From the Desk of the Commish
From your Deputy Council Commissioner for Membership Growth and Development.
Media Blitz
Resources
FRIENDFEST Kits
FRIENDFEST letter for Group Chairs and Scouters
FRIENDFEST Question and Answer sheet
FRIENDFEST Recognition draw
FRIENDFEST 2003 Recognition Draw Ballot

Good day all.  In the January Voyageur Vision I mentioned a recruitment campaign known as Friendfest.  This Special Edition is sent to provide you with the details around this campaign.  There are exciting things happening and we want you to know.  Please take a few moments to read this information and join us as we launch this Division-wide campaign.  Your support and assistance is of the utmost importance if we are to grow.

Actions you can take are to ensure your sections and Groups have a definite Bring a Friend night or activity planned.  Include the details of this activity and the details of the prizes in your next newsletter home to parents.  Insert a notice in the local school newsletters inviting youth to come and get a taste of the Scouting adventure.  Include a contact name and number to monitor numbers and the like.

Marilyn Johnson, Your Council Commissioner

We do the best recruiting by word of mouth and by bringing friends. Well, here is our chance to really shine! A Friendfest campaign - where we will celebrate Scouting with friends, youth and adult. Use the February and March period to get your program out into the community - make it visible! Perhaps you can end your campaign - or maybe even begin the campaign - with a community awareness night where you can show off the Scouting program. Have activities such as Kar Rallys where everyone gets to race with “older” Kars and ensure even fun activities have a program element (try first aid & rescue exercises during a tobogganing night).

Let’s make Scouting an activity of choice for the youth in the community.  Your Friendfest activities should want them coming back for more!

Brian Glenn, DCC Membership Growth and Development (dcc-growth@voyageur.scouts.ca)

A television media blitz will take place from 20 January to 9 February inclusive.  This consists of TV ads on YTV and Teletoon.  As these stations broadcast nationally, the Friendfest info has been shared throughout the country and many other Councils are coming on board with their own Bring a Friend activities to coincide with our dates.  This is good news.  Our action for this item is to be aware of the ad dates, discuss at any Scouters’ clubs, Area meetings or youth meetings we may be involved in over that time frame.  Ensure our youth and adult members are aware of the campaign and the Bring a Friend activity within their Group.

For your Friendfest or Scout-Guide week promotional events, hold them in "high traffic" areas where a large number of people gather. Show the public what we have to offer. February is an excellent time to run the event because this is the time when Scouting is front and centre with Scout-Guide week from February 17th to the 23rd.   The event should be a "Scouting fair" where youngsters and parents can put their hands on Scouting and experience it.

Make a list of all the resources which you need to run the event. First and foremost, put some Scouting youth front and centre. Recruit some leaders and your Area and Council Support Teams to assist. Promotional posters and pamphlets are available from the Voyageur Council office as well as portable displays, tv/vcr's and looped videos. Your Scout Shop has the following "Bring on the Adventure" promotional items:  mini-decals, rulers, mini-tattoos, pencils, pens and fridge magnets. Allow enough time to order and receive your resource materials before your event.

If your Group or Area has a specific need for local promotional material other than those materials listed above, please contact us. With the assistance of National Communications, we can write, edit, design and provide local material to help you promote special events, camps, etc.

David Wray, Communications & Public Relations (communications@voyageur.scouts.ca)

The Friendfest Kits will be mailed to each Group Committee Chair.  There will be one kit for each section.  The kit should contain four documents:  the Group/Scouter Letter, the Question and Answer sheet, the Recognition draw ballots and a poster.  The first three of these documents are included in this publication in text format.  The complete package and poster are available on our website at  www.voyageur.scouts.ca   (Click on “Friendfest 2003” in the Quick Links menu bar on our mainpage).

There will also be 5 crests per kit.  Now, not every section will use all 5 crests and some sections will need more than 5.  So we ask Group Committees to oversee crests within their own Groups to ensure all are used and no section goes without while another section has excess.  We would also suggest that the DACs Growth set up a communications link of some sort to enable Groups to share excess with other Groups within the Area.

