multicultural markets newsletter - boy … · to provide adequate mentoring and leadership to young...

MULTICULTURALMARKETS

NEWSLETTER

Multicultural MarketsBoy Scouts of America

Super Troop 504Chartered to Kingsley House – New Orleans, Louisiana

MissionTo provide adequate mentoring and leadership to young men between the ages 10 and 17 years of age by using the aims and methods of the Boy Scouts of America. To provide both entertaining and meaningful learning opportunities in an atmosphere that broadens the horizons of young men in the following Focus areas: African-American history, scholastic ability, social relationships, spiritual outlook, technology, cultural arts, law and citizenship, business and entrepreneurship, and home economics.

First Court of HonorIn line with the troop’s mission to provide a fun and meaningful experi-ence, Super Troop 504’s fi rst court of honor was held during the New Orleans Voodoo arena football game on Friday, July 8, 2011. At this event, the new Boy Scouts were awarded their fi rst rank advancement, the Scout badge, during half-time on the fi eld in front of their peers and parents. They earned credit toward the Athletics and Sports merit badges also.

Background of the ProgramTerrence Hamilton started work in the Southeast Louisiana Council as director of fi eld service on October 15, 2010. Terrence began his professional Scouting career in 1999 as a district Scout executive in the Circle Ten Council, bringing with him a strong desire to reach the young boys and men in inner-city New Orleans. As violence and pov-erty continued to push inner-city boys in a negative direction, Terrence realized that community residents needed to band together to address the problem, and he suggested an easy way to get the dialog started. In the African-American community, barbershop talk can be more valu-able than the evening news to a community. If you want to get a mes-sage out in a particular community, take it to the barbershop! Once

Key Contacts

De Tan NguyenTeam [email protected]

John FitzpatrickMembership SpecialistJohn.fi [email protected]

Rudy GonzalezMembership [email protected]

Garfi eld MurdenMembership Specialist972-580-2478garfi [email protected]

Keith WaltonMembership [email protected]

Kim GarrettSenior Administrative [email protected]

Aaron MontesdeocaSenior Program [email protected]

Fax 972-580-7888

See Super Troop 504 on page 6.

FOURTH EDITION OCTOBER 2011

2 www.scouting.org/membership • www.scouting.org/multicultural

Membership Recruitment Task Force Welcomes New Chairman, Steve Weekes

Steve Weekes is the founder and chief executive offi cer of Weekes Forest Products, Inc., in St. Paul, Minnesota. Weekes Forest Products, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest indepen-dently owned softwood lumber distributors. It serves over 3,000 customers in the U.S. and Canada from a network of nine facilities and sales offi ces.

Steve is very active in his community. He was president and was on the board of directors of the Minnesota Forestry Alumni Association from 1972–75. From 2005–2006, he was the chairman of the board of directors of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association. He was on the board of advisors for the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences—University of Minnesota from 2007–2009, and has served on the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board as chairman of the National Strategic Planning Committee since 2006.

Steve has a B.S. in forest products marketing from the University of Minnesota, and in 2004 he received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota.

Steve has been involved in Scouting for over 50 years. He is a Distinguished Eagle Scout, was an Order of the Arrow lodge chief, and is a former Central Region president. Steve and his wife, Monica, have two children and two grandchildren.

Membership Recruitment Task ForceCarlos AlcazarDr. David L. BriscoeRonald O. ColemanLucia D. CroninJeff rey H. Goldsmith, Esq.Michael J. HardebeckEnvoy Scout HurulaKi D LeeNeil LuptonGiovanni LiveraMichael LysterCarlos G. Marti nezNicholas Viet NguyenHon. James W. Palmer, Jr.Tico A. PérezBill PfundtJohn PyferJose E. Rodriguez, M.D.Dr. Mary E. StevensJudge Carl E. StewartDarrin ThomasR. Chip Turner, APRSteve WeekesSenator Royce WestMiguel David WiseRay Wood

How to Grow and Sustain VenturingFlorida Sea Base Conference and Retreat Center

The national Membership Impact Department is offering How to Grow and Sustain Venturing at the exciting Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in Islamorada, Florida. This course will open your eyes to the unlimited potential of strengthening your Venturing program in your council, district, and unit! Participants will receive detailed information on new recruitment ideas and strategies for reaching the young adult population, and best practices that are taking place across the country.

