Preparation & Running the Sign-Up Night

Your Hosts Mark Chilutti Council Membership Chair Brett Montich Rocket Into Scouting Chair

Opening Comments Mark Chilutti Council Membership Chair

Campaign Objectives Simplify the sign-up process for families and leaders. Develop and implement a balanced approach to membership and marketing. Provide consistency in programming across the council. Build excitement in healthy units to drive retention. 4

Campaign Highlights Hold a coordinated council-wide sign-up night in the fall on Wednesday, September 30. Each new Scout receives a rocket at their first unit meeting. Provide units with turn-key STEM-focused programs based around the rocket theme. Flood the media market with consistent messaging. Ensure that youth and families are recruited into programs with trained leadership and solid plans. Build & nurture school relationships. 5

Why a Coordinated Campaign? Cub Scout membership is declining. School access issues limiting the number of in- school-talk opportunities. Traditional “roundup” events are not working. Allows for unified, council-wide recruitment messaging & marketing. Families tend to be “sold” on the program prior to sign-up event. 6

Current Challenges Barriers to joining: People were unfamiliar with the program. Confused by the true cost. Families misunderstood the time commitment. Program not meeting expectations: Promise of activities were not fulfilled. Meetings were disorganized. Perceived a poor investment of time and money. Research confirms: Boys are interested in joining. Mom’s have the final say; dads are heavy influencers. Prior Scouting experience a major factor in decision to join. 7

Best Practices Focus on education. Eliminate the jargon. No more uniforms at sign-ups. Open house “sports style” sign-up. Not for leader recruiting. Parents fill out applications, pay BSA fees, & leave with a complete packet of unit info. Drive families to a great first experience – a.k.a. your Rocket into Scouting event (scheduled unit or district event, Fall Fest, Philly Encampment). 8

Planning for the Sign-Up Night Annual Program Planning Meeting: –Create activities & events calendar –Finalize budget, fundraising activities & annual dues –Create unit information sheet and/or Parent Guide Recruit a recruitment coordinator for your unit. Confirm your unit’s September 30 sign-up night location. Schedule a parent orientation approx. one week after the sign-up. 9

Planning for the Sign-Up Night (cont’d) Update your unit’s BeAScout.org pin and enable online applications. Have a presence at community and back-to- school events (parades, picnics, open houses, etc.) prior to September 30. With district membership chair and executive, schedule school talks (if possible). Publicize sign-up in local media. Distribute yard signs, posters, bulletin inserts, and door hangers. 10

Materials & Resources 11

Materials & Resources (cont’d) Billboards PSAs colbsa.org/rocket (leader landing page)colbsa.org/rocket RocketScouts.org (family landing page)RocketScouts.org District Membership Teams Digital Media –Facebook /colbsa/colbsa –Twitter –YouTube /colbsa/colbsa –SmugMug (pictures) colbsa.smugmug.com colbsa.smugmug.com –AdventureForLife.org BlogAdventureForLife.org 12

September 30 Sign-Up Night Brett Montich Rocket Into Scouting Chair

Sign-Up Night Checklist  BSA Youth Applications  Table(s) & chairs  Pens  Cash box with change  Credit card reader  Receipt book  BSA Adult Applications  Youth Protection Training handout*  PA Child Protective Services info handout* Unit info sheet & calendar –Meeting frequency, date, time, & place –Fee schedule –Leader contact list New Cub Scout Family Orientation Guide Samples & pictures of past activities 14*In case questions arise

Room Layout 15 Display/ Activity Table Display/ Activity Table Registration Entrance Greeter Welcome to the Adventure of Scouting!

Items to Collect at Sign-Up Completed BSA Youth Application including: –Signature of parent or guardian. –Applicant date of birth & grade in school. –Parent or guardian contact info & date of birth*. $6.00 for prorated BSA national registration fee. *BSA Adult Application needed for Tiger adult partners not living at the same address as child. 16

Items to Distribute at Sign-Up Parent Orientation Meeting date, time, & place (this meeting will also serve as the rocket distribution to new Scouts and a chance for them to build the rockets). Packet of unit information including key dates, times, calendar, and parent guide (or info sheet) that should cover: –Annual budget overview. –Fundraising opportunities. –Unit dues & what they cover. 17

After the Sign-Up Separate Local Council Copy from Unit Copy application sheets. Deliver Local Council Copy application sheets along with payment for BSA national registration fees to your district’s Sign-Up Night collection point. Collect rockets for new Scouts and any rockets ordered for existing Scouts. Celebrate your success! 18

Follow-Up Follow-up phone calls to all your new families in the next day or two. Follow-up reminder hours prior to Parent Orientation Meeting. Hold Parent Orientation Meeting: –Distribute rockets. –STEM activity for youth. –Program overview for adults. –Parent Talent Surveys. –Q&A. Rocket Launch Event! 19

Ordering Additional Rockets Additional rockets and engines will be available to purchase at cost for existing Scouts. Your unit can incorporate building the rockets using turn-key program plans (available soon) as the youth activity during the parent orientation. An online order form will be available at colbsa.org/rocket. colbsa.org/rocket 20

Timeline Spring Summer – Start of School Year September 30 Approx. 1 Week after Sign-Up October – November Pack assessments Identify unit needs & develop a plan to address Secure unit coordinator Meet with schools Secure sign- up location “Sports style” sign-up nights throughout the council, preferably in schools or other highly- visible locations Provide families with next steps Applications & national fees submitted at county turn-in locations Yard signs, newspapers, billboards, marquees, bulletins, posters, ads, PSAs (focus on chartered partners!) School talks & fliers Establish expectations Provide program overview Review financial commitment and collect unit dues Identify youth not registered Continue recruiting Encourage new recruits to attend first outdoor activity Training sessions and webinars held

ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Feedback & Questions

Closing Comments Mark Chilutti Council Membership Chair

THANK YOU! colbsa.org/rocket