While many of us in Scouting take a certain amount of justifiable pride in our humility, it is difficult to argue with Rogers-or maybe it was Hammerstein-who suggests that "A bell is no bell lest you ring it". When the bard adds that "A song is no song lest you sing it", there's no argument left.
Put more directly, fellow Scouter: if you're going to have a great activity for your section, it's worth telling everyone in advance, just to make sure someone shows. And, although a camp is a success even if only the boys know it was great, isn't it nice when the parents hear your version as well as what tired Tim tells Mom as he falls asleep in the bath halfway through his after-camp supper?
Just for a change, let's look at the 175th's activities through the medium of the NEWSLETTER. Every few weeks, the parents of the Cubs receive a summary of the pack's activities, as seen through the outpourings of Akela's rose-tinted typewriter. Our newsletters sound something like this...
One of our more successful impromptu segments might have been forgotten in the unseemly rush to change the after-Cubs conversation topic from bedtime to television, were it not for this newsletter entry, printed in its entirety in the Funnies column of the Nov. 1981 LEADER. Those who read it will remember that we reported to parents what, in the space of 15 minutes, their offspring decided they should take to a desert island. None chose to take mothers or even, despite some spirited debate, Teddy Bears.
Some of the other things we thought parents should know included the fact that four of the sixes chose to take clothes, but one settled for needle and thread. The six who suggested girls were not the same bunch who mentioned swimsuits. Various weapons, including a "22 cal" were mixed with practical survival items, but only one group remembered the bullets. The same practical six thought of toilet paper, but not the toilet that a rival six felt it would be nice to have.
Radios "to keep in touch", a CB and a TV popped up on the lists, and one six decided they'd like to take along "a friend". Because only two sixes added return transportation to their lists, we told parents that we presumed the rest were quite prepared to stay on the island forever.
Right after our description of this fascinating exercise which, I can only assume, was purloined from the pen of OUR HERO John Sweet, and while we had peoples' attention, we slipped in an advertising break for the group's uniform exchange program. Here we asked parents to turn in used uniforms to the mother in charge of such things, and to contact her if they had need of same. It's a helpful service in good economic times, but it's especially important now in bad.
Next came our first announcement of a family event planned for the coming spring.
On May 22, in the schoolyard, this display of pets-large and small, live or stuffed-will give your household heroes the chance to strut their stuff. By way of inspiration, the show is named after Luke White, Bedlington Terrier Extraordinaire, Holder of the North York Obedience Club 2nd Prize, Beginner's Division. Merit ribbons based on the unbiased decision of the judge (owner of Luke White), will be awarded in all categories.
Categories will depend upon what appears, but we expect anything which can run, crawl or slither to be leashed, caged, or otherwise kept away from Luke White, who has been known to be fearsome. Sisters may not be entered, but may enter their pets, as may younger brothers. Stuffed animals are welcome.
Owners (or their supporters) are required to scoop up any material deposited by live pets. We anticipate that the show will commence at 7:00 and end at 7:30ish. Since we will then begin an outdoor activity (brothers and sisters still welcome), parents are asked to remove pets as necessary at that point.
Rain day-June 5...
The event was well attended, and the greatest problem was that Akela, who had kept the advertising lighthearted, underestimated just how seriously the children would take the event.
Fortunately, the plans allowed for no winners or losers-just a ribbon for each entry and an unlikely reason for its being awarded.
Highlights were the looks on the faces of owners of bull dogs and poodles when Akela announced that it appeared Luke was the only entrant in the thoroughbred division; and one Jason Lansdowne, who forgot it was Pet Show night but entered himself, proclaiming himself to be his Mother's Pet! He received a ribbon, of course.
Every newsletter includes a list of future meeting dates because we know that the previous five newsletters either were lost on the way home or, if mailed, lost in the home. Every so often, we make ourselves feel better by claiming that we know "a select band of counter-revolutionaries" deliberately throws away our lists of activities and dates. We add that we also know these to be the same people who don't help at banquets or fund-raisers.
However you introduce them, the more times you mention activities to parents, the better.
