faith based initiative welcome two parts: religious emblems coordinator membership growth in faith...

Faith Based Initiative

Welcome

• Two Parts:Religious Emblems CoordinatorMembership Growth in Faith Communities

Introductions

Staff

Participants

Housekeeping

Plenary Sessions

Faith Group Presentations

Opening Devotions

Flag Ceremony

Water Buddies

Pests

Monday Morning:Course Overview

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

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

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

How does this apply to Journey to Excellence

(JTE)?

• After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

Questions?

• Adjourn

Devotions

Monday Afternoon

Journey to Excellence (JTE)

Overview Religious Emblems

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.

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

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

Interfaith Language

Non-inclusive terms vs Inclusive terms

Church vs Religious institutionCongregation

House of Worship

Pastor/Priest/Rabbi vs Religious Leader

PRAY awards vs Religious Emblems

How to Promote Religious Emblems – Unit Level

• Duty to God Unit Promotion Plan

Duty to God

Resource DVD

How to Promote Religious Emblems - Council Level

• Round Tables• POW WOW• University of Scouting• College of Commissioners Science

Continued

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

Summer and Day CampOpportunities

• 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

Interfaith Devotion Books

• Learn about the Ten Commandments or 12 Points• Learn about different religious institutions• Promote the Religious Emblems programs• To fulfill advancement requirements for Cub

Scouts and Boy Scouts

12 Point or 10 Commandment Hikes

• Religious emblems camps and retreats are effective in increasing the number of youth earning emblems

• Who is invited? Where is it to be held? Who will be the leaders? What are the resource? What is the schedule? How do you promote the retreat?

• There are many ways to conduct a retreat!

Retreats

ASSIGNMENT• Find a partner• Choose one of the following and develop a plan to

promote religious emblems:– DTG presentations – What the council can do– Summer and Day Camps– Hikes– Retreats

• Present your plan to the class tomorrow morning• Feel free to use poster board or PowerPoint

How does this apply to Journey to Excellence

(JTE)?

• After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

Devotions

Tuesday Morning

R.E.C.

Presentation of Religious Emblems Plans

Tuesday Afternoon

Starting a Religious Relationships Committee

Pray Resources

Guest Speakers

Forming a Religious Relationships

Committee

• Role of a Religious Relationships Committee

• How to form and sustain one

Overview of P.R.A.Y. Resources

www.PrayPub.org

Faith Group PresentationGuest Speakers

How does this apply to Journey to Excellence

(JTE)?

• After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

Devotions

Wednesday Morning

Chaplaincy

Faith Group Presentations

Guest Speakers

How does this apply to Journey to Excellence

(JTE)?

• After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

Devotions

Thursday Morning

FBI Membership

American Heritage Girls

Faith-Based Initiative

FBI

BSA Research Points to Congregations as the Best Place to Start New Sustainable Units

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

May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Religious

Education

Civic

June 2012 BSA membership

Whose needs are these?

Membership growth Membership Retention Program Money Trained Volunteers

We Need Each Other

How do we do this? How can we help each other?

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

Stop Selling Packs, Troops, and Crews

Start Selling SOLUTIONS to Congregations and Their Needs

Offer Solutions

Congregations need Young families Adult males

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)

Religious Organizations Benefit

Training 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

Offer Solutions

The average size of a pack is 10 50 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

5 pre-qualified families already in your building without a faith home

Religious Emblems the Linchpin to membership

Religious Emblems Programs: Are developed by the national

religious organizations, not BSA

98%

Religious Emblems

BSA

Congregations

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.

The chartering congregation offers their religious emblems program for their youth members and extends an invitation to the Scouting unit, especially the 50% without a current congregational home.

Invite the parents to the first class and start building relationships.

Congregations need Young families Adult males Retain members Scout parents

www.scoutparents.org

What’s in it for Councils:Membership

66% + 70% + 98% + 57 = 46% potential Membership GROWTH!

R.E.C.

Religious Emblems Coordinator Position at the Council, District, and unit levels

Religious Emblems “Foot in the door” versus “foot in

your mouth” Become familiar with the religious

emblems program before visiting a congregation

Each religion creates its own program

Eligibility requirements will differ from religion to religion

Do Your Homework!

Religious EmblemsAnalysis Sheet

Do Your Homework! CongregationQuestionnaire

Resources Cultural Informants –

To open doors, teach/speak the language /eliminate cold calls

Council Staff, Council Board, Religious Relationships Committee, your Key 3, Chartered Partners

Internet To open doors, teach/speak the

language

Resources

FBI Resources http://www.praypub.org/partnerships/FBI_resources.htm

Duty to God Religious Emblems Chart

Duty to God DVD R.E.C. webpage

http://www.praypub.org/REC

Resources: Assoc. of Religion Data Archives

www.thearda.com Denomination Report (by county) County membership report And much more!

Denomination Report(UMC – Number of Congregations)

Rank ^ County Value

1 Lancaster, NE 28

2 Douglas, NE 23

3 Buffalo, NE 13

4 Custer, NE 12

5 Cass, NE 11

6 Gage, NE 10

7 Hall, NE 8

8 Merrick, NE 8

9 Lincoln, NE 8

County Membership Report(Lancaster County, NE)

Religious Bodies Congregations AdherentsAdherence Rate†

United Methodist Church, The 29 17,595 61.6

Non-denominational 24 5,775 20.2

Catholic Church 16 42,609 149.3

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 15 14,216 49.8

Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod 14 13,043 45.7

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 10 4,744 16.6

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 9 2,185 7.7

Religious Emblems

BSA

Congregations

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

Sponsor vs. Chartered Partner

The Chartered Partner

Concept offers a HUGE strategic tool when approaching religious organizations / congregations.

