It's beginning to look a lot like rechartering Time....everywhere I go.....
We are at the time of year when retention and rechartering is becoming the focus of our committees. Unit retention is something we all puzzle over. Why do some units recharter easily every year? Why do other units struggle to recharter? Is there anything commissioners or the key three can do to make unit retention easy for all units?
Of course, the key to unit retention is youth retention, one youth at a time. That comes as no surprise to anyone. But what does come as a surprise is the amount of control unit leadership has over youth retention. A few years ago the National Council conducted two research projects. The first was focused on why Cub Scouts leave the program, and the second was focused on Boy Scout retention. The results were remarkably similar. The percentages listed reflect the percentage of boys who left Scouting who said the factor was a major reason for leaving. When working with a unit with dwindling membership, the units should analyze the situation. Why are the youth leaving? Boring meetings? Not enough outdoor program? Cost? This may not be easy to determine at first glance, and certainly different boys will have different reasons. But using the Journey to Excellence work sheets combined with observations should reveal an area or two that can be improved upon within the unit. Then it is a simple matter of working with the committee and identifying which areas to work on improving and then to decide upon strategies to improve those areas. If you would like help, your unit commissioner is always available to help guide this process, and having an outside set of eyes on the situation doesn't hurt either.
Factors in the Hands of Pack Leadership
Boring meetings 44%
Poor/disorganized leadership 43%
Not enough outdoors 22%
Not enough challenge 19%
Factors in the Hands of Troop Leadership
Boring meetings 56%
Disorganized troop 24%
Didn't like other guys 18%
Not challenging enough 15%
Leaders too strict 14%
Bullying in troop 13%
Costs too much 11%
Not interested in camping 10%
Rechartering is now done on-line and most units are familiar with the process. Working through the process as early as possible will help to insure the process goes smoothly. Having discussion about the recharter process should remind the committee of the tasks and can facilitate making sure things such as getting the appropriate signatures are not left to the last moment. The unit should review the unit rosters to make sure all the unit members are listed and make decisions about members that will be retained or dropped during the process. Any youth considered for a drop should be contacted to attempt to retain them.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR ROUNDTABLE TOPICS!
If there is a subject that you would like to have covered at roundtable that we have not done yet, please contact myself or Amanda to get the ball rolling. Nothing is out of the question.
I still need your help!
The Wisconsin River District needs your Help in identifying great individuals who could serve as a unit commissioner.
All units need a Unit Commissioner. A good unit commissioner has a love for Scouting and desire to help Packs and Troops work better together is all that is needed to be a UC. I also encourage you to contact me directly if you are interested. Group UC meetings are one half hour, once a month prior to Roundtable. It really is not a lot of time for those already involved with the units - just come early to Roundtable.
I challenge all Cub Scout Packs/Boy Scout Troops to forward me one name of a person that fits the bill for being a unit commissioner.
Packs, Troops, and Crews, If you have not received a visit from a commissioner or do not know who your commissioner is, please give me a call, I will either get your assigned commish in touch with you or will schedule a time that I can come up and visit.
Other Notes:
- Five Star University is January 12th, 2013. Visit the following Link for more information...
5-star-university-of-scouting
- Unit Commissioners meet at 6:30 before each round table St John's Lutheran Church, 100 Oak Street, in Prairie Du Sac.
- Commissioners, Please continue to log your unit visits and get them to me. I do have an Excel form that you can fill out and send to me for each visit. Just send me an email (dawg@bugnet.net) and I will get it to you.
Check out the Wisconsin River Website at www.wisconsinriver.org
YIS,
Bryan G. Anders
WR District Commissioner
dawg@bugnet.net
608-574-1999
