FRIENDS OF SCOUTING

1. FRIENDS OF SCOUTING PRESENTER ORIENTATION

2. THANK YOU Our Packs, Troops, Crews, and their families need to hear the story of Friends of Scouting

3. EVERYTHING OUR COUNCIL DOESdepends on meeting our FOS goals

4. Our districts make 2 kinds of Friends of Scouting presentations: PRESENTATIONS TO UNIT COMMITTEES & PRESENTATIONS TO FAMILIES

5. Presentation to Families this is the main event our chance to ask families to support the program that benefits their son so much

6. BUT an important preliminary step is presenting to the Unit Committee this is where we: • Secure the date for the Family Presentation • Ask unit leaders to accept a Fair Share Goal • Ask for unit participation in the Family Presentation • Ask unit leaders to communicate their support for FOS

7. Presenting to Unit Committee Ideally, this meeting occurs before December 15. In some units, meeting with a key leader is all that is needed. Your district professional or FOS Chair will decide.

8. Presenting to Unit Committees Your district professional or FOS Chair will provide you with our Kit for Presenting to Unit Committees which includes: • A copy of the Notes for Presenting to Families • A Unit Fair Share Acceptance Form • Demonstration copies of presentation posters • Copy of the presentation script • Follow up letter for unit leader to sign • Samples of brochures, pledge envelopes, patches & give-away items

9. During the Presentation to Unit Committee • Explain that cost of running our council is $146 per boy • Popcorn and special events meet some of the cost but Family FOS is essential. • Last year the unit supported FOS with x donations. • District FOS committee is asking the unit to accept a Fair Share Goal of x. • Have unit fill out the Unit Fair Share Acceptance form.

10. Fair Share Goal • Ask the unit leaders to recognize that every Pack, Troop & Crew should do its share to support our council. • Fair Share is based on unit size & past giving.

11. Fair Share Goal • Strong units are asked to stay strong. (try for an increase of 10% over last year).

12. Fair Share Goal • Units that have not supported FOS in the past are asked to get off the sidelines (try for an achievable goal that gets them involved in FOS).

13. Fair Share Goal • If the unit has specific reasons (decline in membership, one large donor has moved away, etc.), the suggested goal can be revised.

14. Fair Share Goal • Accepting the Fair Share Goal is not a guarantee that it will be reached. • It is a guarantee that the unit will “do its best”. • Unit leaders will participate in the Presentation to Families, will communicate the importance of FOS before and after the presentation, will publicly turn in their own pledge card.

15. Fair Share Goal Ask the unit leaders to sign the Fair Share Goal Acceptance form.

16. Date of the Family Presentation • Should be their best-attended meeting • For Packs, prior to Feb. 28 is recommended • For Troops, prior to April 30 • On the Fair Share Goal Acceptance form, note the date, time & location • Note any special information (Blue & Gold, where to park, etc.)

17. Unit Participation in the Presentation to Family • Unit will allow up to 15 minutes for the presentation. • Unit will select 5 of our presentation posters. • Unit will have 5 leaders or older youth hold the posters and read the descriptions on back during the presentation. • Unit leaders will publicly turn in their own pledges after the presentation & encourage families to do the same.

18. Unit Communication • Unit leaders will send an email to families prior to the presentation (sample included in your Presentation Kit).

19. Unit Communication Unit will send follow up letter one week after the presentation (included in your presentation kit). Ask the unit leader to sign the letter. Our council will print and mail one week after the presentation.

20. Presentation to Families The Main Event One week beforehand: • Confirm date, time & location • Ask unit to send email to families (samples are in Notes for Presenting to Unit Committee & Notes for Presenting to Families) • Get materials from district professional

21. Presenting to Families MATERIALS NEEDED • Set of presentation posters. • Copy of presentation script. • Brochures and pledge envelope. • Extra pens. • Set of FOS patches for display (these will be left with unit leader as recognition). • Follow up letter for unit leader to sign. • “Giveaway” items(carabiners for Boy Scouts and silly bands for Cub Scouts. Only to families who turn in a pledge card tonight). • Labels “to the parents of”. • Turn in envelope.

22. Before Presenting to Families • Arrive early • Ask the unit leader to be the first one to publicly submit their pledge at the end of the presentation and encourage others to do so. • Confirm that the 5 adults or older youth are ready to hold and read their poster. • Decide where the presenters should stand with the posters – all at the front or scattered around the room. • Ask Scouts to place brochures and pledge envelopes on each seat. • Have a few Scouts prepared to hand out brochure, pledge card or pen to anyone who cannot find theirs (it may have fallen off their seat).

23. During the Presentation to Families • Use the script as a guide. Your own words will be best. • Relax. You are talking about Scouting to Scouting families. • Brevity is fine. • The posters will do much of the presentation for you. • Instead of just collecting envelopes, bring a creative way to collect them … ie. feed the bear, build a fake campfire, scout soup – add ingredients to the soup…etc.

24. After the Presentation to Families • After the presentation, wait to the side. • As families give you their pledge envelope, put the label “to the parents of” on the outside. • Give the “giveaway” item to each family that returns a pledge card. • Place all pledges in the “turn in envelope”. • If unit leader has not already signed the follow up letter, ask them to do so now.

25. Next day (or as soon as possible) • Bring turn in envelope with pledges to council. • Return: • follow up letter signed by unit leader • unused labels “to the family of” • set of presentation posters • left over brochures, envelopes, & giveaway items

26. THANK YOU By presenting to a unit committee or gathering of families, you help keep Scouting strong in our council.