Abel Magwitch Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Our DE has decided when invited to Eagle Courts of Honors to solicit FOS. I find this to be really cheesy. This is the Eagle's special moment and the DE wants to solicit FOS. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisabob Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 He'd find himself uninvited in a hurry. It is crass to show up for someone else's celebration and then start soliciting without permission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5yearscouter Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I could see a few well placed donation cards to see if any out of town relatives, teachers or big wigs in the community that come out to eagle court of honors would donate. but they'd need to be very inconspicuous and in good taste, a little brochure and no in person soliciting of any kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertrat77 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Concur with Lisa and 5Year. Formal pitch? Tacky. The DE is cordially uninvited. A few flyers in the back? Alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abel Magwitch Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 I have watched this guy at several Eagle COH. Before the COH, he would say his hellos and then ask the SM if he could do FOS. I have seen one SM tell him no and another said yes only to regret it after. It is the Eagle's day, not the DE's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertrat77 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Abel, most sorry to hear of this. Sounds like the DE's priorities and manners are in need of calibration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhankins Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Be sure that the DE is aware that he should attend an Eagle Court when invited. And that the Eagle Board people know to let the boy know NOT to invite the DE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeattlePioneer Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 There might be a tactful way to do that, but a typical FOS presentation doesn't strike me as appropriate. So let me ask what methods MIGHT be appropriate for soliciting contributions? Leaving flyers in the back has been suggested. How about a display board of some kind with brochures in front? Suppose the DE stood in front of the display board prepared to answer questions? Suppose the DE were to invite FOS contributions when socializing with people at the ECOH? Of course the DE should get permission from event leaders before doing any of these things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMT224 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 No doubt the DE is under a lot of pressure to get out and talk to all units. For him (her?) this simply an opportunity to reach a bunch of folks. But as others here have posted, an FOS presentation at an Eagle COH is wrong. It's too bad the DE does not have enough sense to understand that. Abel Magwitch - I know it will be hard, but you have to call the DE and state in very clear terms that there will be no FOS presentation at this Eagle COH. If you do not, the DE will be compelled to take full advantage of the situation. An Eagle COH 100% about the Eagle - nothing else. Under great pressure from the district a few years ago we succumbed to an FOS presentation at our Troop Anniversary party. Our Troop is borderline urban/suburban with a lot of low income families that can barely pay the registration fee, let alone summer camp, and certainly not and FOS contribution. It was uncomfortable as the stock FOS presentation seemed to be aimed at those with a disposable income that needs a place to go -- something no one in our Troop has. We all decided that's it, never again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCEagle72 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 We normally do FOS presentations at regular Troop Courts of Honor, but not Eagle CoHs. In fact, to qualify for the Council "blue ribbon" your FOS presentation must be done at a CoH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knot Head Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 That's inappropriate IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle92 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 With permission of the SM and/or CC at a regular COH, not a problem, but at an ECOH!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?! Was you DE ever involved in Scouting as a youth? Trust me there is a lot of pressure to make your FOS goal, esp in today's economy, BUT AT AN ECOH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! (Caps to emphasize my disgust, not screaming) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavah Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Yah, this is where da pressures of corporate scoutin' lead to behaviors that are embarrassing in terms of character and values. I'm not fond of soliciting funds at any award ceremony. Whether it's B&Gs or COHs or ECOHs or Silver/Ranger/QM presentations, it doesn't matter. Yah, yah, there's always a temptation because it's a "captive audience" event with high attendance. That's why we call it "temptation". Yeh show strong character and values by resisting that sort of temptation. Those ceremonies should be about the kids. Honestly, I think da practice loses as many (bigger bucks) donations as it manages to capture. Donors, especially major contributors, don't like to be ambushed at such events. It leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth. So Abel, I think it's an act of kindness to explain to the DE that it's tacky and not in keepin' with scoutin' values to solicit at an ECOH, and if that's his intention then he is not welcome. But DEs being young fellas, yeh might suggest some other time when he can come for a presentation, or yeh might counsel that if he were a wise young fella he'd use the opportunity to meet people and make contacts, which then he might follow up with at some later date. That's the way yeh really get dollars from folks, eh? By building relationships honorably, not by ambushing 'em at a kid's ceremony. Beavah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle90 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 That would be the last invitation that DE would ever receive and the last FOS presentation he would make to our troop if he did that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadenP Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Pressure from the corporate types aside, an ECOH, B&G, or any other significant event is NEVER the proper time for FOS. As a former DE myself I was invited to many ECOH's, usually to take part in the ceremony and would never have even thought of doing an FOS talk. Besides if the DE is worth their salt their FOS campaign would already be organized with volunteers doing the unit pitches while the DE concentrated on the community/corporate campaign. This incident was just in bad taste and that DE should never get invited to any unit celebration again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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