Quality Unit

I have followed the thread on the change to the QU requirements with interest.
I think that National should sit down and take another look at this. The
requirements as they stand could be divided into three categories, as follows:

A. Things that the unit *does* to implement the methods of scouting:
1. Training - SM complete Fast Start and Scoutmastership Fundamentals.
2. Two Deep Leadership - One or more SA trained and active and one
responsible for Youth Protection.
4. Service Project - Conduct service project annually.
7. Outdoor Activities - Conduct six highlight activities and attend
long-term camp.
9. Patrol Method - Conduct JLT and hold monthly PLC meetings.

B. Things that should *result* if the unit is "delivering the promise":
5. Advancement - 60% or more of unit scouts will advance a rank or the unit
will have a 10% increase in total rank advancement.
8. Membership - Recharter with increase in membership (1996).

C. Paperwork/ancillary items that *help* National meet it's goals:
3. Planned Program - Conduct annual program planning.
6. Boys' Life - 50% or more of unit members subscribe to Boys' Life or a
10% increase over last year.
10. On-Time Charter Renewal.

IMHO, we need to refocus on the Aims of Scouting. A quality unit should be
defined as a unit that uses the methods of scouting to meet the aims of
scouting. Therefore, I would make all category "A" items mandatory, and require
meeting 3 or 4 of categories A + B.

I would even add some items to category A to cover things such as uniforming,
holding regular scoutmaster conferences, and boy-led meetings and outings.

Focusing on "the numbers" is a necessary evil at the district, council, and
national level, since they can't directly deliver on the category "A" items.
Since those category "B" things should come naturally on an aggregate basis if
the units deliver on category "A", everyone should be happy.

This is a case where, I believe, someone has lost sight of what we, as an
organization, want to encourage, instead picking things that are "easy to
measure".

Joseph A. Alessi in Ozwin 2.11
At 09:50 EST on 27-Nov-96
ASM Troop 313
District Advancement Chair
Jambo 97 Scoutmaster
I used to be an Owl

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