Scoutmaster Podcast 158

Comments

1. Glenn says:

   February 13, 2013 at 2:30 pm

   I read a news article about the proposed policy change. They used Canada as an example and pointed out that the membership of the Canada Scouts had declined 50% in the 5 years following the policy change regarding gays. I believe they changed their policy in 1998. I did some research and determined the article failed to point out that the decline was almost the same as the rate of decline for the 8 years prior to the change. Then I found an article that stated that the BSA membership has been in a steady decline since 1988 and implied this could be due to the BSA failure to change the policy on gay membership.

   I thought it was interesting to see people using almost the same data to argue opposite positions and it illustrates how data can be manipulated.

   It remains to be seen what impact the policy change may have membership but my concern is membership in general. According to the unconfirmed data I found online the Canada Scouts membership has dropped to 100,000. It was around 300,000 in the 60′s. In 2004 they put several properties up for sale. In 2002 the BSA membersip was around 5M but in 2011 it was around 3.3M. I don’t have any explanation for the declining numbers of either organization but if they don’t turn this around it will become a financial issue for the BSA.

   • Clarke Green says:

     February 13, 2013 at 2:49 pm

     Scouts Canada declined, in part, because their population numbers dropped.
     Since it’s not been studied, to my knowledge at least, the cause of the drop in our numbers is debatable. I do know there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that says at least some of this decline can be attributed to the current membership policy – it may be a lot, it may be a little. I know that locally we have pretty solid knowledge that the policy is responsible for a distressingly large number of people keeping their sons out of Scouting, we know this because they have told us this again and again. I can see us reaching a tipping point in the next few years if this continues to progress as it has in the past five or ten years we’ll find a lot of things we do are no longer financially viable.

     • Steve says:

       February 13, 2013 at 3:44 pm

       Clarke, I’m curious about your comment regarding Canada’s population dropping. Referencing the Canadian census numbers since Confederation in 1867, it appears that Canada’s population has actually increased every year between 0.3% and 5%. Further, it also appears that this constant growth rate has fluctuated by less than .7% since 1972. Am I inferring something incorrectly from your statement that Scouts Canada membership declined because Canada’s population also declined?

       • Clarke Green says:

         February 13, 2013 at 3:49 pm

         Hadn’t attempted to substantiate that Steve, just going on what I was told.

         • Steve says:

           February 13, 2013 at 6:16 pm

           Gotcha, thanks!
2. howard Jones says:

   February 13, 2013 at 9:34 am

   Hi Clarke ! perfect subject matter on podcast # 158 .Your observations ,about Canadian Scouts is great proof that our policy change will not be the end of the world that some would have you belive. Our (BSA) program is similar to Canada’s and they became inclusive with little to no problems. About the only difference I see is Canadians are nice ,friendly people ,and we’re well…. I realy hope that if and when we change ,we use this as an oppertunity to ,if not “rebrand” but to remessage so we can grow .Our council is way down on membership as are may others .Our recent meeting a speaker said this policy is a “headwind” we are fighting agianist for growth. And a parrellel was brought up ,that the Masons an other old fashion group revamped,rebranded and was able to grow membership. We have to use all this publiclicity to our advantage now, and follow thru with a positive policy change in may. YIS Howie

   • Clarke Green says:

     February 13, 2013 at 9:54 am

     Hey Howie, glad you found the podcast useful! I think that our overall membership decline is due to a number of factors and that the current policy factors in depending on your location. That’s why I see the wisdom in making this a local decision.