Method of Invitations for Cub Scouting

LaSalle Council, Boy Scouts of America

 “Scouting is the finest, most valuable youth serving organization.”

            Peggy Soderberg, Council President

 Invitation methods for Cub Scouting-use multiple methods to reach the largest numbers of families.

1. Wear the uniform: It is the easiest thing you can do to identify scouting families and serves as a conversation piece. Boys are encouraged to wear the uniforms to school on the day when there is a  pack meeting and also on the day when there is a joining night meeting.
2. Peer to Peer:  Boys are encouraged to recruit a friend and can receive a recruiter patch to wear on their uniform.
3. Word of mouth:  Leaders should talk to other adults about the scouting program. Don’t overlook the power of word of mouth, its very effective.
4. Show & Tell:  Encourage the boys to share scouting crafts and experiences with their classes. Pinewood Derby cars, Day Camp crafts and brag vests are good attention getters!
5. Pack information sheet: All year around every pack should have an informational sheet that tells the pack meeting dates and times, calendar of events and contact information that can be mailed to families requesting more information. This information sheet should also be left at the Chartering Organization for them to hand families wanting more information.
6. Invitation Flyer:  Notifies families about Cub Scout joining nights.
7. Personalized letters of invitation:  They should be used after the invitation flyers are handed out as a follow up mailing directly to the home of the potential Scouter.  Email letters can also be effective.
8. Personal phone calls:  A personal touch can be highly effective to invite families to join scouting and answer questions they may have.
9. Use display cases and posters: Create an exciting, informative, visual display to draw families and create excitement over things to come.
10. Public announcement: Principles are highly effective to speak to the potential scouters and their parents.
11. Newsletters and websites: Get scouting information to organizations that have a newsletter or website.
12. Church, School and Civic functions and events are a great venue to promote scouting.
13. Lunchroom or classroom visits: Visit classrooms on joining night day, go classroom to classroom to create excitement about that night.
14. Principal, Coach or Pastor Endorsement: Have a principal, coach or pastor do a public service announcement regarding scouting. They are respected people in the community and very powerful to families.  
15. Principal meeting:  Meet with the school principal one to one to create a good relationship, arrange the boy talk and warmly thank them for their support.
16.  Local newspaper and cable stations: Create news releases for local newspaper coverage of scouting events, awards events and community events.
17. Business window and counter display: Locate business owners that are “friends of the program” and arrange for window signs and pamphlets by the cash registers.
18. Yard Signs: place yard signs throughout neighborhoods and by busy streets. Advertise, Advertise, Advertise!
19. Special Events: Any scouting event should be made public. Look for places that will give you the most exposure, for example: hold the Pinewood Derby race at a local mall.
20. Outdoor Marquee: place scouting information on a marquee outside of a school, church or local business. These are highly visible places.
21. Halloween Candy: Attach pack information to labels on Halloween candy.
22. Follow-up joining night: have a follow-up joining night for the families that couldn’t make the first meeting. Also, give the families a call who attended the first meeting, but not the second.

 If multiple methods are used, it ensures the scouting word with get to more families, which is our mission.