The Bloggers
National updates for volunteers and professionals on training, safety and marketing.
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As we look back on this year, it is easy to see the challenges that have become synonymous with 2020. While these challenges are significant, I believe they are outnumbered by the joy, opportunity and hope that surrounded us. After all, this was the year when we found unique means to bring Scouting to young…
It’s a story being called a “holiday miracle.” When their sled crashed into an icy pond, two young children were saved from drowning by a Scout who led his friends to form a human chain to rescue them. Reminiscent of a scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” this real-life accident terrified the children and their…
Congratulations to Marcus Ragland as Scout executive of the Westmoreland-Fayette Council in Greensburg, PA, effective January 15, 2021. Marcus began his Scouting career in 2002 as a District Executive at the Heart of Virginia Council in Richmond, VA where he moved on to become the Field Director.
Please join us in congratulating Manuel Ramos, who will serve as Scout Executive of the Chief Seattle Council in Seattle, Washington, effective December 15, 2020. Manny began his Scouting career in 1998 as a District Executive with the Circle Ten Council in Dallas, Texas.
TIME 2020 Kid of the Year – STEM Scout Gitanjali Rao. photo: Sharif Hamza for TIME Each year since 1927, TIME has selected a Person of the Year to feature in the pages of the magazine. In addition to that annual feature, this year, the magazine is highlighting its first-ever TIME Kid of the Year.
Story by Peter Livengood, Westmoreland-Fayette Council Bracing against the wind and bitter cold, I patiently perched atop a mountain early one September morning. The fog in the valley had begun to lift, and the sun was sparkling in the clear blue sky.
Scouting Family, This is one of the most important and difficult moments for our Scouting Movement. As you have likely seen in the media, tens of thousands of survivors of past abuse in Scouting have come forward in the national organization’s bankruptcy case.
Please join us as we congratulate Brad Bodoh, who will serve as Scout executive of the Five Rivers Council in Horseheads, NY, effective January 1, 2021. Brad began his Scouting career in 2001 as a District Executive at the Northeast Illinois Council in Highland Park, IL.
In honoring Veterans Day, I offer my profound gratitude on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America to all the men and women who have selflessly served our country as a member of the armed forces. I count myself lucky to have served among this honorable group that I know includes thousands of Scouting volunteers…
Please join us as we congratulate Sedrick Robinson as Scout executive of the Blackhawk Area Council in Rockford, Illinois, effective December 1, 2020. Sedrick began his Scouting career in 2003 as a district executive at the Quapaw Area Council in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Congratulations to Robert D’Avignon, who will serve as Scout executive of the Louisiana Purchase Council in Monroe, Louisiana, effective November 1, 2020. Bob began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Twin Rivers Council in Albany, New York.
Please join us as we congratulate Katherine Benson, who will serve as Scout executive of the Piedmont Council in Piedmont, California, effective November 1, 2020. Katherine began her Scouting career in 2003 as a district executive at the Cascade Pacific Council in Portland, Oregon.
Congratulations to Wendy Shaw, who will serve as Scout executive of the Longhorn Council in Fort Worth, Texas, effective November 2, 2020. Wendy began her Scouting career in 2000 as a district executive at the Pikes Peak Council in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
While many Scout units have a desire to return to Scouting activities, they have questions about how to do so safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the recent webinar on how to hold meetings safely during COVID-19 , attendees received tips on the key steps they can be taking right now to find a safe…
Article submitted by Carlos Cortez, Scout Executive of Los Padres Council, and Juan Osorio, Scout Executive of Chattahoochee Council. In 1968, Hispanic Heritage started as a weeklong recognition of the contributions made to the United States by members of the Hispanic/LatinX community.
Congratulations to Jeff Whitten, who will serve as Scout executive of the Abraham Lincoln Council in Springfield, Illinois, effective October 16, 2020. Jeff began his Scouting career in 2006 as a district executive at the Miami Valley Council in Dayton, Ohio.
Please join us in congratulating Owen McCulloch, who will serve as Scout executive of the Yocona Area Council in Tupelo, Mississippi, effective October 1, 2020. Owen began his Scouting career in 1993 as an exploring executive at the Cascade Pacific Council in Portland, Oregon.
