The Centennial Quality Award 

You may or may not have noticed, but Boy Scouts of America will be 100 years old soon.  The first charter was in 1910.  In preparing for the centennial celebration, the Boy Scouts have done a lot of research, a lot of thinking and a lot of planning. 

Soon you will have a first-hand look at the results of all that activity.  To get a feel for the scope of the remarkable departure from the standard Quality Unit Award we are used to being measured by, let me give you an excerpt from a letter written to the volunteers and professionals of the Boy Scouts of America by the National President, Rick Cronk, the National Commissioner, Donald Belcher, and the Chief Scout Executive, Roy Williams: 

“Our 100^th anniversary is only four years away.  The excitement of celebrating a century of fun and adventure, citizenship, patriotism and good character is truly an opportunity for America to salute the Boy Scouts of America. 

Through our new Strategic Plan, “2010: When Tradition Meets Tomorrow,” we are extremely pleased to introduce the Centennial Quality Award!  This newly revised award program is our opportunity to salute those who truly deliver exceptional programs to youth members at all levels of our organization. 

Our primary focus is to improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!” 

So as you can see, this is a big deal!  How is it going to work?  What is different about it?  What do you need to do?  You will have an orientation session at your Roundtable or other specified meeting in your district to explain the process and review the forms.  These will also be available on the council website www.crossroadsbsa.org.  

Sometime between November 1 and February 15, you will have a visit from your Unit Commissioner.  He/she will come with information to assist you in setting goals for the first year of the program, including a self-assessment tool as well as your history of various criteria relative to a quality program:  retention, percent of trained leaders, number of new youth and adults, advancement, outdoor program, etc. The unit leader, the unit’s commissioner and the unit’s committee chairman will attend this evaluation/goal setting session to determine appropriate goals for your unit for, in this case, the calendar year of 2007. 

The topics of these goals will look familiar – the same things we have always measured.  But now, instead of meeting a standard set for all units, you will have the opportunity of setting your own goals, based on your history in each area and on the concept of improvement.  Your commissioner will serve as a sounding board for you so your goals are both attainable and yet challenge you to improvement.  That’s the key – improvement.  Our hope for you is to improve each year in each category.   

Your goals will be turned in by February 15 of 2007 (this is no longer a part of the re-chartering process), with your keeping a copy and a copy going to the council for recording.  Your commissioner will continue to stay in touch, to offer help toward your progress, and to enlist the services of any portion of your district committee needed to assist you in successfully reaching your goals.  She/he will also assist you in conducting quarterly progress reviews with your leadership team.  After October 31, 2007, your accomplishments will be reviewed, and success measured based on your commitments earlier in the year.  Your district will let you know when the ribbons for the first year of the Centennial Quality Unit Award will be distributed.   

To quote from the letter again, “Today, set your goals and work toward achieving the award.  Your youth members are counting on you!  Good luck as you work toward helping celebrate our 100^th anniversary by achieving this award for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010: When Tradition Meets Tomorrow!”