PROFILES IN SCOUTING

The Strategic Planning Committee

Ernie Froemel
Chairman, Strategic Planning Committee

The Des Plaines Valley Council (DPVC) Strategic Planning Committee was established in the Spring of 2006, shortly after the publication in May of the Boy Scouts of American’s new five-year Strategic Plan 2010: Where Tradition Meeting Tomorrow. Following the guidance and advice of the national organization, DPVC established its own committee to carry the planning process forward at the local level. Also reflecting BSA’s advice, DPVC placed one of its most experienced and capable volunteers in the leadership position of chair: Ernest (Ernie) C. Froemel.

In selecting Ernie Froemel for this key leadership position, DPVC chose an individual uniquely qualified to tackle the complex planning, organization, communication and management challenges involved in charting the Council’s future course for the next five years delivering a quality Scouting program for our youth.

And these were challenges indeed! By the time the draft DPVC Strategic Plan was issued for comment in January 2008, more than 60 volunteers from every aspect and level of the Council’s Scouting family and four senior professional staff had been involved, some for almost two years. This broad base of expert involvement in the analysis of Council’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges, was needed to assure that the resulting plan and its recommendations truly met our needs and would get buy-in from Scouters throughout the organization. There were five major areas of investigation, called pillars, in the plan.

1. Every youth has an opportunity to be involved in a quality Scouting experience.
2. Our council is fiscally sound.
3. The number of engaged, accountable volunteers is dramatically increased at all levels of Scouting.
4. Local, regional, and national chartered organizations and strategic alliances are identified and engaged.
5. Enough of the right professionals are identified, developed, and retained in the right positions at all levels, with a focus on inclusiveness.

The Strategic Plan is available on the DPVC Web Site at http://www.bsa-dpvc.org/council_information/StrategicPlan/

As leader of this complex effort, Ernie Froemel brought an equally broad and deep involvement in Scouting and the DPVC. Ernie’s involvements have been literally too numerous and noteworthy to detail completely in this Profile. As of this publication, in addition to his leadership of the Strategic Planning Committee; he is serving as a member of the Executive Board; Vice President for Membership/Relationships; Venturing Coordinator; Council Webmaster; and Associate Advisor for Crew 33.

Past involvements and responsibilities over more than 25 years have included service as Scoutmaster and several other positions with Troup 33, sponsored by St. Francis Xavier. He has also served as Catholic Religious Emblems Counselor; Merit Badge Counselor; Co-Ka-Ya District Roundtable staff and Commissioner; Council High Adventure Promotion Chairman; District Chair for three districts; Campmaster; Council Commissioner; Council Vice President for Program; and, numerous committee chairs at the District and Council levels.

Ernie has developed, presented, or supported dozens of training activities in the Council at every level for more than 20 years, a key contribution to delivering on our promise of a quality program delivered by well-trained and knowledgeable leaders. His awards and honors are similarly impressive and appropriate to a Scouter with more than two decades of commitment and contribution. These include, among many others, the Vigil honor of the Order of the Arrow, District Award of Merit, Wood Badge, Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, James E. West Fellow, Venturing Leadership Award, as well as numerous certifications and other recognition of his technical Scouting skills and credentials.

In January 2008, the DPVC Executive Board was briefed on the Draft Strategic Plan by Ernie and a decision was made to establish the Strategic Planning Committee, currently under his continuing leadership, as a standing committee.

There are three recurring themes evident in the plan’s recommendations. All committees recognized that the demographics of our communities are changing, and that we must be proactive in responding to those changes.

One theme is the need to attract youth in underserved areas. In particular, there are many references to finding ways to include the Hispanic communities in Scouting.

Another theme is the need to increase the numbers of trained District Committee members and commissioners. The implementation of new programs and the development of successful units depend on adequate staffing in these areas.

A final theme is the need to find alternative sources for funding. As traditional sources of income dwindle, we need funds to develop novel program ideas that attract tomorrow’s youth.

The Strategic Plan was made available on the Council’s web site and Scouters were encouraged to submit comments. Between January 25, 2008 and March 14, 2008, over 230 people viewed the plan. Several comments were submitted and reviewed by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. The Steering Committee responded to all comments, and made some changes to the recommendations as a result of those comments.

The DPVC Strategic Plan was approved by the Board in April 2008. The Council officers are now using these recommendations to develop their annual plans and objectives. It will be a living document and will be revisited by the Strategic Planning Committee annually to assess whether any changes are needed and, if so, the Committee’s recommendations will be presented to the Board for consideration.

In this way, the Strategic Planning process and the implementation of recommendations should remain relevant and useful to the Council and our Scouting Program into the future.

This is the official site of the Des Plaines Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America

This page was last modified on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 @ 03:23pm