Good to GREATCUB SCOUT PACKS

A Recruiting Plan for OfferingUnparalleled Experiences for More Youth

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Mission of theBoy Scouts of America

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

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Promise to Parents

Parents will say Scouting in Mid-America Council offers their family fun and adventurous things to do. This fun and adventure will help their son or daughter develop leadership skills and values important to good citizenship and service to others.

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Challenges… and Opportunities

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Cub Scout enrollment is significantly DOWN.• 2000: 15,251 27.34% of youth served• 2010: 13,324 23.72% of youth served

12.63% loss = 2,027 fewer boys benefitting from Scouting!

Consider this:There are over 43,000 7‐11 year old boys in our service area who are not getting from Scouting the values and skills they need to be successful.

Vision of the Mid-America Council

Unparalleled Experiences for More Youth

• There is unprecedented need for ethical leadership at home, in the workplace, and throughout our communities

• Young people today are less active, less service-oriented, less interested in faith traditions, less adept in life skills

• Complacency of youth and the adults who should be mentoring them for success is breaking down family and community structures

• Every boy deserves the opportunity to participate in our program

YOU have the solution!

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Vision of the Mid-America Council

Unparalleled Experiences for More Youth

• GREAT Scouting– Engages Youth, Parents, and Communities– Gives people something they can’t get anywhere else

• Fun with a purpose• Values, Direction, Skills that last a lifetime

– Allows young people to practice being adults before they have to

You have the SOLUTION!

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Vision of the Mid-America Council

Unparalleled Experiences for More Youth

You are here because:• You are the difference makers for youth and their families• You believe this program molds tomorrow’s leaders• We want you to be GREAT promoters of Scouting• We want to give you:

– A guide for attracting more boys to your pack– Tools for recruiting new leaders and new youth– Recognition for recruiting achievement– District and Council support

You ARE the Solution!

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Moving from Good to GREAT!

We share responsibility to:• Get every youth excited about the adventure of

Scouting no matter where they live.• Give every parent of potential Scouts a consistent

message, visual experience and opportunity to join. • Support every pack recruitment with effective unit,

district and council resources. • Conduct a high quality Pack Party and a unit activity

to attract youth to join in every community.

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Moving from Good to GREAT!

• The Good to GREAT focus is to enroll more boys into Cub Scouting and engage new adult leaders to help deliver the promise.

• Your pack will succeed by following a plan that: • Creates Awareness• Builds Interest• Gains Commitment

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Good to GREAT Create Awareness

Importance of Creating Awareness

Creating awareness provides new parents an opportunity to know what the Scouting program is all about.

Marketing elements will help the parent know how to join and connect with the Scouting family.

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Importance of Creating Awareness

The Good to GREAT recruitment plan is your guide to ensure that the Scouting brand reaches your community with:

• Consistent messaging to all stakeholders and prospects as to what Scouting is and what it will do for them

• Multiple “touches” to create a positive Scouting culture

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Creating Awareness

School Principal Meeting • Strengthen relationships and foster support for your

recruitment efforts.• Share exciting news and successes regarding your

Pack.• Demonstrate that the Pack is a resource and an asset to

the school (service projects)• District will be supplying a gift to take to Principals.

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Creating Awareness

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Yard Signs: Join Cub Scouts

Distributed and placed in yards to create awareness

August through November

Will be available at the May Round Table to use for the fall.

Creating Awareness

Uniform Days in School The basketball team does it. The football team does it.Now Scouting does it too.

Wear your uniform to school on “game days” when you have pack or den meetings.

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Creating Awareness

Chartered Organization Participation

• Pack leaders schedule a meeting to – Update the sponsor on the pack's activities and service projects– Identify how the chartering organization can help support the

pack’s recruiting effort.

• Pack leader and a Pack Consultant will attend this meeting.

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Creating Awareness

MAC Board of Directors Participation

• Each board member will receive a sign-up sheet of possible recruitment activities.

• Yard signs available for board members to display• Engage them, challenge them, and motivate them to

actively participate in Cub Scout recruitment.

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Creating Awareness

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Online Tools • www.mac-bsa.org

– Journey to Excellence tab

– Membership Recruitment

Creating Awareness

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Pack Activities Press Release • Use your PR Chair to submit press releases about pack

activities to the local media• Feature photos of Scouts having fun, learning, or doing

community service.• When people know about the fun and good work that

Scouting brings, they will want to join.• A template and sample release are provided and

available on www.mac-bsa.org .

Pack Activities Press Release

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Creating Awareness

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Direct Mail

• Will use commercially-available mailing lists based on our market share analysis and the tapestries with room for the most growth

• School or PTO mailing lists will be most effective.– If your Pack can obtain these lists, please share them with your

District Executive so we can send a targeted direct mail piece.

