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CUB SCOUT RECRUITING

Pack Parties

A Plan for Growing ScoutingIn Chester County

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Vision of Chester County Council

More Youth; Unparalleled Programs

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Challenges… and Opportunities

Last YearRelatively few units used this plan, all of it

Ended with 301 fewer Scouts

Too many packs recruited NO Tigers

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Challenges… and Opportunities

This YearWe have to do better

Fortunately, we know how!

In 2011, the packs who followed this plan, ALL of it, were, on average, 3 times more successful…–4 new Cubs (no Tigers) vs. 13 new Cubs (2 Tiger dens)

We’ve made some adjustments to the plan

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Challenges… and Opportunities

• This is the single largest youth recruiting drive done during the year in our council.

• The focus is to enroll first-grade through fifth-grade boys into Cub Scouting, to recruit NEW ADULT LEADERS, and to gain parent involvement in the pack.

• This plan WORKS!– Packs that use it, ALL of it…– Packs that don’t…

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The Pack Party

Tonight we will discuss• Promotion• Manpower Needs• Physical arrangements / Floor Plan• Leadership Recruiting and Support• Fees• Items to Bring• Reporting

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Pack Party Keys to Success

• We are focusing council-wide advertising resources on two recruiting windows– September 15 - 25– October 25 – November 4

• Set a Goal

• Schedule two Pack Parties with your DE by August 15

• These parties MUST focus on NEW FAMILIES

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Pack Party Keys to Success

• Submit the Local Council copy of all completed youth applications with fees that night– Keep your Unit Copy to update the Pack database/records

– Held applications = unregistered youth

• Submit all adult applications as soon as they have all the signatures (could be that night if CR and CC are present).

– YPT must be completed before working with youth– Adults without current YPT will be dropped at re-charter

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Responsibilities and Promotion

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DISTRICT Pack Party Responsibilities

• Produce all promotional materials

• Work directly with school districts to facilitate scheduling and flyer approval

• Make presentations in schools where possible (Rallies)

• Make Pack Party Consultants available for every Pack

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PACKPack Party Responsibilities

• Schedule two Pack Party events with your District Executive by Aug 15

• Identify leadership needs and publish a calendar

• Set a recruiting goal (more on this later)

• Have plenty of uniformed boys and leaders to help with the Pack Party (more on this later)

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PACKPack Party Responsibilities

• Have short bios on each of your leaders

• Submit applications and pro-rated fees

• Hold a post-Pack Party parents’ meeting (review advancement, books, committee function, etc)

• Make at least seven “asks”

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Pack Party Promotion

• Methods of Invitation - 50 methods, included in the Pack Party Planning Guide

• Road and Lawn Signs– 40 per pack– Put them out Sept 8, bring them in Sept 26– Put them out Oct 18, bring them in Nov 7

• Passive vs. Active Promotion

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Pack Party Promotion

In School Pep Rallies• Classroom to Classroom• Special Assembly (auditorium or gym)• Cafeteria, Gym Class• Recess Playground Huddle• Closed Circuit School TV

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Set Up

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Pack Party Floor Plan

School Organizer

TV/DVD

Scouting Literature

School Organizer

TV/DVD

Scouting Literature

5th-Grade Table

5th-Grade Table

4th-Grade Table

4th-Grade Table

1st-Grade Table

1st-Grade Table

2nd-Grade Table

2nd-Grade Table

3rd-Grade Table

3rd-Grade Table

Registration Table

Registration Table

Entrance

Pack / Troop Display

11 yr or Older Table

11 yr or Older Table

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New Leader Recruitment and Support

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New Leader Recruitment

• Have current, uniformed leaders on hand

• Use the “100 Point Parent Participation Form” (pg. 12 Pack Planning Guide)

• Use 4-part Den Rosters

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Pack Party Fees

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Pack Party Fees

• Provide written details of what your dues buy

• Offer two payment options to your new families– “Pay $20 tonight, with the balance due by Nov 15”

– Pay the full amount tonight

• $20 covers pro-rated 2011 registration and Boys’ Life, a Handbook, and a Bobcat badge– Have Handbooks on hand that night– Handbook discount

• We’re reaching out to non-legacy families

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Pack Party Fees

• Use the Den Roster to track payments• Financial Assistance is available

– 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 (includes

insurance recovery fee)

– Boys’ Life subscription is $12 for one year (go for 100% - make sure every family has a copy!)

