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SCOUT EXECUTIVE'S MINUTE Dear Fellow Scouters: By the time you read this letter the Council Executive Board will have voted and hopefully have adopted the latest edition of the Council Strategic Plan, approved a 2005 Council Operating Budget, and approved a plan to go forward with a Capital Development Campaign as a result of an in-depth Feasibility Study. A lot of volunteer and staff time, effort, thinking, money, planning, consulting, networking, and discussion have gone into the plans mentioned above. I am deeply appreciative of the volunteer leadership of Marie Diffley, John Frieburg, Rich Politowicz, Ken Becker, Ron Schagrin, and Jim Tierney amongst many others who have stepped up to lead various elements of the plans mentioned above. Truly, it is an exciting time to be involved in Scouting with the Northwest Suburban Council.Without getting into the lengthy specifics the vision that these men and women have crafted for 2005 for our council, its leaders, its youth members, and chartered partners involves some key elements. These elements include the attainment of the National Quality Council Award for 2005. It includes Balanced Youth Membership Growth in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, and Learning for Life along with a Balanced Council Operating Budget. It includes continued Youth Membership Growth to the 16,000 youth served level. It includes continuing an Expanded Scoutreach Program for local Latino and Asian youth. It includes the successful launch of a Development Campaign for capital improvements primarily to our camp facilities and an expanded endowment program. 
The sub-elements necessary to successfully implement this plan will include improved communications, continued emphasis on an overall quality program, continued focus on chartering new units while rechartering existing units “on-time and in-strength”, expanding our Friends of Scouting base to $413,000 in cash, growing our popcorn sales while at the same time reducing our dependence on special events and United Way funding, and assessing our operation for maximum effectiveness in terms of meetings, programs, and activities. The year 2005 must also address the local as well as national concern regarding Cub Scouting. Currently less than half of our local Cub Scout Packs have even one Tiger Cub Den. And it appears that there has been a four year slide in Cub Scout youth membership. This needs to be addressed with spring and fall recruitment, fun-filled outdoor activities, training for all new Den Leaders, and Commissioner service to Packs. We must provide the opportunity to join Cub Scouting before other competing programs and activities. We must realize that “Mom” makes the decision whether a boy joins Cub Scouting or not. And when boys are recruited their applications must be turned in to the Volunteer Service Center within the next week so that boys are registered, can advance in rank, become insured, and can get their Boys’ Life subscriptions on-time Best regards, Stephen J. Taylor, CFRE Scout Executive Northwest Suburban Council |