Targeted Direct Mailing

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Creating Awareness

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Miscellaneous Advertising • If you have school access issues and there is a publication that is

sent home with school kids, please let us know• School marquees• School lobby kiosk• Flyer at local stores, barber shops, grocery stores, clothing store,

etc.• 50 Ways to Find Tomorrow’s Leaders

(available on www.mac-bsa.org)• Corporate newsletter/ bulletin board/ email/ website/ Facebook/

Twitter

Creating Awareness

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Newspaper Inserts • If your local paper will let us insert membership flyers for

free (and perhaps paid – depending on the cost), please let you DE or Membership Chair know.

• We will print and provide membership flyers to be inserted in the newspaper

• Also consider neighborhood newsletters, church newsletters, school newsletters, etc.

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Good to GREAT: Building Interest

Building Interest

• The second component for the campaign is focused on elements that engage families to join

• Building interest takes boys and parents from a general awareness of Scouting to a point where they have enough information to make a decision to join.

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Building Interest

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Pack Information Flyer • We will provide copies of the pack information flyer• You will provide the data needed for the flyer

– Leader contact info – Meeting dates, times, location– Upcoming activities and dates– Historic activities (typical things you do each year) – A recent action photo of fun pack event

• Submit your completed order form to your DE by your May Roundtable.

Pack Information Flyer

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Building Interest

BeAScout.org • Online experiences are highly influential in shaping

perceptions of organizations. • It is essential to provide quick and up-to-date information

about your Cub Scout pack including benefits, activities, meeting time/place, cost, leaders, and how to join.

• Manage BeAScout.org leads just as you would an email or phone call.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUNosnruIWo&feature=player_embedded#!

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Building Interest

School Night Program • A great way for you to showcase your pack and invite

families to your Pack Party.• By participating in the school night you will help your

school see a positive partnership with your pack.• An opportunity to use your pack information flyer and

new presentation board to promote the Pack Party.

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Building Interest

School Fair Demonstration/Exhibit

Packs should strive to make a positive impression on parents and students at the Fall community/school fair.

• Showcase your program• Have a hands-on activity for all youth• Scouts should attend the event in uniform• Provide a sufficient quantity of pack information flyers

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Building Interest

Pack Display Boards • Tonight each Pack will receive:

– one tri-fold display board– Cut out numbers and letters– Paper for behind photos– Cub Scout logos– Misc. items

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Good to GREAT: Gaining Commitment

Gaining Commitment

• This phase ensures parents come to your Pack Party to sign up their boys.

• You have worked hard to create awareness and build interest. Now you need to close the deal.

• Follow all the steps to compel them to attend and get all the good Scouting offers their family!

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Gaining Commitment

Pack Party Announcements • Distribute Pack Party announcement flyers to all Cub

Scout-aged boys in the school when possible. • Schedule flyers for distribution 2-3 days before each of

the recruitment nights.

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Pack Party Announcements

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Gaining Commitment

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Pack Party Announcements

Work with your DE to place the flyer order.

Gaining Commitment

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Pack Party Press Release• Some newspapers allow you to put community events on

their online and/or print calendars for free• Use your PR chairs to submit press releases to your

local media regarding upcoming pack parties

Pack Party Press Releases

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Gaining Commitment

"Sign-Up Here Tonight" Yard Signs

• On the day of your Pack Party, place several yard signs along the road outside the school.

• Signs must be put up on the day of the joining night and removed on that same day.

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Sign Up Here Tonight Yard Signs

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Gaining Commitment

School Rally/Boy Talk • The school rally is a proven technique for recruiting new

Cub Scouts. • It is an energetic Scouting presentation during the school

day to all Cub Scout aged boys in the school . • It is conducted by your DE with your support

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Gaining Commitment

School Rally/Boy Talk• Classroom to Classroom• Special Assembly (auditorium or gym)• Cafeteria, Gym Class• Recess Playground Huddle• Closed Circuit School TV

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Gaining Commitment

Peer-to-Peer Invitations• Ask each of your Scouts to invite at least three non-

Scout friends/classmates to come to the Pack Party• Scouts could identify their prospects and you could track

them by dens to offer top recruiter incentives• Ask Pack Committee Members, Den Leaders, and

current parents to assist the Scouts by visiting or making calls to parents of prospective Scouts.

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Good to GREAT: Your Pack Party

Prior to the Pack Party

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1. Attend May Roundtable to pick up recruitment materials2. Conduct a Pack Program Planning Conference during the

summer3. By July 31 confirm your Pack Party date, time and location4. Complete the 3 phases of the recruitment campaign: create

awareness, build interest and gain commitment5. Prepare your pack’s program calendar and set your dues6. Decide if you want to customize the “100 Point Form”

(download from Membership Resources at www.mac-bsa.org)7. Organize and schedule two fun activities for NEW families8. Coordinate logistics with your Pack Party Consultant

What the Pack Brings to Pack Party

• Pack Activities Calendar • Pack Information Flyers• Activity supplies for the boys• Handbooks for each level• Cake and refreshments• Helpers for your activity • List of vacant leadership positions• FUN Pack Display and board• Enthusiasm!

