Friends of Scouting campaigns - lessons learned?

[Tami the Mom]

I'll be making FOS presentations at a couple of Blue & Golds and CoHs in the next few months and am looking for words of wisdom from y'all about what works and what doesn't. Thanks!

We had our FOS presentation last week at our Pinewood. We had a captive audience, near full attendance, and it's early enough to give folks a chance to pay their commitments before the end of the year.

 

Our presenter is fabulous. He keeps it short - not more than 8-10 minutes, and he involves the group. He mostly points out some facts - we get less than 10% of what we used to get from UW. We have a beautiful camp that we don't want to lose. And more and more industry is leaving the area - meaning fewer corporations to contribute. Even with directed giving through the UW, we don't get nearly as much as we used to. And he asks people to give until it feels good. Giving till it hurts makes you not want to help out next year. Giving until it feels good leaves you feeling like you're part of a good program.

 

If any unit in the council meets the Fair Share $52 per kid goal, they will give us rank advancement patches next year. Big whoop. But better than a sharp stick in the eye, right?

[theysawyoucomin']

The minute the "FREE" (the "F" word is not allowed to be used in my household, nothing is "Free") advancement insignia came into the discussion people brought the scales to mind and put $52 on one side and one or two bits of cloth on the other and saw what weighed more.

 

If one gives to fair share it's because they are cimmitted to Scouting and think that there child or the community at large is getting a benefit from Scouting, not because of a few bits of cloth.

 

Tami did you take Scoutleader/Weeb ldr outdoors at Wakpominee?

[John-in-KC]

One other thing I've learned from FOS campaigns:

 

An Eagle Scout (or Life who is in striking distance) is a heckuva training aid. They stand tall, look proud, and can organize younger Scouts (particularly Cubs) to do things.

 

When parents of Cubs see the end product, they are more than likely to break out the checkbook.