Catalina Council Boy Scouts of America

1. Catalina CouncilBoy Scouts of America Membership Recruitment Kickoff July 25, 2012

2. Cub Scouting • Cub Scouting is a fun and educational experience with values • Positive place for boys • With safe, wholesome activities

3. Cub Scouting Focuses • Building character • Improving physical fitness • Teaching practical skills • Develop spirit of community service

4. Importance of Recruiting • We want to make Cub Scouting available to all families with elementary school age boys! • GOAL – Recruit 2,012 new families into Cub Scouting in 2012!

5. Fall Recruitment Purpose • ENROLL boys in Cub Scouting • ENLISTparental participation in Cub Scouting • ORGANIZE Cub Scout Packs to provide quality Scouting programs

6. Cub Scout Recruitment Plan • UNIT VOLUNTEERS set recruitment night dates and promote within their assigned schools. Attend recruitment night and promote Pack • DISTRICT AND COUNCIL VOLUNTEERS conduct recruitment nights • PROFESSIONAL STAFF assist and keep everything on track for success

7. Goal of School Night for Scouting • Set-up a single night where all interested youths are presented info on scouting and the pack • Get all youth to join Scouting that night • They fill out an application and pay that night • They meet their new unit and are given info on the next Pack meeting and location • When this method was used two years ago, we were getting 15 to 25 youths to register that night

8. Recruitment Timeline • JULY – Set Recruitment Night dates • AUGUST – Get promotional efforts approved - Promote at Back to School Nights - Conduct Boy Talks - Flyers delivered to schools - Conduct Recruitment Nights • SEPTEMBER – Conduct Recruitment Nights

9. Recruitment Night Locations • Appendix A (2012 Fall Recruitment Guide) shows the locations of the Recruitment Nights • 70+ Recruitment Night locations around the Council area • Goal – Give every family the opportunity to join Cub Scouting in their neighborhood

10. Recruitment Night Promotion • Four Critical Steps 1. Flyers 2. Boy Talks 3. Back to School Night / Open Houses • School Newsletter / Principal Email • Advertise on school marque • Yard signs

11. Flyers • Need school district and principal approval (DE’s can assist) • Scout Office can produce • Be distributed at least a week in advance • Also handout at Boy Talks and Back to School Nights • Order at www.catalinacouncil.org • Under Youth; Under Membership Recruitment

12. Boy Talks • Important to get the boys excited about Scouting • Goal – Get the flyer home to mom and dad with the boy excited to join. Mom and dad will be more likely to attend recruitment night • Say the magic words – “BB Guns and Archery”

13. Back to School Night / Open House • One of the most attended functions of the school • Have a table or booth at the Back to School night promoting the Recruitment Night • Hand out Recruitment Flyers

14. School Newsletter / Principal Email • Ask the Principal to promote the Recruitment Night in their electronic newsletter or email blast • Parents read communications from the school and will make note of the opportunity to join Cub Scouts

15. Other Promotional Efforts • Yard signs • Emails to friends • Boys asking their friends to join • Advertise on school marque • …. Be creative PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE

16. Other Promotional Efforts • Statistics show that it takes 6-7 times to hear or see something before it really sinks in…. • Our job is to really promote the Recruitment Night. • More promotion means more attendance!

17. Promotional Materials • Promotional materials available include: • Flyers • Yard Signs • Bookmarks • Postcards • Boy’s Life Mini Magazines • Order at www.catalinacouncil.org • Under Youth; Under Membership Recruitment

18. Principal Visit • Thank them for supporting Scouting • Review Recruitment Night Plan • Set Recruitment Night Date • Permission for table at Back to School Night • Discuss Promotional strategies • Confirm decisions made • Thank them again

19. Recruitment Night Checklist • BEFORE the Recruitment Night • Take all the materials • Confirm participation from Pack volunteers • Pack leadership has activity list and meeting schedule • Wear your uniform • Review agenda and talking points

20. School Night Materials PROVIDED BY PACK • Presentation Materials: bring flip charts of talking points • Pack Information • Pack Brochure • Pack Displays • Activity for Youth • Bring Change PROVIDED BY COUNCIL • 30 Family Packets including • Youth application • Adult application • Mini Boys Life Magazine • Parent Information guide • Bobcat Book • Receipt book • Sign-in Sheets • Cub Scout Handbook Vouchers • Pens • Stapler

21. Recruitment Night Checklist • AT THE Recruitment Night • Arrive early • Arrange your materials • Review expectations with Pack volunteers • Set up welcoming table with handouts • Set up room • Begin promptly

22. School Night Agenda • Sign in all guests • Introduction of Scouting by volunteer • Pack presentation by Unit • Youth activity • Registration • Fill out application • Pay fees

