Tall Pine Council, BSA - Strategic Plan 2005-2008

PROGRAM
To provide the highest quality program to our youth membership through service to each unit level program, we will:

Increase camping and advancement opportunities for individual scouts on a weekend and long-term basis.
Continue development of the Cub Scout weekend program opportunities at Camp Holaka.
Improve and increase visibility of the council campmaster program.
Increase advancement based programs in all units to exceed National Standards, which will support unit growth.
Improve opportunity to individual scouts for long term camping.
Improve availability of challenging, quality outdoor programs for older scouts and venturers.
Improve promotion of camping and advancement to individual scouts.
Improve flexibility and quality of direct contact leader training.

OPERATIONS
A continual effort to attract, maintain and develop high caliber volunteers and professionals providing the best possible leadership to Tall Pine Council.This includes: Officers, Executive Board Members and District Leaders who will

Seek volunteer representation from all three counties that the Tall Pine Council serves and from the major segments of those communities.
Ensure that all staff positions are filled and employees are compensated fairly.
Use additional emphasis when recruiting for Unit and District volunteer positions.
Endeavor to retain those effective volunteers and replace others when necessary.

URBAN SCOUTING
A concentrated effort to expand scouting for the youth in inter-city Iocations.To expand this phase of the program, we intend to:

Enlarge our committee by 3 or 4 active members.
Create and develop a marketing plan to promote the positive aspects of Scouting for religious organizations.
Increase the number of Religious organizations that sponsor Scouting units resulting in greater youth and adult participation in the Urban Community.
Special emphasis with all Districts to support Urban Scouting.
Collaborate with other youth serving organizations in the Urban areas to sponsor units and identify volunteers.

COMMISSIONER SERVICE
Involves those successful, experienced scouters, (adults) who work with assigned units, assuring those units success. We continually strive to:

Improve unit service by ensuring each unit has a qualified trained and motivated unit commissioner.
Maintain a ratio of one commissioner to every three units.
Continue to recruit qualified commissioners and provide training! teambuilding opportunities for all.
Expose the National Standards Chart to all Unit leaders.

MARKETING
A committee involved in telling, showing and promoting, Scouting to our three county audiences plus the surrounding area. Marketing is planning on:

Improving the quality of the Counciline.TPC’s bi-monthly publication. Distribute to supporters as well as members. Include reports on Scouting activities and Scouts. Print what we think the local paper should print about our kids and programs.
Continue to treat our customers and potential customers with the highest regard when they call, write, or visit the Service center and camps. This to be paramount by all our volunteers and professional staff—resulting with improved customer service.
Identify and establish,a staff person as the Council Communications Officer. Individual would be responsible for all TPC communications, press releases, and the new Counciline. Person could also be involved in Grant writing.

ADMINISTRATION
This area is responsible to provide proper Budget and Audit procedures, Risk Management and Insurance applications. Thusly providing operationally efficient camps and service centers, with a safe and secure environment. In addition, this area provides current computer systems and Website capabilities to support all Tall Pine Council activities, while assuring a financially sound environment to operate within. Our plan for the next four years, include:

BUDGET AND AUDIT:

To have annual operating and capital budgets that are balanced and attainable for proper cash flow and fiscal responsibility.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE:

An annual review and update of the Emergency Preparedness & Loss Control Manual and adjust where necessary.
Review insurance coverage for comprehensive and cost effective protection. Bid the coverage as necessary.
Review and continually update the “Youth Protection” program.
Perform annual camp and watercraft inspections and correct when and where necessary.
Monitor and upgrade all First Aid facilities.
Review all requests for scouting activities assuring compliance with established safety standards.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS/WEB SITE:

Comply with National BSA Computer requirements, in the TPC Scout Shop.This will include migrating from the old CAM software to the new Sellwise System.
Upgrade Staff workstations to improve productivity. Replace outdated programs and operating system software on all workstations.
Improve the Website update capabilities for more current information and improved staff productivity by implementing a database-driven website for Staff to quickly update their web pages.
Develop a program/procedure allowing each unit, singularly and collectively,to receive E-mail from the staff, providing instant communication.This would also provide instant communication from the unit to the council.
Enhance the capabilities of the TPC Website for increased usage and Council benefits. Develop a new website look by utilizing current web Technologies, within the standard capabilities of our system service Provider GFN.
Improve presentation capabilities for more professional meetings and grant requests — by obtaining a PowerPoint projection unit.

FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT
Tall Pine Council owns, operates and maintains, a Service Center and three camps for youth to utilize while they learn, enjoy, grow and develop.

Our Service Center contains a “Scout Shop/Trading Post”fully stocked with available Scouting uniforms and equipment, plus offices housing our Professional Staff. Several meeting facilities are also available. Location is 507 W. Atherton Rd., Flint, Ml, 48507-2494.

Camp Tapico offers long-term outdoor camping opportunities during the summer months for scouting programs. Units and Districts use the camp for short duration experiences during the spring, fall and winter sessions. Adult Leader training also utilizes Camp Tapico for their training sessions. There are 1283 acres of pristine northern property, with a beautiful lake. During 2004, over 3600 scouts and scouters (adults) learned and grew, as they enjoyed this facility. It is located in Kalkaska, Michigan, less than a three hour drive from Flint.

Camp Holaka provides short-term outdoor experiences for basically the Cub-Scout aged youth, but also for the other programs of scouting including Adult Leader training. The camp is used for council, district and individual unit events.This camp includes 340 acres with lakes, dining hall and many other buildings. During 2004, over 10,000 scouts and scouters also, learned and grew, as they utilized this facility. Located close to Lapeer, Michigan, ideal for daily or weekend activities.

Prevailing Winds II, (PWll) a 47 foot “Ketch~(Sailboat) offering both long and short-term boating opportunities on the Great Lakes during the summer months.This “Camp” has sailed the Great Lakes since 1971,contains sleeping facilities for 18 plus the Captain and First Mate.There are 10 weeks of long-term and 4 weekend short-term cruising experiences. During 2004, approximately 180 scouts and scouters, learned about the sea and grew from their experience.

Tall Pine Council camping facilities are also used by many other council units and we encourage that activity.

We continue to maintain and upgrade of each property. Our priorities and planning include:

Service Center:

Camp Tapico:

Improved roads
Additional equipment: tents, dining equipment, lanterns, snow skis, and similar equipment
A new Welcome/Administration center is on the drawing boards with plans to complete it within this Strategic Plan time schedule
Construct and maintain additional restroom and shower facilities to accommodate male and female campers
Improve family camping areas allowing access to water, electricity, and restroom/shower facilities
New pavillions in Eco/conservation and field sports
New and renovated fire bowl

Camp Holaka:

Increase attendance at Cub Scout Resident Camp by 67% over the next four years
Increase attendance at Cub Scout Family Camp by 33% over the next four years
Increase attendance at District Cub Scout Day Camp by 46% over the next four years

And to do this we plan to:

Construct and maintain additional restroom/shower facilities to accommodate male and female campers
Improve family camping areas allowing access to water, electricity and restroom/shower facilities
One new program area per year for the next 4 years
Additional selective parking at each campsite
New Assembly field
New Headquarters building
Improved Camp markings

PREVAILING WINDS II:

Continual maintenance is paramount on this camp, however, it will soon be time to retire this equipment.We are developing a replacement plan.

SUMMATION
With the accomplishment of the items listed in this Four Year plan and specifically the financial portion referred to in the Finance and Endowment sections, we will have made giant steps in reaching our stated Vision; “Every youth in Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties will have an opportunity to participate in Scouting.”