Congregations BSA Religious Emblems Religious Emblems: the Linchpin to Membership

F.B.I. Faith Based Initiative

How to Have Congregations and Clergy Begging You to Start the Full Family of Scouting

Stop Selling Packs, Troops, and Crews

Stop Selling Scouting as Ministry

Start Selling SOLUTIONS to Congregations and Their Needs

Whose needs are these? Membership growthMembership growth RetentionRetention ProgramProgram MoneyMoney Trained VolunteersTrained Volunteers

“You can have everything in life you want, if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want!” – Zig Ziglar

Why Collaborate? What’s in it for Congregations?

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

Answer: MembershipMembership Retention of new membersRetention of new members Religious trainingReligious training Volunteers / LeadersVolunteers / Leaders MoneyMoney What’s in it for Congregations?

Religious Organizations Benefit Common Goals Enrich current program –Scouting has high brand recognition –Membership opportunities –Proven youth program: citizenship training, character development, fitness –Outdoor resources (local and national facilities) continued

Religious Organizations Benefit Trained Leaders –Provides leadership training skills –New leaders (adults may volunteer to be leaders because they see it as service to their religious organization) –Religious organizations select the leadership that reflects their values

Congregations need Young familiesYoung families Adult malesAdult males Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership

Religious Organizations Benefit: Faith Formation Religious Emblems Programs: Are developed by the national religious organizations, not BSA

Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership The average size of a pack is to 60% of youth in a pack troop or crew do not currently have a 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

Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership The unit leader makes a presentation on religious emblems using the R.E.C. / Duty to God resources. The congregation offers a religious emblems class.

Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership The chartering congregation offers their religious emblems program for their youth members and extends an invitation to the Scouting unit, especially those without a current congregational home. Invite the parents to the first class and start building relationships.

Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership If the congregation offers a religious emblem class to all youth in their units If the congregation offers a religious emblem class to the whole district The congregation expands its membership potential in close geographic area

Congregations need Young familiesYoung families Adult malesAdult males Retain membersRetain members Scout parents parents Religious Organizations Benefit: Membership

What’s in it for Councils: Program 66% + 10% + 70% + 98% = +42% 98% = the number of clergy who are unaware that these religious emblems even exist!

Journey to Excellence Membership Units Retention Advancement Camping

Why Collaborate? What’s in it for Councils?

The History of the BSA According to Mark

BSA Research Unit Retention better by 10% Rank Advancement 10 to 30% better 66% of units Chartered to Faith based organizations 70% of Chartered Partners only have 1 Unit or one Member of the Scouting family

Resources: Assoc. of Religion Data Archives Denomination Report (by county) County membership report And much more!

Denomination Report (UMC – Number of Congregations) Rank ^CountyValue 1Lancaster, NE28 2Douglas, NE23 3Buffalo, NE13 4Custer, NE12 5Cass, NE11 6Gage, NE10 7Hall, NE8 8Merrick, NE8 9Lincoln, NE8

County Membership Report (Lancaster County, NE) Religious BodiesCongregationsAdherents Adher ence Rate Adher ence Rate † United Methodist Church, The2917, Non-denominational245, Catholic Church1642, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America1514, Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod1413, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)104, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)92,1857.7

What’s in it for Councils? Question: What are your council’s top goals according to Journey to Excellence?

What’s in it for Councils? Answer: Membership Retention Advancement Money Leadership Program

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 –Religiously based individuals are more likely to volunteer Target underserved populations

What’s in it for Councils: Program Religious organizations teach the religious emblems programs Recruit clergy for religious retreats and camporees Chaplains

Ingredients for Success Both sides must clearly understand the chartered organization agreement before it is signed.Both sides must clearly understand the chartered organization agreement before it is signed. BSA should use as many congregational volunteers as is feasible.BSA should use as many congregational volunteers as is feasible. The congregation must “invest” their best kid person to be the leaderThe congregation must “invest” their best kid person to be the leader

Ingredients for Success All volunteers MUST be trained by the local councilAll volunteers MUST be trained by the local council Religious emblems must be promoted by the unit leaderReligious emblems must be promoted by the unit leader Congregations must offer a religious emblems classCongregations must offer a religious emblems class

Linch Pin Congregations BSA Religious Emblems

Wrap up: Why Collaborate? Win-win-win situation Collaboration results in: Stronger youth and families Stronger congregations Stronger councils