Who Are These People? 1

Food for Thought “If a fisherman baits his hook with the kind of food that he likes himself, he will not catch many, certainly not the shy, game kind of fish. He therefore uses as bait the kind of food that the fish like.” —Lord Baden-Powell 2

“People develop values and outlook based on their world and their experiences from birth to about age 10.” 3 —Morris Massey

Generation: A group of people born within a 20-year period with enough similar experiences that they develop a group persona. 4

TurningsTurnings High Awakening Unraveling Crisis High Awakening Unraveling Crisis 5

PersonasPersonas 6 Outer-driven Morally complacent Institutionalizes Education Achievers Outer-driven Morally complacent Institutionalizes Education Achievers Conformists Sensitive Risk-adverse Civil rights Conformists Sensitive Risk-adverse Civil rights Moralistic Midlife principles Narcissistic Visionary seniors Moralistic Midlife principles Narcissistic Visionary seniors Alienated Amoral Risk takers Diversity Pragmatic Alienated Amoral Risk takers Diversity Pragmatic Civic Adaptive Idealistic Reactive Silent (62-79) Silent (62-79) Boomers (44-61) Boomers (44-61) Gen-Xers (23-43) Gen-Xers (23-43) G.I (80-100) Millennial (1-22) G.I (80-100) Millennial (1-22)

Gen-XersGen-Xers Considered irresponsible Latchkey kids Grew up too fast Information overload Considered irresponsible Latchkey kids Grew up too fast Information overload Don’t know what is right or how to succeed Drug addiction, AIDS, sex, education, violence Inherited world and environment problems Don’t know what is right or how to succeed Drug addiction, AIDS, sex, education, violence Inherited world and environment problems 7

One Gen-Xer said: “Who are we to look to? Every generation is supposed to have role models. Where are ours? Madonna? Michael Jackson? People wonder why we are so confused. Wouldn’t you be?” 8

9 OOOOH, Let’s stop here..... I gotta pick up a card for my half-sister’s biological father’s stepson’s kindergarten graduation.

“I feel more than a trace of bitterness listening to Boomers with the same education as me complaining that they won’t be able to install their home theater—while I’m refilling their iced tea.” 10

Wood Badge staff are predominately Boomers. Wood Badge participants are predominately Gen-Xers. To ensure a successful course, boomer staff members must change their generational tendencies and fully understand the Gen-Xer participants’ needs. 11

How Do We Reach Them? 12 What’s in it for me, personally? How will it help my child get an edge? How good is it, really? Is it more important than other things I could be doing? Why is it important for me to take this training? What’s in it for me, personally? How will it help my child get an edge? How good is it, really? Is it more important than other things I could be doing? Why is it important for me to take this training? When recruiting, answer their questions:

How Do We Communicate? Early, often, complete, what’s next Via Utilize course Web page/photos In the Gilwell Gazette Above all: Eschew obfuscation Early, often, complete, what’s next Via Utilize course Web page/photos In the Gilwell Gazette Above all: Eschew obfuscation 13 Explain EVERYTHING:

How Do We Treat Them? Give them information up front. Don’t patronize. Appreciate them. Be organized, prepared, and purposeful. Don’t waste their time. Staff are facilitators and advisers–not top brass. Give them information up front. Don’t patronize. Appreciate them. Be organized, prepared, and purposeful. Don’t waste their time. Staff are facilitators and advisers–not top brass. 14

What Do They Like? New ideas Fun and creativity Give opinions, not answer questions To be included Anything high-tech Diversity New ideas Fun and creativity Give opinions, not answer questions To be included Anything high-tech Diversity 15

How Do We Train Them? Interactive Electronic Diversity of techniques Ask opinions—no lecture or Q&A Self-discovery Team-oriented Interactive Electronic Diversity of techniques Ask opinions—no lecture or Q&A Self-discovery Team-oriented 16

To Summarize For younger leaders, you may be the Boy Scouts of America. For younger leaders, you may be the Boy Scouts of America. Your Wood Badge course may be a very important factor in whether they make a long-term commitment to Scouting. Your Wood Badge course may be a very important factor in whether they make a long-term commitment to Scouting. 17

ReferencesReferences Neil Howe and William Strauss, Generations: The History of America's Future (Morrow, 1991). Neil Howe and William Strauss, The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (1997). Neil Howe and William Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next Generation. Neil Howe and William Strauss, Generations: The History of America's Future (Morrow, 1991). Neil Howe and William Strauss, The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (1997). Neil Howe and William Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next Generation. 18

Additional References Jeffery B. Cafaude, Cultivating New Leadership, (Association Management, 2000). Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., The Cycles of American History. Ted Goertzel, “The World Trade Center Bombing as a Fourth Generational Turning Point,” Rutgers University. Based on presentations by Jim Denny, QuikTrip Corporation, and Steve Elwart, Ergon Corporation. Jeffery B. Cafaude, Cultivating New Leadership, (Association Management, 2000). Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., The Cycles of American History. Ted Goertzel, “The World Trade Center Bombing as a Fourth Generational Turning Point,” Rutgers University. Based on presentations by Jim Denny, QuikTrip Corporation, and Steve Elwart, Ergon Corporation. 19