When: The course begins with a brief orientation at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 16, and con-cludes by 10 a.m. on Friday, January 21. If you wish to arrive before the conference starts, the additional cost will be $25 a night for lodging. Meals are not included. Expect a two-hour drive from the Miami airport or two and one-half hours from Fort Lauderdale. Monday through Thursday sessions will conclude at 4:30 p.m., so you will have plenty of free time.

Where: The BSA’s Florida Sea Base Conference and Retreat Center is located in Islamorada, Florida, on Lower Matecumbe Key, about midway between Miami and Key West on U.S. Highway 1 at mile marker 73. Check out www.fsbconferencenter.org.

Cost: $300 for housing for four nights (January 16–21, 2012) in dormitory-style rooms with four bunk beds per room. Registration includes all meals, a luau dinner, and course materials. However, it does not include airfare and transportation from the airport. You are responsible for making your own airline and rental car reservations. Conference attire is casual, but the Venturing uniform is always appropriate.

Deadline: The reservation form and payment must be received by December 23, 2011, atthe following address: Boy Scouts of America

Membership Impact Department, S260P.O. Box 152079Irving, Texas 7515-2079

For more information about registration, contact Kim Garrett at 972-580-2119 or [email protected], or Keith Walton at 972-580-2151 or [email protected].

Steve Weekes

www.scouting.org/membership • www.scouting.org/multicultural 3

Vietnamese Scouting Leaders SummitTwenty-two participants ages of 18–72 gathered at Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, New Mexico, during the week of June 18, 2011. Led by a faculty of fi ve, the group was charged with the daunting task of defi ning Vietnamese Scouting traditions and syncing them fl awlessly into the BSA program. Needless to say, we did not accomplish all that by the week’s end.

What we did manage to do was open up several levels of understanding to Scouters, old and young alike. Each question asked during the week gave rise to a dozen more ques-tions - what is tradition, what does it mean to be Vietnamese-American, how do we pre-serve our culture, how can the generations work together? Outlining the curriculum for the conference beforehand had created hours upon hours’ worth of discussion and debate, stretched across 10 months of planning. Our week at Philmont was not enough to say all that we wanted to say or hear all that we wanted to hear.

Our main modules comprised defi ning traditions, both of the Vietnamese culture and Vietnamese Scouting; presenting program, trainings, and resources offered through the BSA and through the Vietnamese Scouting community; and discussing how to recruit and retain young Vietnamese-American leaders. A lot of networking and sharing happened outside of class time as well. Our participants were able to experience Philmont’s exciting programs, such as the campfi res, handicraft store, horseback riding and COPE course.

In addition to the BSA’s mission of preparing young people to make ethical and moral choices guided by the Scout Oath and Law, the Vietnamese-American community has a vision of a future where our youth remember what it means to be of Vietnamese descent. The faculty of the Vietnamese Scouting Leaders Summit would like to thank the Multicultural Markets team of the BSA for their continued support in fulfi lling our vision.

PHILMONT TRAINING CENTER - 2011

VIET

NAM

ESE SCOUTING LEADERS SUM

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Vietnamese Scouting Leaders SummitJune 19–25, 2011

Philmont Training CenterCimarron, New Mexico


Boy Scout Performs a Miraculous Save on Chicago Train Tracks

Benjamin Groeper was waiting for a train at the CTA’s Clark and Lake Blue Line subway stop with his sister Krysta on Saturday night when he heard a scream and the sound of glass breaking.

The fi rst thing he thought was that someone had fallen onto the tracks.

“That scream sounded like, ‘Oh, no, I’m on the train tracks,’” said Groeper, a 17-year-old senior at Lane Tech High School from Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood.

Groeper, his sister and two others ran to the opposite side of the platform and saw a man lying on the tracks.

As others called 911, Groeper saw that the man wasn’t moving. He then saw the lights of a Forest Park-bound train fl ash in the tunnel and realized that someone needed to help get the man off the tracks. After a second or two, Groeper jumped off the platform to the tracks below.

“Everyone was talking about it but not doing anything,” he said.

