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Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth. Aspirational Goal – A girl troop in every district As of October 23 rd , there are nearly 3,000 girl troops across the BSA. That is an awesome number in just 8 months.
Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth. Leadership60 – 2020 Growth Conference The clock is ticking to achieve year-end membership growth by November 30 th in order to qualify for the 2020 Growth Conference. Across the BSA, 114 districts achieved year-end growth by the end of September.
Congratulations to Gary Savignano, who will serve as Scout executive of the Western Massachusetts Council in Westfield, Massachusetts, effective November 1, 2019. Gary began his Scouting career as a district executive at the North Bay Council in Danvers, Massachusetts. He moved on to become a senior district executive and later field director with the Narragansett…
In our “A Scout is Reverent” series, Scouting Wire takes a look at how Scouting families across the country observe a variety of religious holidays of their own faith and support fellow unit members in theirs. Join us as BSA’s Chief Technology Officer, Vijay Challa, shares his unique perspective on the importance of Diwali!
Read how April and Miguel Rivas, Scouter parents from Circle Ten Council , passed their passion for the great outdoors on to their children through family Scouting adventures in this ‘Families Like Mine’ story. What Scouting programs are you connected to?
Please join us as we congratulate Brian Tobler, who will be serving as Scout executive of the Golden Spread Council in Amarillo, Texas, effective November 1, 2019. Brian began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Heart of America Council in Kansas City, Missouri.
Please join us as we congratulate Marc T. Andreo, who will serve as Scout executive of the Patriots’ Path Council in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, effective October 15, 2019. Marc began his Scouting career as a district executive and then district director with the Greater New York Councils in New York, New York.
Congratulations to Greg Balog, who will serve as Scout executive of the Blue Ridge Council in Greenville, South Carolina, effective November 1, 2019. Greg began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Blue Ridge Council, where he also served as finance director and field director.
Carlos Cortez, Los Padres Council Scout Executive: The observation of Hispanic Heritage Month covers the 30 days from September 15 to October 15. This year’s theme is “Hispanic Americans: A History of Serving our Nation,” which both invites us to recognize the contributions made by Hispanic and Latinx Americans to the United States, and to…
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and, according to new BSA data , Generation Z believes bullying is the biggest issue facing their generation and the number one issue they want to solve. As a Scout parent and/or leader, you know that, given the Scout Law, the BSA’s anti-bullying education, and Scouts’ daily Good Turns, Scouts…
Please join us as we congratulate Jeff Sulzbach, who will serve as Scout executive of the Greater Los Angeles Area Council in Los Angeles, California, effective November 1, 2019. Jeff began his Scouting career as a local council employee at the Indianhead Council in St.
With recruitment season in full swing, BeAScout.org is more important than ever, and it is vital to ensure that all unit information on the site is accurate and up-to-date. The easier it is for new families to find Scouting units and sign up, the sooner they can begin experiencing the adventure and life-changing value of…
In our “A Scout is Reverent” series, Scouting Wire takes a look at how Scouting families across the country observe a variety of religious holidays of their own faith and support fellow unit members in theirs. Join us as National Director, Cub Scouting Anthony Berger shares the importance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to…
Article contributed by David Rico “Rico,” Southern Region Membership Growth Coach at the National Service Center. What can you do to get ready for your 2020 Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign before year-end? As we get through the big wave of fall membership, we need to think with the end of the year in mind.
Article submitted by Derrick Russaw of the Southern Region. In order to continue to serve its youth members, it is incumbent on the district to elect a strong district committee. Thus, it is the task of the district nominating committee to select a slate of excellent officers and members at large for the next year.
Article submitted by Keenan M. Pallone, Chain Bridge District Executive of the National Capital Area Council . Step 1: Understanding Challenges from the Event We need to figure out what areas can be improved from the first event in order to have a more successful follow-up event.
Article submitted by Lawrence “Ty” Washington, Jr., Central Region Growth Coach at the National Service Center. The National Service Center is committed to supporting local councils. Part of this commitment is to host Scoutreach Conferences. The Central Region Scoutreach Conference takes place October 8-10.
