1. Faith-Based Initiative FBI

2. BSA Research Points to Congregations as the Best Place to Start New Sustainable Units

3. BSA Research Unit Retention better by 10% Rank Advancement 10 to 30% better 71% of units Chartered to Faith based organizations 70% of Chartered Partners only have 1 Unit or one Member of the Scouting family

4. Whose needs are these? Membership growth Membership Retention Trained Volunteers Places to meet

5. We Need Each Other How do we do this? How can we help each other?

6. How to Have Congregations and Clergy Begging You to Start the full Family of Scouting

7. Stop Selling Packs, Troops, and Crews

8. Start Selling SOLUTIONS to Congregations and Their Needs

9. Offer Solutions Congregations need Young families Adult males

10. Religious Organizations Benefit Common Goals Enrich current program Scouting has high brand recognition Membership opportunities Proven youth program: citizenship training, character development, fitness

11. Religious Organizations Benefit Training Leaders Provides leadership training skills New leaders (adults may volunteer to be leaders because they see it as service to their religious organization) Religious organizations select the leadership that reflects their values

12. Offer Solutions The average size of a pack is 10 50 to 60% of youth in a pack troop or crew do not currently have a faith home These parents are pre-qualified as looking for values for their children 5 pre-qualified families already in your building without a faith home

13. Religious Emblems the Linchpin to membership Religious Emblems Programs: Are developed by the national religious organizations, not BSA 98%

14. Religious Emblems BSA Congregations

15. The Unit Religious Emblems Coordinator The unit REC makes a presentation on religious emblems using the R.E.C. / Duty to God resources. The congregation offers a religious emblems class.

16. Chartering Congregation Offers Emblems Class The chartering congregation offers their religious emblems program for their youth members and extends an invitation to the Scouting unit, especially the 50% without a current congregational home. Invite the parents to the first class and start building relationships.

17. Congregations need Young families Adult males Retain members Scout parents www.scoutparents.org

18. What’s in it for Councils: Membership 66% + 70% + 98% + 57 = 46% potential Membership GROWTH!

19. R.E.C. Religious Emblems Coordinator Position at the Council, District, and unit levels

20. Religious Emblems “Foot in the door” versus “foot in your mouth” Become familiar with the religious emblems program before visiting a congregation Each religion creates its own program Eligibility requirements will differ from religion to religion

21. Do Your Homework! Religious Emblems Analysis Sheet

22. Do Your Homework! Congregation Questionnaire

23. Resources Cultural Informants – To open doors, teach/speak the language /eliminate cold calls Council Staff, Council Board, Religious Relationships Committee, your Key 3, Chartered Partners Internet To open doors, teach/speak the language

24. Resources FBI Resources http://www.praypub.org/partnerships/ FBI_resources.htm http://www.praypub.org/partnerships/ FBI_resources.htm Duty to God Religious Emblems Chart Duty to God DVD R.E.C. webpage http://www.praypub.org/REC http://www.praypub.org/REC

25. Resources: Assoc. of Religion Data Archives www.thearda.com Denomination Report (by county) County membership report And much more!

26. Denomination Report (UMC – Number of Congregations) Rank ^CountyValue 1Lancaster, NE28 2Douglas, NE23 3Buffalo, NE13 4Custer, NE12 5Cass, NE11 6Gage, NE10 7Hall, NE8 8Merrick, NE8 9Lincoln, NE8

27. County Membership Report (Lancaster County, NE) Religious BodiesCongregationsAdherents Adher ence Rate Adher ence Rate † United Methodist Church, The2917,59561.6 Non-denominational245,77520.2 Catholic Church1642,609149.3 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America1514,21649.8 Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod1413,04345.7 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)104,74416.6 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)92,1857.7

28. Religious Emblems BSA Congregations

29. What’s in it for Councils: Membership Youth membership Parents are looking for values Religious organizations share common goals Adult leaders Improve retention of leaders Religiously based individuals are more likely to volunteer Target underserved populations

30. Sponsor vs. Chartered Partner The Chartered Partner Concept offers a HUGE strategic tool when approaching religious organizations / congregations.

