| Marketing In The Service Of Faith
Catholic Scouting
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IntroductionIf the measure of our Catholic Scouting success is participation in Catholic Scouting programs, many diocesan programs are suffering a reduction in awards (evidenced by NCCS statistics and a nationwide trend in other denominations), many diocesan programs are suffering a reduction in attendance, then there is also the potential for a growing frustration of our Catholic Scouting leadership in providing these programs to become despaired and lose the energy that will be required to resurrect it.The objective for this website is to evaluate why this is happening, provide proven methods to counter this trend and offer a program that can double your participation. (Note: Since most Scouters who view this website don't know who I am, I provide a Scouting BIO to introduce myself and provide credibility to the journey we are about to undertake.) Why is Catholic Scouting in this dilemma? I don't propose to solve the entirety of this question, I propose a journey that uses our competitive advantages to re-invent ourselves. Again, Why is Catholic Scouting in this dilemma? Let's look at it from the viewpoint of our worst case scenario A Scoutmaster (OR Cubmaster) who is non-catholic, his unit is sponsored by a non-catholic institution and his membership features a minority of catholic scouts. To put it bluntly, Eagle Scout is the primary goal for all the major programs promoted by the Boy Scouts of America. The entire leadership, the parents and the Scouts are all focused on Eagle Scout as the primary goal of Scouting. Any other goal is secondary. Observations Summer Camp - basically a rank advancement program with some high adventure. Merit Badge Universities - a rank advancement program Scout Handbook - covers a rank advancement program with descriptions of other programs of interest. High Adventure - movement up the ranks is required to participate in Philmont, Sea Base, etc. Religious Requirement - there is no religious requirement for any rank except what is uttered in the Scout Oath and Law. Although these are rightly among the founding principles of the BSA, there is not a single religious requirement for a boy to achieve Eagle Scout. So if we agree (if you don't, email me and lets have a discussion), at least partially, then the result is an acknowledgement that Catholic Scouting is a secondary program. This is the single most important notion that Catholic Scouting needs to realize ... we have to be like Avis Rent A Car facing HERTZ. The Avis Rent A Car slogan is never more true - We Try Harder! But in our case, we don't necessarily need to try harder because we are expending a great amount of energy already. Simply put, we can use the synergy of our efforts to reinvent ourselves and achieve positive momentum. If interested, let's continue the Journey |
