1. Just A Moment We will start in a few minutes. Thanks for joining.
Stay tuned for the broadcast.
The presentation will be made available afterwards to everyone

2. 2017 Spring/ Fall Recruitment Training
Knox Trail Council
Boy Scouts of America
March 9, 2017

3. Welcome Sean Riley, Council VP for Membership
Patrick Howarth, JP Becker District Membership Chair
Stephen Lavoie, Senior District Executive
Kaitlin McCarthy, District Executive
This webinar is a tool for communicating our strategy, so please be patient tonight.

4. What you will get out of this webinar?
2017 Spring/Fall Recruitment Strategy
Recruitment resources
Promotion methods
Conducting a successful roundup
Follow up
Parent Orientation

5. 2016 Results How did we do last year? What’s new this year?
4,672 Scouts
Saw council membership growth (First time in 5 years)
What’s new this year?
Growth Goals: Build an Adventure, Exploring Explosion, Units, and Pilots
What does it mean?
Focus on recruitment, retention, Webelos to Scout transition, new units formation.

6. Recruitment Purpose
Bring Scouting into the lives of more youth and their families!
ENROLL boys in Cub Scouting
ENLIST parental participation in Cub Scouting
New Leaders
New Committee Members
Millennial Moms
ENERGIZE Cub Scout Packs to be ready to provide quality Scouting programs for the next school year!

7. 2017 Recruitment Approach
We received great feedback regarding the single “Round Up” night last year
Should we follow the same approach?
Easiest way to put it: It Depends.
Open to your district proceeding one of two ways
Round Up Night – single “big” recruiting evening
Targeted, multiple Round Up night approach
Do what works best for your unit.

8. Goal of Single District-wide Round Up Night
Conducting a single night in your district during the month of June and September for families to sign up for the Cub Scouts
Conduct additional promotion events at all other school functions

9. Goal of Multiple Round Up Nights
Conducting targeted events throughout the spring and fall for families to sign up for the Cub Scouts.
Conduct additional promotion events at all other school functions.
Allows for flexibility and adequate resources for events.

10. Lions

11. What is Lions?
The Lion pilot program offers kindergarten-age boys and their adult partners an experience that includes:
Active and fast-paced excitement
Hands-on exploration
Focused time together as a family
Shared leadership concept
Limited exposure to Pack meetings
Instant recognition (stickers)

12. Lions Training webinars held earlier this month.
10/8/2017
Lions
Training webinars held earlier this month.
Recording posted on website
Excited as our Council begins this Pilot – we look forward to:
Engaging more Youth
High transition to Tigers (average of nearly 90% for initial Pilot Council)
Hearing your feedback so we can make improvements
Key takeaway for today – find a district level volunteer to focus on Lion Program support!
27 lions in 2016
6 units

13. Lion vs. Tiger: Differences
Earns Bobcat
3-4 times per month Attends all
Participates in fundraising Tiger/Cub Scout day camp
BOBCAT:
Does not earn Bobcat
DEN MEETINGS:
1–2 times per month
PACK MEETINGS:
Attends a few (2–3)
FUNDRAISING: Does not fundraise
DAY CAMP: No day camp
(until Tiger)

14. Pack & District Timeline

15. Pack & District Timeline
March/June
Pack (P)/District (D): Identify a District & Unit
Recruitment Chair at Pack & District levels
D: Identify “Round Up” night(s)
P: Attend Recruitment training
P: Recruit Round Up night team (4-5 minimum)
P: Conduct Leader inventory of leaders for fall of
2017, recruit to fill vacancies
D: If you haven’t visited principals, make plans now!