31. Ingredients for Success Both sides must clearly understand the chartered organization agreement before it is signed. BSA should use as many congregational volunteers as is feasible. The congregation must “invest” their best kid person to be the leader

32. Ingredients for Success All volunteers should be trained by the local council Religious emblems must be promoted by the unit leader Congregations must offer a religious emblems class

33. Religious Emblems as a Membership Tool Created by religious organizations Help connect Boy Scouts and faith based organizations Explain how they can be used as an outreach tool Opportunity for intergenerational experiences continued

34. Religious Emblems as a Membership Tool Help target diverse memberships Provide first exposure of religious organization membership to Boy Scouts Increase adult tenure

35. Religious Awards as a Membership Tool Created by religious organizations Help connect Boy Scouting and faith based organizations Explain how they can be used as an outreach tool Opportunity for intergenerational experiences Help target diverse memberships Provide first exposure of religious organization membership to Boy Scouts Increase adult tenure

36. Religious Emblems Analysis Sheet

37. Strategies for Growth: 66% + 70% + 98% + 57 = +46% Strategy #1: Shore up drop rate Strategy #2: Sell more products to existing customers Strategy #3: Target similar customers Strategy #4: Target under served populations

38. Preparing for the Call DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

39. Don’t sell the Boy Scouts Sell SOLUTIONS to the problems that congregations face

40. Research the Congregation Besides GOOGLE, talk to staff, key volunteers, board members, current charter partners P.R.A.Y. reports

41. Research the Congregation What do you call the place of worship? Clergy? How is it structured? Top down or bottom up?

42. FBI Questionnaire

43. Research the Congregation What is the name of the religious awards program for that congregation? What do you know about it?

44. First Call LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! Listen for the needs of the congregation.

45. What are the aims and goals of religious organizations? Membership Retention Program Religious training Leadership Money 98% = the number of clergy who are unaware that these religious emblems even exist!

46. Ask clergy for names of potential leaders Explain that you will provide training, etc. Give congregation sense of ownership and if they are gaining members, they will want to continue supporting Boy Scouts You must involve the congregation with the Unit

47. Strategy #1: Shore up drop rate

48. 10% national drop rate 15% of all Units are in religious organizations 1.5% Units dropped are in religious organizations 10% drop rate x 15% = 1.5% loss Eliminate the drop rate and save 1.5% How can religious emblems shore up the drop rate?

49. Why do Boys drop out? Who ultimately decides? The children The parents Unless they see that Boy Scouting is providing values

50. Why are Units dropped? Leaders resign – Religious Awards can help retain leaders.

51. Why are Units dropped? Religious Organizations get upset – Make an appointment every year to sign an agreement. During this visit, bring along sample copies of religious emblems booklets and walk the leadership through the material or suggest that they do this with their clergy.

52. Why are Units dropped? 1. Remind congregations of members gained 2. 6 potential families in basement 3. Which side do you want your windows broken from? Result: Shore up the 10% drop rate of Units in religious organizations = 1.5% increase

53. Strategy #2: Sell more products to existing customers (build more capacity by increasing Units in existing charter partners

54. Is your membership problem one of getting the Boys or finding leadership and meeting places? Who is the easiest person to sell to?

55. 70% of charter partners only have 1 Unit At your next visit talk about adding a Unit and discuss religious emblems programs for that level. 6 pre-qualified families in basement Result: 70% x 15% = 10.5% growth 10.5% - 8.5% = 2% growth

56. Strategy #3: Target similar customers

57. Sell to similar or like-minded customers i.e. religious organizations Most respected organizations in any community are the faith groups Ask your staff and volunteers if anyone is of the selected faiths Ask current charter partners for contacts Use religious emblems as a tool

58. Strategy #4 : Target under served populations

59. Select a target population or under served area Develop a list of religious organizations in the area Ask your fellow staff and volunteers if anyone is of that faith Ask current chartered partners for contacts Use religious emblems as a tool

60. Sample Five Year Plan

61. Five Year Plan Year 1 Target Current Charter Partners – Re- visit – Add a Unit While talking with current customers ask if they know other clergy who would benefit from having a Unit. Ask them to open that door. Identify underserved populations and start looking for cultural informants

62. Five Year Plan Year 2 Target last year’s no’s among the 54% Target new Religious Organizations by asking current charter partners, staff, and volunteers Work with the cultural informants and start gaining visibility in their religious communities in your underserved populations.

63. Five Year Plan Year 3 Revisit first charter partner and add that 3rd Unit Ask for help in underserved populations from staff and volunteers Work hard to establish Units in underserved populations in Religious Organizations

64. Five Year Plan Year 4 Visit year 2 new starts and look to add a troop Continue working in underserved populations

65. Thank you! Questions? Daryl Ingram dingram@ameced.comdingram@ameced.com Carmichael Crutchfield Basiz1@aol.comBasiz1@aol.com

66. Religious Emblems BSA Congregations

67. Wrap up: Why Collaborate? Win-win-win situation Collaboration results in: Stronger youth and families Stronger congregations Stronger councils