Groeper, a 6-foot-tall lacrosse and baseball player, lifted the man, who he said was skinny with graying hair. Passengers on the platform helped pull the man to safety, then Groeper jumped back up onto the platform shortly before the train arrived at the station, he said.

The CTA confi rmed that a man was rescued by another passenger when he fell onto the tracks Saturday night around 11 p.m., according to a report by a worker on duty at the time. A Chicago Fire Department offi cial also said that an ambulance was sent to the scene, arriving at 11:17 p.m.

After the rescue, the victim, who has not been identifi ed by authorities, told Groeper and others how he was tired from working two jobs.

Groeper credits values he learned as a longtime Boy Scout for his poise under pressure.

“You have to always be prepared,” said Groeper, who has attained the rank of First Class Scout. “It was the trigger that made me jump down there and do it quickly and effi ciently and get it done without anyone getting hurt.”

Despite the happy outcome, CTA offi cials cautioned against jumping onto the train tracks in any situation.

“If someone witnesses an individual on the tracks, they should immediately notify CTA personnel,” CTA spokeswoman Sheila Gregory said.

After paramedics arrived, Groeper and his group boarded a train and headed home. A few days later, he remained nonchalant about the whole scenario.

“It was a quick moment in my life,” he said. “It wasn’t really that big of a deal to me.”

Groeper’s father, Greg, felt otherwise.

“To see him be selfl ess and thoughtful like that, I was absolutely proud of him,” he said. “But as I tell him: ‘Hey, Mr. Hero. Pick up your socks.’”

Tribune reporter Becky Schlikerman contributed.

Multicultural Markets Philmont Scholarship

Multicultural Markets (Urban Emphasis) Philmont scholarships are given to make up the difference that a Scout, his family, and the unit can’t cover toward his Philmont fees. Generally, the scholarship grant is 40 to 50 percent of the Philmont fee. The maximum Multicultural Markets (Urban Emphasis) will grant is 80 percent of the fee. The scholarship committee believes it is important for a Scout to contribute some por-tion of his fees through personal resources or unit fundraising proj-ects, thus meeting the spirit of the ninth point of the Scout Law: A Scout is thrifty. Most of the scholarship money available is restricted to Philmont attendance, rather than atten-dance at other BSA high-adventure bases, due to the donor’s requirements.

Deadline: May 2, 2012

Email Kim Garrett, [email protected], for the 2012 application.


New Publications AvailablePeer-to-Peer Recrutiment CardsPeer-to-peer recruitment cards have been created to help Cub and Boy Scout families promote Scouting to their friends.

These cards are based on the eye-catching resources created for the 2011 recruit-ment campaign showing our youth engaged in fun-fi lled activities. An easy-to-use business card template was created to help families promote Scouting. These cards will be a great tool to be used by local councils that are facing the challenges of limited school access.

The cards can be pre-printed with contact information on the back or left blank so Scouts and their families can write invitation information for prospective Scouts. These cards can be found on www.scouting.org/wordstoliveby.

Scouting in the Hispanic/Latino CommunityThis booklet provides unit-serving executives and Scouters with helpful approaches for successfully marketing Scouting to Hispanic Americans, including successful how-to strategies for recruiting Hispanic American volunteers at both the council and unit levels, and gives readers a good understanding of cultural traits shared by most Hispanic Americans. Go to http://bit.ly/r1dTJ7.

Best Methods for Multicultural GrowthThis collection of best methods from successful programs across the BSA will help you in your efforts to fulfi ll your council’s mission to serve more youth. This booklet high-lights ideas about building and sustaining units as well as recruiting additional youth and adult membership. Go to http://bit.ly/o0DYXH.

Scouting in Rural CommunitiesRural communities are important markets for Scouting. They present different chal-lenges than urban and suburban communities do, and some of them may require extra effort for good results. This booklet shows techniques and best practices for making Scouting come alive for young people, adults, and community organizations in rural districts. Go to http://bit.ly/qy8TLI.

Delivery System Manual Cub Scout Program: Year ADeliver the promise. This manual consists of the traditional Cub Scout program and can be delivered by program managers/paraprofessionals or volunteers. This easy-to-use, 36-week guide is suited for mixed-age groups and guar-antees rank advancement. Available in English and Spanish editions. You can also call the Membership Impact Department at 972-580-2119.

