2. Youth Retention & Its Important to a Quality Program

3. Jack Nichols, Council Commissioner Jack Nichols, Council Commissioner Connie Bowes, Connie Bowes, Director of Field Services

4. YOUTH RETENTION… and its importance to a Quality Program

5. Training Objectives What is Retention? Where is Retention in your Council Strategic Planning Process? How can you impact the Retention Record in your units? What methods are available to track retention?

6. What is retention? Recruitment and retention are the keys to success for the Boy Scouts of America as the organization works toward a greater impact on the values of America's young people. – 1999 BSA National Annual Report Recruitment and retention are the keys to success for the Boy Scouts of America as the organization works toward a greater impact on the values of America's young people. – 1999 BSA National Annual Report

7. What is retention? Traditional Youth Percent Retained is the percent of youth retained in traditional membership based on the number of youth renewing (including separated/reregistered) compared to the number of youth available to renew. This statistic is monitored in the Index of Growth for each Council.

8. BSA Mission Statement The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law

9. What is the mission of a Commissioner? TO HELP UNITS SUCCEED!!

10. New National Plan for Strategic Planning

11. What is strategic planning? The process of reviewing where an organization has been; where it intends to be in the future; and how it will get there.

12. Pillar 1 Every Youth has an opportunity to be involved in a quality Scouting experience:  Increase market share and/or growth  Increase the number of new members  Improve member retention  Increase the number of units

13. Pillar 2 Every local council is fiscally sound:  Reduce the number of councils with annual operating deficits  Increase local councils’ unrestricted net assets  Increase local councils’ endowment fund assets

14. Pillar 3 The number of engaged, accountable volunteers is dramatically increased at all levels of Scouting:  Add 1 million new volunteers  Increase the number of Quality Councils/Districts/Units

15. Pillar 4 Local, regional, and national chartered Organizations and strategic alliances are identified and engaged:  Increase the number of chartered organizations  Conduct a national development campaign to fund phases of the Strategic Plan

16. Pillar 5 Enough of the right professionals are identified, developed, and retained in the right positions at all levels, with a focus on inclusiveness:  Increase the number of youth serving executives  Increase the number of minority/female professionals  Improve employee retention

17. Youth Retention as Part of the Pillars  Pillar 1 – Increase member retention  Pillar 2 – Fiscally sound; need to spend money on recruiting.  Pillar 3 – Youth retention leads to Centennial Units, Districts & Councils  Pillar 4 – Youth retention REQUIRES strong Charter Partners  Pillar 5 – District Executives must be part of the Plan

18. Essentials for all Strategic Plans BSA Mission Statement BSA Mission Statement Scout Oath Scout Oath Scout Law Scout Law BSA Vision Statement BSA Vision Statement Involvement of Key 3 Involvement of Key 3 Your council’s Mission Statement and Vision Your council’s Mission Statement and Vision Strategic Plan with specific objectives for Each Pillar Strategic Plan with specific objectives for Each Pillar

19. Things to Address in Your Strategic Plan Involvement of Council & District Key 3 Involvement of Council & District Key 3 Commissioner Service Plan as part of Strategic Plan Commissioner Service Plan as part of Strategic Plan Webelos to Scout Transition Webelos to Scout Transition Scout to Venturing Transition Scout to Venturing Transition What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? Re-chartering, including Internet Re-chartering, including Internet Involvement of District Executive Involvement of District Executive

20. INVOLVEMENT OF COUNCIL KEY 3 Council Commissioner Council Scout Executive Council President

21. OCCONEECHEE COUNCIL Serving Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Vance, Wake and Warren Counties in central North Carolina.

22. Occoneechee Vision Statement The Occoneechee Council, Boy Scouts of America, is North Carolina's premier youth program focused on youth character and leadership development based on the value based principles contained in the Scout Oath, Law, and Motto. The council achieves its objectives by offering an exciting program centered upon outdoor experiences that include participation in high and extreme adventures under the leadership of trained and skilled adult leaders.

23. Through these experiences, Occoneechee Council youth: Develop as responsible, ethical young people, Develop as responsible, ethical young people, Are instilled with the values expressed in the Scout Oath, Law, and Motto, Are instilled with the values expressed in the Scout Oath, Law, and Motto, Become young people trained in citizenship, service, and leadership, Become young people trained in citizenship, service, and leadership, Serve the communities in which they live, Serve the communities in which they live, Prepare themselves for a lifetime of contribution and leadership in our society. Prepare themselves for a lifetime of contribution and leadership in our society.

24. Occoneechee Council Strategic Objectives 2006-2010 2. Membership Development/Growth Devise and implement a plan to increase the percentage of total available youth that Occoneechee Council is serving in Scouting. Devise and implement a plan to increase the percentage of total available youth that Occoneechee Council is serving in Scouting.

25. DISTRICT KEY 3 INVOLVEMENT District Commissioner District Scout Executive District Chairman

26. Occoneechee Strategic Plan Membership Development under Pillar 1 Membership Development under Pillar 1 Commissioner Service Plan Commissioner Service Plan Unit Service Plan Unit Service Plan Set a goal of maintaining current retention rate of 80% Set a goal of maintaining current retention rate of 80% Increase retention rate Increase retention rate Recruit unit commissioners to national standard Recruit unit commissioners to national standard Regular unit visits Regular unit visits

27. Occoneechee Strategic Plan Cub Scout recruitment goal of 6% annually thru 2010 Cub Scout recruitment goal of 6% annually thru 2010 Continue Race to Scouting Continue Race to Scouting Increase Number of Packs Increase Number of Packs Strengthen Charter Partner relations Strengthen Charter Partner relations Regular reports at Commissioner, Exec. Committee & Board meetings Regular reports at Commissioner, Exec. Committee & Board meetings

