National Strategic Plan = Quality Program

“To Improve the QUALITY of Program in Every Unit in America!”

The National Strategic Plan of the BSA has a very focused quotation associated with the plan that clearly states their desire to improve the quality of the program our boys receive, “To Improve the QUALITY of Program in Every Unit in America!” I thought it might be of interest to review some of the elements that traditionally go into a quality program at the council level of the Scouting program. Most volunteers in Scouting begin their involvement at the unit level and may not know what program support is traditionally the responsibility of the local council.

The traditional program responsibilities of the council are assigned to specific committees. Together these committees help provide a quality Scouting program for all our Scouts. The committees responsible for program at the council level are Activities and Civic Service, Advancement, Camping, and Leadership Training. Although each committee has responsibility for different areas of the council program functions they are often guided by a Vice President of Program at the council level. Having one person responsible for providing leadership and guidance to the total program developed by individual committees gives a common vision of success which increases the overall quality of the program.

How each council or district assigns these program function can vary depending upon their specific needs. The important thing is providing a quality program for our boys, not the committee assignments. A quality program is what keeps our boys involved and provides the organization real long term growth.

Those volunteers accepting leadership roles for these program committees are fortunate to have almost 100 years of program experience in Scouting to use in their training. The leadership training in Scouting often uses an analogy of providing a blueprint for building a successful house of Scouting. By closely following the blueprints develop over the last 90+ years of Scouting the probability of success increases. The further away from these blueprints a council strays the higher the probability the will find success more difficult to achieve.

So what are the basic program responsibilities assigned to each of these committees? Lets do a review of the material provided in each of the committee guidebooks that discusses basic responsibilities for the committee. These publications are available from the National Supply of the BSA for a nominal fee.

Activities and Civic Service # 33082 $4.99

Activities and Civic Service

The council activities and civic service committee, like other council committees has the primary purpose of helping units succeed. If your committee does its job well, boys will have happier Scouting experiences. Council activities and civic service committee responsibilities are:
Set policies and procedures for activities

• Promote activities and civic service events in and for units
• Set goals for production
• Submit a budget to the council finance committee
• Plan and run council wide activities
• Establish guidelines for coordinated district activities such as camporees, recognition dinners, etc.

Advancement Committee Guide #33088 $3.99

Advancement Committee

The council advancement committee is primarily a supervisory group guiding the district committees. The council advancement committee’s responsibilities are to supervise the advancement program in all units and to guide the district advancement committee in their work with each unit. The specific duties are as follows.

• Establish procedures within the framework of national policy.
• Set council goals.
• Plan a yearly advancement calendar and committee budget.
• Review procedures for record keeping.
• Recruit and train council and district advancement committee members
• Promote advancement in units by working with district advancement committees and through council publications and activities.
• Recommend candidates for national awards.
• Determine procedures for summer camp advancement.
• Approve merit badge counselors and publish council and/or district merit badge counselor lists.
• Serve as an appeal board for district boards of review and conduct posthumous boards of review.
• Present special council awards

Camping Committee Guide #33083E $4.99

Camping Committee

The council camping committee, like other committees has the primary purpose of helping units succeed. If the committee does its job effectively, youth will have happier Scouting experiences. Council camping committee responsibilities fall into four categories.

1. Outdoor program
2. Properties and maintenance
3. Conservation
4. Promotion

Leadership Training Committee Guide

The leadership training committee is charged with making available certain training opportunities, Seeing to it that high standards are set and complied with, and assuring that instructors faithfully adhere to those high standards.

Leadership Training Committee Guide #34169A $4.99

Council - Level Functions

• Train leaders—don't just run training courses.
• Establish local policies and procedures consistent with national policies.
• Plan, coordinate, and schedule an effective, year-round leadership training program using the correct training materials of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Encourage and assist districts in planning and implementing a total leadership growth and development plan for all leaders, regardless of position.
• Select, recruit, and train trainers for council training events.
• Assist districts in selecting, recruiting, and training an effective district training team.
• Conduct or coordinate council training events.
• Approve applications for training recognition and service awards.
• Develop procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the council's leadership training program.
• Submit to the council budget planning committee an annual estimate of funds needed to support the leadership training program.
• Ensure that backup training records are maintained in the local council service center.
• Keep informed of literature, audiovisuals, and equipment aids for the leadership training program.
• Promote and support out-of-council training events, such as Philmont, area, and regional conferences.

So these are the basic functions of the committees charged with providing our boys a quality program at the council level, each committee with its own committee guide or blueprint for success developed from many years of success in these areas. To the extent these program committees perform their responsibilities successfully our Scouts enjoy a higher quality Scouting experience. —Rick

Our CHARACTER COUNTS!

I recently received the story below from a friend who thought it might be of interest to reader of my newsletter. I like the story and started to look into the Josephson Institute. What I found was very interesting. Here is the mission statement of the institute:

Josephson Institute's Mission: To improve the ethical quality of society by changing personal and organizational decision making and behavior.

