BSA Pickens District - Blue Ridge Council

BSA 100th Year Anniversary Celebration

Pickens District 100th Year BSA Celebration

 

Our goal is to deliver a purpose-driven celebration … a sustained and coordinated effort that will allow us to share our powerful story in the community we serve, the Pickens District.

 

We will engage Scouts, leaders, alumni, family, friends, and the public throughout the entire district by an assertive and thoughtful effort to better communicate the tremendous value of Scouting in our community.

 

A purpose-driven celebration includes activities that are fun and inspiring — but also deliver meaningful results that help strengthen Scouting. With this as our celebration vision, we can conclude 2010 with more youth involved, more adults serving as volunteers, more financial supporters, and more positive impressions of Scouting throughout our communities.

 

District Celebration Objectives

To achieve the fun, inspiration, and meaningful results of a purpose-driven celebration our district plan has been developed and targeted to achieve these five outcomes:

1.      Continue to position Scouting as part of life in the community we serve.

2.      Instill pride within our membership for what the Scouting has been, is, and will be.

3.      Reconnect with and re-engage our Scouting alumni.

4.      Strengthen ties between the council and our units here in the Pickens District.

5.      Grow programs, increase membership, volunteers, and financial supporters.

 

Instead of a birthday blow-out, our celebration activities and engagement opportunities around the BSA’s centennial celebration must be designed to help achieve celebration outcomes in a partnership with the council, district, and unit leaders.

 

In addition to increasing awareness, activities must focus on increasing membership, volunteerism, financial contributions, and engagement — all while reinforcing Scouting’s positive impact on the communities we serve.

 

National And Council Events Include:

 

  • National Jamboree 2010
  • BSA Alumni Connection
  • National Hall of Leadership
  • Generation Connections
  • Get In The Game Geocaching
  • A Year Celebration, A Century of Making A Difference
  • A Pitch For Scouting
  • A Shining Light Across America
  • Adventure Base 100
  • Upcountry History Museum Exhibit 2010
  • Look Alike Contest – (Baden Powell, James E. West, Ernest Seton, Dan Beard) Contest open to youth and adults alike.
  • Exporee
  • Golf Tournament At Cliffs Keowee

 

And more celebration programs are on the way.

 

 Pickens District 100th Committee Action Plan:

  • Coordinate Pickens District operations with National and Blue Ridge Council Centennial programs and initiatives.
  • Maintain a master timeline for Pickens District sub-committee Action Steps.
  • Communicate with council and district leadership regularly.
  • Serve as a clearinghouse for all district operating units as they seek to observe the Centennial in their program planning.
  • Give leadership to five key pillars of the program:
    • District Centennial History Book.
    • Increased Participation Council-wide events
    • Seek a public monument in the city of Easley or within the Pickens District.
      • This can be connected with the Generation Connection phase of the celebration. Securing a place to plant a tree and placement of a plaque indicating the significance of the event.
      • Event will include a time capsule that will include items from all units of the Pickens District.
    • Branding and marketing through:
      • Establishment of Press Release or Media Document for future reference and consistency.
      • Establishment of a District Website.
      • Establishment of a Pickens District Centennial web presence through facebook, myspace, myyearbook, ning, or other form of social networking.
    • Seek and encourage use and expansion of technology with in the district.
  • Develop and maintain budgets in support of all objectives as needed.
  • Seek a temporary display at the Pickens County Museum that shows Scouting history in the Pickens District.
  • Work with each Pickens District Unit in identifying their Centennial Liaison and development of a unit celebration plan, and review key steps in the timeline regularly.

 

100th Anniversary Leadership

The 100th Anniversary Celebration is a great way for us, together, to strengthen Scouting in the Pickens District. To succeed, we need to form a District 100th Committee Leadership Team. We need volunteers of the Pickens District to get on board with the District 100th Committee Leadership Team to plan our celebration events with in our district and to represent the Pickens District at our Council meetings. Volunteering for the 100 th district committee is a great start — but to see maximum results, we invite and encourage every unit to name a 100th Anniversary Chairman (other than the Scoutmaster or Cubmaster). Unit Anniversary Chairman will share information and guide unit participation in anniversary activities. They will also assure that any unit planned anniversary activities are fun and inspiring, but also created with the purpose-driven vision and objectives.