Congratulations to Terry Whitaker, who will serve as Scout executive of the Suwannee River Area Council in Tallahassee, Florida, effective September 1, 2019. Terry began his Scouting career as a district executive and later senior district executive with the Northeast Georgia Council in Jefferson, Georgia.
As our volunteers’ lives continue to become busier, the BSA has looked for ways to streamline and simplify our leaders’ ability to deliver the Scouting program effectively. Recently, a cross-functional team of some 20+ BSA employees has been developing an innovative set of Den Leader Experience features for Scoutbook, the free web app used by…
Please join us as we congratulate Justin Williams, who will serve as Scout executive of the Palmetto Council in Spartanburg, South Carolina, effective October 1, 2019. Justin began his Scouting career as a district executive at the North Florida Council in Jacksonville, Florida.
By Corey Siegfried, Troop 45 Bolivar, MO I’ve never seen morning fog settle in a mountain valley. Where I live in Missouri, it’s pretty flat. The view at the Summit Bechtel Reserve definitely made getting up early on a summer morning more pleasant and the 15-hour bus ride to West Virginia well worth it!
Congratulations to Patrick Linfors, who will serve as Scout executive of the Garden State Council in Westhampton, New Jersey, effective August 1, 2019. Patrick began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Central Florida Council in Apopka, Florida, where he later served as a senior district executive and field director.
Article submitted by Jim Rushton, Team Lead Summit High Adventure Base The Summit Bechtel Reserve is pleased to host several professional development opportunities this fall. The completion of the Tillerson Leadership Center, as well as our new dining and housing facilities, provides the SBR with tremendous capacity to support all types of training opportunities.
Article contributed by Jim Rushton, Team Lead, Summit High Adventure Base Gauley Season – September/October 2019 Come visit the Summit Bechtel Reserve for our inaugural Gauley Season. This is a great Unit High Adventure program as well as a great team building opportunity for local councils, districts and volunteers.
Article contributed by Christen Oswald, District Executive Etowah of the Greater Alabama Council You did it! You and the recruitment team went to schools and handed out flyers, went to the classroom, and got all the kids super pumped to join Scouting.
Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth Last month we shared the national aspirational goal of having a Scouts BSA troop for girls in every district. The number of those troops continues to climb. Let’s look at some of the highlights to date … If you have eight or more troops in your…
Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth 2020 Growth Conference We heard positive feedback from those of you who attended the 2019 Regional Growth Conferences for Scouting professionals. The feedback was so positive that we are pleased to announce the return of the Growth Conference in 2020.
Article contributed by Jim Bollback, District Executive of the Northern Star Council and Central Region Top New Unit Executive Recently a colleague asked me, “Jim, how did you start so many new units?” I gave my response little thought and blurted out, “start early and work hard.”
Cub Scouts doesn’t happen without our parents and volunteers. It is, at its core, a family program. I say it often and I’ll say it again: I am incredibly grateful to each of you who give your time to drive your children to meetings, volunteer to coordinate program activities or answer the call to serve…
This article was contributed by Michael Johnson , National Youth Protection Director for the Boy Scouts of America. Recent media reports have highlighted claims of abuse against the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). As Director of Youth Protection here at the BSA, I share the same concerns as anyone seeing these stories, and I have the…
Article contributed by Eric Wagstaff, district executive from Portland, OR Empowering community members to promote their positive Scouting experiences is one of the most poignant and rewarding aspects of being a Scouting professional. We have each encountered individuals who may be unaware of the amazing opportunities available to them through Scouting.
Article submitted by Harold C. Young Jr., Southern Region Team Lead “How can I use my membership committee effectively?” “My membership committee is too small!” “Where can I plug them in?” We’ve heard your questions and comments, and we’re here to help.
Article contributed by Colin Lemon, Director of Exploring – Western and Southern Regions Exploring is the career education program of the Boy Scouts of America, and it’s celebrating its 70 th anniversary this year! What does Exploring look like in your service area?