23. Conducting the Recruitment Night • PEOPLE ARRIVE • Sign in on roster • Take Youth and Adult Application • Parent’s Guide • Pack Activity Calendar, Meeting Schedule and Contact List • Pen

24. Conducting the Recruiting Night Pack • Pack leader will present info • Pack activities throughout year • Meeting Locations and times • Show photos of pack activities and bring examples of cub projects • Have an activity for youth • Scout song • Scout game • Have earn their first belt loop that night by playing marbles or some other activity

25. Pack Brochure • Pack Brochures should • contain the following • Pack number • Meeting locations and times • Sample yearly activity calendar • Lots of pictures • Phone numbers for those interested to contact

26. Conducting the Recruitment Night • WELCOMING COMMENTS • OPENING FLAG CEREMONY • INTRODUCE PACK VOLUNTEERS AND BOY SCOUTS • TONIGHT’S PURPOSE • Provide information on Cub Scouting • Get families involved in Cub Scout Pack • Collect registration forms and fees

27. Conducting the Recruitment Night • PURPOSES OF CUB SCOUTING • Year-round, family oriented program for elementary school age boys • Character development • Spiritual growth • Good citizenship • Sportsmanship and fitness • Respectful relationships • Personal achievement • Friendly service • Fun and adventure • Preparation for Boy Scouts

28. Conducting the Recruitment Night • METHODS OF CUB SCOUTING • Ideals • Dens • Advancement • Family involvement • Activities • Home and neighborhood centered • Uniform • Making character connections

29. Conducting the Recruitment Night • FUN OF CUB SCOUTING • Activities • WHAT CUB SCOUTING COSTS • $20 • Covers youth and adult registration • Boy’s Life Magazine • First Handbook • Bobcat Book

30. Conducting the Recruitment Night • WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TONIGHT? • Complete applications • Turn in registration money • Write down date, time, location of your son’s first Den and Pack meetings • Write down leader’s names and contact information • THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING

31. Recruitment Night Checklist • AFTER Recruitment Night • Turn in applications and money to the Scout Office (top copy of application) • Give Packs a copy of the completed applications

32. $20 Joining Fee • $20 Joining Fee. Covers the following: • Youth registration fee until the end of the year • Adult registration fee until the end of the year • Boy’s Life Magazine fee until the end of the year • Voucher for your first Cub Scout Handbook • Bobcat Book

33. Recruitment Night Materials • Promotional Materials for Unit Volunteers • Online order form to get materials • Flyers • Bookmarks • Postcards • Boy’s Life Mini Magazines • Yard Signs • Roster Forms & pens

34. Recruitment Night Materials • Unit Recruitment Night Materials for District/Council Volunteers • Sign-in Rosters • Money Envelope with Receipts and Stapler • Directional Signs with Tape • Applications – Youth and Adult with Pens • Cub Scout Handbook Vouchers • Parent’s Guides • Bobcat Books

35. Recruitment Night Responsibilities • District/Council Volunteers – RUN NIGHT • Greet Families as they Arrive • Introduce Pack Leadership • Give Effective Cub Scouting Presentation • Get Families to Complete Application Forms and Pay Fees • Turn in Completed Applications and Fees

36. Recruitment Night Responsibilities • Pack Volunteers – PROMOTE NIGHT • Meet with Principal – gain approval • Set Recruitment Night • Promote at Back to School Night • Conduct Boy Talks • Arrange for flyer distribution • Create list of Pack activities - Bring displays • Assist at Recruitment Night • Incorporate New Families

37. Recruitment Night Responsibilities • Unit Commissioners – ENCOURAGE • Encourage Packs to participate in Fall Recruitment plan • Encourage Packs to really promote Recruitment Night in their schools • Mentor Pack leadership to incorporate new families into their unit

38. Recruitment Night Responsibilities • Professional Staff – ORGANIZE & SUPPORT • Recruit volunteers to run recruitment nights • Assist in setting recruitment night dates • Prepare promotional materials • Help volunteers be successful

39. Recruitment Night Timeline • Set Recruitment Night Dates • Determine Back to School Nights • Order Promotional Materials • Distribute Flyers to Schools • Other Promotional Strategies • Conduct Boy Talks • Conduct Recruitment Nights • Turn in Applications and Money

40. Recruitment Night Incentive • Earn FREE Pinewood Derby Cars for all active youth members by: • Distributing Flyers in School(s) • Promotional Table at Back to School Night(s) • Conducting Boy Talks in School(s) • Invite Boy Scouts to assist with Recruitment Night presentation • Recruit 18 new boys into your Pack by October 31st

41. Next Steps • Thank you for attending! • PACK VOLUNTEERS - Set Recruitment Nights and promote • DISTRICT/COUNCIL VOLUNTEERS – Sign up to run a Recruitment Night in your neighborhood • GOAL – Recruit 18+ new families into Cub Scouting in each Pack