“Building Sustainable Membership through Religious Emblems”

1. Welcome “Building Sustainable Membership through Religious Emblems” or …….

2. FBI Faith Based Initiative • Two Parts:Religious Emblems CoordinatorMembership Growth in Faith Communities

3. Introductions Staff Participants

4. Housekeeping Plenary Sessions Faith Group Presentations Opening Devotions Flag Ceremony Water Buddies Pests

5. Session 1:Course Overview

6. Religious Emblems: Objectives • Understand how emblems are created and approved • Understand WHY we promote religious emblems • Learn HOW to promote religious emblems • Become familiar with resources that promote religious emblems • Leave here with a plan to promote Religious Emblems

7. Membership: Objectives • Understand how religious emblems can be a key to membership • Increase your understanding of religious organizations • Understand that faith groups need what the Boy Scouts have

8. Membership: Objectives • Become familiar with resources that help councils approach religious institutions • Understand the membership opportunities for both faith communities and Boy Scout councils • Leave here with a plan to increase your membership by collaborating with religious organizations

9. How does this apply to Journey to Excellence (JTE)? • After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

10. Questions? • Adjourn

11. Devotions

12. Session 2: Overview of R.E.C. Religious Emblems Coordinator

13. Rationale • Duty to God is an integral part of the Boy Scout program. • One of the leading reasons parents register boys is for the BSA values. • Religious emblems reinforce Boy Scout values. • Only 3% of youth in BSA receive a religious emblem in any given year.

14. How are Religious Emblems Created and Approved? • Created by National Religious Organizations for their youth • Reviewed by BSA for • Chartered Partner in good standing • Curriculum is compatible with BSA values continued

15. How are Religious Emblems Created and Approved? • BSA recognizes these programs and allows the recognitions to be worn on the uniform • Religious emblems are optional programs which help the Scouts fulfill their “Duty To God” portion of the Boy Scout Oath • Adult awards by nomination only

16. REC Powerpoint

17. How to Promote Religious Emblems – Unit Level • Duty to God Unit Promotion Plan

18. Duty to God Puzzle Patch

19. Duty to God Resource DVD

23. How to Promote Religious Emblems - Council Level • Round Tables • POW WOW • University of Scouting • College of Commissioners Science • Continued

24. How to Promote Religious Emblems - Council Level • List recipient names in council newsletter • BSA and Duty to God Flyers distributed to all units • Assemble a display of religious emblems • Continued

25. How to Promote Religious Emblems - Council Level • Stock the material in the council store • When stocking periodically run announcements in newsletter • Provide training for Store Managers • Continued

26. How to Promote Religious Emblems - Council Level • Summer and Day Camp Opportunities • 69% of boys at summer camp think about their relationship with God • Recruit Chaplains • Parents want values • Another chance to offer tools for the Scouts to internalize values • Promote the Duty to God devotions • Continued

27. Interfaith Devotion Books

28. How to Promote Religious Emblems - Council Events • 12 Point or 10 Commandment hikes • Religious Emblems retreats • Boy Scout Sunday/Sabbath • Awards dinners

29. How does this apply to Journey to Excellence (JTE)? • After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

30. ASSIGNMENT • Develop a plan to promote religious emblems

31. Devotions

32. Session 3:Why Collaborate? What’s in it for Families? What’s in it for Councils? What’s in it for Congregations?

33. What’s in it for Families? Youth benefit! The number one reason parents sign up their children in Scouts is VALUES.

34. What’s in it for Families? • Youth will have less at-risk behaviors Search Institute, The Troubled Journey CIVIC FAMILY SCHOOLS FAITH

35. http://www.search-institute.org/ What’s in it for Families? • Youth will have more opportunities to build assets Search Institute, 40 Assets

36. 40 Assets for Youth • External Assets • Support • Empowerment • Boundaries and Expectations • Constructive Use of Time • Internal Assets • Commitment to Learning • Positive Values • Social Competencies • Positive Identity

37. Handout (online)

38. What’s in it for Families? • The BSA Summer Camp Outcome Study revealed that 69% of Scouts think about their relationship with God while at camp.

39. Continue Session 3:Why Collaborate? What’s in it for Councils?

40. What’s in it for Councils? • Question: What are your council’s top five goals?

41. What’s in it for Councils? • Answer: Membership Retaining Membership Volunteers Program Money

42. 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 • Adults who don’t volunteer for religious organizations may be inclined to do Scouting • Target underserved populations

43. What’s in it for CouncilsProgram • Religious organizations can teach the religious emblems programs • Recruit clergy for religious retreats and camporees • Chaplains

44. What’s in it for Councils:Program • It’s strategic: • More boys and units • More volunteers • Improve relations with Chartered Partners 66% + 10% + 70% + 98% = +42%

45. What’s in it for Councils:Money • More boys, more units, more families, more friends of Scouting

46. Continue Session 3:Why Collaborate? What’s in it for Congregations?

47. What’s in it for Congregations? Question: What are the five most stated items in any strategic plan of a local congregation?

48. What’s in it for Congregations? Answer: Membership Retaining Membership Trained Volunteers Program / Faith formation Money

49. Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership Congregations need Young families Adult males Retain members Scout parents www.scouting.org/scoutparent

50. Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership • The average size of a pack is 30 • 50 to 60% of youth in a pack troop or crew do not currently have a current faith home • These parents are pre-qualified as looking for values for their children • 15 pre-qualified families already in your building without a faith home