Executive Summary
Based on careful internal evaluation and feedback from our volunteers, family and youth, the Tuscarora Council will focus on the following areas during the next five years. 

Youth Membership
Volunteer Leadership
Financial Stability
Community Collaboration
Quality Programs
Quality Facilities

1. Youth Membership
Current census figures for our area show that potential Cub Scouts (ages 6-10) will increase 4.69% from 2006 to 2011, and potential Boy Scouts (ages 11-13) will increase 17.15% over the same time. We will strive to provide an opportunity for every eligible youth to be involved in a quality Scouting experience.

Objective:  Increase our participation to 4,000 traditional youth members, while increasing our ability to serve youth of all ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds in both rural and urban areas. Our efforts will include:

• Strengthen quality relationships with existing chartered organizations
• Match programs with community needs and develop new partners
• Develop recruitment strategies which are more ethnically diverse
• Train qualified leaders and role models for service
• Increase public visibility of Scouting programs
• Provide incentive plans for youth and adults who join as new Scouts or volunteers and for those who recruit them
• Continue to develop Learning for Life
  

2. Volunteer Leadership
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Scouting program.  We will strive to maintain the strongest council and district leadership possible.

Objective: Increase the number of engaged, accountable volunteers at all levels of Scouting. Our efforts will include:

• Focus on identifying and recruiting council board members and district committee members who have the ability to promote Scouting, cultivate necessary resources to operate its programs and determine policies to assist in its operation 
• Develop, engage and recognize Scouting alumni.
• Preserve veteran leadership
• Develop a commissioners' recognition program
• Increase the number of unit commissioners
• Develop an e-mail database for all leaders, volunteers and parents

3.  Financial Stability
We will strive to keep our council fiscally sound. 

Objective: Meet the needs of Scouting through growth in operating, capital and endowment funds to significantly increase resources, properties and service. To do so, we will:

• Focus on the growth of Friends of Scouting campaign
• Increase revenue from annual popcorn sale
• Maintain a balanced budget with at least a $5,000 surplus each year
• Maximize fundraising campaigns and events
• Maintain close relationships with United Way partners
• Increase our endowment through promotion of giving opportunities
  

4. Community Collaboration
We will strive to identify organizations in the community to engage in community alliances and/or  serve as sponsors for Scouting units.

Objective: Increase the number of our traditional units to 150. In 2007, we had 131 of these units. To do so, our efforts will include:

• Continue to develop strong partnerships with institutions of faith 
• Develop relationships with other community youth-serving organizations
• Develop and implement a strong diversified outreach emphasis
• Revisit chartered organizations that have had units go inactive and work to reorganize them
• Maintain positive and mutually beneficial relationships with our public schools
• Conduct annual Good Turn project to provide a community service opportunity for our youth and to heighten community awareness of Scouting

5. Quality Programs
We will strive to provide a balanced, quality program for Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Venturing age groups.

Objective: Increase youth retention through emphasis on camping, training and advancement. To do so, our efforts will include:

• Make improvements to camp facilities
• Increase opportunities for more Cub Scout involvement in day and resident camps
• Organize opportunities for Venturers to attend council sponsored camps
• Use Order of the Arrow to promote summer camp
• Develop high adventure programs to attract and retain older Scouts
• Establish a Webelos Scout to Boy Scout chairman position, closely tracking individual Webelos and recording reasons for those not joining a troop
• Develop a commitment program with chartered organizations to ensure all volunteers will be properly trained
• Further develop training teams for each district and provide additional training opportunities
• Increase advancement opportunities at all levels
• Require and review attendance records for all events and use data to identify and reach out to units with low attendance
• Conduct Life to Eagle Scout meetings at least twice a year in each district to inform about Eagle Scout process and procedures
• Orientation of all Eagle Board members to promote uniformity

6. Quality Facilities
We will strive to use our properties to provide the highest quality program experience possible for all segments of our membership. 

Objective: Based on feedback from numerous surveys, we will create and implement a facilities use plan that increases the use of existing and future program facilities, promotes development of our properties and ensures the maximum return on investment. To do so, our efforts will include:

• Establish a Cub Scout program area at Camp Tuscarora
• Develop new and improve existing remote camping facilities such as Dunn's High Banks and the Mill Creek area
• Assess function and perform needed improvements to dining hall
• Bring the campsite restrooms up to date
• Initiate a functioning risk management committee on the council level
• Optimize current retail, work and meeting spaces at Council Service Center for optimal and efficient use
• Evaluate current office location with respect to visibility, accessibility and safety and examine possibilities for future relocation