As we recently shared in Scoutingwire and during the All-Staff Conference, several Churchill recommendations will continue to be considered, based on extensive input from the field and our subject matter experts. The evaluation process also included the following filters: Does the action help the national organization emerge from bankruptcy?
As the national organization continues to prioritize and focus our services, we have made the difficult decision to streamline certain services at the National Service Center to best position the organization and the Scouting movement for the future. Beginning September 1, 2020, the Member Care Contact Center will no longer directly serve volunteers and will…
Article Submitted by Scot Fuller, Director of Field Service, Longhorn Council Back in June, the Longhorn Council held a focus group targeting our highest performing units when it comes to recruitment. One general theme came out of this meeting: it takes the entire Scouting unit and their network engaging the families in their community to…
Article Submitted by Tim Hays, Senior District Executive, Longhorn Council By the time October hits, there are a few things that we, as unit-serving executives, should be doing and aware of as we continue to recruit new youth for our districts.
As part of the ongoing process to identify how to optimize the Boy Scouts of America for success in the future, the National Executive Committee (NEC) recently asked the National Management Team to facilitate the evaluation of the 26 primary proposed recommendations that resulted from the Churchill Project .
What’s the easiest way for potential members to join your Scout unit? BeAScout.org ! It works even better if your unit information is up-to-date. Now, if you update your pin, your Scout unit could win! Just make sure your unit BeAScout pin is updated anytime between June 1, 2020, and Sept.
Dear Scouting Family, With more than half of the year behind us, it’s natural for us to look back at the challenges we have navigated in the past few months, as a movement and as a country. But it’s even more important that we look ahead at the opportunities ahead of us.
Please join us in congratulating Jared Pickens, who will serve as Scout executive of the Cherokee Area Council in Chattanooga, Tennessee, effective September 1, 2020. Jared began his Scouting career as a district executive and then senior district executive at the Great Smoky Mountain Council in Knoxville, Tennessee.
As the school year begins, it’s time to encourage everyone to use social media to spread the word about Scouting. You can start sharing right now with a few simple items like hashtags or ready-to-post social content. Be sure to visit the BSA Brand Center and use the official logos, social media images, videos, and…
How will recruitment work this year? If you haven’t asked this question yourself, you’ve likely heard it asked at least several times over the past few months. With many communities practicing social distancing—or even stay-at-home orders—it’s no secret that introducing more families to Scouting could be a challenge, but Scouters are ready!
Because of COVID-19, some parents simply aren’t involving their children in as many in-person group activities as they otherwise would have. Many of those activities, like youth sports, for instance, may be difficult to conduct safely in some communities. Scouting, on the other hand, can conduct much of its programming through virtual means or safely…
Article Submitted by David Rico, Southern and Central Region Membership Growth Coach Using tools like Facebook geofencing and Nextdoor events can be useful in the promotion of Scout recruiting events like Join Scouting nights — even if those events are virtual.
Congratulations to Mark Kraus, who will serve as Scout executive of the Connecticut Yankee Council in Milford, Connecticut, effective August 16, 2020. Mark began his Scouting career in 1990 as a district executive at the Central Ohio Council in Columbus, Ohio.
In 2019, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the BSA asked six teams of volunteers and professionals from the local, area, regional and national level – including current or recent youth members and subject-matter experts – to develop plans on how to optimize the BSA for success in key areas based on input provided by more than…
Please join us in congratulating Karen Meier, who will serve as Scout executive of the Pacific Harbors Council in Tacoma, Washington, effective July 16, 2020. Karen began her Scouting career as a district executive at the Transatlantic Council in Mannheim, Germany.
