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Executives and a study committee was formed to determine if Dunamis and Scouting could reestablish their mutually beneficial relationship.
In March of 1967, Scouting Officials invited the officials of the National Chapter to a conference to review the study committee’s results. President Steig, Vice-president Dr. James Cochran and Robert Ballou, and Director John Russell met with key professional Scouters at the North Brunswick office. The questions and answers posed by the representatives of both groups were constructive and the outcome was a list of changes deemed necessary to strengthen Dunamis and bring it into harmony with the Boy Scouts of America.
Following the meeting in North Brunswick, the Dunamis representatives traveled to Schiff Scout Reservation where they drafted a 15-point response to the Boy Scouts of America’s requests. This document, known as “The Schiff Conference Report,” became the basis for the major structural changes, the product of which is the National Chapter of the Knights of Dunamis, as it exists today. In addition, however, the report emphasizes the retention of those aspects of the traditional program, ceremonies, and insignia, which have proved their effectiveness and attractiveness through the years.
In November 1967, the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America passed a resolution stating in part, “the Boy Scouts of America recognize the Knights of Dunamis and cooperate with them in achieving their objectives.” In May of 1968, the National Council, meeting in Chicago, added its final stamp of approval and a partnership was born.
Just previous to the last Knights of Dunamis national conference, which was held at West Point Military Academy, Robert Ballou was selected by the B.S.A. Personnel Committee to become the first national director of the Knights of Dunamis under the Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Ballou was directed by Dr. Barber to make a national survey of all the area councils in the United States in order to ascertain the merits or weaknesses of the existing Knights of Dunamis organization. The results from this survey indicated general acceptance by area Scout Executives. However, it was decided to change the name from Knights of Dunamis to the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA). Legal steps, which took six months, were taken to dissolve the already chartered Knights of Dunamis.
In addition to these national survey questionnaires, visitations were made to many councils by B.S.A. professionals to further determine what may be done to improve the Eagle Scout program. The interviews of these visitation with Scouts and Scouters were taped and thus made available for further study by the newly appointed steering committee, consisting of nine members: (1) three adults, (2) three youths, (3) two professional Scout executives (Harvey Price, then Scout executive for Los Angeles, was one), and (4) the Chief Scout Executive or his appointee.
In May 1972 the name, National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) was finally accepted and the new program was launched.
Dr. Lester R. Steig
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