 

Let The Celebration Begin

 

It may seem like it is a long way away to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting in America. While there will be a national Scout jamboree, a council-wide Exporee and district events I am sure together we can find a special way to celebrate this milestone in our own community. You are encourage to add a celebration event to your yearly planning for your Unit. Let the celebration begin and join me in making this a celebration to remember and provide a positive, purpose driven event for the Pickens District.

BSA 100th Year Anniversary Celebration Chair - Jeff Crump 864-787-5189 or Email at c5comics@aol.com.

 

Unit Suggestions For The 100th Anniversary Year Celebration:

  1. Create a large birthday cake in the shape of the fleur-de-lis featuring the centennial logo, invite community and media to share it. Share the Scouting story with all who attend.
  2. Conduct a local poster or essay contest promoting volunteerism in conjunction with the centennial.
  3. Collect pennies over the year with the proceeds going to a local community project.
  4. Coordinate a 100 Mile Bike rally, 10K run/walk-a-thon, or similar with a centennial theme. Registration proceeds can go to a centennial service project.
  5. Host a centennial concert at your charter organization. Bring together student musicians with musical talents. Play a song representing each decade of Scouting’s 100 years.
  6. Publish a Troop cook book and/or host a cooking demonstration featuring 100 recipes from Scouter’s in the area or members of the Charter organization. With each recipe have the contributor share what Scouting has meant to him or her.
  7. Hold a 100 hour service marathon. Have Scouts, Scouters, and their families volunteer throughout the 100 hour period – focusing on service in places and at times that need volunteers when most people are sleeping.
  8. Write an article or commission Scouting ads in the community or school newspapers highlighting what Scouting has accomplished in the past century and why Scouting remains relevant today.
  9. Hold a centennial candlelight ceremony where each candle represents a Scouting year. State what the candle represents when lighting it.
  10. For a local newspaper article, highlight a family that has generations of Scouters or Eagle Scouts in it.
  11. Hold a Scouting film/video festival featuring all the movies in which Scouting was featured either with characters as Scouts and/or Scouting emblem receiving prominent placement. Ask a local library to help research titles, obtain videos, and host a Scouting movie day.
  12. Develop a Scouting Centennial exhibit at the local post office. Use samples of Scouting stamps and highlight local Scouting Projects.
  13. Collect 100 pieces of different items (for example 100 pairs of shoes, school supplies, coats, gloves, eyeglasses, etc.) and distribute to those in need at a centennial event.
  14. Create a Scouting fleur-de-lis or centennial logo piñata and have Scouts break it open at a Scouting Centennial event.
  15. Create a mock Guinness Book of Records or Fun Fact book of scouts and/or Scouters. Include 100 facts about the individual. You can also do this for troops in the local area.
  16. Organize with other area units a Scouting Centennial sporting event such as a volleyball competition, disabled baseball league, or other activity that gathers the community together. Share the Scouting story in a brochure or event program and distribute it to participants.
  17. Identify and honor the 100 top volunteers in the community. Contact the media to cover the honored volunteers and their volunteerism stories.
  18. Create a Scouting Centennial quilt honoring 100 years of Scouting. Use each square to highlight a service project, unit, or Scout.
  19. Use the Scouting Centennial logo and have temporary tattoos created as a hand out for children.
  20. Create a Scouting Centennial rose garden or similar for the entire community to enjoy.
  21. Hold a hula-hoop, yo-yo, or other funny competition to see who can reach 100 turns, 100 seconds, or similar without making a mistake. Award prizes. Contact the media for a photo opportunity.
  22. Create a special page on the troop website celebrating Scouting’s centennial and the history of Scouting in the area. Link to Scouting.org’s centennial page.
  23. In cooperation with the local paper or on a local website, list 100 simple acts of kindness that a person can do throughout the day to bring joy to the world. Include such things like: Opening the door for someone, Saying “Thank You”, Smiling at someone, etc. Include a Scouting logo and centennial logo as part of the list’s graphics.
  24. Write a letter to the editor or opinion piece on 100 Reasons To Volunteer. Include highlights of Scouting’s century of civic service. Send to your local paper.
  25. Distribute Scouting bookmarks at schools and public libraries.
  26. Units pledge to complete 100 hours of community service during the Centennial.
