QU requirements
Carol Breuer (CBreuer@VINES.COLOSTATE.EDU)
Tue, 19 Nov 1996 15:59:26 MST
Okay, I got busy and called our council office on this. They faxed me
a copy of the 1997 Quality Unit form for troops. This is what I found
out.
"Unit must achieve six of ten to qualify as a National Quality Troop.
(Five starred [*] items are required, plus an additional one - six
total.)"
The starred items are:
"1. Training. The Scoutmaster will complete Boy Scout Leader Fast
Start Training and Scoutmastership Fundamentals."
"2. Two-Deep Leadership. We will have one or more assistant
Scoutmasters registered, trained, and active. One registered adult is
assigned responsibility for Youth Protection training."
"7. Outdoor Activities. The troop will conduct six highlight
activities (such as hikes, campouts, trips, tours, etc.) and attend a
Boy Scouts of America long-term camp."
"8. Membership. We will renew our charter with an equal or greater
number of youth registered over a year ago.
_____ Number of Boy Scouts registered at the beginning of the current
charter year.
_____ Number of Boy Scouts who will register at the beginning of the
next charter year."
"10. On-Time Charter Renewal. The troop will complete its charter
renewal before its current charter expires."
Please note that #8 is required, but that the requirement is for an
**EQUAL** or greater number of youth. This is not saying that the
troop has to increase in numbers indefinitely, but that membership for
a quality unit should not decrease from one year to the next.
Yes, this will knock some troops out of the Quality Award if they show
a decrease in numbers. Sometimes there are valid reasons why that
might happen, but maybe we need to look at why this change is being
made. If a troop is offering a quality program, should we see a
decrease in the number of scouts benefitting from that program? If
boys join a troop, and then become inactive, is there adequate follow-
up being done to find out why they lose interest?
As volunteers we often accuse our professional staff of being too
concerned with numbers for numbers sake. But on the other hand, those
numbers indicate youth who are part of the Scouting program, and no
matter how good our program is, it can't benefit those who are not a
part of it.
I have to admit to being caught with egg on my face on this one. I
missed being informed of a change I should have been aware of. And I
am disturbed that more notice and attention did not get paid to this
kind of a change. But with a little more thought on it, I begin to see
why it might be a positive direction for the future. It reminds us to
keep our focus on the youth we want to serve, and not let them fall by
the wayside without more effort to meet their needs.
YiS,
Carol Breuer, Fort Collins, CO
Asst. District Commissioner
. . . I used to be an eagle, NC-155
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