Please join us as we congratulate Mark Saxon, who will serve as Scout executive of the Green Mountain Council in Waterbury, Vermont, effective August 1, 2020. Mark began his Scouting career in 2008 as a district executive at the Old North State Council in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Congratulations to John C. Fenoglio, who will serve as Scout executive of the newly established Golden Gate Area Council, effective June 1, 2020. The Golden Gate Area Council was created when the Alameda Council, the San Francisco Bay Area Council, and the Mount Diablo Silverado Council consolidated to enable the Scouting community to meet the…
Article submitted by Paul Verwers, District Executive, Longhorn Council Fall time for a District Executive can seem daunting. September is a very busy time in Scouting. Not only is it our biggest recruitment month, but we must keep up with many other tasks.
Article submitted by Carl Hanke, Field Director, Last Frontier Council, Oklahoma City Fall Recruiting has never been more important to the success of our units, districts and councils as it is now. While states are starting to open back up on a limited basis through phases, it becomes vital that we honor our motto of…
Article submitted by Sean Fogle, Field Director, Connecticut Rivers Council In our current turbulent times, certain catchphrases are ever present. We constantly hear about the “new normal,” “due diligence,” “social distancing,” and “out of abundance of caution.” One phrase for us in our movement that has not changed is “if you build it, he will…
Terrence Hamilton, Scout Executive, Gulf Stream Council Scouting Wire regularly takes a look at how Scouting families across the country observe a variety of different holidays and support fellow unit members in their own holiday observances. Join us as Terrence Hamilton, Scout Executive of the Gulf Stream Council, shares his unique perspective on the importance…
Please join us as we congratulate Mark Manchester, who will serve as Scout executive of the South Georgia Council in Valdosta, Georgia, effective July 1, 2020. Mark began his Scouting career in 1992 as a district executive at the Greater Yosemite Council in Modesto, California.
Scouting is about character and leadership. The Scout Oath and Law – our very foundation – call for helpfulness, bravery, common courtesy, and respect among all people. Our values call us to stand up to injustice, as we strive to help other people at all times.
Information updated on 6/1/2020. Over the last few months, we have seen the Scouting community come together, even while physically apart, to bring solutions, relief and comfort to those in need. From making masks to supporting food banks, Scouting has been a vital partner for communities across the country.
Congratulations to Robert Garrett as Scout executive of the Shenandoah Area Council in Winchester, Virginia, effective July 1, 2020. Robert began his Scouting career in 1998 as a district executive at the Atlanta Area Council in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved on to become the program director at the Daniel Boone Council in Asheville, North Carolina…
Article Submitted by Lauren Howery Family Scouting Executive Last Frontier Council, Oklahoma City Recruiting is an integral part of our service to the youth and units in our communities and can have its difficulties during a normal year, let alone during a pandemic.
Article Submitted by Gene Butler, Growth Coach, National Service Center When asked where religion came into Scouting, founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell replied, “It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting.”
As Unit Serving Executives prepare for Fall Recruitment, they are encouraged to check out some tips and tools provided by other key professionals from around the BSA network. Below are a few items that can assist you and your membership team as you prepare for Fall Recruitment.
Story by Kendall Jackson, Life Scout (future Eagle) and Venturing Crew President from Pathway to Adventure Council Schererville, Indiana Kendall, a Scout in Troop 53G. Just like every other youth, I’m not attending school right now. For me, online learning is just a change in routine; however, for some, not going to school means losing…
Roger Mosby Address from Boy Scouts of America on Vimeo . Today I would like to share some thoughts with you regarding the challenges that all of us are facing in these trying times and how the Scouting community is coping with the many challenges of social distancing, sheltering in place, and working and schooling from…
The Chartered Organization Representative, the Chaplain, and the Chaplain’s Aide are known in their units as the “Faithful 3.” Supporting the work of the Faithful 3 can be one method unit-serving executives can use to further strengthen relationships with units.
Scouting U will be holding the newly developed FUNDRAISING ESSENTIALS COURSE December 2 – 5, 2020, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. This course is designed for 3- to 5-year BSA professionals who aspire to strengthen their development skills.
Article submitted by Deanna Heisler, Norwela Council-Caddo District Director Some Unit Serving Executives may be unfamiliar with the value of Exploring in driving growth for their council; however, by making use of available resources and utilizing key tactics, Unit Serving Executives can make Exploring an integral part of a successful growth strategy.
