National Does Listen

Doug Roach in an earlier posting wrote:

"How often has anyone at the local level been surveyed for imput into the
effectiveness and focus of BSA policies and training. I don't mean the
questionnaire at the end of a course that may result in local
improvements to the program, but legitimate well thought out opinions
from volunteer Scouters that are not subsequently filtered through
council pros who (in OUR council at least) seem to have a vested
interest in the status quo?"

With over a million registered adult volunteers, BSA would be hard
pressed to survey each and everyone before making any decisions. Instead
BSA relies primarily on volunteers serving at the National and Regional
level to gather information informally based on their knowledge of the
program and their many contacts throughout the organization. For example,
both Ed Schmitt and Lew Orans posted information indicating their
involvement on National Task Forces, Ed seeking input from the list
on the Webelos handbook. We also have on this list a member who was
instrumental in reworking the Tiger program. Likewise, the comments by
Scouters from around the country on uniforming and insignia have been heard
by a member of this list who serves on the Uniform and Insignia Project
Team (and yes that member is asking for the cargo pockets to come back).
And there are others on the list who participate nationally as well.

Recently, many of you expressed concerns with the then new requirement to
have unit growth as a requirement for the Quality Unit Award. Each of
your comments reached a member of the National Committee along with
comments garnered from many other sources including some on the net. As
you know the requirement was acknowledged to have been an error shortly
thereafter. Because the voices of local Scouters at the unit level were
heard a national requirement was changed.

Although the method is not necessarily perfect, BSA has always been
careful to listen to its volunteers. For both the professionals and
volunteers serving at the regional or national level, the thoughts and
concerns of individual Scouters at the unit level are always important
considerations in the formulation of policy and the design of training.

Constructive ideas for improving program and training expressed here and
elsewhere have a habit of finding their way up the line. I was pleased
to learn that a ceremony I posted to the list here was marked for
inclusion in a future edition of Staging Den and Pack Ceremonies.
Likewise, I know that some of ideas from the discussions on the Jambo97
list have been heard in the decision making process for planners of the
National Jamboree, especially Jamboree staff members running various
program areas.

Keep on sharing ideas, making suggestions, expressing concerns, and
helping other Scouters with your comments. The folks at National do
listen, after all as it turns out some of them turn out to be us. :-)

Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman
Dep.Dist.Commissioner-Training, G.W.Dist., NCAC, BSA (Virginia)
U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area)
ftp1 or ftp2.scouter.com/usscouts E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org

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