Your Council Name Here

What can Scouts do?Camp overnight

Catch a fish

Hike a trail

Make new friends

Delivery System Manual Cub Scout Program

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Hike a trail

Make new friends

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a week, Terrence would get his hair cut in the Stop-Jockin Barber Shop in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans. This barbershop is directly across the street from a mixed income community formally known as the St. Bernard Housing Project.

Once a week, Terrence engaged barbershop patrons in conversations on how to bet-ter help our failing youth. As months passed, all barbershop patrons agreed there was a problem and that a strong Boy Scout program could provide a solution. Eventually, a barber shop owner named Jimmie told Terrence that the barbershop conversations were beginning to pay off. Not only did Jimmie agree to help with the development of a troop in the old St. Bernard Housing Project, but he also learned through conversations that one of his newest customers, Roosevelt, is an Eagle Scout.

Roosevelt “Pastor Ro” Wright III is the son of Rev. Roosevelt Wright Jr. who founded “Top Gun” Troop 65 in Monroe, La., almost 20 years ago. A meeting was arranged at the shop.

When Terrence and Pastor Ro met, their ideas of reaching inner-city youth instantly sparked a two-hour conversation. Pastor Ro, a 34-year-old business owner and Christian leader, admired the passion he heard in Terrence’s appeal. The outcome: in June 2011 “Super Troop” 504 in Gentilly was chartered.

“Super Troop” 504 along with its feeder packs in New Orleans are funded by Capital One Bank.

Super Troop 504Continued from page 1.

Members of Boy Scout “Super Troop” 504: (left to right) Ryan Hendrick, Abdul Madison Jr., Alex Ramos, Kohl Sippio, Ahmad Madison, Raheen Sylvester, Marvin Domino Jr., Tyler Polk, Lewis Hagans, Kermit Brazile, Esham Phillips, and Dylan Terrell

Roosevelt “Pastor Ro” Wright III (center of photo)

Pastor Ro and parents of “Super Troop” 504 congratulates Scouts

Steve HemperleyGreater New Orleans Market President, Capital One Bank,

In the spring of 2010, Steve Hemperley, president of the Southeast Lousiana Council, approached Scout Executive Don Ellis about providing fund-ing to organize Scouting for dis-advantaged youth and families residing in the Gentilly neighbor-hoods of New Orleans. Since then, Capital One Bank has provided fi nancial resources to support the multicultural Scouting programs of the Southeast Louisiana Council specifi cally for Gentilly. These funds provide part-time paraprofessional sup-port, registration assistance, camperships, uniforms, hand-books and literature for Scouts residing in Gentilly.

“Through our efforts as banking professionals and concerned citizens, Capital One associates appreciate, celebrate and sup-port the rich diversity of our com-pany, the communities in which we live and work, and the individ-uals and businesses we serve,” Steve says. “We’re pleased to support the Southeast Louisiana Council’s multi-cultural programs, including ScoutReach, the fi rst sustainable scouting program in Gentilly since Hurricane Katrina. ScoutReach has become a sig-nifi cant part of the Capital One Bank Gentilly Community-Based Investment Project, a multi-faceted community revitalization effort designed to serve as a catalyst for the redevelopment of the neighborhoods of Gentilly.”


A Cub Scout Story

My son wanted to join the Cub Scouts, and I knew how important Scouting is in a boy’s life. The current pack was not meeting, so I reorganized a Cub Scout pack so my sons could have a positive Scouting experience. The pack had been in decline for a number of years and fi nally just fell apart. It only had 11 youth on the roster and only one was a Webelos Scout. We held a School Night in January and six families came out. From those six families we formed a pack, with each family agreeing to accept a role in the leadership of the pack. I was the committee chairman.

I called the district executive and told him we needed training. Within a week we held a training session at my home with breakouts in the dining room, living room, and kitchen. The district invited several other volunteers that needed training to join us, so we had a total of 14 people that night. The following week we had a program planning meeting at which we agreed to a full 12-month program, complete with summer den meetings and den fi eld trips as well as outdoor pack meetings on weekends with a picnic format. By spring, we had tripled the pack, and by the second year we were up over 50 boys.

