Over the past several years, the Mayflower Council has struggled to achieve measurable gains in many of the initiatives stated in our Long-Range Strategic Plan, which mirrors the four functions of Scouting: Membership; Program; Fundraising; and Unit Service. While some of the obstacles we faced were beyond our control, there were challenges that kept coming up that deserved more analysis.

After much consideration and input from staff members, our district and council leadership, best practices from other councils, and an honest assessment of where the Mayflower Council is today, I am pleased to share some changes to our staff structure that I am convinced will yield greater success in all areas of our council operations, the most significant of which is serving more young people with a high quality Scouting program.

As you all know, membership and units have been falling for many years. We have also struggled to raise the funds necessary to sustain our program and keep our camp properties in top condition. We have continued doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We all know that this isn’t a winning strategy and we are not alone in these struggles. Most councils across the country have had similar experiences, although there are some who have taken a new approach and are seeing some positive movement as a result.

I have compared best practices to the needs of the Mayflower Council and will incorporate some of these methods into a plan specifically designed to take advantage of our resources and strengthen our focus on the areas where we must improve.

While some councils have shifted completely to what they call a “Specialized” model, with staff focused on one function like: Membership development, New Unit development, Unit Service, Program, or Fundraising, I believe a hybrid model seems better suited to our needs where we have some staff focused on one specific function, while others oversee two functions.

We have established four teams and subject matter primary contacts to address specific Council needs: Membership and Unit Service will be one team; Development will be a team; another team will focus on Program; and the final team will handle the Administration process.

Our Membership and Unit Service team will be led by Rick Riopelle and there will be three District Executives assigned to work with our district committees and commissioner corps to focus specifically on membership and unit growth and serving our existing units. Marcella will serve as the support staff for this team, processing all membership and unit service requests. Jack Colamaria, Rob Hillman, and Ian Furst will provide the service in the field to our teams of volunteers.

Our Development team will be led by Jim Corcoran and we will have one Fundraising Executive assigned to this function. In addition, Carlene Covino will be supporting the Development team as they work on Friends of Scouting, Popcorn Sales, Special events, Foundations and Trusts, and seeking new opportunities to increase our direct support funding for Operating, Capital, and Endowment.

The Program team will be led by Hunter McCormick who joined our team on April 1st. He brings a wealth of experience, and a sales mentality to our council and district programs. Hunter will serve as our professional staff member with both Camp Rangers and Nora Scott providing support functions. Their focus will be increasing participation in our camp programs as well as our council and district activities.

I will lead the Administration team and will have Mary, Tyler Ericson, and Lisa supporting fiscal management and the systems and processes of council operations.

While each team will be focused on their specific assignments, they will not operate without interaction and cooperation with each of the other teams. To help volunteers and district leadership know who to contact when they need help, we have created a staff responsibility list with primary contacts available here.

I am looking forward to improved efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability with our new roles and am excited about this new opportunity and the teams we have in place to accomplish growth in each of these areas in the coming months and years.

Yours in Scouting,

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive / CEO

To sort list scroll to the bottom and select by responsibility, by team or by primary contact.

Located off Route 495 in nearby Bolton, MA, Resolute Base Camp is an outdoor adventure space for area youth ages 7 to 17. Base Camp offers families, scouting units, school groups, or corporate teams exciting and challenging instructor-led activities of their own choosing in exciting new programs.

Thank you for your interest in attending Camp Squanto for the 2021 summer season. As you know, the process for determining our exact program continues to be a challenge as we strive to develop a great program, implement the reopening guidelines provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and keep all of our Scouts, leaders, and staff healthy and safe.

A new Position Manager tool, found on the Organization Manager page of My.Scouting, will be rolled out in the next few days. This new tool updates and replaces the current Organization Security Manager and gives any currently chartered unit the ability to change leader registrations without having to fill out applications and take them to the council service center.

Position Manager will allow Chartered Organization Representatives and their designees to change any leader positions, except the Chartered Organization Representative, with the drag of the mouse. It will require an overnight sync, and then the new leadership position will be updated in the unit.

The assignment of functional assignments like key 3 delegates and membership chair can be done in Position Manager, too. The below job aid will illustrate the new tool and its features.

Join Hundreds of Other Scouters at the Virtual Little Philmont 2021 Event and Get a Taste of the Philmont Experience

Friday, May 21 from 9pm-10:30pm EDT
Saturday, May 22 from 10:30-2pm EDT

Virtual Little Philmont 2021 provides a unique opportunity to hear from leading Scouters who continue to deliver high-quality programs for our youth. Several topics will be addressed with a variety of focused break-out sessions on subjects like recruiting, involving parents, leading a troop, helping Scouts stay engaged “after Eagle,” utilizing digital tools to reach your Scouting audience, and more. This exciting event can be a catalyst for increased knowledge and energy within the Latter-day Saint Scouting community.

We’ll open the event on Friday evening (May 21st) with a fireside chat with Rex Tillerson, former BSA National President, former U.S. Secretary of State and former Chairman/CEO of ExxonMobil.

We’ll continue the event on Saturday morning (May 22nd), addressing various topics necessary to continue Scouting with energy, increased knowledge, and enthusiasm. Come join us!

Chaplain Aide training will be offered to Scouts of ALL FAITHS on Sunday, May 2 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at the Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies on 51 Illinois Court in Worcester. This in-person training is also open to adult Scouters on a space-available basis (Scouts have first call on space). The course, offered by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (DCCS), will be conducted following all current COVID safety protocol, with masks required and temperature checks conducted. The course should be of interest to Scouts BSA troops who are interested in enhancing their use of this youth leadership position within their troop structure and will assist in strengthening the Duty to God component, which is crucial within the advancement and programming activities spelled out by the BSA in cooperation with local and national youth ministry leaders of all faiths. Please pre-register by sending an email to John Atlas, Chairman of the DCCS.

The Nobscot Campmaster Corps is a group of registered Scouters who spend the weekend at Nobscot whenever troops, Webelos dens, crews or posts are in camp. It’s like a mini-vacation!

You get to spend the weekend in the Campmaster HQ in Henderson Lodge (close to the parking lot!). The lodge is a fabulous facility set up with a welcome center for unit check-in and ever-expanding trading post. Adjacent to the office is a separate, private, living space complete with bunks, couches, bathroom, kitchenette, TV, WiFi, heat, electricity – all the comforts of home! You will need to provide your own food. Once groups check-in, you’ll be available for any assistance needed. You can even enjoy a hike around camp! Pretty simple really.

After a simple training session, you can select when you’d like to help out. Typically, it’s one to three times a year – whenever it’s convenient for you. All Campmasters must have a demonstrated ability to get along with people, to lead and act in an emergency. Certainly, knowledge about Nobscot is a decided plus!

Interested? For info contact Tom Bednarz

Pay Your 2021 Dues Online

The Tantamous Lodge is excited to announce a new membership dues feature for 2021! Lodge members who were unable to attend an event are now able to pay their $5 annual membership fee online.

We always encourage lodge members to attend events to cover their dues, and while this will remain the primary option to pay fees, we recognize the need to offer an additional payment method for our members who may be limited by schedules, health concerns, and other factors.

Congratulations to the nine recipients of the 2021 National Venturing Leadership Award.

Two of the 9 award recipients are from the Mayflower Council. We could not be more proud of your accomplishments.

Two shining examples of leadership.