NEW COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN

A new Strategic Plan for the Concho Valley Council has been adopted by the Executive Board.  

The long range plan  identifies areas that will be addressed during the years 2004-2009.  Bruce W. Willig served as chairman.

Highlights include:

• Growing the numbers of participating members and units.
• Adding new Board leadership from across the council, representing the population.
• Adding and improving quality of activities and camping experiences.
• Develop Camp Sol Mayer as the main camping facility by moving all Boy Scout activity areas to the West side of camp and developing Cub Scout camping and activity centers on the East side.
• Organize Camp Fawcett as a weekend and special event camp property.
• Develop unit serving commissioners to serve all units.
• Organize a marketing plan to properly communicate the program to all.
• Locate a new strategically located service center.
• Increase budget  funding events.
• Increase the council endowment fund.
• Increase Scouting in low income communities.
• If you would like input on any of the Strategic Plan issues, your comments will be welcomed.

Report to State

The annual Report to State and Scout Parade will take place Saturday, February 7, 2004 in Austin.  Events will begin with a breakfast for council delegates at 7:30 AM then an assembly of delegates meets and crosses the Congress Ave. Bridge at 9:30 in preparation for the Scout Parade with approximately 5000 Scouts and Scouters in attendance.  At 10:30 official delegates will assemble for photographs with State officials.  11:30 report ceremonies will begin with a youth representative from each council giving a thirty-second report of important happenings in each council.

Camping space will be available at Lost Pines Scout Reservation for units who wish to stay before or after the festivities.

For more information contact Matt Vercher at the Council Service Center at 325-655-7107, or Tom McSwain at the Capitol Area Council 512-926-6363.

Good Turn for America

Since the BSA’s inception in 1910, both Scouts and Scouters alike have learned to live the principles of the Scout Oath and Law through community services and “helping other people at all times.” With our rich history in mind, we are pleased to announce a new service initiative—Good Turn for America.

What began with a singular act of service on a foggy London night quickly evolved into daily Good Turns and then into more encompassing national initiatives. These have included selling war bonds, collecting rubber and scrap metal, growing victory gardens during World War II, and more recently, Scouting for Food.

We now have the opportunity to raise our levels of community service and increase awareness of the Scouting program within our neighborhoods. Nationally, the Boy Scouts of America has partnered with The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Red Cross to increase our efforts in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

Good Turn for America will build on our members’ and participants’ current service efforts and will also include important partnerships with other community service organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, civic clubs and local churches. These partnerships will provide many additional avenues for all of our members and participants to provide community service in their neighborhoods.

“The concept of serving other people at all times, found in our Scout Oath, is a theme we want to reinforce with both the youth and adults in our programs,” said Carl Cummins, Concho Valley Council Scout executive. “Good Turn for America is meant to include everyone in the community—you don’t have to be a member of Scouting to make a difference in our community.”

Good Turn for America will formally kick off on the BSA’s 94th anniversary, February 8, 2004. . Materials have been produced to promote the campaign within our community, including (print, radio, and TV ads; billboards; brochures; etc).  Congressman Charlie Stenholm will act as our council’s chairman for Good Turn for America.

For more information, please contact the council service center at 325-655-7107, or toll free 1-800-321-7107, or visit the council website cvcbsa.com or visit www.goodturnforamerica.org.

WHERE ARE THE BOY SCOUTS?

Our Boy Scout program is suffering the effects of not being able to recruit Cub Scouts in local schools during the 2000-2001 school years.  Since 85% of Boy Scouts come from Cub Scouts, this has resulted in a steady decrease in Boy Scout membership over the last 3 years.  There are several means to overcome this deficit and insure a quality Boy Scout program for the future.

Boy Scout Recruitment

A great time to focus on Boy Scout recruitment is around February when other 5th grade boys are crossing over from Cub Scouts.  A special rally can be held at each 5th-6th grade Middle School.  Involve your Unit Serving Executive in the planning process to help you be successful.  Any Troop that would like some help setting up a February rally, call the service center at 800-321-7107.

Troop Open House

The Troop Open House packet can be very useful when recruiting new members to a Troop.  It is divided into five steps with each step describing how to run a successful School Rally.  The packet includes a sample letter to send to parents and an agenda to follow at the open house.

Bring-A-Buddy campouts are also a great way to attract and recruit new members to a Boy Scout Troop.  Plan a fun-filled activity, then have all of your existing Scouts invite one or two friends to come along.  Fill out a Scout application on each guest so that they are covered by our insurance.  Follow up by inviting the new boys, along with their parents to attend the next Troop Court of Honor and recognize them with a special patch or plaque for participating in the event.  Then extend an official invitation to join the Troop followed by a special ceremony.

Share ideas that have been successful recruiting Boy Scouts with other Troop leaders by emailing them to bsa741@gte.net.