Re: Roundtable Budget
Henry Mowry (hmowry@SCV.NET)
Thu, 28 May 1998 20:42:29 -0700
mary sheldon-fournier wrote:
> I have recently taken the job of Cub RT comm. ( the 3rd this year)
The best job in CS, I think. You'll have a ball!
> Our roundtables Attendance has really taken a dive. Now it was never GREAT
> to begin with, but for a number of reasons it has just about died, 2 months
> ago my Husband & I were the ONLY people in attendance.
You're right ... you have a problem!
> I have already made arrangements with Henry for his RT Handouts and I am
> really looking forward implementing some fresh ideas but first I have to get
> people there!!!
Glad you like the RT handouts I share with Scouters. They are 50+ pages each
month ... and I credit them with increasing attendance 50% at our RT in the
first year we gave them out. I now have senior Scouters coming to RT "just"
to get the handout. People come to RT to learn ... give them resources, and
they will come.Do an attendance promotion to build on that foundation. Here
are some ideas:
1. The Pack that gets the most people there over a 3 month period gets a
....... I've done this and given away a woodcraft (my hobby) event that was
BYOW (bring your own wood, naturally), and people went wild because so many
aren't comfortable doing woodcrafts. Find a hobbyist, get him/her to give up
an afternoon ... and you're off!
2. Another time I gave away donated stuff, such as PW books, game & skit
books, etc. Get camping gear, 5 gal coolers, etc ... donated ... and have
them as door prizes. I gave away some wood from shipping crates & pallets
that had been broken down ... scounge wood perfect for tool boxes ... and the
wood was the most sought after item given away. And it was totally free to
me! ;-)
3. Start a doo dad recognition program. Every time (or every 3rd time, etc.)
you go to RT, get a bead to go on a bearclaw necklace. People love
recognition of any kind. You can also recognize people that lead a teaching
session with a different colored bead. Extend the program to your training
program, Pow Wow staff....
4. A mailing to Cubmasters only doesn't cost that much ... but it will cost.
Also, only going to unit leaders is probably a mistake; I'm aware of some unit
leaders that question the advantage of RT attendance. If you don't reach
individual DLs, they may not come. Phone calls are probably only expensive
from a time perspective. If you can organize a phone tree with an
introductory phone call and follow up phone calls before RT, you'll see
attendance take off. Perhaps your commissioner staff could help? They should
be encouraging RT attendance....
5. Develop an email list. Routinely do a "mailing" 1 week in front of your
RT. Get addresses from your phone calls, at trainings, district events ...
everyone doesn't have email (yet), but many do.
> My question is this; I am meeting with our new DE (we haven't had one for a
> month or so). I want to ask him about a roundtable budget. Is there such a
> thing?
In our District, the training & RT staffs are the same ... and any surplus
from trainings is given to RT for crafts & such. Works fine. We're in a 40
pack district; trainings in the fall generally have 70+ Scouters. $2 each
goes a long way towards scrounge crafts & such.
> Is requesting a budget for RT a legitimate request??
Yes, but if it's not in a budget that's approved in advance, you'll never see
it. I would try and have it as part of your training budget.--
YIS,
Henry Mowry
Cub Roundtable Commissioner ... in year 4 now!
Cub Program Chairman, Western LA County Council
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
