New Ideas : BSA Innovation Engine

Duplicate Registrants During Recharter Process

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:13:06 PDT

During our council's rechartering process, we have found that there were many times when a person who was already registered in Scoutnet was not pulled-in on the recharter, and a new profile was created by the volunteer during this process. A lot of the time, they are entering "Joe Smith" when he is in the system as "Joseph Smith". Is there a way that the system can recognize that the person is entering a duplicate, and a new window opens up and asks them if this is the same person beforehand? This would cut down on so much time, as we have to end up pulling in the established registrant in Scoutnet (who already has had a CBC done) and then merging the two profiles.

Comments (2)Technology

Spreadsheet for Required Training

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:11:30 PDT

Vote On Idea

It would be great if there was some kind of spreadsheet or grid that would show what training was required for different activities.

Comments (0)Technology, health and safety

Unit Tracking Sheet

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:56:39 PDT

Vote On Idea

We should come up with a tracking sheet for each unit that would give information such as: unit #, expiration date, charter on-time status, year end recruitment, monthly membership update, key leader contact, chartered organization, FOS contributions (last year v. this year), recruitment night dates, trained leader%, advancement% (not just number of advancements), camp attendance%, participation in roundtables and district/council events, product sale money earned (this year vs. last year, and any other quality metrics. Registrars and professionals could update these, and commissioners could view them (or at least professionals could print out copies). To me, one form for all is best. Commissioners always request these items so we could give them the whole sheet or specific columns depending on their needs, but we would not need to duplicate tracking systems this way. This could be accessed from MYBSA.

Comments (1)Technology

Adult Profile Tracking Sheet

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:46:35 PDT

Vote On Idea

Could we come up with a tracking mechanism that takes adult application information (email, phone contact, occupation, past scouting experience) and combines it with training records and awards to have an all-inclusive person report? This could be accessible to all field and management staff to be edited by need. Items could then be sorted for specific needs for multiple committees. This would save time on coming up with "Daddy-do" lists, tracking down emails by phone as well and more.

Comments (0)Technology

On-line education for professionals

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:28:27 PDT

Vote On Idea

To save money on boarding, flights and expenses for training, why not have professionals do on-line training courses to complete their next level of training. Many universities are doing this. This would save councils a lot of money on training which could be put to other uses. It also allows family men and women less time to be away from family and to work at thier own pace. Maybe just try this at PDL- II and III if the face to face time is truly a must for entry level professionals. Set a certain time to get work in and set up a link for trainees to access audio-visual training seminars. This could allow PDL staff more time to service councils with specific trainings for their needs.

Comments (1)Money-Saving Ideas

Nationally recommended time management system

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:16:17 PDT

-14

Vote On Idea

I would like to see one preferred time management system for all council employees. We should train new employees on it and provide them with the appropriate tools and modules to ensure they are most effectively utilizing their time in achieving their goals. Also, when a current employee gets to go to their next level of training, they can be taught on it then. As the system and/or software get updated, so should our equipment. Franklin Covey has both paper and electronic versions of thier planning system. Outlook also has a great calendar system (and you can sync Covey software with it). There are other systems out there, and i am not endorsing one or another, but these are systems for which many are familiar and currently use. The system is more important than the device seeing as how we all learn and work different, but councils should encourage one system and budget for the appropriate equipment for that system.

Comments (1)Technology

Monthly and/or annual audio-visual live updates by National

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:58:36 PDT

Vote On Idea

I would like to see a 30-60 minute feed from Bob or other National employees on new resources, changes in policy, expected due dates for materials to reach our councils and other infomration. There are just too many emails coming our way and very few people, if any, can say they have honestly thouroughly reviewed all materials coming down. In fact, if you are swamped with other work, it may not even be prioritized or reviewed.

To do this would mean each council meeting together at the same time to view a televised broadcast, or at least be on thier computers at the same time. This could be done one time and day a month as a status on progress, and once a year to roll out new plans/vision before we all do our planning conferences so we can see, and hear, what is coming down the pipe. If it is a standard time even, we can plug it into our planners and know it is coming and plan for it so it is prioritized and a focused item. Attention can be drawn from this live message to key pieces of information and/or specific links on MYBSA to review.

Comments (1)Internal

Tiger Rank Advancement

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:19:51 PST

Vote On Idea

On the MyScouting website, the "Unit Tools" for Cub Scout Advancement - "Internet Advancement" - has no place to enter Tiger Rank and Awards and does not show these ranks and awards when entered by the council Scout office. Wouldn't it be helpful if these Tiger recognitions were on the report? Otherwise Tiger Cubs appear to be disenfranchised or, at the very least, diminished.

Comments (0)Technology, submitted on behalf of william garrison

Internet Rechartering Grades

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:57:10 PST

Vote On Idea

Can Internet Rechartering be updated to show grades of dropped youth? This would helpful to quickly identify a specific Cub Scout Den or age group or Boy Scout age group dropping and addressing it directly with the Unit Commissioner and Unit Leaders of that unit. If 20 kids drop from a pack or 60 and 15 are from 3rd grade, you can immediately follow-up with the Pack to identify potential training opportunities, poor leadership, etc. Without that focused, immediate follow-up to identify a solution and try to get those boys back, it's simply lost youth.

Comments (2)Retention

Include World Crest on Shirt

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:35:43 PST

Vote On Idea

While we already supply the shirt with the US Flag, can we do the same with the World Crest?

Comments (8)Supply