Identify the Prospect

Determining the Youth Market

A number of tools can be used to gauge the need for a new unit in a particular area. The district's boy-fact survey, high school survey, and other information from schools enables us to determine whether enough youths who may be interested in Scouting can be contacted about joining.

The new-unit organizer, with the district executive's help, surveys the youth market. This includes the use of total available youth, or TAY—the number of youths in an area who meet BSA membership requirements. They may also pinpoint the location of existing units on a map. They should find out the following:

• The location of underserved areas
• The location of public schools, charter schools, home-schooling associations, school expansions, or other after-school programs that could benefit from the organization of new units [Note: Public schools and government organizations do not serve as chartered organizations]
• New religious institutions being organized that may want to use Scouting with their youth members
• Other community organizations in the district that serve youth (There may be service clubs, veterans groups, community centers, public housing, religious organizations, and others.)
• Current chartering organizations without the full family of Scouting

Researching Potential Chartered Organizations

After potential chartered organizations have been identified, find out everything possible about their purpose, structure, leadership, and history of youth and community involvement. Find out the following:

• What potential adult unit leaders does the organization have?
• How adequate are the organization's program resources?
• How compatible are the organization's values and goals with those of the BSA?
• What facilities can the organization provide for an adequate meeting space?
• What Scouts are already members of the organization?
• What other similar organizations already use the Scouting program?

Use the tracking sheet on page 6 to help moniter progress.

Prioritize the Organizations

After potential organizations have been researched, list them in order from the most promising to the least promising for potentially working with Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of America

http://www.scouting.org