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