28. Occoneechee Strategic Plan Webelos to Scout Transition Webelos to Scout Transition Set a goal of 5% increase each year Set a goal of 5% increase each year Created Webelos to Scout tracking form Created Webelos to Scout tracking form Regular reports at Commissioner, Exec. Committee & Board meetings Regular reports at Commissioner, Exec. Committee & Board meetings

29. Occoneechee Strategic Plan Scout to Venturing Transition Scout to Venturing Transition Create a annual Venturing recruiting plan Create a annual Venturing recruiting plan Set a goal of 5.6% increase by 2010 Set a goal of 5.6% increase by 2010 Implement an annual First Nighter recruiting event for new Venture Scouts Implement an annual First Nighter recruiting event for new Venture Scouts

30. Retention By Program

31. Occoneechee Strategic Plan What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? Our Strategic Plan is: “Capture ‘em early, Keep them excited & Keep ‘em longer. Our Strategic Plan is: “Capture ‘em early, Keep them excited & Keep ‘em longer. Based on BSA Harris Surveys that show the importance of keeping youth in Scouting 5 or more years. Based on BSA Harris Surveys that show the importance of keeping youth in Scouting 5 or more years.

32. Capture them earlier… Retention is an integral part of the year round recruitment strategy & commissioner service plan. Retention is an integral part of the year round recruitment strategy & commissioner service plan. Communication very important to new families. Communication very important to new families. Start working on retention as soon as new members are recruited. Start working on retention as soon as new members are recruited.

33. Excite them more… Developing camp facilities through an $8.3 million capital campaign. Developing camp facilities through an $8.3 million capital campaign.

34. Keep them longer… Our Boy Scouting program helps drive our overall retention success with 83.3% of our Boy Scouts choosing to stay in Scouting. Our Boy Scouting program helps drive our overall retention success with 83.3% of our Boy Scouts choosing to stay in Scouting. Over 300 boys annually earn the Eagle Scout rank (349 in 2006…6%) Over 300 boys annually earn the Eagle Scout rank (349 in 2006…6%)

35. Occoneechee Strategic Plan What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? Cuboree & Summer Day Camp for Cubs Cuboree & Summer Day Camp for Cubs Summer Camp- Expanded offerings Summer Camp- Expanded offerings Aquatics Base Aquatics Base Council High Adventure Activities Council High Adventure Activities Increase # of Venture Crews Increase # of Venture Crews

36. Occoneechee Strategic Plan Re-chartering, including Internet Re-chartering, including Internet Commissioner Service Plan has a goal of 85% on-time re- charters Commissioner Service Plan has a goal of 85% on-time re- charters Implemented Internet re-chartering & have had an increase in on- time re-chartering Implemented Internet re-chartering & have had an increase in on- time re-chartering

37. Occoneechee Strategic Plan Involvement of District Executive Involvement of District Executive My Goal is to have every Unit Commissioner make this visit with the DE My Goal is to have every Unit Commissioner make this visit with the DE Unit Service Plan AND the Critical Achieve- ments for the DE REQUIRE an annual unit visit with the Charter Head Unit Service Plan AND the Critical Achieve- ments for the DE REQUIRE an annual unit visit with the Charter Head Must occur 90 days before the unit re- charter date Must occur 90 days before the unit re- charter date

38. Training Objectives What is Retention? Where is Retention in your Council Strategic Planning Process? How can you impact the Retention Record in your units? What methods are available to track retention?

39. Retention Indicators Advancement (included with membership) Advancement (included with membership) Top Leader Trained Top Leader Trained Quality Unit Quality Unit Total Camp Attendance Total Camp Attendance Monthly Roundtable Attendance Monthly Roundtable Attendance District/Council event participation District/Council event participation Popcorn participation Popcorn participation % of subscriptions to Boys’ Life % of subscriptions to Boys’ Life

40. Methods Available To Track Retention MyBSA Membership Analysis MyBSA Membership Analysis –Reports Available: Percent Youth Retained By Traditional Programs Percent Youth Retained By Traditional Programs Youth Retention within Units Rechartered YTD Youth Retention within Units Rechartered YTD –(By BSA Organization) Youth Retention within Units Rechartered YTD Youth Retention within Units Rechartered YTD –( By Program ) Webelos Scouts eligible this month for Boy Scouts Webelos Scouts eligible this month for Boy Scouts Recharter Status Report by BSA Organization Recharter Status Report by BSA Organization –Available to BSA field and management staff –Can be exported to excel for more in-depth analysis or just print and share with district and unit leadership

42. Great Job In January! Don’t Give Up On The Drops!

43. Never Give Up… Invite them back… Invite them back… Save-a-Scout Save-a-Scout Unit inventories Unit inventories Popcorn inventories Popcorn inventories

44. 3 Keys to a Strong Program Every youth deserves a well- trained Leader Every youth deserves a well- trained Leader Adult Retention Adult Retention Strong Camping Program, including summer camp Strong Camping Program, including summer camp

45. Recap of Points to Consider in Plan Council & District Key 3 Involvement Council & District Key 3 Involvement Webelos to Scout Transition Webelos to Scout Transition Scout to Venturing Transition Scout to Venturing Transition What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? What parts of your Program Activities make youth want to stay? Re-chartering, including Internet Re-chartering, including Internet Involvement of District Executive Involvement of District Executive

46. What is the payoff?

47. # 1 in Youth Retention in Class 56 Metro Councils in Southern Region! # 1 in Youth Retention in Class 56 Metro Councils in Southern Region!

48. Questions?