What Is CHARACTER COUNTS!?
CHARACTER COUNTS! is the most widely implemented approach to character education, reaching millions of youth.

CHARACTER COUNTS! is:

• A framework based on basic values called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
• Embraced by thousands of schools, communities, public agencies and nonprofit organizations for a simple reason – it works. These groups receive support and development from a national office, which offers training programs, free e-newsletters, resources and free consultation.
• Nonprofit, not religious or political (though used by both secular and faith-based groups, and supported by public officials of both major parties).
• Not a curriculum or add-on, but a powerful means to advance curricular and behavioral goals.

These are my kind of people. They believe in teaching our children life values like: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. I bet the people involved in Character Counts could make good Scouters!

I hope you enjoy the following story. It might even make a good Scoutmaster's Minute! —Rick.

"Our CHARACTER COUNTS! program is helping to transform the lives of young people across the country. By training teachers in how to improve the ethical culture of their schools, we are able to help create school environments filled with character and integrity. With your help we can do so much more.

As you may know, we are a nonprofit organization. We plow every penny we receive right back into spreading the word about the importance of character development. And because we want to reach as many people as we can, we often charge far less for services and products than they cost us to provide.

That`s where you come in. We rely on the generosity of people like you to help us teach universal values (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship) and ethical decision making to thousands of people every year. We want them to have stronger values so they can have
stronger lives. Here`s a story I want to share with you that happened just this year:

Ogden High School`s wrestling team showed up for a wrestling meet at Humboldt High School. The home coach greeted them with the news that one of his wrestlers had Down`s syndrome. "He has no skill but loves to compete. You can pin him in seconds. He knows he`ll lose; he just wants to roll around on the mat for a little bit. Would anyone on your team be willing to wrestle with him?"

First there was silence. Then a lone voice on the Ogden team replied, "I`ll do it," and wrestler Lane Brueland stepped forward to grapple with the boy named Brent.

The gesture alone was commendable, but what Brueland did next was exemplary. Instead of doing what the Humboldt coach requested, Brueland wrestled with the boy for the full six minutes. Not only that, he let the youngster score enough points to win the match.

When Brent`s hand was raised and he looked up in wonder and said, "I won?" there wasn`t a dry eye in the gym. Both boys got a standing ovation.

Afterward, Brent`s parents wrote Brueland a letter, a portion of which reads:

Dear Lane,

We would like to thank you for your kindness and outstanding generosity. The invaluable joy that this gave Brent will never be forgotten by him or by us.

We did not have the opportunity to meet you, but wish we could have thanked you in person. Your remarkable character shown that evening touched many of the individuals that were watching. Sportsmanship at this level truly reflects athletics at its best.*

Ogden is a CHARACTER COUNTS! school and participates in our Pursuing Victory With Honor sportsmanship program. These are the kinds of stories we hear from graduates of our Character Development Seminars. These are the kinds of kids they are turning out. It is our fondest wish that every school in America can produce young people with such an ingrained sense of caring and respect."

Local Boy Scout Selected to Attend American Legion's Boys State

American Legion Boys State is easily classified as a leadership action program where qualified male high school juniors take part in a practical government course designed to develop in the young citizens a working knowledge of the structure of government and to impress upon them the fact that government is just what they make it.

Orcutt American Legion Post 534 selects two boys to attend the California Boys State each year. One junior is selected from Rhigetti High School and one from St. Joseph's High School. A team of three American Legion members interviews candidates from each school and then selects the boy they wish to sponsor. This year Mitch Acampora of Rhigetti High School & Juan Maestas of St. Joseph’s High School have been selected. Now I do not know Juan Maestas of St. Joseph's High School.

However, I do know Mitch Acampora, he is my friend. Mr. Acampora as we called him when he served on staff for the 2005 Tres Robles, NYLT course is a very special young man. He is bright, full of energy, dedicated and full of personality. I found out that he was selected to attend Boys State earlier this week when Robert T. Kelly, Jr from the American Legion was visiting my home. Rob Kelly, Bill Smith and Ken Johnson interviewed the boys this year and I asked Rob the names of the boys selected so I could put the information in our Post newsletter. When Rob told me Mitch was one of the boys I was very pleased and then asked Rob if he wanted to see a picture of Mitch Acampora? He was surprised that I had a picture, until I explained how I knew Mitch from Scouting. This picture of Mitch mugging for the camera with his eyes crossed was the picture I shared.

I am glad Mitch found time in his schedule to interview for Boy State. In addition to an academic load full of college prep classes Mitch is also very involved with Scouting in Troop 93 as he works to finish his requirements for Eagle Scout by summers end. Water polo and wrestling also take up some of his "free" time. Knowing Mitch as I do there is no doubt he will represent our American Legion Post with honor and will totally immerse himself in the Boys State experience. Now if we can just get Mitch to serve on staff again for the 2008 Tres Robles course, he would be a grand addition. —Rick

Virginia Tech Student, Used First Aid Skills Learned in Scouting to Save His Life

Kevin Sterne's Eagle Scout training may have saved his life Monday as he bled from gunshot wounds on the floor of a classroom at Virginia Tech.

