Delivering the Promise 1 Why Plan Whats the

Delivering the Promise 1

Why Plan? What’s the big Deal? 1. Deliver the Promise…A better, more fun and exciting annual program 2. Retain current Scouts and attract new ones 3. Send more Scouts to camp and offer better activities and programs 4. Recruit and retain more leaders 5. Make Scouting affordable for every family 2

The Reality… 1. Most units either do NOT plan their program, or give an haphazard effort trying to do so 2. They rarely involve their Scouts and parents in the program planning process 3. Few units have a budget or set goals for their unit fundraisers, be it popcorn, nuts, camp cards, sub sales, flower sales, chicken BBQ, etc 3

The Reality… 1. Most units either do NOT plan their program, or give an haphazard effort trying to do so 2. They rarely involve their Scouts and parents in the program planning process 3. Few units have a budget or set goals for their unit fundraisers, be it popcorn, nuts, camp cards, sub sales, flower sales, chicken BBQ, etc 4

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail 5

The Solution… Plan for an Ideal Year of Scouting! 6

What is an Ideal Year of Scouting? • • • It’s everything you want to do! Its Camping Its Activities/Field Trips Its Advancement Its Equipment Its Uniforms 7

Ideal Year of Scouting Steps Fun! Fund the Plan Communication Goal Setting Budgeting Program Planning 8

Ideal Year of Scouting Step 1: Program Planning May/June • Unit holds 20172018 program “Brainstorming” or “Idea-generation” session with their Scouts during their unit meeting. 9

Brainstorming Think OUTSIDE the box! • • Why do boys join Scouting? What do Scouts want to do? What would be really fun? What would inspire action? 10

From Dreaming to Planning… • Unit Committee should whittle down the ideas from the Scouts brainstorming session-discard ideas that aren’t feasible (i. e. trip to the moon) as well as add in parent suggestions • Build a complete list of exciting program ideas to present to youth and Scouting families at June Pack/Troop meeting 11

Program Planning continued At June Pack/Troop meeting, boys are given stickers (1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd) to place next to, or vote for, their favorite program ideas 12

Finalize Program Planning June/July Unit Committees finalize their 2017 -2018 unit program calendar at Committee meeting, based on results of their youth vote and parent input 13

Ideal Year of Scouting: Step 2 Budget Building July • A complete 2017 -2018 budget is established based on your Ideal Year of Scouting Program Planning • Tools are available at padutchbsa. org/idealyear-of-scouting/ 14

Budget Planning Continued Why Don’t Units Get Budgeting Right? • Its not the easiest step. There typically disagreement and different views on what should be paid for • It takes time, thought, discussion, and effort to put together a budget the committee can agree on • Many units don’t involve enough people like the Scouts and parents. Family input is critical • Its not the “most fun” step of the process • Many units think its not really necessary, so they skip it 15

Budget Building Continued How can the budgeting step by made easier? • Start early. Began working on the easier parts of you budget as you start the Ideal Year of Scouting process • USE the tools provided that can do the math for you • Involve and respect the opinions of those on your committee • Consider and discuss “revenue-sharing” options to allow your Scouting families to decide how much they are comfortable having come out of their pockets AND how much effort they are willing to spend • Don’t be afraid to DREAM BIG! 16

Ideal Year of Scouting Step 3: Goal Setting • Establish both Unit and Family goals based on your budget • This should be done before the sale commences • Share the goals with everyone • Use the tools available at padutchbsa. org/ideal-year-of-scouting 17

Setting the Goal 18

The Importance of Setting Goals The Unit’s goal for their fundraiser should be calculated so that if it is reached, the Unit’s Program costs are FREE to each Scout. This must be communicated to he families. Goals should be broken down to the Scout level: Only 44% of families say their Scout set a sales goal. Scouts who set goals averaged $626 in sales Scouts with no goal averaged $304 in sales 19

Ideal Year of Scouting Step 4: Communication August/September • Unit attends council Popcorn Kickoff. Builds excitement for the sale • Unit hosts its own popcorn Kickoff at August Pack/Troop meeting. (Exciting, Inspiring, Informative) • Goals for unit and youth-level are based on Unit’s budget, which is based on the annual program plan 20

Communication • Keep information about the sale up to date and in front of people • Remind parents and Scouts of the sales goal • Promote the incentives and how to “Earn your own way” • Weekly updates at unit meetings • Email Scouts and families about key dates as reminders • Utilize social media 21

Ideal Year of Scouting Step 5: Raise Money/Fund the Plan September-November • Use all methods (Show n Sell, Show n Deliver, Take Order, Online) • Recognize ongoing success • Don’t stop until you achieve your goal 22

Ideal Year of Scouting Step 6: Execute the Plan November-August All Scouts, Leaders, and families enjoy the rest of the year having FUN in Scouting, not planning and executing additional fundraisers OR asking parents for more money! 23

Execute a GREAT Scouting Program! 24

Ideal Year of Scouting Timeline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Planning- May/June Budgeting- June/July Goal Setting- July/August Communicating the Plan- August/September Earning the Money- September-November Executing the Program Plan- Rest of the Year! 25

Thank You! Daniel Hanson- Program Director 717 -553 -4205 daniel. hanson@scouting. org padutchbsa. org/idealyearofscouting 26