words to live by

Falll Membership Roundup 

During the months of August through October, the Greater Pittsburgh Council will conduct a Fall Roundup to Join Scouting Program. Our council’s Vice President of Membership Ron Hawkins has developed a comprehensive Fall Roundup program and incentive plan to help Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops and Venturing Crews recruit youth into their units this fall. This Roundup plan as well as the resources available will be discussed at your district’s Membership training/kickoff. For dates and times of your District wide fall membership recruitment training please reference your district’s article.

New this year is the “Words to Live By” marketing slogan and the beascout.org website which will serve as a resource to parents interested in finding out information about local Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops and Venturing Crews in their area.

The Fall Roundup incentive program is available for any unit that participates in our Fall Roundup to Join Scouting program. Every new youth member recruited will receive a custom-made Steelers hat donated by the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers!

If the unit registers a net of eight new members beyond their 2008 end of year total (the council will provide this number to units during the kickoff training) by October 31, 2009, then two (2) of their leaders will be invited to a special STEELERS TAILGATING PARTY!!

Cub Scout Packs - The council’s Cub Scouting’s Fall Roundup to Join Scouting campaign will have a defined two week period of September 10-24, 2009. We will help market our school night efforts with newspaper ads, radio announcements, yard signs, posters, and flyers. Beyond the numeric goals, Packs are encouraged to do the following:

• Complete the Fall Roundup Commitment card and return it to their District Executive
• Send a representative (Fall Roundup Coordinator) to the District Membership Kick-off meeting. At this meeting, your representative will learn how to conduct a Fall Round-up, materials will be distributed, and the timeline and process of the campaign will be discussed.
• Boy Talk is conducted at your school by the Pack (presenter must attend District training) or District. If school does not allow boy talks, the Pack can use other recruitment efforts such as flyers, yard signs, etc.
• Utilize the Council-approved “Words to Live By” Fall Roundup flyer.
• Conduct a Fall Round up “Sign in Night” for youth and their families to join utilizing the promotional materials and recruiting tools provided by Council.

Boy Scout Troops - Beyond the numeric goals, Troops are encouraged to do the following:

• Complete the Fall Roundup Commitment card and return it to their District Executive
• Send a representative (Fall Roundup Coordinator) to the District Membership Kick-off meeting.  At this meeting Troops will learn how to conduct a Fall Roundup, materials will be distributed, and the timeline and process of the campaign will be discussed.
• Utilize the Council-approved recruitment materials such as posters, roundup flyers, unit invitation postcards, and high adventure surveys.
• Plan and conduct an Open House “Sign in Night” for youth and their families to join Scouting.
• Conduct or participate in an event that new recruits (and parents) can attend.

Venturing Crews - Beyond the numeric goals, Crews are encouraged to do the following:

• Unit leader must complete the Fall Roundup Commitment card and return it to their District Executive.
• Send a representative (Fall Roundup Coordinator) to the District Membership Kick-off meeting.  At this meeting Troops will learn how to conduct a Fall Roundup, materials will be distributed, and the timeline and process of the campaign will be discussed.
• Utilize the Council-approved recruitment materials such as posters, roundup flyers, etc.
• Plan and conduct an Open House “Sign in Night” for youth and their families to join Scouting.
• Conduct or participate in an event that new recruits (and parents) can attend.

Fall Round-up Report Centers For convenience purposes, each district will host several report centers during the Fall Round-up campaigns. The report centers will allow unit leaders to turn in applications and money collected from newly recruited youth during their Fall Round-up (School Night, Open House, First Nighters, etc.). There will be door prizes and a special drawing for “Scout Buck awarded to those unit leaders that turn-in their applications at their district’s Report Centers. Check with your District Executive for the time, date and location for your Report Center. Charles Flowers Director of Field Service

  

Beascout.org - We are now online!   This fall, the Greater Pittsburgh Council has joined the beascout.org website. This site is designed to allow potential new members to easily locate local Scout units, complete with contact information and a Google Map to their meeting location. Each unit should have received their own log-in and password at your district’s Fall Roundup Kickoff to allow them to update their information as needed. If you haven't received your login information yet, please contact your District Executive. We are encouraging every unit to visit, see what it looks like and use this valuable tool for recruitment.  Just select what type of unit you are looking for then type in your zip code to see the units in your area.  It’s that easy!