Scouting, Volume 2, Number 16, December 15, 1914 Page: 2
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2
SCOUTING.
so that we may in every respect have a
stronger citienship and a better nation?
I am,
" Faithfully yours,
(Signed) Colin H. Livingstone,
" President, National Council."
MEMORANDUM FOR OFFICIALS.
Accompanying Letter of Dec. 15, 1914.
from President Livingstone.
Comparative Growth of Scout Movement.
According to the evidence now before
us, scout conditions throughout the
country are most encouraging. The at-
tached statement—Exhibit "A"—com-
paring activities of the months of Sep-
tember, October and November of the
present year with last year speaks for
itself. Please note that 21,627 badges
of various kinds were awarded during
these three months as compared with
13,132 for the same period of last year,
and that during the same period certif-
icates were granted to 25,118 Scouts and
Scout officials as compared with 13,216
a year ago.
Effort to Keep in Touch With Field.
In the blanks for re-registration of
Scout officials, suggestions have been in-
vited from those active in the work as
to how the National Council through its
Executive Officers might be of more
service.
In our general correspondence and
through our two field men who have
from time to time visited numerous
places throughout the country during the
past year, we have endeavored to keep
the Executive Officers accurately in-
formed as to general conditions. In a
recent letter to the most active Scout
officials covering the whole country, a
questionaire as per copy—Exhibit " B,"—
was submitted with a view of securing
definite suggestions which might lead to
improvements.
Finances.
Financially conditions are also en-
couraging. The efforts to place the
movement upon a partially self-support-
ing basis and eventually upon an en-
tirely self-supporting basis are meeting
all expectations. As a result of the spe-
cial effort on the part of the members of
the Finance Committee of the National
Council with the co-operation of the
members of the Local Councils in New
York City, funds have been secured, as
is explained in Exhibit "C" (see Article
in Col. 1, Page 1), which will enable the
National Council to pay the bills in-
curred during the first few years of the
development of the Movement and op-
erate hereafter on a cash basis.
With the renewal of contributions
which have been regularly given during
the last three years, the income from the
registration plan and the profit from the
Supply Department, Headquarters' Of-
fice, will be able to operate within a
fixed income and will be able to devote
more than ever before its energies to
the development of field work. The in-
auguration of this field work will be de-
pendent upon support from Local Coun-
cils, and contributions from people liv-
ing in the districts to be supported by
the field staff. As the registrations in-
crease it is hoped that more and more
the moneys thus received may be devoted
to field work and that eventually these
registration fees will entirely support all
field work and then make unnecessary
requests for special contributions from
Local Councils.
Tn this statement " C" reference is
also made to the successful financial
campaign in Philadelphia and Worcester.
The fact that in these three cities in
these unusual times the public showed
its willingness to support Scouting, cer-
tainly tends to show that the value of
the Scout Movement is such that those
who are in responsible positions are jus-
tified in asking for its support with full
confidence that all financial support need-
ed w'll be given.
Extract from Bureau of Municipal Re-
port Search.
The enclosed extract from the report
of the 'Bureau of Municipal Research—
Exhibit " D "—with reference to the or-
ganization and efficiency with which the
work of the National Council is con-
ducted, speaks for itself. Those inter-
ested in further details of this report
may secure the opportunity to read same
upon request.
EXHIBIT B.
QUESTIONAIRE.
To Aid National Headquarters in Ren=
dering Greater and More Efficient
Service.
national headquarters.
1. Please make any criticism which occurs to
you as to the methods of National Headquarters in
doing business, or any suggestion in the interest
of efficiency.
2. Do you receive reasonably prompt replies to
your various inquiries of the National Office?
3. Are the replies helpful to you? If not, how
can we serve you better in this respect?
4. In what new ways may National Headquarters
assist you and other men engaged in Scouting?
MERIT BADGES.
5. From your observation, is our present merit
badge scheme of real practical value to boys?
6. And do you know of any cases where boys
have been led to discover latent ability, or in other
words, discover themselves or their vocational apti-
tude, by reason of the merit badge scheme?
7. Do you think it wise to offer any badge
above the Eagle Badge, as for instance, "Double
Eagle" Scout, or "Gold Eagle" Scout, or
8. Do you feel that this might tend to encourage
placing emphasis upon the number of merit badges
for which a _ boy qualifies rather than upon the
thoroughness in qualifying for a few?
9. Do you think that the revised requirements
for Eagle Scouts will effectively safeguard against
too easy attainment of this, the highest honor in
Scouting,
supply department.
