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Beginning in 2007 and continuing through 2010, the
Centennial Quality Awards program, named in celebration of the 100th
anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, will replace the traditional
Quality Awards program for units, districts, and councils.
By focusing on unit leaders working closely with
commissioners to set specific goals and then monitoring progress toward
them, the new award is designed to have a greater impact on improving the
quality of the program in every pack, troop, team, and crew in the BSA.
"The revised award program enables us to salute those who
truly deliver exceptional programs to youth members at all levels of the
organization," said Keith Christopher, director of Leadership Support
Service in the BSA Program Group. "By earning this award, a unit, district,
or council makes a statement that they have provided the highest quality
program experience possible."
 As
the first step in achieving the Centennial Quality Award, every unit,
district, and council will establish annual goals in key areas of program
delivery.
For packs, troops, teams, and crews, the process for 2007
begins late this year or early in 2007 when unit leadership meets with an
assigned unit commissioner or a district-level volunteer in consultation
with the district executive to complete a commitment form. (The form
must be submitted and approved no later than Feb. 15, 2007.)
 On
the commitment form, unit leaders agree to goals that will indicate
sufficient progress in areas such as:
- percentage of leaders completing Fast Start and Basic
Leader Training
- number of new youth members and active parents
recruited and percentage of youth members retained from the previous year
- unit rechartering on time
- percentage of youth advancing in rank and having an
outdoor experience or monthly activity
- conducting a program planning session and carrying out
adequate money-earning activities to support that program.
During the year, the unit leader and committee chairman
will get together with the unit commissioner for an action planning
meeting to evaluate progress toward the commitment form goals.
Using a unit self-assessment process, they will
review successes as well as areas needing improvement and determine how the
remaining goals can be accomplished and if additional goals need to be added
in other areas.
After Oct. 31, 2007, the unit leader, committee chairmen,
and unit commissioner can review the total progress made toward each goal
and determine if the unit qualifies for Centennial Quality status.
For each year of the award, a recognition patch is
available in a different color: 2007, red; 2008, white; 2009, blue; and
2010, red, white, and blue.
Individual members of qualifying Centennial Quality Units
wear the appropriate patch in position three on the right sleeve of their
uniform (for packs and troops, below the den or patrol emblem).
Unit awards for packs, troops, teams, and crews include a
unit ribbon, lapel pins for leaders, and a plaque for each year qualifying.
More information is available from local Scout council
service centers or at
http://www.scouting.org/awards/centennial. |
