Hands-On is Best! Once a boy has a "hands-on" personal experience with Scouting, he's hooked. So why not utilize that technique for recruiting new boys into your unit this fall? Hands-on is exponentially better than printed marketing tools or even the best of visual media promotions because an experience engages a boys sense of belonging and natural desire to want to do more once he's had a taste of Scouting. The typical active and creative Den, Pack or Troop will have two to three really cool events, excursions, camp outs or fun activities per month. So how about incentivizing one or more of these events for the boys to bring a buddy so they can have a "hands-on" experience. Everyone can agree, once a boy participates in Scouting with his friends he's much more likely to become a member. Don't forget to tap into the "Bring a Buddy" opportunity with the 100th Year Anniversary Encampment at Prado Regional Park. For more information about Bring a Buddy to the Encampment, please contact Katie Vereker at katiev@ocbsa.org [from SCOUTWEEK - 192 www.ocbsa.org Nov 5, 2010]
Scouting For Food Promotion This years "Good Turn" program, "Scouting for Food, A Million Meals to Feed Orange County's Hungry," is another fantastic recruitment tool. As most of you know, this Saturday, October 30 Cubs, Scouts and Ventures all over the county will be canvassing their neighborhood streets placing Scouting for Food door hangers on every door they come to. Just think of the recruitment possibilities! First, your boys will be in uniform and will be seen out in your neighborhoods by hundreds of families (with Scout aged boys) doing something really worthwhile, really important. Be prepared to answer questions about Scouting For Food and Scouting. Bring along some contact information or join flyers from your unit in case someone inquires and look for opportunities to shine the light of Scouting while kicking-off Scouting For Food. Second, this is a fantastic opportunity for your Scouts to ask their friends to join in on this important good turn to feed Orange County's hungry. Scouts could let other boys at their schools or in the neighborhood know that next Saturday, November 6, they will be picking up the food and taking it to their local food drop sites (LDS Churches or Albertsons Stores.) That's right, invite a buddy to help make a difference! Many helping hands will be needed to collect a million meals and what a great way to encourage a young man to become part of a youth organization where service is a core value. [from SCOUTWEEK - 191 www.ocbsa.org Oct 29, 2010]
BeAScout Google Pin Unit leaders, have you logged on to "BeAScout" and created your Google pin? If not, please consider doing it this week. It's very easy! You go to MyScouting, look for the BeAScout tab on the far right list of tab headers. It will take you Ten minutes to upload all of your basic unit contact information. Once you've established your Google pin (a virtual push pin on a map of Orange County) parents and potential Scouts can contact you any where, any time with this online tool. You control the information, so it's totally safe and effective. This is a fantastic way, inform your local community to learn that you have a place for new Scouts in your unit. If you have any questions about the BeAScout Google pin, please contact your District Membership Chairman or District Executive. [from SCOUTWEEK - 190 www.ocbsa.org Oct 22, 2010]
Go Where the Kids Are! It may seem almost too obvious, too simplistic, a no-brainer really, but to be successful at recruiting boys into the program, you go where the kids are. We all know that schools, public, private and home schools, encompass all of the available kids in the county. But access isn't always that simple. Here are some other ideas to consider as you think about ways to make sure that every boy is given the opportunity to join: Saturday organized soccer, football or volleyball sports leagues: Set up a portable table at your local school or park on a Saturday for a couple of hours, wear your uniform, staff it with a few of your Cubs or Scouts, have supplies of the new promotional DVD, glow flashlights and fliers and perhaps some hands on Scouting items to display, and watch what happens! Your local mall or supermarket: I'm sure you've noticed the steady parade of families flowing in and out of your local malls and grocery stores. How about picking two or three Saturdays or Sundays during the fall to set up a display table for a few hours? What a great way to show the Scouting colors and provide additional opportunities for boys to join. Local community events, parades or carnivals: Every community has their annual street fairs, Christmas parades or big Halloween carnivals. Typically, thousands of families and kids from around your community attend, and of course this is a great way for Scouting to have a strong presence. It's a very effective and fun way for your Scouts to recruit other boys and friends into the program at venues with high family traffic. What other ideas have worked for you? Please share your local recruitment stories with us at the Council office. Contact katiev@ocbsa.org with your success stories. [from SCOUTWEEK - 189 www.ocbsa.org October 15, 2010]
