1. 1 CUB SCOUT RECRUITING Pack Parties A Plan for Growing Scouting In Chester County

2. 2 Vision of Chester County Council More Youth; Unparalleled Programs

3. 3 Challenges… and Opportunities Last Year Relatively few units used this plan, all of it Ended with 301 fewer Scouts Too many packs recruited NO Tigers

4. 4 Challenges… and Opportunities This Year We 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

5. 5 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…

6. 6 The Pack Party Tonight we will discuss Promotion Manpower Needs Physical arrangements / Floor Plan Leadership Recruiting and Support Fees Items to Bring Reporting

7. 7 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

8. 8 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

9. 9 Responsibilities and Promotion

10. 10 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

11. 11 PACK Pack 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)

12. 12 PACK Pack 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”

13. 13 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

14. 14 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

15. 15 Set Up

16. 16 Pack Party Floor Plan School Organizer TV/DVD Scouting Literature School Organizer TV/DVD Scouting Literature 5th-Grade Table 4th-Grade Table 1st-Grade Table 2nd-Grade Table 3rd-Grade Table Registration Table Entrance Pack / Troop Display 11 yr or Older Table

17. 17 New Leader Recruitment and Support

18. 18 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

19. 19 Pack Party Fees

20. 20 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

21. 21 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!)

22. 22 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

23. 23 Get Ready, Get Set, Go

24. 24 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

25. 25 The Pack Brings… Name Tags Change Tape and Markers Receipts (use the Youth Application cover) Calculator Handbooks for each level –Discount offer »More…

26. 26 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!

27. 27 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 1 st Den Meeting Plans (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light)

28. 28 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

29. 29 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

30. 30 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

31. 31 Resources

32. 32 Services We Provide Online Pack Party Resources

33. 33 Screen shot of Pack Party Resources page

34. 34 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

35. 35 Services We Provide (Screen shot of a pack landing page)

36. 36 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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38. 38 Beascout pin map screen shot

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42. 42 Services We Provide A CCCBSA email address automatically reaching key pack leaders: packXXX@cccbsa.orgpackXXX@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…

43. 43 Journey to Excellence More Youth; Unparalleled Programs

44. 44 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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46. 46 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

47. 47 Wrap Up 997 Cubs and 162 leaders joined in 2010 985 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!