16. Pack & District Timeline, cont.
April/July D: Contact school principals if not done yet D: Ensure materials are ready for Unit Training D: Conduct Unit Training P: Determine materials needed, gather materials Materials include flyers, yard signs, and banners P: Continue recruiting leaders to fill vacancies P: Identify a recruitment chair if not done

17. Pack & District Timeline, cont.
May/ August D: Finish unit training if not done D: Ensure units reconnect with school principals D: Support Pack promotional efforts D: Support Registration Days/Open Houses D: Finalize and distribute orientation materials P: Identify a recruitment chair if not done already

18. Pack & District Timeline, cont.
May/August (Continued) P: Follow up with school principals P: Arrange pack promotional efforts P: Place yard signs and banners P: Promote at Back to School Events and Open Houses P: Deliver Flyers P: Ensure adequate orientation materials on hand

19. Pack & District Timeline, cont.
June/September P: Conduct/Support Round Up night or nights P: Conduct/Support Parent Orientation Meetings as needed

20. Recruitment Methods

21. Best Recruitment Methods
Traditional in-school recruiting
E-Blasts – BeAScout.org (update pins)
Parent to Parent & Boy to Boy
Facebook and Social Media
Church Bulletins / Sunday school boy talks
Posters / Fliers in the Community
Local Newspaper/TV/Radio spots

22. Best Recruitment Methods, cont.
Moms are saying a 20 minute roundup is appealing.
National is encouraging a “sign-up” night like you sign up for a sports team with a few info stations.
Direct mail / postcard to families in your school
Cub Scouts wear uniform to school the day of a Den or Pack meeting.
Push for 7 points of contact for success!
Ask the whole Pack to help!

23. School Relationships

24. Visiting the Principal
Schedule a time to meet with the principal
Or just show up – bring Popcorn!
Build the relationship – Packs can provide service to the school!
Thank him/her for supporting Scouting
Review Round Up Night Plan
Confirm your District’s Round Up Night Date(s)
Permission for table at Back to School Event

25. Registration Days Registration Days School Open Houses
Usually one or more days in late August that families sign up for school, meet the teacher, get their books, etc
Packs should have a table staffed to promote Scouting and answer questions
School Open Houses
Usually an evening at the beginning of September where Parents hear from the Principal and find out information about the school year
Usually more hectic than Registration Days

26. Conducting a Successful Roundup

27. Roundup Night Collect all fees and applications -youth & adult
Get there early to set-up (covered by a District rep)
Have materials prepared
Have everyone sign in
Have families sit by grade
Collect all fees and applications -youth & adult
Keep it short (about 20 minutes)
Have fun! (Skits, interactive, explain “why”)
Go through contents of orientation packet
Get next meetings on everyone’s calendar

28. Roundup Materials Round Up agenda Round Up Folder for Packs
Family Packet
Posters, Yard Signs, Fliers, Mini-Fliers, Stickers, and Postcards (alternative to Fliers)
Council Website
New – Youth recruiter patch (invite a friend!)
New – Online registration (Pilot Council)

29. Parent Orientation (After the Round Up)

30. Parent Orientation A must for every Pack.
A separate event than the roundup or Pack meeting.
Focus on Leader recruitment.
Conduct brief training to orient Parents.
Review agenda & PowerPoint.

31. Resources

32. Volunteers
Volunteers are critical to be successful in all of our efforts.
Don’t do it alone!
Key needs at Unit/ District level:
Lion Program Coordinator
New Unit/Leader welcome
Fall Recruiting Lead
Spring Recruiting Lead
Webelos – Boy Scout Transition Coordinator
Try to have volunteers identified for the same key roles at pack level for best results.

33. Recruitment Links Cub Scouts Learning Library
Knox Trail Council Recruitment Page
Recruiting Ideas for Cub Scout Leaders
Scoutingwire Marketing & Membership Hub

34. Delivering the Promise

35. Delivering the Promise
First 3 meetings key!
Make them fun & informative. Don’t overwhelm parents; keep pushing Popcorn to a minimum.
Taste of Scouting in the Spring and Fall.
Fun Unit Activity within first 30 days.

36. Take Aways Recruiting goes on every day.
Families commit to a “family schedule” before school even begins.
Follow-Up is SUPER important.
Focus on flexibility.
Focus on upcoming events – Make it FUN!
Scouting is a life long tool to mold successful youth into men.

37. Ongoing Support
Please let us know how you are doing and where we can help!
Sean Riley
Council Vice President Membership
Stephen Lavoie
Council Membership Staff Advisor