.”

THE FACTS Percentage of youth retained was an average of 65.4.Percentage of youth retained was an average of Percentage of direct contact leaders trained was an average of 40%.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: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.

Volunteers key ingredient in providing a quality program: Lack of trained adult leadership. Lack of trained adult leadership. Not enough trained volunteers who participate regularly. Not enough trained volunteers who participate regularly. Lack of available time. 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.” “Volunteer involvement and the training of leaders are critical in providing a quality program.”

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

KEY ISSUES FOR CHANGE Weak new units organized with: 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. 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. Disproportionate amount of time spent by district executives on new-unit organization that has a small return on time invested.

BASIS FOR AWARD In celebration of the 100 th Anniversary of the In celebration of the 100 th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. – Recognition Items will be available in late summer : For members- Emblem for uniform with different colors for each year. (If a unit is 100% Boys’ Life, they have a special emblem.) For members- Emblem for uniform with different colors for each year. (If a unit is 100% Boys’ Life, they have a special emblem.) For units- Ribbons, lapel pin, and plaque. For units- Ribbons, lapel pin, and plaque. For districts- Lapel pin and plaque. For districts- Lapel pin and plaque. For councils- Lapel pin and plaque. For councils- Lapel pin and plaque.

COMMITMENT FORM DEVELOPMENT Part of 4-year plan. Part of 4-year plan. Not part of rechartering. Completed on calendar year basis. Not part of rechartering. Completed on calendar year basis. Focus on new strategic plan. Focus on new strategic plan. Designed for simplicity. Designed for simplicity. High degree of volunteer involvement in goal-setting and High degree of volunteer involvement in goal-setting andfollow-through. Creates an enhanced commissioner service with units. Creates an enhanced commissioner service with units.

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

PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION Step 1: Conduct orientation with all district committees and commissioners. Step 1: Conduct orientation with all district committees and commissioners. Step 2: Conduct orientation with all units at roundtable or a special meeting. Step 2: Conduct orientation with all units at roundtable or a special meeting. Step 3: Have commissioners visit every unit and set an action planning meeting to establish unit goals. Step 3: Have commissioners visit every unit and set an action planning meeting to establish unit goals.

PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION (Continued) Step 4: All commissioners report back to their district commissioners and assistants on progress. Return signed copy of commitment form for recording. Step 4: All commissioners report back to their district commissioners and assistants on progress. Return signed copy of commitment form for recording. Step 5: All council, district, and unit forms returned to be recorded. (Districts provide support to units in achieving the award.) Step 5: All council, district, and unit forms returned to be recorded. (Districts provide support to units in achieving the award.)

PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION (Continued) Step 6: From October 31 st to December 31, units qualify for achievement of the Centennial Quality Unit Award. Unit commissioner meets with units to confirm requirements being met. Step 6: From October 31 st to December 31, units qualify for achievement of the Centennial Quality Unit Award. Unit commissioner meets with units to confirm requirements being met. Districts should plan to conduct a presentation to those units who qualified in a public setting. This can be done at a District Banquet or similar recognition event. Districts should plan to conduct a presentation to those units who qualified in a public setting. This can be done at a District Banquet or similar recognition event.

CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD COMMITMENT AND INTERPRETATIONS Unit, District, Council commitment forms available for each award. Unit, District, Council commitment forms available for each award. Interpretation of each requirement available. Interpretation of each requirement available. Discussion guide available to assist with the unit key leadership meeting. Discussion guide available to assist with the unit key leadership meeting.

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

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

Web Site Availability Go to for details of the Centennial Quality Awards program. Go to for details of the Centennial Quality Awards program. – Council Implementation packet. – Unit Implementation packet. – Individual unit, district, and council forms with requirements and their interpretations. – Frequently Asked Questions.

Centennial Quality Awards Program Every youth of Scouting age should have the opportunity to experience the premier youth development program in America— Boy Scouts of America.

Centennial Quality Awards Program Thank you! Have a great Scouting experience… Scouting experience… “To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!”