Article contributed by Karrie Baxter, Full Family Executive of the Crossroads of America Council As Scouting professionals, we must always meet our volunteers where they are – which sometimes means meeting online! Using Facebook Live as a meeting and promotion tool for open house and join event training will allow your volunteers to engage with you…
Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth, and Patrick Sterrett, National Director of Field Service. The Boy Scouts of America has had a tremendous amount of momentum in the short period of time that girls have been welcomed to join Scouts BSA troops.
Updated with information for 2020 nominations. Some have names you know: Robert Baden-Powell, Charles Lindbergh, Hank Aaron. Others are Scouters whose names are less universally known but whose impact on Scouting has been just as transformative. Their common bond: the Silver Buffalo Award — the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor for adult volunteers.
Scouting family, we have reached a historic milestone. 2019 is brimming with opportunity, and one of the greatest moments yet is arriving today… along with 45,000 Scouts and leaders from around the world. The World Scout Jamboree is upon us, and it’s set to be the largest in the history of Scouting.
Read how Alma Castaneda, Scouter and mom from the Yucca Council, went from Scouting skeptic to Committee Chair for her son’s pack, thanks to inclusivity and family fun in this ‘Families Like Mine’ story. Scouting Wire: What Scouting programs are you connected to?
Over the Independence Day holiday, Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Neil Steinberg did the same thing as thousands (maybe millions) of other Americans in cities and towns all across the nation – he went to a Fourth of July parade. What he saw at that parade was also something many other Americans saw – young men and young women…
Congratulations to John Overland, who has been selected to serve as Scout executive of the Samoset Council in Weston, Wisconsin, effective August 1, 2019. John began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Indianhead Council in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
“On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country …” Patriotism is in our movement’s DNA. Duty to country is in the first line of our oath and prominent in our programs. This is a wonderful time of year to express that value—as Scouts do year-round.
With every camporee and merit badge earned by Scouts at camp this summer, we know that thousands of Scouts are benefitting from the programs you help bring to life in your community. Yet we also know that we are facing a challenging time as an organization.
The new Annual Report for the Boy Scouts of America, 2018, A Year in Scouting , is now available to review and share. The report highlights and celebrates the impact that Scouting volunteers, donors, and youth have in communities all over the United States and beyond.
Article contributed by Laura Clay, Western Los Angeles County Council Are you a Scouting professional who wants to know the secret to hitting year-end growth, raising more money, and increasing participation in program? With a bit of planning and proactive work, these goals are achievable through a successful fall membership campaign.
Article contributed by Michael Ramsey, BSA Director of Marketing and Brand Management As part of the National Service Center’s 2018 fall Cub Scout digital media buy, we learned just how important it is to hold joining events in locations that are familiar to parents.
Story contributed by Zachary Ross, Assistant Scout Executive of the Pine Burr Council As unit-serving executives, we have all experienced it: It’s the high-pressure school night season, and we are halfway through our gauntlet of schools. The excitement of new families joining Scouting is still alive, but the fatigue of back-to-back-to-back school nights and joining…
Article contributed by Steve Yackel, Scouting U Team Lead One of the most effective methods to market your youth recruitment meetings (“School Night for Scouting,” “ Join Scouting Night ,” etc.) is the school-based youth talk. Professional Scouters have been conducting youth talks in schools for almost 100 years.
Please join us as we congratulate Lee Murdoch, who will serve as Scout executive of the Conquistador Council in Roswell, New Mexico, effective June 16, 2019. Lee began his Scouting career as a program director/ranger at the Del-Mar-Va Council in Wilmington, Delaware.
Gregory H. Johnson; photo credit: NASA As a child, Gregory H. Johnson enjoyed asking questions, especially when he could discover the answer for himself. And as Johnson explains in a recent article in the U.S. News and World Report , Scouting served as an avenue for him to explore his interests, fully embrace his inquisitive nature…
Story contributed by Wendy Kurten, Northeast Region Team Lead/National Alliances Director What if you could send parents an invitation to attend a Join Scouting event directly through Facebook? By creating an event on Facebook and ‘geofencing’ it, you can. It’s easy, affordable and it’s a great way to reach parents with a message to join.
