Scouting, Volume 18, Number 6, June 1930 Page: 151
145-180, [4] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Registration Plan Reaffirmed
On Tuesday, May 13th, the entire morning session was given
over to a thorough discussion of the Adult Registration Plan.
Perhaps the best way to summarize the action of the meeting
is to quote in full the letter from President Head to the Presi-
dents of Councils:
"Our Twentieth Annual Meeting of the National Council, held
May 12 and 13 here in New York, was of such value and inter-
est that I want to personally on behalf of myself and asso-
ciates on the Executive Board tell you about it. The reports as
presented have already been mailed you under separate cover,
printed by Congress as House Document No. 338. We hope
they will have your careful reading. They show that the year
1929 was outstanding in our twenty years of history because of
the progress made.
"The sessions of the National Council meeting were well at-
tended and the discussions important and intelligent. Our din-
ner session of May 12 was a wonderful occasion. The speeches
by United States District Attorney Tuttle and Dr. Alfred
Stearns, of Andover, were of value. The unique presentation
in commemoration of the Eightieth Birthday of our National
Scout Commissioner, affectionately known as 'Uncle Dan,' was
a delightful occasion.
"As all of the 1,395 members of the National Council were
informed well in advance, the Committee on Program and
Resolutions not only definitely invited each
member of the National Council to submit
suggestions, but planned the program to
provide for full discussion and reconsid-
eration of the action of the National Coun-
cil at its 1929 meeting extending the reg-
istration system so as to apply to men as
well as boys. Practically the entire session
Tuesday morning was devoted to a full
and frank discussion of this subject in all
of its phases. Those taking part came
from different sections of the country and
included Presidents of Councils, Chairmen
of Regional Committees, Scoutmasters,
Commissioners, Troop Committeemen,
members of Courts of Honor and others,
all having also presented credentials as
members of the National Council, either
as delegates from Local Councils or mem-
bers-at-large. Notwithstanding the intense
interest and difference of opinion there was
the best of good feeling. There was a total
of 363 persons who registered for the An-
nual Meeting. Of this number 180 were
representatives of chartered Councils and
79 members-at-large, a total of 259 entitled Walter W. Head
to vote, the balance being visitors, speakers, presidenf 0f tfoe Boy Scouts of America
special guests and staff members. It was 1
my pleasure to preside and to do every-
thing in my power to make it possible for everyone who had a
point of view to have an opportunity to freely express it. The
will of the meeting was registered finally by a decisive majority
in favor of the following resolution:
"That the National Council reaffirms its belief in the policy
of the Adult Registration and the payment by Scouters of an
annual fee therefor of $1.00, of which 50 cents is in payment of
a subscription to the publication SCOUTING."
"The discussions revealed practically unanimous acceptance of
the values of a registration procedure. There were some who
advocated that there be no fee at all, some who advocated that
the payment of the fee be made optional and many who spoke
in favor of having all alike, men and boys, pay an annual reg-
istration fee of 50 cents a year with 50 cents additional for all
adults to cover the cost of a subscription to SCOUTING. It
was especially heartening to all of us to note the splendid spirit
that prevailed not only during the discussions but after the deci-
sion was reached. Many of those who came to the meeting with
deep concern as to the wisdom of the 1929 action of the National
Council announced that they would return to their Councils and
whole-heartedly work for making effective what was voted to
be for the best interests of the Boy Scouts of America.
"I personally share in the opinion of the members of the
Field Committee and our Executive Board, who come from all
parts of the country and most of whom are active in local work,
as well as those who testified m the discussions as to their
actual experience in the operation of the plan, that the plan
has already demonstrated its value, and is for the best interests
of the Boy Scouts of America."
In the opening of the discussion President Head said: "Before
the report is made by the Chairman of the Committee on
Resolutions with reference to Adult Registration, it might be
well for me to say that whatever the decision of this group of
men will be relative to this very important matter, let us all
keep in mind that the spirit of Scouting must necessarily prevail
in our hearts and must be carried back to our Councils with us,
as a result of our decision on this and other important matters,
all naturally affecting the work of the Organization and the
results which the Organization is seeking to produce.
"If it should be your pleasure to reaffirm the action of the
National Council a year ago, then let us all keep in mind that
after the decision has been arrived at, the primary purpose, then,
is an endeavor on the part of each individual to make the
program effective all over our land. If it should be your
pleasure to repeal the action of the National Council taken at
the annual meeting a year ago, then we who have been favorable
to the Registration Plan as effective at the present moment,
must also keep the same thought in mind, that we must permit
the majority to rule in the belief that in the long run the best
results 'will be obtained.
"If it should be your pleasure to reaffirm the Registration Plan
and then eliminate the demand of the One Dollar fee, the same
thing should be the result.
"Therefore, I urge each and every one of you to feel free to
express your own viewpoint, and assume full responsibility for
what you have to say, in the last analysis voting as you may
see fit, believing after all that not only is
this a democratic organization and that we
who are representatives of the Local Coun-
cils and members of the National Council,
and all of those whose heart and soul are
in Scouting, will try to do that which each
individual believes will be for the best in-
terests of the entire organization."
After the vote was taken Vice-President
Schiff commented upon the action as fol-
lows :
"I would like to say that I think it has
been a very useful thing to Scouting that
the discussion which has taken place this
morning should have happened. It shows
that the men, the backbone of Scouting in
this country, are not rubber stamps, and
they have their views, which they do not
hesitate to express, which is a healthy sign
for every organization.
"I hope, therefore, that in returning to
their homes and to their Local Councils,
they will report not only the action which
was taken, but the spirit which animated
the discussion—the underlying note which
I think guided every speaker, of seeking
what is best for the boy. And may I say
on behalf of the National Field Committee,
that is any of you gentlemen have in your Local Councils found
practical difficulties in the administration of this plan, we, of the
Field Department, both laymen and members of the staff, are ^t
your disposal to be of any help we can to solve those difficulties."
At the opening session of the Annual Meeting Monday morn-
ing the Chief Scout Executive in presenting his Annual Report
said in part:
"In my judgment the next few years will prove that of all
the actions taken by the National Council that one known as
the extension of the registration system will prove to be the
most valuable and far-reaching because of what it will do for
the advancement of the cause of Scouting.
"Its 20 years of history as I have already stated, shows a
grand total of nearly 4,000,000 boys definitely registered and
approximately 900,000 men recorded. I refer you to the state-
ment of membership, for the records of the past year. The
figures with reference to Scouts are definite, specific, and de-
pendable. The figures with reference to Scouters are the best
that can be made available without a definite and thorough reg-
istration system. We realize that there is considerable duplica-
tion. In some cases men hold as many as five or six different
relationships to the Scout Movement and it is not infrequent
for them to hold two or more.
"From the very outset a registration system has been in
operation for Scoutmasters, and Assistant Scoutmasters and
other commissioned officers, and originally they were required
to pay a nominal fee. Our experience with this group of men
has thoroughly demonstrated definite and concrete values accru-
ing to the cause of Scouting. It has helped to make possible
the National Council assuming responsibility for recommending
Page 151
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 18, Number 6, June 1930, periodical, June 1930; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310833/m1/7/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.