Parent Communication

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• Parent Communication

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How can we grow the sale?
When Scout parents buy into the popcorn
fundraising concept, chances for sales growth are
greatly increased
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Parental Involvement

• Parents want to know
• Whats in it for me and my Scout?
• How will the money benefit our Unit?
• What do I need to do?

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Parental InvolvementWhats In It For Me?

• Success Engage at a Higher Level
• Scouting Values
• Scouts learn to earn their own way
• Scouts learn responsibility
• Scouts learn perseverance

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Parental InvolvementWhats In It For Me?

• Success Engage at a Higher Level
• Scouting Achievement
• Salesmanship
• Communication
• Self Confidence

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Parental InvolvementUnit Benefits

• Success Engage at a Higher Level
• Win / Win for all in the unit
• Enhance Scouting Programs
• Provide needed equipment
• Reduce program costs

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Parental InvolvementWhat Do I Need To Do?

• Success Engage at a Higher Level
• Parental Support
• Attend Unit Kick off
• Donate time during the sale
• Encourage other parents to support the sale

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Parental InvolvementWhat Do I Need To Do?

• The Most Important Thing For A Parent To Do
• MAKE SURE YOUR SCOUT REACHES HIS SALES GOAL!!!

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Influence Factor

• Lack of information limits parental involvement

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Influence Factor

• Which individual more than likely is controlling
  the information flow to scout parents?
• THE UNIT LEADER

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Influence Factor

• Councils must devise a way to get around the
  gatekeeper unit leader and communicate directly
  to parents.
• Especially if that unit is not participating in
  the sale!

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The Parent Message?

• You want to inform parents about opportunities
  the popcorn sale provides to improve Scout
  programs, but what are you going to say?
• Whats the call to action?
• Is your message to be passive, or more
  aggressive?
• Are we shooting for a simple, informative
  message?
• Whats working in your councils?

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Communication

• How can we make parents aware of all the
  opportunities popcorn provides for their sons
  scouting programs?
• Methodology
• Email
• Direct Mail (including Family Sales Guides)
• Council Website
• Newsletter
• Scouting Event
• Public Relations/Publicity
• Advertising Media
• PSA

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Communication Email

• Best way to communicate directly and easily to
  parents
• Capture email addresses during unit / scout
  signups
• Communicate the following via this medium
• Scout success stories
• Unit commission and Scout Incentive Program
• Winners of weekly drawing
• Unit and Scout benefits

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Communication Direct Mail

• Communicate to all Scouts and parents
• Include a Family Sales Guide with a short,
  informative message and Council contacts for
  those with questions
• Talk to your local postmaster prior to mailing
  to make sure the bulk rate applies for the Family
  Sales Guide

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Communication Website

• Place key sale information and/or hyperlink in
  clear view, near the top of the home page
• Start early in the Year with general information
  and increase details as you approach sale time
• Provide all kickoff information and materials
  online once trainings are complete

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Communication Newsletter

• Excellent tool to reference the sale early and
  often to parents
• Gradually increase message quantity and detail
• Contacts for Council and key volunteers

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Communication Events

• School Nights
• Camps
• Blue Gold Banquets
• Parent meetings
• Council dinners

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Communication Media

• TV
• Newspapers
• Radio
• Church bulletins
• National Scouting magazine
• Council Calendar

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Deliver Your Parent Message
How is your council going to communicate to your
scouts parents in 2007?