This Forum has been created by Barry to spearhead what I hope becomes a nationwide, organized, and persistent effort to get Boy Scouts of America to reinstate the Beekeeping Merit Badge.
Really, the goal is broader. In addition to getting the Merit Badge reinstated, I want to provide a way to organize efforts by beekeepers to at least expose young folks to beekeeping. If you look around your local bee club meeting, what is the average age of members? What does that say about the future of beekeeping? What are we going to do about it?
The most fundamental way to promote the future of beekeeping is to expose young people to it. I can think of no better place to start than to get Boy Scouts to reinstate the merit badge that used to exist but was terminated due to lack of participation years ago.
Realistically, most scouts probably won't get a beekeeping badge, and most of those scouts that do will not become beekeepers. But it is certain that some will take an interest in beekeeping. Even those who don't will have a greater appreciation for bees and beekeeeping, which is reward enough for taking on this project.
Here is what I generally envision:
1. Using Beesource as a direct way to notify the general public, beekeepers, scout leaders and scouts that they need to directly contact BSA to request that the merit badge be reinstated. Essentially, I want to start an email, letter-writing and petition signing campaign. The message to be conveyed to BSA is that there are beekeepers available to act as mentors. I want all of these letters and petitions to be directed to one person at BSA, so that we make a distinct impression.
2. Using Beesource as a way to get a program started to create interest among scout troops to create new interest in beekeeping and reinstating the merit badge. It is not enough to tell BSA the obvious fact that beekeepers are interested in beekeeping. We need to demonstrate that scouts would be interested in earning a beekeeping merit badge if given the choice. In short, we need to locate scouts and troop leaders to let them know that this project exists and get scout leaders to inform BSA that there would be participation.
3. Using Beesource to carry the word to bee clubs to create direct involvment by the clubs. If this campaign spreads to members of the clubs, then that will dramatically increase the scope of the letter writing campaign. Ideally, I would hope that bee clubs around the country would even pass resolutions that promise to hold classes where scouts could earn a beekeeping badge. That would also ensure scout participation.
4. Using the content section of Beesource as a repository for posting form letters and petitions that may be used by interested persons and bee clubs to do the stuff listed above. What I would like to do is draft form letters and/or emails that can be sent by beekeepers and scouts. I would also like to draft some form resolutions that could be enacted by beekeeping clubs in which assurances are given to BSA that clubs will mentor scouts who want to get the badge.
5. Hopefully, recruit Bee Culture and ABJ to join in this effort, and get those publication to spread the word, recruit more letter writers and direct interested persons to Beesource for materials.
6. Give an assurance to BSA that, if the badge is reinstated, this Beesource forum will be available to link scouts with beekeepers and/or local clubs who can help the scouts to do what is needed to get the badge. In other words, there may not be as many beekeepers now as there were 50 years ago, but technology now exists to link scouts to beekeeping teachers.
7. Use this Forum as a way to locate people who have information that will make it easier for BSA to reinstate the badge. For example, somebody out there surely has the old materials that relate to the beekeeping merit badge and a badge showing what it looks like.
That's the plan, anyway.
However, I don't want to jump into this project immediately for two reasons. First, I am in the process of selling my house, buying another one and moving between now an the end of January. I'm booked for the moment.
Second, I want to hear ideas from anybody who has them about how to get this done. Truth is, I was never in Boy Scouts myself. I know how to persuade people, but I don't really have a clue what I'm doing with this, truth be told. Maybe the plan should change in basic ways.
Consider this a formal request to share your ideas -- however crazy they may be -- for how to get this done.
Also, I'd appreciate any help that anybody can give.
Thanks,
Neil
Really, the goal is broader. In addition to getting the Merit Badge reinstated, I want to provide a way to organize efforts by beekeepers to at least expose young folks to beekeeping. If you look around your local bee club meeting, what is the average age of members? What does that say about the future of beekeeping? What are we going to do about it?
The most fundamental way to promote the future of beekeeping is to expose young people to it. I can think of no better place to start than to get Boy Scouts to reinstate the merit badge that used to exist but was terminated due to lack of participation years ago.
Realistically, most scouts probably won't get a beekeeping badge, and most of those scouts that do will not become beekeepers. But it is certain that some will take an interest in beekeeping. Even those who don't will have a greater appreciation for bees and beekeeeping, which is reward enough for taking on this project.
Here is what I generally envision:
1. Using Beesource as a direct way to notify the general public, beekeepers, scout leaders and scouts that they need to directly contact BSA to request that the merit badge be reinstated. Essentially, I want to start an email, letter-writing and petition signing campaign. The message to be conveyed to BSA is that there are beekeepers available to act as mentors. I want all of these letters and petitions to be directed to one person at BSA, so that we make a distinct impression.
2. Using Beesource as a way to get a program started to create interest among scout troops to create new interest in beekeeping and reinstating the merit badge. It is not enough to tell BSA the obvious fact that beekeepers are interested in beekeeping. We need to demonstrate that scouts would be interested in earning a beekeeping merit badge if given the choice. In short, we need to locate scouts and troop leaders to let them know that this project exists and get scout leaders to inform BSA that there would be participation.
3. Using Beesource to carry the word to bee clubs to create direct involvment by the clubs. If this campaign spreads to members of the clubs, then that will dramatically increase the scope of the letter writing campaign. Ideally, I would hope that bee clubs around the country would even pass resolutions that promise to hold classes where scouts could earn a beekeeping badge. That would also ensure scout participation.
4. Using the content section of Beesource as a repository for posting form letters and petitions that may be used by interested persons and bee clubs to do the stuff listed above. What I would like to do is draft form letters and/or emails that can be sent by beekeepers and scouts. I would also like to draft some form resolutions that could be enacted by beekeeping clubs in which assurances are given to BSA that clubs will mentor scouts who want to get the badge.
5. Hopefully, recruit Bee Culture and ABJ to join in this effort, and get those publication to spread the word, recruit more letter writers and direct interested persons to Beesource for materials.
6. Give an assurance to BSA that, if the badge is reinstated, this Beesource forum will be available to link scouts with beekeepers and/or local clubs who can help the scouts to do what is needed to get the badge. In other words, there may not be as many beekeepers now as there were 50 years ago, but technology now exists to link scouts to beekeeping teachers.
7. Use this Forum as a way to locate people who have information that will make it easier for BSA to reinstate the badge. For example, somebody out there surely has the old materials that relate to the beekeeping merit badge and a badge showing what it looks like.
That's the plan, anyway.
However, I don't want to jump into this project immediately for two reasons. First, I am in the process of selling my house, buying another one and moving between now an the end of January. I'm booked for the moment.
Second, I want to hear ideas from anybody who has them about how to get this done. Truth is, I was never in Boy Scouts myself. I know how to persuade people, but I don't really have a clue what I'm doing with this, truth be told. Maybe the plan should change in basic ways.
Consider this a formal request to share your ideas -- however crazy they may be -- for how to get this done.
Also, I'd appreciate any help that anybody can give.
Thanks,
Neil