MISSION STATEMENT: "It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and in other ways prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law."

From a marketing standpoint, the Boy Scouts of America has a product to offer - a program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing) and service to back up this program. Our customers are the organizations that use the Scouting program to reinforce or expand the outreach of their own youth programs and objectives. Our consumers are the youth members and families who benefit from our customers' Scouting programs.

Therefore, it is important to recognize that, in order to be highly successful we must search out and accomplish the objectives - not only of the BSA, but of our chartered organizations. Then, and only then, will we succeed.

When approaching a parish or other Catholic organization keep, in mind the following youth objectives of the church:

Examples include, the informal Christian education of youth (knowledge of the religious emblems program can be helpful here) and the opportunity to engage in community and parish service. Try to determine what the particular emphasis is in the parish or organization you are visiting. We exist to serve their needs.

The basic philosophy that we are in business to serve our chartered organizations can be the key to successful salesmanship. Remember that it is the church or organization that provides Scouting for its youth members and families. It is their unit. It is our job to make this relationship fun and productive.

The most important step you can take is to initiate the active involvement of the diocesan Catholic committee at diocese and council levels in all phases of this plan of action.

Dear Father _____________,

I would like to share with you three most informative pieces of literature concerning an important segment of Catholic youth work These three pieces - Scouting as Youth Ministry, Your Parish Can Serve, and Religious Emblems for Catholics - should take very little of your time to read and could be the catalyst, and serve as a valuable tool, to expand your parish youth program.

I am interested in the Scouting program as a current, viable and useful means of serving our youth, and this I feel that I should rightly lend my assistance in its greater development within selected, parishes of our diocese.

The ideals and values stressed in Scouting are the Christian foundations desperately needed by modem youth responsibility to God, to family, to neighbor, and to the civic community. Its religious, career, and educational aspects, along with a strong commitment to form a Christian conscience in youth, are important elements of the program. It is also an effective force in developing sound adult Christian leadership through the Scourer Development Program of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

May I ask that you and a few of your key lay persons carefully review this material and consider the feasibility of establishing Scouting in your parish if you do not already fully support the program.

Members of the Catholic Committee on Scouting will contact you soon regarding this matter. Consider and be prepared to discuss further aspects of the program. Please give them your fullest cooperation.

Assuring you of my grateful appreciation of your anticipated cooperation on behalf of our diocesan Scouting program, I remain,

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend ________________

Bishop of ____________________

The local council and the membership committee of the diocesan Catholic committee on Scouting have joint responsibility to contact each designated Catholic organization within the council as a follow-up to the bishop letter. Suggested details follow:

VIDEO:

Your Parish Can Serve, No. 16-429

Religious Emblems for Catholics, No. 16-436

Vocational Promotion Through Scouting Youth Ministry, No. 16-149