The picture of the 22-year-old senior from Eighty Four, Pa., instantly became a symbol of the horror that unfolded at the sprawling campus. Mr. Sterne was shot four times by gunman Cho Seung-Hui during Monday's two-hour rampage.

Four police officers -- each holding one of Mr. Sterne's limbs -- carried him to safety on Monday. There he was, sprawled out between the hulking policemen, with his shirt rising above his chest and an electrical cord wound tightly around his thigh.

Read full story at Post-Gazzette.com... [ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07108/778891-84.stm ]

Calendar Items

South Coast District's Spring Adult Leader Training Dates - [ flyer ]
South Coast District's New Leader Essentials Training Invitation - [ flyer ]

April 2007 Items		Location
27-29	Tri-District Camporee - Cachuma District and Live Oak District	Camp French [ map ]
28	Camp Service/Work Day	Camp French &  Rancho Alegre
May 2007 Items		Location
4-5	Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
5-6	"Scout for Adventure" Del Norte District Spring Camporee	Camp French [ map ]
5-6	Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
13	Mother's Day	Home!
18 - 20	Order of the Arrow Ordeal	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
25-28	Friends of Scouting Weekend	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
25-28	Offices Closed for Memorial Day Weekend	council wide
28	Memorial Day	Nationally
June 2007 Items		Location
14	Flag Day	Nationally
16	Tres Robles, NYLT Orientation Meeting [ more ]	Edwards Community Center, Santa Maria [ map ]
16	Order of the Arrow - Lodge Executive Committee	St. Andrews Church, Orcutt
17	Father's Day	Home!
25-30	Tres Robles, NYLT Course [ more ]	Camp French [ map ]
July 2007 Items		Location
4	Fourth of July	Nationally
5-7	Webelos Scout Resident Camp Session 1 [ flyer ]	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
8-10	Webelos Scout Resident Camp Session 2 [ flyer ]	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
12-14	Cub Scout Resident Camp Session 3 [ flyer ]	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
16-20	Eagle Trail - Required Merit Badge / Life Guard BSA Camp [ flyer ]	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
16-20	Trail to First Class Camp, Session 1[ flyer ]	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
19-21	Venturing Leadership Skills Camp	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
23-27	Trail to First Class Camp, Session 2 [ flyer ]	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
August 2007 Items		Location
10-12	Tuouski Fellowship	Camp French [ map ]
Aug. 31 - Sep. 3	Friends of Scouting Weekend	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
September 2007 Items		Location
Aug. 31 - Sep. 3	Friends of Scouting Weekend	Rancho Alegre [ map ]
10-14	Popcorn Sale Kick-off Week	Council Wide

Weekly Scouting Term

This feature of Rick's News! presents a new Scouting term taken directly from the Language of Scouting web page each week. This information may help upgrade your understanding of Scouting terminology and the Scouting program. If you have a term you would like listed let me know.  [http://www.scouting.org/identity/los/]

Scouting program
Historically, "Scouting" has been the generic term for the organization and activities of the Boy Scouts of America. It refers also to Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and troop and team activities. The program of the Boy Scouts of America is designed to fulfill its chartered purpose to achieve objectives in character development, citizenship training, and fitness adapted to the age groups: Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers. The program is carried out in units run by local organizations chartered by the Boy Scouts of America. Do not refer to Cub Scouting, Tiger Cubs BSA, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing as separate programs.

Weekly Web Site

Pedal Pioneers Program

"Pedal Pioneers" is a program of the Adventure Cycling Association, designed to help teachers, youth group leaders, and other bicyclists organize their own youth tours.

Additional information is available on the Adventure Cycling Association Web site:
[ http://www.adventurecycling.org/outreach/pedalpioneers.cfm ]

Quotable Quotes

Wit — Wordplay — Wisecracks

Boys' Life - Joke of the Day

Ben: Do you wanna hear the joke about a skunk?
Glen: No, it stinks.
Ben: How about the one about a cookie?
Glen: It’s crummy.

-- Submitted by Benjamin A., Memphis, Tenn.

The Scoutmaster's Minute

Salt of the Earth

Who can tell me what "salt of the earth" means? That's right, it means a person who has a fine character and is a nice guy to be around. The expression "salt of the earth" probably came from the fact that common salt improves the taste of a lot of foods. As you young Scouts will discover while you are working on your Cooking skill award, salt is used in many recipes - maybe most of them for breakfast and dinner dishes.
Just as the salt improves the flavor of many foods, a person who is the salt of the earth improves the lives of those around him. He lives every day by the Scout Oath and Scout Law, even if he's not a Scout. He does his daily Good Turn and he deals fairly with everyone he meets.
You can be the salt of the earth, too, just by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Let's remind ourselves of what it takes by repeating the Scout Law now (Lead Scouts in reciting the Scout Law. )