Coast Guard Auxiliary exhibits for the Boy Scouts of America



The Boy Scouts of America 2010 National Annual Meeting was recently held in Dallas, TX and the Recreational Boating Safety Outreach (B Department) was there to promote auxiliary services and make new friends. Both organizations have agreed to exhibit at each other’s national conferences and the Dallas event was the beginning of what is hoped to be a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Director for RBS Outreach, Bruce Johnson, DIR-B called on National Marketing to develop an exhibit that promoted vessel safety checks and boater education to the Scouts. The new Auxiliary National Supply Center fold-up backdrop was combined with the Wear It life jacket rack for a colorful eye catching exhibit. Several exhibit visitors posed for photos in front of the impressive Coast Guard Auxiliary logo backdrop. The impressive backdrop is a new ANSC item and available to be checked out to support events.

The mission was to introduce the Auxiliary to the Boy Scouts of America, network and establish contacts for future endeavors. Approximately 2,000 representatives of nearly 5 million youth and adult volunteers had an opportunity to view the exhibit, obtain literature and have questions answered. The exhibit also afforded the opportunity to promote new style life jackets and answer questions about their capabilities and maintenance. We were the only “uniformed services” service represented, so there were also recruiting and membership opportunities, including AIM, which targets youth of older Scout age.

The Auxiliary exhibit was in a large “pod” in the center of the exhibit hall room; and shared with the Sea Scouts and a BSA training exhibit. There was a traffic aisle through the exhibit so the “work table” was placed on the other side adjacent a Sea Scouts fire extinguisher demonstration area. The arrangement provided an immediate conversation point for those from councils with Sea Scouts. Recreational Boating Safety Outreach prepared fliers describing how the Auxiliary can support BSA with vessel safety checks and boater education. ANSC literature was augmented by a special allotment of American Canoe Association literature and placed in a second literature rack because of the significant BSA involvement in paddle sports. This literature was used to reinforce our marketing of the new Paddle Sports America course.

ANACO-PS Nick Tarlson was assigned the lead because of his BSA experience and 8CR DSO Larry Richmond assigned VDCR 10 Robert Capt (who also possessed substantial BSA experience) as the local POC. Watch standing was provided by flotilla 10-2 members Lee and Sharon Ellershaw and Capt. Additionally, DCO Richmond joined ANACO-PS Tarlson to provide a senior-level USCG Auxiliary presence at the exhibit and closing banquet. The Ellershaws and Bob Capt were conferred “honorary Life Jacket Tsar” status for the occasion in recognition of their outstanding watch standing performance.

Feedback from conference attendees and other exhibitors was that the exhibit was effective and well-received. Additional resources for supporting the Auxiliary’s relationship with the Boy Scouts of America can be found on AuxBWiki at http://auxbdeptwiki.cgaux.org/index.php/Boy_Scouts_of_America.

=Exhibiting Resources=
 * Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Boy Scouts of America (PowerPoint presentation)
 * Coast Guard Auxiliary Boater Education for Scouts
 * Preparing for a Trip to the Florida Sea Base
 * Preserve America's Waterways -- Develop a joint waterway conservation project with a Scout group
 * Safety at Sea Weekend -- Weekend on-the-water training event held jointly with the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary
 * Vessel Safety Checks of Scout Camp boats
 * Vessel Safety Checks of Sea Scout boats

Handouts

 * [[Image:pdf.gif|PDF available]] Learn Safe Boating Practices from the Coast Guard Auxiliary
 * [[Image:pdf.gif|PDF available]] Promote BSA Safety Afloat with a Free Vessel Safety Check
 * [[Image:pdf.gif|PDF available]] The Adventures of Captain Cleanwater
 * [[Image:pdf.gif|PDF available]] Boating Fun Booklet

Contributed by
[mailto:soffers@sbcglobal.net Stu Soffer], N-MS, National Marketing