It helps, occasionally, to give credit to the leaders, who often are not known to parents or, at best, are known as "Bag-someone".
Jim Hamnett, who is depressingly creative, had a brilliant idea one night when we were denied access to our regular meeting place. Finding our plans asunder but the floor of the substitute meeting place chequered...
Mang suggested a game of Wolf Cub Checkers. We placed each boy on a square-those on one side with scarves, the others without- and proceeded to play checkers with Cubs as pieces. Each captured piece took a turn at directing moves, then went to Baloo who led a come-and-join-in sing song.
Baloo is our organization man, and has a strong Scouting background and flair. Mang ("We're going to pretend someone fell out of a coconut tree")? Well, he marches to the beat of a different drummer.
Chris, our teenage ex-Cub and leader extraordinaire, introduced a friend David who, on his first night with the Cubs, produced and directed a game in which the boys had to use what they could find in the way of bits and pieces to keep them above a crocodile-infested river. An obstacle course by any other name, you say? It depends on the leader who tells the story!
We've found that newsletters are good not only for saying what's going to happen, but also for giving thanks for help, and letting people know what we and their sons have done. Somehow, the enthusiasm spreads, and people feel willing to share their ideas.
Mind you, lots of those letters still wind up in the washing machine with Jason's shorts-at the 175th.
Original Message From:
Michael West <westword@ix.netcom.com
<<<<<I'm looking for information and feedback on:
1. Personal experiences starting Pack or Troop newsletters-how you did it, problems, opportunities, etc.
2. What's different between doing a newsletter for a Pack vs. a Troop? (Other than the obvious lessened emphasis on camping.)
Need contributions.....so I can include in a presentation on this topic....send to my e-mail address. Thanks all.>>>>>
Addendum: (01/31/95)
Thought you all might like to know the presentation went swimingly, thanks to input from Scouts-L! I had overheads with bullet points (some gleaned from my experience, some from these suggestions), plus a multi-page handout with newsletter samples (mine) and many of these comments transcribed.
MIKE
From: gareri@osprey.us.dg.com (John Gareri)
Subject: Pack/Troop Newsletters (fwd)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 08:30:10 -0500 (EST)
Michael, I help my troop's historian do the monthly newsletter for the troop. It is actually a lot of fun. Being in a scout troop, we go by the theory that the scouts do most of the work, and the adults are there to help. I provide my home, computer and printer and have access to a scanner and photocopier at work. The scouts do the bulk of the work, I am there to help, but enjoy getting involved too.
I would imagine that a pack newsletter would be more parent oriented, where our troop newsletter has appeal to both (we hope).
Most of the patrols write articles about what they have been doing in an attempt to out do each other.
JG
from: James A Lindberg <jal@TED.CRAY.COM>
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
Greetings from Pack 116,
I as the Cubmaster put out our Pack Newsletter. I use Framemaker (at work) usually or Word For Windows occasionally when I do it from home. I do make use of the GIF pictures I downloaded from the archives.
In the Newsletter, I cover what has just happened, and things coming up, along with the usual pleas for more adult volunteers.
I then pass these out to the Den Leaders to distribute to the Cubs and Tigers.
I have (a couple of times) put a note on the bottom that if they bring the newsletter to the Pack meeting signed by a parent, that they'd get a "prize." I've used stickers, drawings, etc.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 07:44:35 -0700 (MST)
From: Richard Russell <lderlore@xmission.com>
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
Michael, I have published an information newsletter for my New Scout Patrol for two and a half years now. I meet separately from the troop since I am sponsored by the LDS Church. I have had as few as two boys and as many as 12. It is one sheet, two sides. I report activities, give recognition's, announce events, provide a calendar, and train occasionally on policy and procedure regarding basics like uniforming, organization and advancements. I copy it on colored paper and distribute. The boys snarf it up like candy and the parents tell me they wish all their children's involvement's were as conscientious about keeping them up to date. I also give copies to the SM and ASMs, and the COR. I camp fewer times in the year-about three or four and attend a council sponsored summer event of three days with one overnighter. It has helped me send 85% of my boys on to the troop as, at least, First Class, a few have been Star.
