Rechartering, Recruiting, and Public Relations Are Reasons for Membership Growth
Dean R. Ertel
Scout executive
Ozark Trails Council |
The Ozark Trails Council began 2006 with a deficit of 500 youth and ended the year with balanced growth in all programs and a net gain of 989 youth members. This 10.5 percent increase in membership occurred because a lot of things were done right.
First, we rechartered our units on time and in good shape. This significantly cut our losses, helping us end the year with 412 units--a net gain of 15 units, or a 3.8 percent increase. Second, a good spring recruiting program strengthened our units and cut the council deficit by 80 percent. Third, we launched a huge public relations campaign, partly supported by a $3,000 grant from our Central Region. We used radio, television, newspapers, and local magazines--including Parent and Family magazine, received by more than 43,000 students in the greater Springfield area--to push our Scouting program. We topped this effort off with a series of special events geared to get lots of news coverage and place Ozarks Scouting smack in the middle of the public eye during our fall recruiting program.
On behalf of the 14,457 youth and volunteer members of the Ozark Trails Council, we thank our commissioners, membership volunteers, and a dedicated field and clerical staff for helping make 2006 a great year, a Quality Council year.