Ingredients for Success Both sides must clearly understand

the chartered organization agreement before it is signed.

BSA should use as many congregational volunteers as is feasible.

The congregation must “invest” their best kid person to be the leader

Ingredients for Success

All volunteers should be trained by the local council

Religious emblems must be promoted by the unit leader

Congregations must offer a religious emblems class

Religious Emblems as a Membership Tool

Created by religious organizations Help connect Boy Scouts and faith

based organizations Explain how they can be used as

an outreach tool Opportunity for intergenerational

experiences continued

Religious Emblems as a Membership Tool Help target diverse memberships Provide first exposure of religious

organization membership to Boy Scouts

Increase adult tenure

Religious Awards as a Membership Tool

Created by religious organizations Help connect Boy Scouting and faith

based organizations Explain how they can be used as an

outreach tool Opportunity for intergenerational

experiences Help target diverse memberships Provide first exposure of religious

organization membership to Boy Scouts Increase adult tenure

Religious Emblems Analysis Sheet

Strategies for Growth:

66% + 70% + 98% + 57 = +46% Strategy #1: Shore up drop rate Strategy #2: Sell more products to

existing customers Strategy #3: Target similar customers Strategy #4: Target under served

populations

Preparing for the Call

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Don’t sell the Boy Scouts

Sell SOLUTIONS to the problems that congregations face

Research the Congregation

Besides GOOGLE, talk to staff, key volunteers, board members, current charter partners

P.R.A.Y. reports

Research the Congregation

What do you call the place of worship? Clergy?

How is it structured? Top down or bottom up?

FBI Questionnaire

Research the Congregation

What is the name of the religious awards program for that congregation?

What do you know about it?

First Call

LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! Listen for the needs of the

congregation.

What are the aims and goals of religious organizations?

Membership Retention Program Religious training Leadership Money

98% = the number of clergy who are unaware that these religious emblems even exist!

Ask clergy for names of potential leaders

Explain that you will provide training, etc.

Give congregation sense of ownership and if they are gaining members, they will want to continue supporting Boy Scouts

You must involve the congregation with the Unit

Strategy #1:Shore up drop rate

10% national drop rate 15% of all Units are in religious

organizations 1.5% Units dropped are in religious

organizations 10% drop rate x 15% = 1.5% loss Eliminate the drop rate and save

1.5% How can religious emblems shore up the drop rate?

Why do Boys drop out?

Who ultimately decides? The children The parents

Unless they see that Boy Scouting is providing values

Why are Units dropped?

Leaders resign – Religious Awards can help retain leaders.

Why are Units dropped?

Religious Organizations get upset – Make an appointment every year to sign an agreement. During this visit, bring along sample copies of religious emblems booklets and walk the leadership through the material or suggest that they do this with their clergy.

Why are Units dropped?

1. Remind congregations of members gained

2. 6 potential families in basement3. Which side do you want your

windows broken from?

Result: Shore up the 10% drop rate of Units in religious organizations = 1.5% increase

Strategy #2:Sell more products to existing customers (build more capacity by increasing Units in existing charter partners

Is your membership problem one of getting the Boys or finding leadership and meeting places?

Who is the easiest person to sell to?

70% of charter partners only have 1 Unit

At your next visit talk about adding a Unit and discuss religious emblems programs for that level.

6 pre-qualified families in basement Result: 70% x 15% = 10.5% growth 10.5% - 8.5% = 2% growth

Strategy #3:Target similar customers

Sell to similar or like-minded customers i.e. religious organizations

Most respected organizations in any community are the faith groups

Ask your staff and volunteers if anyone is of the selected faiths

Ask current charter partners for contacts

Use religious emblems as a tool

Strategy #4:Target under served populations

Select a target population or under served area

Develop a list of religious organizations in the area

Ask your fellow staff and volunteers if anyone is of that faith

Ask current chartered partners for contacts

Use religious emblems as a tool

Sample Five Year Plan

Five Year Plan

Year 1 Target Current Charter Partners –

Re-visit – Add a Unit While talking with current

customers ask if they know other clergy who would benefit from having a Unit. Ask them to open that door.

Identify underserved populations and start looking for cultural informants

Five Year Plan

Year 2 Target last year’s no’s among the

54% Target new Religious Organizations

by asking current charter partners, staff, and volunteers

Work with the cultural informants and start gaining visibility in their religious communities in your underserved populations.

Five Year Plan

Year 3 Revisit first charter partner and

add that 3rd Unit Ask for help in underserved

populations from staff and volunteers

Work hard to establish Units in underserved populations in Religious Organizations

Five Year Plan

Year 4 Visit year 2 new starts and look to

add a troop Continue working in underserved

populations

Thank you!

Questions? Daryl Ingram

dingram@ameced.com Carmichael Crutchfield

Basiz1@aol.com

Religious Emblems

BSA

Congregations

Wrap up: Why Collaborate?

Win-win-win situation Collaboration results in:

Stronger youth and families Stronger congregations Stronger councils

American Heritage Girls

Patti Garibay, CEO

How does this apply to Journey to Excellence

(JTE)?

• After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

Devotions

Thursday Afternoon

Scout Parents

Religious Emblems Analysis

FBI Congregational Questionnaire

Assignment

Religious Emblems• “Foot in the door” versus “foot in your

mouth”• Become familiar with the religious

emblems program before visiting a congregation

• Each religion creates its own program• Eligibility requirements will differ from

religion to religion

Congregational Questionnaire

How does this apply to Journey to Excellence

(JTE)?

• After each session, find out how it applies to JTE

Devotions

Friday Morning

Faith Group Presentation

Work on Assignment

(FBI and Religious Emblems Plans)

Presentationsof Membership Plans

Evaluations

Graduation!

Friday Afternoon

Happy Trails to You!