A
couple weeks a go a re-started my blog. I got away from it about a year
and half ago because I figured the most important Scouting information
is the stuff that impacts the Scouts at the unit level - where the
rubber meets the road. And my stuff will always tend to be a little more
about the operation and future of Scouting and the Council. Well, it
seems more people want to know about "the big picture" than I may have
thought, So I'm back at it :)
So, to start, I'll direct everyone to the original strategic plan (adopted unanimously on September 1, 2011). Some times I'm asked what's in the strategic plan? The plan was built by over 400 volunteers, 7 committees, and eventually came up with 39 measurable goals, 3 initiatives and 2 opportunities. The process and the details are summed up in a 16 page booklet. (feel free to read the link - the full details of the work is found in two binders full of information - available at the Scout office)
Often I ask volunteers what they have seen us do differently in the past few years - the answers typically include SOAR2012 re-purpose Massasoit / collaborate with Camp Norse, STEM camp, The Inner City Program, added visibility, Changes at Camp Sayre. Those changes are the manifestation of the strategic plan.
Whew,
:) sorry for the long response Jeff. I hope this helps. Your comments
and questions are always welcome. Please continue to ask, comment,
share, etc.
The blog will have two basic styles
1. The Update: A series of updates money raised, Scouts recruited and retained, leaders trained, buildings refurbished, etc.
1. The Update: A series of updates money raised, Scouts recruited and retained, leaders trained, buildings refurbished, etc.
2. The Answer: An in depth answer to a question I hear from my conversations with leaders and parents.
Today's
Blog will be style two - an answer. The specific question comes from
Jeff Crump. Jeff asked "Can
you please post an update on the Massasoit situation? I can't find any
details of the plan online. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place?" In addition to Jeff's question on Face Book I do get a bunch of questions about the strategic plan
and where we are going (how fast we are getting there), what can we do
to help, and WHAT can we realistically expect!
So, to start, I'll direct everyone to the original strategic plan (adopted unanimously on September 1, 2011). Some times I'm asked what's in the strategic plan? The plan was built by over 400 volunteers, 7 committees, and eventually came up with 39 measurable goals, 3 initiatives and 2 opportunities. The process and the details are summed up in a 16 page booklet. (feel free to read the link - the full details of the work is found in two binders full of information - available at the Scout office)
Often I ask volunteers what they have seen us do differently in the past few years - the answers typically include SOAR2012 re-purpose Massasoit / collaborate with Camp Norse, STEM camp, The Inner City Program, added visibility, Changes at Camp Sayre. Those changes are the manifestation of the strategic plan.
The board and the sub-committees keep the plan out in front to make decisions and set priorities. Each year we summarize the plan here is the 2013 update
We
still have a long way to go, however, we have also come a long way in
the past few years. The more we all pull together the easier things
become and the more positive impact the council can have on Scouting in
every community.
Jeff's question -
There are several elements to the decision to re-purpose Massasoit
1. Market Forces
- because the council has lost so much membership (as have surrounding
councils) over the past 10+ years the sustainability of a 6,500 Scout
Council operating 3 camps effectively was no longer viable. We compared
our performance % of scouts camped, repeat customers, customer
satisfaction and other measurable facts against other New England
councils and realized the size of the council could (at best) support
two full time camps. Even if our membership doubled we would still not
require a 3rd full time camp.
2. Deferred Maintenance - because the council struggled for so long many of our physical assets have fallen into various states of disrepair. In addition to the market forces we knew we would have to sink millions into camp renovations. With 3 primary camps all in tough shape it because clear we wouldn't be able to make an impact on the physical issues for years.
2. Deferred Maintenance - because the council struggled for so long many of our physical assets have fallen into various states of disrepair. In addition to the market forces we knew we would have to sink millions into camp renovations. With 3 primary camps all in tough shape it because clear we wouldn't be able to make an impact on the physical issues for years.
3. Long Term Debt -
The ability to renovate our camps was completely out of our grasp as we
were paying over $100,000 a year on interest. This created two problems
1. How credible would we be in soliciting funds for renovations while
we were still paying for a long term debt and 2 what would our long term
plan be to help the camps and the council maintain sustainability. In
short - how would anyone have confidence we wouldn't end up in the same
place 10 years from now.
4. Competition vs Collaboration
- The BSA owns several camps in Plymouth and while one of them thrives
the others are all trying to survive on a partially filled camp program.
All our Cub Scout leaders were very quick to tell us the quality of the
program, facilities and staff were the driving factors for helping
their pack thrive and the precise location and features where not nearly
as relevant as running a good summer program.
With
all this in mind and a complete analysis of the properties (including
all our neighboring councils and other scout programs like the Museum of
Science and battleship cove) the decision was made to re-purpose
Massasoit in order to increase quality program, re-direct resources to
the camps with a sustainable trajectory and collaborate with neighboring
councils.
After
a few attempts (a solar farm, public camping, gravel and other options
we decided to lease the property in the summer and collaborate with
Annawon council at Camp Norse. After the first three weeks the
collaboration has gone great. parents and leaders are happy with the new
location and we believe we have found a great long term partner.
Additionally,
we decided to sell eight 3 acre home lots along Little Sandy Pond road
(just before and just after the entrance to camp). These lots represent less than 40 acres of a 280 acre property and will have a minimum impact of the integrity of the camp.
As of this writing four lots have sold and one more is under agreement.
The proceeds from those sales have been applied to pay down the long
term debt which, in turn, will clear the way for additional capital
improvements in the two remaining camps. (as well as reasonable
maintenance and upkeep at Massasoit - this year we spent $8,000 on the
roads and the Massasoit kitchen).
the
updates at Storer and Sayre are pretty readily visible. everything from
re-opening the pool, renovations in the Hayden Lodge the QM and other improvements at Sayre. In addition, the improvements at Storer are undeniable, including the structures in the center of camp, the archery range and the completed chapel!
Sayre
is clearly the focus point for many reasons. The program opportunities
available today are a direct outcome of the strategic plan and the
upcoming capital improvements in the next couple years should put Sayre
(and the council) back on sustainable footing.
Sayre Master Plan (this takes while to download)