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What the Pack brings to Pack Party

Manpower (at least 8 uniformed leaders)• An experienced Tiger Den Leader• An experienced Wolf Den Leader• An experienced Bear Den Leader• An experienced Webelos Den Leader• An experienced Arrow of Light Den Leader• Cubmaster• Treasurer (or someone with the pack checkbook who has authority to write checks)• Activity Specialist (someone to put on an activity)Also consider having your CR and CC attend (to approve Adult

Applications on the spot)

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District/Consultant Responsibilities

You can expect your Pack Party Consultant to:• Support your Pack in creating awareness, building interest and gaining commitment • Coordinate recruiting activities throughout the district• Produce flyers, posters, and other recruiting materials• Work directly with school districts to facilitate boy talks and flyer approval• Make presentations in schools (rallies/boy talks)• Provide kit resources (“The BOX”)• Organize new packs as needed• Build dens at the Pack Party• Assist you in recruiting adults • Support application turn-in• Provide materials needed for new leaders

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District/Consultant Resources “The BOX”

• Applications - Youth and Adult• Boys’ Life mini-magazines• Den Roster Forms for each table• Pens• 100 Point Forms (generic)• 1st Den Meeting Plans (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos,

Arrow of Light• Table Signs• Directional Arrows

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District/Consultant Resources More of “The BOX”

• Posters• School Night Report Envelope• New Leader Packets with MyScouting registration• Training information• Pack Party agenda • New Parent Guides• Talent survey• Motivational tools and examples

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Physical Arrangements(Refer to Pack Party Planning Guide)

• Floor Plan/Room Layout– Table for each grade level– Table for Application and Fee turn-in (be prepared to handle more than one at a

time)– Display table (show the “FUN” of a year of Scouting)– Game area for boys’ breakout session– Welcome area

• Cafeteria works best– Neutral– Familiar– “Den-sized” tables

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Pack Party Agenda

• Review agenda in Pack Party Guide

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New Leader Recruitment

• The Pack Party is the right time to recruit new den & pack leadership

• Seat parents by school grade• Have current, uniformed leaders on hand to help recruit new leaders

• Use “100 Point Parent Participation Form” • Use 4-part Den Rosters – new leaders get immediate contact info for their new dens

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New Leader Recruitment

Youth Protection Training must be completed within 30 days and before dens start meeting• All leader training is available online at MyScouting.org• Den & Pack meeting resources• First Den Meeting plans for every level are in “The BOX”• Complete meeting plans may be downloaded free

– www.scouting.org– Click on the Cub Scouting tab– Select Den Leader resource– Review new leader kit

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Pack Party Forms and Follow-Up

• Review applications for completeness including all signatures.– Keep your Unit Copy to update the Pack database/records – Submit the Local Council copy of all completed youth applications with fees that

night– Held applications = unregistered youth

• Give den rosters to newly recruited leaders• Follow-up on leads from interested parents on den rosters.• Youth Protection Training must be completed before working

with youth

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Membership Fees

• Use the Den Roster to track payments• If a family can’t afford Cub Scouting (is choosing not to join

solely because of the cost), financial assistance is available from the Council for BSA registration fees.

• Your full-price dues amount should include enough to cover fall registration PLUS re-chartering fees.

• BSA Registration is $18 for one year (REQUIRED) and includes insurance recovery fee.

• Boys’ Life subscription is $12 for one year (REQUIRED per household)

• Use your membership turn-in envelope for prorated fees

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Membership Fees

At the Pack Party…• You will collect all fees from parents and write one

check to MAC-BSA.

• Pro-rated Fees– September: Reg = $5.00, BL = $4.00– October: Reg = $3.75, BL = $3.00

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Membership Incentive Plan

• See handout

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Good to GREATCUB SCOUT PACKS

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Review• Utilize all services from your Pack Party Consultant.• Activate all forms of Creating Awareness, Building Interest, and

Gaining Commitment prior to your Pack Party.• Plan two events for NEW families only.• Turn-in all completed applications and fees at Pack Party.• Follow up with all parents that showed interest, but who did not

attend or join that night.• Welcome and train new leaders.

Help More Youth Grow in Scouting!

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Remember:12.63% loss = 2,027 fewer boys benefitting from

Scouting than we had 10 years ago!

• You can reverse the trend.• You are the difference maker in offering unparalleled

experiences to more youth!• Are you doing your best to fulfill the promise?

There are over 43,000 7‐11 year old boys in our service area who are not getting from Scouting the values and skills they need to be successful.