JTE: Striving for gold

SESSION OBJECTIVES To understand the reason for the change from Quality Lodge to the Journey to Excellence program. To give guidance to evaluate your lodge’s current position relative to the new criteria, establishing the starting point of your lodge’s Journey. To identify some “Best Practices” for developing a path to gold level Journey to Excellence Identify some traditional problems with achieving previous Quality Lodge Criteria Identify potential solutions for traditional problems STRIVING FOR GOLD

Quality lodge vs. journey to excellence Binary type of evaluation Rarely changing minimum requirements Not a path to achievement. Journey to Excellence A step by step process Annually changing requirements. Encourages Lodges to achieve the minimum requirements STRIVING FOR GOLD

General Ideas Key 3 meet to establish starting point Set goals for each area of JTE Get chapters on board Develop a vision for the year Engage the Scout Executive Regular Key 3 Meetings through out the year Quality Lodge Leadership Development Courses STRIVING FOR GOLD

Areas of JTE Finance Membership Program Council Service Leadership and Governance STRIVING FOR GOLD

Challenging Areas of JTE STRIVING FOR GOLD

Challenging Areas of JTE Here is what I came up with: Membership Growth Brotherhood Conversion Membership Retention Event Participation Lodge Planning Process Council Service STRIVING FOR GOLD

Membership growth Membership Growth is really made up of two parts: Retaining Current Arrowmen Inducting New Members STRIVING FOR GOLD

Inducting New Members Know what you need to know Determine the Audience Get someone on the inside Communicate with those on the inside Conduct Unit Elections early Actively Communicate with your units Utilize the Chapter System Recognition STRIVING FOR GOLD

Brotherhood conversion Know what you need to know Determine the Audience Get someone on the inside Communicate with those on the inside Utilize the Chapter System Emphasize a Spring Ordeal Consider Additional Brotherhood opportunities STRIVING FOR GOLD

Membership retention Two Concepts of Brotherhood Retention Theoretical Practical STRIVING FOR GOLD

Membership Retention- Theory People will participate if they want to Membership Marketing Plan Fun, rewarding and meaningful environment = Great Retention Induction sequence is vital to the success of the Order Eliminate hazing in all forms Meaningful work projects STRIVING FOR GOLD

Membership Retention- Practical Dues Collection Re-charter Packets Utilize Chapters Membership Tracking Charts Format that is accessible to most Scouters (MS- excel) Generated for each unit List of Scouts and Scouters who: Are eligible for membership Have paid current year’s dues Are Delinquent in dues Have been elected Have been “Called Out” Has completed the Ordeal Eligible for Brotherhood Last Event attended STRIVING FOR GOLD

Event Participation Make lodge events fun for all What is fun for you may not be fun for others Give new Arrowmen a job at the next event Don’t forget the role of the adult Schedule events with minimal conflict STRIVING FOR GOLD

Lodge planning process Initial Officer Retreat Day long meeting To discuss: Budget Function Dates New fun activities Proposed Lodge Newsletter articles Potential youth EC members Training Topics for LLDs and events Breakout time for each officer and adviser Lodge Leadership Development Mid Year Officer Retreat STRIVING FOR GOLD

Lodge planning process Initial Officer Retreat Lodge Leadership Development Weekend long event Lodge Chief defines his vision for the year Discuss JTE program Use JTE as an outline for Goal Setting Provide the Lodge’s expectation for each JTE program item Assign each JTE line item to either an officer or EC member Communicate to each participant that they are to report their progress at each EC meeting Plan a fun activity away from the LLD venue Mid Year Officer Retreat STRIVING FOR GOLD

Lodge planning process Initial Officer Retreat Lodge Leadership Development Mid Year Officer Retreat Review the successes of the lodge thus far Draft next year’s budget Create next years event calendar STRIVING FOR GOLD

Service to council Service Corp at Council/District Events Council and District volunteers would love to have the help Assign someone on the EC solely responsible for these activitites Council Summer Camp Promotions Target Adults Target Youth Cub Scout Program A strong Cub Scout program will build a strong lodge over time Webelos to Boy Scout transition Conduct Ceremonies, camp fires, and service projects Financial Support This is easy and your council really needs the help STRIVING FOR GOLD

Conclusion Have a plan for the year Know what it is that you need to know Get people on the inside to help Find ways to overcome the OA Marketing Plan Find ways to make the OA experience positive and fun STRIVING FOR GOLD