As the pack grew, we ended up with a lot of Webelos Scouts, eventually reaching four full dens, two fi rst-year and two second-year. At that time we partnered with the troop to have a high-adventure event annually for the boys entering the Arrow of Light year. In our case, we went from Pittsburgh to Gettysburg and had the boys earn the Historic Trails Award. The point was to have signifi cant changes in the program as the boys moved up in grade, age, and rank. When we presented the medals at the June pack meeting, every younger boy envied the Webelos Scouts and made a subconscious decision to go on that trip.

Dens were restricted to eight members or less. We used ceremonies to make presenta-tion of awards more impressive. With a 12-month program boys had arrow points running down their shirttails. At School Night we had to recruit new leaders for dens because all of our existing dens were full. Boys did not drop out. Adults stayed on as leaders and the program became stronger with each passing year. We found that we were getting boys from the higher grades joining because their friends had told them about our activities and about the fun they were having.

This was in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and we had to contend with Atari, Nintendo, vid-eos, soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, football, swim club, martial arts, and more, but we became the competition. Even in the summer, our pack meetings were full, and within a few years we were graduating two full dens of Webelos Scouts to the troop.

Membership growth comes from retention and recruitment. One without the other is no good. We have to set the bar high so boys and parents will come up to the standards that we want; trained leaders, good advancement, year-round program, 100% Boys’ Life, camping and outdoor activities, family involvement, meeting religious obligations, and having a healthy budget. In short, running a great program that attracts and holds boys.

District executives need to have the time and freedom to know their volunteers and to work with them to create the proper environment.

Keys: quality program, good den and pack meetings, great crafts, fun fundraiser, 100% Boys’ Life, trained leadership, functioning committee, lots of advancement and recog-nition, religious awards program, good chartered organization relationship, day camp/resident camp, family involvement, troop support, and more.

The motivation of our vol-unteers at the unit level is key to our pack’s success. That is where the impact is made, and if it doesn’t get down that far, then it doesn’t happen.

Here is my story about my volunteer experience back when my kids were a bit (quite a bit) younger. We had a blast, and my experience brought me back into professional Scouting. Membership loss at the unit level is not normal, expected, or acceptable. Once we learn that the only reason to lose a kid is when they move away, then we will address why the others leave. Scouting may not be for every kid, but it is for the ones that show up at sign-up night, and we lose them not because of them but because of us when we fail to meet their expectations. Give them a great program and they will never leave until they transition or age out.

John WhitfordSenior District ExecutiveMoraine Trails CouncilButler, Pennsylvania


Upcoming Symposiums and WorkshopsNovember 18, 2011 Multi cultural Markets Workshop Tacoma, WA (WR Area 1)April 25–27, 2012 Multi cultural Markets Symposium Las Vegas, NV (WR)May 9–11, 2012 Multi cultural Markets Symposium Chicago, IL (CR)June 24–30, 2012 Membership Strategies and Best Practi ces PhilmontJune 24–30, 2012 Scouti ng in the Hispanic/Lati no Community PhilmontJuly 22–28, 2012 Membership Strategies and Best Practi ces PhilmontJuly 29–August 4, 2012 Membership Strategies and Best Practi ces PhilmontAugust 5–11, 2012 Recruiti ng and Serving Ethnic Populati ons PhilmontAugust 12–18, 2012 How to Grow and Sustain Venturing Philmont

Another Great Course at PhilmontThe Multicultural Markets workshop at Philmont was a big success thanks to Judge Jim Palmer and his staff. They provided excellent training and resources for this year’s participants.

Philmont itself is always a tremendous experience alone, but the energy and excitement of the staff and participants made this years course very special. Everyone left Philmont all fi red up and excited to get back to their councils to implement some of the new ideas they received during their week at Philmont.

Irving Quiles, Judge James Palmer, Robert Montanez, Tim Patterson,Anthony Gibbs, and John Fitzpatrick

No one should boast of being honest, depend-

able, courteous, and considerate for those are

fundamental qualities essential to good charac-ter that everyone ought to

develop and use. —Waite Phillips

Urban Emphasis Units at Philmont Summer 2012The Membership Recruitment Team has a limited amount of expedition numbers for urban empha-sis units wanting to go to Philmont. Please contact Kim Garrett at [email protected] or De Tan Nguyen at [email protected] for more information.

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