By focusing on unit leaders working closely with commissioners to set specific goals and then monitoring progress toward them, the new award is designed to have a greater impact on improving the quality of the program in every pack, troop, team, and crew in the BSA.

As the first step in achieving the Centennial Quality Award, every unit will establish annual goals in key areas of program delivery at the beginning of each calendar year.

For packs, troops, and crews, the process begins in early in  each calendar year when unit leadership meets with an assigned unit commissioner or a district-level volunteer in consultation with the district executive to complete a Quality Unit Commitment form. 

• The form must be submitted and approved by Council no later than Feb. 15th each year.

On the COMMITMENT form, unit leaders agree to goals that will indicate sufficient progress in areas such as:

• Percentage of leaders completing Youth Protection, Fast Start and Basic Leader Training

  •  this includes any adult assisting as direct contact leaders (those working with scouts)

• Number of new youth members and active parents recruited and percentage of youth members retained from the previous year

• Unit rechartering on time

• Percentage of youth:

  • advancing in rank

    • a scout advancing 2 ranks in one year counts 2, etc.

    • an Eagle Palm counts as a rank advancement and

• Percentage of youth:

  • youth had an outdoor experience or a monthly activity

    • for troops/Crews 70% of Scouts have participated in at least one outdoor event or activity during the year

    • for Packs one activity per month

      • Pack meetings can count as one activity per month, but packs are encouraged to conduct or attend outdoor camping events during the year.

    • or if the unit participation improves by 10% or more over previous year.

   

• Conducting a program planning session and carrying out adequate money-earning activities to support that program.

 

>> Click to see sample Excel worksheets to help plan your goals for each of the above areas.

During the year, the unit leader and committee chairman will get together with the unit commissioner for an

• action planning meeting to evaluate progress toward the commitment form goals.

• Using a unit self-assessment process, they will

  • review successes as well as areas needing improvement and

  • determine how the remaining goals can be accomplished and

  • if additional goals need to be added in other areas.

After Oct. 31st of each year, the unit leader, committee chairmen, and unit commissioner can review the total progress made toward each goal and determine if the unit qualifies for Centennial Quality status.

• Use the Quality Unit Achievement form to record actual results
• Submit this form to Council before December 31st to obtain approvals.

Forms

• 2008 Commitment and Achievement Form Both are combined on one form beginning in 2008 

• File your commitment forms with the Nashville Office by March 31, 2008

  • Bring your draft forms to the March Roundtables and we will help you finalize your forms.

For each year of the award, a recognition patch is available in a different color:

• 2007, red;

• 2008, white;

• 2009, blue; and

• 2010, red, white, and blue.

Individual members of qualifying Centennial Quality Units wear the appropriate patch in position three on the right sleeve of their uniform (for packs and troops, below the den or patrol emblem).

Unit awards for packs, troops, teams, and crews include a unit ribbon, lapel pins for leaders, and a plaque for each year qualifying.