Dear Group Chair or Scouter,
We’re excited about our Friendfest program to celebrate Scouting and introduce our programs to more youth.  We all believe in the values that Scouting’s programs teach and the opportunities youth get to learn new exciting things and make new friends!

We need your help to make Friendfest a success and bring the benefits of a Scouting adventure to more youth!

Time is of importance!  We would ask that when you get this package, please ensure it gets to each of your sections right away.  Please don’t wait until your next Group Committee Meeting as it may be too late!  Here are few highlights of the program:
-  February is Friendfest Month - where youth and leaders are encouraged to bring a friend to an activity or meeting
-  Each member that brings a friend gets a cool crest (as a Group Committee you have a few extra if your sections run out and more are available from your Council Office)
-  If the friend decides to join Scouting, the member that brought them gets their name into a draw for some cool prizes (these registrations must be in the Council Office by March 21 with the ballot attached, to be eligible for the draw)

If you have any questions, need more crests or kits, please contact your local Council Office and thanks for your help and support!

Q) What is Friendfest 2003?

A) Friendfest 2003 is a celebration of Scouting’s involvement in your community. Scouts Canada, Central Division is kicking off a media campaign in January to heighten the awareness of Scouting.  The month of February has been declared, Bring a Friend Month in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.  It’s an opportunity for Scouting youth and leaders to invite their friends to one or two of their meetings.

Q) What’s in it for my section, youth and leaders?

A) Great question.  Each youth and leader will receive a Bring a Friend Crest, which they can sew onto their campfire blanket or simply add to their collection.  If a youth or leader has a friend that registers by March 21st then their name will be entered for a draw on some great prizes, see the attached prize ballot sheet for details.

Q) The numbers in our section is just fine. Our challenge is leadership and volunteers, why should we participate?

A) In terms of volunteer leaders, think of this as your door opener to recruit additional leaders from that friend you always thought would make a great leader.  Another opportunity arises from the additional youth brought into your section, the new parents with new energy and ideas to offer. Bring a Friend Month is not exclusive to youth, all leaders are encouraged to participate.  Word of mouth is truly the best way to promote our programs.

Q) Is this the right time of year for recruiting?

A) Next to the fall of the year, February is the greatest promotion month.  With Scout Week being celebrated, community displays, group banquets and folks looking for opportunities there isn’t a better time.

Q) I am concerned about ratio of leaders to youth with the new members coming in. How can I handle these new members?

A) Good question, you should probably plan now on asking a few parents to help out during the month of February, who knows you may even find a new leader in one of those parents.  Don’t forget to make sure you have a few extra materials on hand for the February meetings so the friends can fully participate too!

Q) Where can we get more crests when we run out?

A) For quick access, your Group Committee will have a few extra crests as well.  Extra crests are also available from the Council Office.

Scouter, as a means of recognizing members for their support to Friendfest 2003, each member who brings a friend to a meeting (and that friend then joins) gets a ballot to enter a draw for a cool prize.  Prizes will be awarded by each Council. Prizes are determined by each Council and could include items such as a tent, back pack, or camping experience.  Contact your local office for details on the prizes.

Ballots are to be attached to the registration form of the new member and sent in to the Council Office.

Important:  Ballots (attached to the new member registration form) are due at the Council Office by March 21, to qualify for the Recognition Draw!  Prizes to be drawn on March 31 at each Council Office.

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Friendfest 2003  Recognition Draw Ballot (attached to new member registration form)

Name of Friend Joining ____________________

Name of Member who brought Friend ____________________ phone number __________

Scouting Group ____________________ Section ____________________

Contact Leader ____________________

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SCOUTS CANADA, VOYAGEUR COUNCIL OFFICE
1345  Baseline Road, Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario, K2C 0A7
tel. (613) 225-2770 / 1-888-SCOUTS NOW  (726-8876) / fax (613) 225-2802
e-mail: voyageurscouts@playground.net
web site:   http://www.voyageur.scouts.ca

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Questions?  Comments or concerns about this e-newsletter?  We welcome constructive feedback!  Please e-mail us at  voyageurscouts@playground.net

Thank you.

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