1. ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Communications Session How to Get the Word Out!

2. Goals for this Session Provide a brief overview of the Rocket Into Scouting plan. Review ways to promote your unit for the September 30 council-wide sign-up night. How to communicate with new families. Get your feedback and best practices for communication.

3. ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Plan Overview

4. Why Are We Doing This? 8% membership decline compared to last year; 17% decline since 2008. To simplify the sign-up process for families and leaders. Provide consistency in programming across the council. Build excitement in healthy units to drive retention. Develop and implement and balanced approach to membership and marketing. Develop relationships.

5. Membership Trends

6. Objectives of the Campaign Hold a coordinated council-wide sign-up night in the fall on Wednesday, September 30. Each new Scout receives a rocket at first meeting. Provide units with turn-key fall 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 and nurture school relationships.

7. Key Components of the Plan 1.It’s not just about recruitment. –Personal meetings with Cub Scout pack leadership during the 2 nd quarter. –Campaign Blast-Off/Planning Expo event. –Turn-key unit meeting plans incorporating rockets/STEM. –Camp events that support the theme (Fall Fest and Philadelphia Encampment).

8. Key Components of the Plan 2.Strengthen School Relationships –Personal meetings with school administrators during the 2 nd quarter. –Assess school access. 3.Simplify the Sign-Up Process –Consistent registration process separate from unit meetings. –Follow-up parent orientation approx. one week after sign-up.

9. Key Components of the Plan 4.Engage Units in the Process –Everyone has a part in growing Scouting. –Hundreds of volunteers are needed to make this plan work. 5.Balanced Marketing Approach –Significant council investment in promotion along with grassroots efforts. –Use all available means to tell the story of Scouting.

10. 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

11. ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Promotion

12. Rocket Into Scouting Promotion Promotion launches in June Training sessions and webinars provided for unit leaders on how to run sign-up night & parent orientation during the summer Levels of council and district support

13. Council Support Training for units Fliers Posters Door hangers Bulletin inserts Yard signs Billboards Media promotion Website & social media Print & social media templates for units Rockets for new Scouts Rockets at cost for units to purchase for existing Scouts Turn-key unit programs based on the rocket theme Other support materials

14. District Support Coordinate meetings with school principals Determine school access for boy talks and flier distribution Determine student enrollment information Deliver fliers to schools Meet with each pack Work with units to set recruitment goals Ensure that all pack sign-up locations have a district support person assigned

15. Unit Responsibilities Recruit a unit membership & marketing chair/ recruitment coordinator Attend a training session/webinar over the summer Participate in back-to- school events, open houses, PTO/PTA events, and other local opportunities Conduct a recruitment night on Wednesday, September 30 (may conduct other recruitment events as well prior) Conduct a parent orientation

16. Unit Responsibilities Prior to September 30 recruitment night, conduct a local promotion blitz, including: Placement of yard signs Newspaper articles Information on community and business marquees Posters/fliers/door-hangers in neighborhoods and apartment complexes Posters and bulletins placed in places of worship

17. Publicizing Your Unit Keep it local: Community newspapers are all about local people and events. Read your local paper, listen to local radio and watch community cable: See the type of stories covered and editors/reporters to contact. Be a resource: You can help provide expertise and access to real people/real stories, which is what the reporters need.

18. Publicizing Your Unit Use the appropriate format: Most papers now prefer electronic submissions via email for both photos and releases/captions/fact sheets, but check with your local paper to be sure. You may include the copy in the text of the email or as an attached document written in a program such as Microsoft Word. Include the photos as attached individual JPEG files. Determine if your story should appear before or after your event: are you reporting or promoting?

19. ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Communicating with New Families

21. Items to Distribute at Sign-Up Unit information sheet: –Contact info –Calendar –Financial commitment (dues, uniform, books, etc.) –Date, time and location for next meeting (parent orientation, rocket distribution to new and existing Scouts) Parent orientation guide (we’ll provide a template)

22. Other Ways to Communicate Unit website Email distribution list Unit newsletters (electronic or print) Unit Facebook or Pinterest page Be-A-Scout pin with online sign-up enabled

23. BeAScout.org

24. Other Resources Scouting.org/marketing –Social media guidelines –Recruitment resources –Pictures and logos –Brand Identity Guide Scouting.org/membership colbsa.org/recruitment (will be updated shortly)colbsa.org/recruitment

25. ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Take-Aways

26. Take-Aways/Action Items Get excited! Secure unit coordinator Cub Scout packs: meet with district executive for assessment meeting Work with district executive to secure sign-up location for September 30 Attend training session or webinar over the summer Develop program calendar, budget and unit info sheet

27. ROCKET INTO SCOUTING Feedback & Questions

28. THANK YOU! colbsa.org/rocket