10. Do you find that the service of our Supply
Department is satisfactory?
filled? Are y°Ur 0rders PromPtly and efficiently
12. W hat, if any, of the supplies secured from
our Supply Department do not prove to be all
that is claimed "for them?
13. What, if any, part of the official uniform,
including the hat, coat, shorts, breeches, shirt,
belt, haversack or leggings, do you find unsatis-
factory, and how can they be improved without
materially increasing the expense to boys?
14. For which, if any of these supplies, are the
prices charged not satisfactory?
15. What additional articles would you suggest,
if any, that the Supply Department handle?
"SCOUTING."
16. Is the official bulletin, Scouting, of real
value to you and men active in the work?
17. What kind of material in Scouting is of
greatest interest and service to you?
18. Do you find much interest in the Scout-
masters' Training Course now running?
19. Along what lines would you suggest im-
provement or further development?
"ROYS' life."
20. Does Boys' Life, our official magazine, ap-
parently appeal to boys in your jurisdiction?
21. What would you suggest as additional fea-
tures which might increase its interest to boys and
at the same time increase its value?
22. Is the character of advertisements in Boys'
Life generally acceptable?
23. If not, please specifically invite attention to
advertisements which you think should be elim-
inated, and state why.
24. Can you suggest any plan which might in-
crease the interest of school teachers and others
who definitely come in contact with boys, in Boys'
Life, and thus in our Scout Program?
EVERYBOY'S LIBRARY.
25. What, if any, definite or special interest do
you find in Everyboy's Library, and the work of
our Book Department, which is trying to stimulate
a better program of reading for all boys?
OPPOSITION TOWARD MOVEMENT.
25. From what source, if any, do you find oppo-
sition to the Boy Scout scheme in your community,
and for what reason?
VALUE OF SCOUTING PROGRAM.
27. Please give such concrete and definite evi-
dence as you can from your own experience and
observation of the value of Scouting, which in your
opinion justifies the expense and time given to the
movement as a program, for Boy's Work.
28. What proportion of boys in your community
are reached by Scouting as compared with boys
reached by other movements or organizations, and
as . compared with the total number of boys of
Scout age ?
29. To what extent do you find a willingness 011
the part of those engaged in work with boys along
other lines, to co-operate with you or take advan-
tage of the Boy Scout program?
30. How does the expense compare with other
work for boys in your community, of which you
have personal knowledge?
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHURCH.
31. To what extent do you find that pastors and
officials of churches throughout your community
appreciate the opportunities of Scouting as a pro-
gram for boys' work?
32. Is the interest of churches to date the re-
sult of any special invitation extended to them,
or is it more largely because of the natural interest
resulting from the general publicity which has
been given to the movement?
33. What definite evidence, if any, have you as
to the number of boys who have increased their
interest in church life as a result of Scouting?
FUTURE POLICIES.
34. In cases where there is an efficient Troop
Comparative Work Report of National Headquarters'
(Exhibit A) Activities. ^ ^
„ Summary Summary
certificates issued:— September. October. November. 3 Months. Same 3 Months.
Boys ... 2j683 8 4o6 11,516 22,605 11,855
Scoutmasters 130 476 605 1,211 878
Assistant Scoutmasters.... 123 412 529 1,064 274
Unassigned 29 42 '26 97 M4
Commissioners 11 ?? v(a xa
Councils 18 t8 21 57 31
iNumber "oV*badge's issued:--"' *
Tenderfoot & P. L 2,794 3,804 4.809 11,407 7,583
Second Class & P. L 652 883 1,139 2,674 1,839
Hrst Ciass & P. L 239 260 513 1,012 476
M ./nr,anlel 1,019 1>3°9 970 3,298 r,427
Merit Badges 912 1,797 527 3,236 1,797
Total No. badges issued 5,616 8,053 7,958 21,627 "3,132
Mail received 12,920 17,680 I4,564 45,164 36,353
Mail sent out 22,750 27,366 36,319 86,435 56,837
Number of orders 1,989 3,487 3,368 8,844 5,954
Number of visitors 457 663 575 1,695 1,681
Every one must appreciate the fact that it will be necessary to fix upon some
definite time when those who do not register as required by the regulations of the
National Council will cease to have the right to wear the official badges and
official uniform and be called members of the Boy Scouts of America. The Na-
tional Council has not yet definitely fixed upon this date, but it has under considera-
tion eventually establishing a limit' of thirty days grace as is customary in all other
organizations where registration or membership dues are paid.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 2, Number 16, December 15, 1914, periodical, December 15, 1914; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282708/m1/2/: accessed May 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.