Transcript Communication with parents

Parent
Communication
How can we grow
the sale?
When Scout parents buy into
the popcorn fundraising
concept, chances for sales
growth are greatly increased
Parental Involvement
Parents want to know:
1. What’s in it for me and my
Scout?
2. How will the money benefit
our Unit?
3.What do I need to do?
Parental Involvement:
What’s 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
Parental Involvement:
What’s In It For Me?
Success = Engage at a Higher Level
 Scouting Achievement
Salesmanship
Communication
Self Confidence
Parental Involvement:
Unit Benefits
Success = Engage at a Higher Level
 Win / Win for all in the unit
Enhance Scouting Programs
Provide needed equipment
Reduce program costs
Parental Involvement:
What 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
Parental Involvement:
What Do I Need To Do?
 The Most Important Thing For A
Parent To Do:
MAKE SURE YOUR
SCOUT REACHES
HIS SALES GOAL!!!
Influence Factor:
Lack of information
limits parental
involvement
Influence Factor:
Which individual more
than likely is controlling
the information flow to
scout parents?
THE UNIT LEADER
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!
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?
 What’s the “call to action?”
 Is your message to be passive, or more
aggressive?
 Are we shooting for a simple, informative
message?
What’s working in your councils?
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
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
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
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
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
Communication: Events
 School Nights
 Camps
 Blue & Gold Banquets
 Parent meetings
 Council dinners
Communication: Media
 TV
 Newspapers
 Radio
 Church bulletins
 National Scouting magazine
 Council Calendar
Deliver Your Parent Message:
How is your council
going to
communicate to
your scouts’
parents in 2007?