SCOUT EXECUTIVE'S MINUTE

Dear Fellow Scouters:

This month’s column will be presented in a “Q & A” format in order to respond to recent questions I have heard from several Scouters during my travels around the NWSC…

Q: Are there any plans to sell either of the two NWSC camps?
A: No, absolutely not! While other local councils have sold camps or are attempting to sell camps the NWSC is actively raising money to improve its camps.

Q: Are there any plans for the NWSC to merge with another council?
A: No, absolutely not! We do some collaborative ventures with other councils like Lord Baden-Powell University and some professional training, but we have served the same exact territory since 1926.

Q: I’ve heard that the NWSC is changing Areas. What’s up with that?
A: The BSA studies how best to serve their constituents and from time to time changes Regions as well as Areas. Effective July 1, 2008, we will become part of a new Area that serves a geographic area from Chicago to St. Louis. The “Metro Areas” are being eliminated in the Central Region in favor of a geographic Area. The BSA assigns Councils to a specific Area just as a local council determines its own Districts.

Q: Does “Council” really listen and respond to customer feedback?
A: Yes! The volunteer Council Marketing Committee is right in the midst of an on-line survey regarding communications. For summer camp, I personally read EVERY written critique and based upon the volume of responses prioritize the top three to five concerns annually to address those concerns. We also hold informal in-person camp critique meetings at the end of camp for adult leaders and junior leaders to get their feedback, then plan on how to address the top concerns before the next season. We do the same thing on an ongoing basis related to nearly every phase of our operation as part of a continuous improvement process. Roundtables are an important part of this process.

Q: What’s the status of the Capital Campaign construction projects?
A: The new two-story cabin at Lakota is being built right now. The roof is going on next week. The permits for the pool and poolhouse just came back from Springfield with all of the approval stamps. The pool/poolhouse construction area was staked just two days ago. Digging will start next week. Our website homepage (www.nwsc.org) has the latest photos of our progress. Initial designs for the dining pavilion at Napowan have been submitted for approval and construction will begin shortly. We still plan on using the “tent” for most of the summer 2008 season. We still need new donors to complete all of what we have planned. Specifically, we need another $1.2 Million for a new dining hall at Lakota plus the total of the existing pledges of $2.2 Million to be paid to complete the project list. So far over 500 donors have contributed to the Capital Campaign.

Q: Is the operating budget still important?
A: Yes! We need ongoing funds to provide continuing services. This means that FOS, Popcorn Sales, Camping/Activity Revenue, Sports Events, Golf Outing, Distinguished Citizen Banquet, and Scout Shop Sales are essential. Last year, we had a shortfall on the operating budget, but frankly view this as a short-term concern that will be successfully addressed in 2008 and 2009 as we purposefully chose to focus on the Capital Campaign for the long-term health of the council and its programs.

Q: Is endowment still important?
A: Yes! The NWSC has $1.1 Million in endowment with a corpus/principal that cannot be touched. Only the earnings, and frankly only a portion of those earnings as determined by the volunteer Council Executive Board. After we complete the Capital Campaign, we will switch our emphasis to expanding the endowment up to $3.9 Million.

Q: Don’t we get United Way support?
A: Yes. Local United Way support totals approximately $85,000 annually and is designated to support the NWSC Scoutreach Program.

Q: What has the NWSC done to cut expenses and increase revenues?
A: Over the last several years we have eliminated several professional and office staff positions, tightened our expense controls, created a volunteer Council Fund Management Committee, expanded our Council Budgeting and Council Audit process, and implemented a stricter purchase order/bidding system. At the same time, we have purposefully increased FOS, focused on proven special events, and eliminated those special events that consumed too many resources without a high rate of return on our time and efforts. We have also secured some new grant funds, increased the number of schools paying for Learning for Life, and increased revenue from our “Soccer and Scouting” program. It is an ongoing process.

Q: What are the plans for the NWSC Volunteer Service Center?
A: Initially, we thought there would be support for moving the Volunteer Service Center, but so far, has found no significant financial support to do so. We will continue to make improvements there over time, but generally these will be relatively low cost items. So far, we have done some painting and improved the bathrooms. The addition of the National Scout Shop just a few years ago has been the largest improvement.

Q: What’s “The Plan” for the rest of 2008?
A: Focus on the Centennial Quality Awards at all levels of our movement ---- Unit, District, and Council. Continue to grow in serving more youth, provide a high quality program experience at all of our activities and events, make sure that every kid in the NWSC has a long-term camping experience, operate a balanced budget, complete our four construction projects, eliminate our debt load ASAP by the continued discipline of reduced expenses and increased revenues, getting more volunteers involved, and effectively communicating the overall Scouting experience to our friends.

Q: What’s new?
A: Lots of stuff! The upcoming Popcorn Sales Program this Fall, the Campout with the Schaumburg Flyers chaired by Laura Camiliere, the Den Advancement Pilot Program chaired by Reggie Lithgow, using the Metra train service to get to Lakota for camp this summer, going electronic on the Northwest News, initial plans for the 2010 National Jamboree chaired by Scott Ratter, the new Scout Parent Initiative chaired by Cindy Kunzer, and the re-emphasis on our two camps (Napowan and Lakota), and the true volunteer ownership of growing our youth membership to serve more local youth. We have some new District Executives who are learning their districts and working with a crew of great volunteers in the NWSC. Our volunteer Council Executive Committee is providing superb leadership to improvements for our council’s service to chartered partners, units, fellow volunteers, and youth members.

Best regards,
Stephen J. Taylor, CFRE
Scout Executive
staylor@bsamail.org