Today I spoke with Mr. John Dalrymple, Director, Advancement/NESA, Boy
Scouts of America. He was very helpful and informative about the
beekeeping merit badge.
In essence, he oversees a council which, as one of its functions,
tracks the popularity of individual merit badges. Some merit badges
fall into the category of having 45,000- 90,000 granted annually.
Whenever a badge falls below 1000 grants per year across the country
(it was 700 in 1994), it is put on review. Unfortunately, Beekeeping
got the ax on September 1, 1995.
This is not to say that it is a lost cause. Mr Dalrymple was very
candid with me, and gave me suggestions for a proposal. Basically the
council would vote on any proposal, and then make it's recommendation.
He could not promise anything. However, he did make it a point to
inform me that the reponse (although a paltry 20-30 complaints) was
the most he's seen for a discontinued badge. Normally, he says, they
really don't hear a word.
The real problem is, success isn't cheap. Now that the badge is dead,
it would have to be re-instituted (i.e. reworked). The booklet is
revised, the badge redesigned (maybe) and efforts are made to make the
badge more appealing to the scouts. This has a one-time fee of about
$20,000. Badges and booklets are then reviewed on a five-year basis
for revisions, reprinting etc. But the badges and booklets are
basically self-financing once the badge is reinstated.
My proposal is this:
Objectives:
1) To raise funds via volunteer contributions from the 50 State
Beekeeping associations across the country. If all 50 joined in, it
would only be $400 per association. Once. Finito. Heck, maybe some of
the bigger commercial companies would even pitch in !
2) To have beekeepers register with their local scout councils to
be Merit badge advisors. Hopefully the state beekeeping associations
could help facilitate these communications.
They need people willing to donate time, expertise, and possibly,
equipment. For the hobbyist, how can you beat teaching a new
generation of beekeepers? And for the commercial fellows, hey, you're
helping to ensure future customers. I know some of the commercial
yards would be unwilling to help because of possible litigation,
insurance concerns, etc. OK, but why not give scouts and scout
councils a price break? Sell them the equipment, bees, etc at
wholesale or at cost when they start out. How much is that really
going to cost, versus possible return?
3) To have people already involved with the badge try to promote
interest within their local packs. Nothing would be more compelling, I
think, then letters from lots of scouts (and scout masters) interested
in the badge. This would kind of be my 'second-stage' approach to the
proposal.
What I need from the Beekeeping community is a pledge of support. I
will be talking to my State (NJ) officials about generating interest.
I'm also hopefully going to try to say a few words at the Del Val (PA)
meeting in November. But my travel budget is limited !!!
If people on the list could help me with the following info, it would
be great !!!
A) Names, address, telephone (or email) of your local State
Assoc. president.
B) Contact persons with all the industry periodicals, such
as Apis, ABJ, Bee Culture, so that maybe they'll run a piece on this
effort.
C) Letters of intent from commercial or hobby beekeepers
willing to help. Please email them or US mail them to me (address at
bottom). Make them RE: Reinstating the Beekeeping Merit Badge, and
please include your name and address in the letter/email. Say in your
message you'd be willing to volunteer time to be a Beekeeping Merit
Badge advisor, or in the case of commercial companies, be willing to
offer discounts to scouts undertaking this badge.
I really feel a concerted effort would produce the required results.
Like I've said previously, I was in the scouts and don't remember even
hearing/reading about this badge [could also be that I was a brat ;-)
]. But I'll tell you, when I do demonstrations in front of kids, or
lend them video tapes on bees and beekeeping, well, just to see their
faces is enough payback. And this is a good way for the industry/hobby
to start renewing itself.
I guess lastly I would say this effort will hinge on the ability of
the individual state organizations to be able to pledge the funds. But
I think this is possible. Please help me out. Send any info you
believe will help to me at the following addresses:
Mike Beluch
[log in to unmask] (preferred for this stuff) or
[log in to unmask]
4 Dubois Round
Belle Mead, NJ 08502
My daytime telephone is 609-716-2344. thanks
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