FAQ's About the 2008 Centennial Quality Award Program

Question 1: When will the unit award commitment forms be available to councils?

Answer: Unit award commitment forms will be shipped to councils in bulk by the end of September. They are also available to download from the the commissioner Web site (old.scouting.org/comissioners) and on MyBSA for professionals under Leadership Support Service.

Question 2: How does a unit become eligible for the Centennial Quality Award?

Answer: Unit leadership will meet with their assigned commissioner or a district level volunteer to review the unit's program and establish program objectives. This should be done prior to February 15, 2008. It is no longer a part of the rechartering process.

Question 3: When will units be able to qualify to earn the award?

Answer: When all requirements are completed beginning no earlier than October 31, but no later than the end of the year (example, for 2008 you would begin to qualify after October 31, but no later than December 31, 2008).

Question 4: How will the criteria for the award be distributed and explained to all councils, districts, and unit leadership?

Answer: Councils should establish an implementation schedule. The program details include commitment forms for units, districts, and councils; training agendas; and unit action planning meeting support.

Question 5: Are there other ways to learn about the Centennial Quality Awards program?

Answer: The program explanation can be found on the Web site old.scouting.org; on the commissioners Web site under old.scouting.org/commissioners; and on My BSA under Leadership Support Service under "Centennial Quality Award program." You will be able to download the details of the program and the unit, district, and council award commitment forms from the Web.

Question 6: When will the recognition items be available?

Answer: All recognition items for 2007 will be available starting in August 2007, and in August 2008 for 2008 awards. Unit ribbons for 2007 were shipped in June 2007 to councils in bulk. Individual uniform emblems, individual pins, and unit award plaques for those who qualify will be available to order from supply beginning in August 2007. (Remember, a unit qualifies for the award after October 31 of each year.)

Question 7: Does a council, district, or unit have to meet all of the award criteria to earn the Centennial Quality award?

Answer: Yes, they do have to qualify for all criteria in order to achieve the award.

Question 8: On the unit commitment form, are the references to participation in product sales, conducting a unit FOS presentation, and the number of unit commissioner visits required to qualify for the award?

Answer: No. Those measurements are on the unit commitment form for informational and encouragement purposes. Each of these areas will help provide a better quality program experience for a unit. The unit's answer will not impact the earning of the award.

Question 9: Can I obtain an electronic version of the Centennial Quality award logo to use in my newsletter?

Answer: The logos are located on a site that is accessible to councils only.

Question 10: Have the criteria for Learning for Life districts, councils, Explorer posts, and Learning for Life groups changed?

Answer: No. They will continue to qualify for the National Distinguished Learning for Life Award for districts and councils. Explorer posts will qualify for the "Exploring Excellence Award" and school-based groups will qualify for the "Learning for Life National Accreditation Award."

Question 11: How do you use the additional goals section at the bottom of the interpretation form to impact qualifying for the award?

Answer: The additional goals are key areas that may need attention to improve a unit, district, or council program. They can be used on a case-by-case basis to measure the success as a part of the award criteria. Setting additional goals and their achievement will be determined by the volunteer and professional leadership.

Question 12: What qualifies as an outdoor program or activity per month?

Answer: Each unit establishes a goal at the beginning of the year on the number of outdoor events or other activities. (Pack meetings can count as one activity per month. Packs are also encouraged to conduct or attend outdoor camping events periodically during the year.) Crews, ships, troops, and teams do not count their regular meetings and patrol meetings as outdoor events or activities.

Question 13: How is recruitment of new adults defined?

Answer: Commitment and involvement by more registered adults is the overall goal. The training provided to them is critical in engaging them in better support of the program. Each unit should provide an annual orientation for all parents. As a part of the National Parent Initiative, a suggested list of "specific tasks" has been developed to involve more parents and adults in the program.

Question 14: Can new units organized during the year qualify for the award during that year?

Answer: Yes. Their goals are established based on when they are organized and are established at the time of their initial planning as a new unit with the new adult leadership involved in the commitments being made.

Question 15: If a unit is already achieving a very high percent or achieving excellence in a specific criterion, is there any allowance for allowing them to maintain that achievement as opposed to increasing?

Answer: Yes. There are circumstances where a unit is already achieving a very high percentage of excellence and maintaining that status would be considered as accomplishing that specific area of providing a quality program. For example, a unit may recruit from one school and they have a limited number of available youth at that school. They may have a high percentage of the available boys involved and they are limited by the number of boys in the next grade or class. Establishing a specific number or percent of the available youth can be set as their goal. You do not necessarily set the goal based on the previous year's accomplishment.

Updated as of October 1, 2007

Note: Additional questions may be added on the Web sites as clarification and interpretation merits an explanation.