Tip Of The Week Always Plan for Round Two Have you calendared your follow-up recruitment night? Even the very best publicized "join nights" don't capture all of the boys who want to join Scouting. Just think about all the potential conflicts that can occur that divert families from turning out for just one join night opportunity. sports, church, school conflicts, family events, etc! We always recommend as part of a successful fall recruitment effort that every unit plan to hold a follow up "join night". In some cases the round two "join night" can be held in conjunction with the regular monthly Pack or Troop meeting, but here's the key, it must be held 30-45 minutes before the regular meeting so that adequate attention and membership information can be presented to the new boys and their parents. Then they can be invited to stay for the Pack or Troop meeting afterwards to start their Scouting adventure with the typically fun, large group excitement Scouting offers. Or, and this option is preferable, a separate follow-up night is scheduled at your local school, church facility or community center to capture the boys and parents who were unable to attend the initial "join night." This ensures that each and every boy has been given every opportunity to join and become part of the greatest youth leadership development program in the world. So, go for it. go for round two! [from SCOUTWEEK - 188www.ocbsa.org October 08, 2010]
Hands-On is Best! Once a boy has a "hands-on" personal experience with Scouting, he's hooked. So why not utilize that technique for recruiting new boys into your unit this fall? Hands-on is exponentially better than printed marketing tools or even the best of visual media promotions because an experience engages a boys sense of belonging and natural desire to want to do more once he's had a taste of Scouting. The typical active and creative Den, Pack or Troop will have two to three really cool events, excursions, camp outs or fun activities per month. So how about incentivizing one or more of these events for the boys to bring a buddy so they can have a "hands-on" experience. Everyone can agree, once a boy participates in Scouting with his friends he's much more likely to become a member. Don't forget to tap into the "Bring a Buddy" opportunity with the 100th Year Anniversary Encampment at Prado Regional Park. For more information about Bring a Buddy to the Encampment, please contact Katie Vereker at katiev@ocbsa.org [from SCOUTWEEK - 187 www.ocbsa.org October 01, 2010]
Tip Of The Week Postcard Power Never underestimate the power of a well timed, creatively crafted postcard. Consider using the "Words to Live By" post cards with your Cubs or Scouts as invitation tools for upcoming join night recruitments. Ask them to write out personal invitations on the back of the cards to hand out to their buddies at school. Send out followup postcards to all the boys who signed up at your join night for immediate communication regarding "next steps" in the unit program process. This solidifies the connection and generates confidence in your unit's organization. Send a postcard to those boys and families who came to the join night but didn't complete the application. Individual units can create their own postcards or use the one's provided by the Council, see the attached PDF's. Contact your District Fall Recruitment Chairman or District Executive to place your order. [from SCOUTWEEK - 186 www.ocbsa.org September 24, 2010]
Tip Of The Week Use Facebook for Recruitment Millions of adults use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family. Why not utilize Facebook to promote Scouting this fall? If you use Facebook here are 10 ways to build a stronger Scouting community and utilize it as a recruiting tool Show your friends you're involved in Scouting. Share the fun you've had during Scouting activities. Promote planned Scouting activities. Post photos of fun Scouting acitivities. Talk about your satisfaction with training, camps and other programs. Join Facebook groups in your community and spread the word about Scouting. Promote your Join Night dates on Facebook. Share your Join Night success stories. Share training and camping opportunities. Educate and encourage new parents and leaders to visit Scouting websites. [from SCOUTWEEK - 183 www.ocbsa.org September 03, 2010]