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Pack Party Fees

On the night of your Pack Party…

•We’ll collect only the 2012 pro-rated fees from you

– September: Reg = $5.00, BL = $4.00– October: Reg = $3.75, BL = $3.00

•Make your Joining Fee $20

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Get Ready, Get Set, Go

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Pack Party Leadership

• Focus is on the new families

• Organize leaders for a party, not a pack meeting– Party Host to keep everyone on track and on time

– Activities– Refreshments– Registering new families and distributing Orientation packets

– Collecting paperwork

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The Pack Brings…

• Name Tags• Change• Tape and Markers• Receipts (use the Youth Application cover)• Calculator• Handbooks for each level

– Discount offer

» More…

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The Pack Brings…

• Helpers for your fun activities (Scouts or Venturers - with their own leadership)

• List of vacant leadership positions

• FUN Pack and Den Displays

• Enthusiasm!

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The District Brings…Things in “the Box”

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

Webelos, Arrow of Light)

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The District Brings…Things in “the Box”

• Directional Arrows• Welcome Signs• Pack Party Report Envelope• New Leader Packets with MyScouting registration and Training information

• Parent Cub Scout Program Brochures

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Pack Party Agenda

Pages 9-11 Pack Planning Guide

•Before the meeting preparation•Pre-opening activity and display•Opening•Fun Activities for Boys, social time for adults•Why Cub Scouting? (only 5 min!)•Collecting applications and other forms•Closing•After the meeting

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Pack Party Agenda

• Why Cub Scouting? (only 5 min!)

• Consider your audience (Gen X and Millenials)– Focuses on child’s success– Teaches values like honesty, loyalty, leadership– Prefer tasks with specific start and end dates– Time is an important resource – don’t waste it– Who is working with their son – provide bios– All leaders undergo CBC and must take YPT every 2 years

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Resources

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Services We Provide

• Online Pack Party Resources

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• Screen shot of Pack Party Resources page

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Services We Provide

• Online Pack Party Resources• Flyers, posters, and yard signs• Assistance with flyer approval and placement

• Making presentations in schools (classroom, assembly, lunch/recess, etc)

• Leading team recruitment of new adults• Training new leaders• Customized web landing pages

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Services We Provide

• (Screen shot of a pack landing page)

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Services We Provide

• Online Pack Party Resources• Flyers, posters, and yard signs• Assistance with flyer approval and placement

• Making presentations in schools (classroom, assembly, lunch/recess, etc)

• Leading team recruitment of new adults• Training new leaders• Customized web landing pages• BeAScout.org

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Beascout pin map screen shot

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Services We Provide

• A CCCBSA email address automatically reaching key pack leaders: packXXX@cccbsa.org

• Coordinated and focused advertising campaigns: one in mid-September, one in late October

• Courier service for completed applications and fees

• Setting you up for Membership success on your Journey to Excellence…

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Journey to Excellence

More Youth; Unparalleled Programs

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Journey to Excellence

• A framework for planning the year• A method for evaluating your unit• Guidance in areas where you might do better

• Specific guidelines and standards of what is considered good performance

• Early warning of potential problem areas• Recognition for good Scouting• Benchmarking to get ideas and tips from other good units

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Wrap Up

• Set a Goal• Use this Pack Party plan• Do at least seven forms of local promotion, other than flyers, before your Pack Party

• Plan two parties by August 15• Sign-up now for just $20• Turn-in all completed Youth Applications on the night of your Pack Party

• Be prepared to make one check payable to the Chester County Council, BSA

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Wrap Up

997 Cubs and 162 leaders joined in 2010985 Cubs and 202 Leaders joined in 2011

More Youth; Unparalleled Programs!

Working the plan, working together, we can recruit…

1,050 Cubs and 263 Leaders this year!