  27. Challenge Scouts and Scouters to walk 100 miles in 1 month.
  28. Coordinate a blood drive with the charter organization, 100 pints for 100 years.
  29. Achieve 100% Boys' Life
  30. Achieve 100% leaders trained in the unit
  31. Achieve 100% of boys attend camp
  32. Achieve 100% of youth in unit advance in rank
  33. Have the youngest Scout and the oldest Scouter at your Blue & Gold ceremonially cut the cake
  34. Attend a Pitch For Scouting baseball game
  35. Bring in an Old Scouter to tell stories of his early Scouting Days
  36. Clean up 100 bags of litter from around your community
  37. Collect 100 cans of food per member of your unit donate to a local food bank.
  38. Collect 100 old photos of your units activities over the years and organize them to share
  39. Conduct a family camp (following all guidelines)
  40. Conduct a special 100th Anniversary Scout Sunday or Sabbath Service
  41. Earn 100 arrow points as a pack
  42. Go to Cub Resident camp, send 100% of Cub Scouts
  43. Go to Day Camp, send 100% of Cub Scouts
  44. Hold a 100th Anniversary Blue & Gold Celebration
  45. Increase your roundtable attendance by 100%
  46. Invite 100 kids to join Scouting
  47. Invite old Cubmasters to your Blue & Gold
  48. Learn 10 really old Scout songs
  49. Learn about the former Lion Cub Scout Rank
  50. Learn the history of Cub Scouting
  51. Make a 100th Anniversary mobile
  52. Make posters celebrating the 100th Anniversary and display them in your church, school or community
  53. Hold a Pack Open house night and invite new members and Pack Alumni
  54. Participate in your community parade or festival
  55. Plant 100 trees
  56. Send 100 thank you cards to leaders in your community
  57. Send a "Press Release" & photos to your local weekly news papers
  58. Set up a Scouting display in a shop window
  59. Perform a skit of the unknown Scout story for Your Blue & Gold
  60. Submit stories and photos on your celebrations to local papers
  61. Take a historical tour of your community and find all the things that are 100 years old. Create a map or a book for future reference.
  62. Visit a historical museum near you
  63. Create a special 100th opening or closing ceremony
  64. Create an alumni database for your unit
  65. Do a "Century" Bike Ride (100 Miles or Kilometers)
  66. Do a "Century" Canoe Trek (100 Miles or Kilometers)
  67. Do a "Century" Hiking Trail (100 Miles or Kilometers)
  68. Hold a "How to go camping" seminar for families
  69. Hold an Eagle Scout reunion for your troop
  70. Earn 100 merit badges as a troop
  71. Hold a 100th Anniversary Green and Red Court of honor
  72. Learn old Scouting skills
  73. Learn the name of 10 Merit badges that no longer exist
  74. Learn to tie 100 knots
  75. Learn what it was like to camp 100 years ago
  76. Log 100 miles of walking or Running during the year
  77. Perform 100 Hours of Community service & log on to Good Turn for America to record it
  78. Research what games were played at Brownsea and learn them
  79. Set up a campsite on church lawn for Scout Sunday (with permission)
  80. Tell the Brownsea story at Red & Green Court of Honor
  81. Achieve 100% leaders trained in the unit
  82. Collect 100 old photos of your units activities over the years and put them on Our Histree
  83. Create a display of your units current and past activities for your chartered partner or community
  84. Have a booth or activity at your local community fairs or festival
  85. Learn to say "Happy Birthday Boy Scouts" in semaphore
  86. Plant 100 flags at Veteran Cemeteries or cemetery where veterans are buried.
  87. Put together your unit's history and display it on the unit website
  88. Hold a 100th Anniversary Court of Honor
  89. Earn the "Year of Celebration" Patches
  90. Keep a journal for 100 days of troop activity
  91. Learn about the historical founders of Scouting
  92. Learn the story of Akela (Kipling's "The Jungle Book")
  93. Make a diorama of Brownsea Island and display it during a unit function.
  94. Visit the Adventure Base 100 when it visits
  95. Visit a nursing or retirement home for a "Scout Reunion" and talk to residents about their Scouting experiences
  96. Nominate 10 Scouters  from the local district to the National Hall of Leadership
  97. Purchase the Centennial ring patch and 100% of members wear it on the uniform.
  98. Participate in a geocashing event in the area or host a geocashing event in the local area.
  99. Plant a Scouting tree on your Charter organization’s property (with permission).
  100. Create a time capsule for your unit and bury it on the grounds of your chartered organization (with permission). Create a map to it’s location and store it in a special place. Be sure to mark the time capsule site.

This list is compiled from sources all over the net and with a few of my ideas for the celebration. Send any ideas that you may have to support the BSA 100th Anniversary Celebration in your Unit.

 

Unit Resources:

 Anniversary Cub Scout Program Helps