Iron Horse District Newsletter
The Iron Horse District newsletter is a monthly newsletter that contains information about upcoming district and council events and activities that is distributed at roundtable. Soon, the newsletter will be sent electronically. Sign up below. After signing up for the newsletter, please respond to the confirmation email.
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Fall Recruiting Training
August 8, 2019 | 7:00 pm
Every pack should send at least one representative to fall recruiting training being held at the Bammel Church of Christ (2700 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX 77068) at 7:00 pm. The fall membership campaign focuses on recruiting new families to the fun and adventures of Cub Scouting. The council provides a variety of support materials for your pack. We are excited to announce that the fall recruiting campaign will once again be Rocket Into Scouting. Girls and boys who join Cub Scouts will receive a rocket patch for joining and will also receive a rocket that they will be able to design, build, and launch at a fall district event.
Learn More Order Fall Recruiting Night Fliers Signs and table tents
Join Scouting Nights should be designed to be fast-paced for today’s busy parents. The key to making any Sign-Up Night successful is advanced planning and preparation, including recruiting a sufficient number of enthusiastic volunteers to help. To ensure families get the message that it’s time to sign up, use various methods of communication and be sure to have a plan. You should start to build the buzz at least six weeks out from your sign-up event(s). The council and district will help get the word out, but the majority of your success will come from unit marketing. Geofencing is a method of geographically targeting a specific audience using Facebook.
Promotions
Scouting activities contribute to the academic development of the children who participate. Share with principals and teachers the brochure which lists the Cub Scout advancements that support over 120 skills taught in elementary school. There are two methods typically used at Join Scouting Nights.
Option 1: Table Rotation Method: The table rotation method has been used very successfully in recent years and is ideal for smaller groups. It allows families more flexible timing and it allows the pack to have better one-on-one conversations with new families as they visit the tables. Families sign in at the first table, then they go on a self-paced journey through five stations to learn how Scouting and the pack work. Families who are familiar with Scouting, or who have limited time, may hurry past some tables and go directly to checkout. The diagram below shows the stations and the recommended room setup. A model campsite with a tent, camp chairs, fishing poles, etc. should be in the center of the room so everyone circles some Scouting fun while they’re there! Table displays can be checked out from the district executive or units can make their own.
Sample Table Rotation Model Table Display - Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5
Option 2: Presentation Method: The presentation method has been used successfully for many years and is ideal for larger groups. If using this method, remember that the goal is to sign up new Scouts and adult leaders. Packs are asked to avoid the use of PowerPoint presentations because they tend to include too much information, take too much time, and often cause interested families to leave without signing up because they simply can’t stay so long. Instead, new Cub Scouts and parents should be invited back to a Parent Orientation a week later, which gives the pack an opportunity to share more information about their activities and leadership. A model campsite with a tent, camp chairs, fishing poles, etc. should be to one side of the presenter, so everyone clearly sees some Scouting fun while they’re there!
Sample Presentation Method