Richard C. Russell
lderlore@xmission.com
Ask me about "Leader Lore"-a 12 page newsletter.
"I used to be a bear." My wife tells me I still am!
From: Milt Forsberg <miltf@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
Hi...you wanted info on newsletters..
My troop (Troop 7, Champaign, IL - I am Scoutmaster) has produced a newsletter for each meeting for the past 16 years. It started with a comment from one of our ASPLs who was interested in journalism. He said " we should have a newsletter ". I told him if he wanted to do it, that would be fine. It was more of a side comment on my part. During that week, he typed one and gave it to me to see what I thought. It was good enough we copied it and distributed it at the next meeting. We have not missed one since!
That was 1978. He produced the newsletter with help of a couple of other members for about 3 years. He is now a news reporter for radio station WASK in Lafayette, IN. He even visited NOAC last Summer and made several interviews which he used in a news special on that station. The editor has changed several times, usually the tenure is 1-2 years. The originator started with a typewriter and ditto reproduction. We graduated to an Apple II computer with dot matrix printer, cutting ditto masters. We are now using PCs and laser printers.
The production is that I give the editor the subjects we need to cover, he writes it using WordPerfect, inserts graphics as he wishes, then he calls me and we transfer it to my PC where the laser printer is located, print it and duplicate it via Xerox.
We do keep some articles for more than one issue. This provides a little filler and it makes sure those missing a meeting will see the important stuff. We cover the current meeting subjects, next week's meeting, outings coming up - ones soon are in detail, calendar for activities for next several months, and birthdays of members during the week following the newsletter issue. We summarize our outings right after they happen. Awards, recognitions, and any other noteworthy items of this sort are included.
We keep the newsletter to one page. This makes it easier to publish each week. We notify parents when boys join that this paper should come home each week. We even have parents stop in - when their son has to miss a meeting - just so they can pick up a newsletter.
The name of the publication is "The Eagle".
From time to time, we print one Lucky Eagle. It is one copy with a statement that it is the Lucky Eagle. The person receiving it and finding that statement gets a prize - usually a bag of candy, or first in line for a weekend activity if applicable, or box of popcorn, or similar. It encourages everyone to read everything as the statement usually appears in the middle of a sentence somewhere. We don't announce that there is a Lucky Eagle except if no one has found it by the end of the meeting.
It takes our current editor an hour or two each week. Currently, the editor is our past SPL. He knows the program well enough he needs little help writing articles. Some of the others required more help, even to the point of some editing prior to printing.
If I can give you any more information, please let me know. Our "Eagle" is something we are really proud of. I have a copy of every issue in binders under plastic sheets. It makes a good history reference. Yes, I have been Scoutmaster all this time.
Milt Forsberg
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 09:11:24 CST
From: Jim Sleezer <JHS8%OSUVM1.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
With the variety of word processors available these days, you can publish a newsletter with little effort. Our pack newsletter was front and back of a single 8 ½ x 11 sheet. We included stories about what was coming, a calendar of upcoming events, and some notes on what had happened in the preceding month such as names of boys who advanced, placed in pinewood, signed up for Webelos camp, etc. If a den took a field trip, a cub sometimes wrote something up for the newsletter. We distributed them (denner became the deliverer) just before the closing ceremony. It took only about a minute for the denners to pick up and distribute to their respective dens. We counted them into den piles in advance. We scanned in our own pictures, or down loaded things from the archives.
Jim Sleezer
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 14:53:07 -0300 (ADT)
From: "Brian J. Trim" <B_TRIM@bass.stmarys.ca>
Subject: Newsletters
Michael, I edit a newsletter for the Nova Scotia Rover Round Table (NSRRT), called Excalibur. This newsletter has been in existence for many years, though no-one is precisely sure how long. However, it had lapsed badly two years ago, because the then editor was not really interested in it, and was only using the Movement for his own narrow goals and aims (enough on that).
So, we "restarted" it. I can tell you that the first thing to have in doing so is enthusiasm: it won't fly unless someone is willing to put in a whole lot of hard work. Last year I was an assistant editor, and my fellow Rover, Bernie ran the show as editor. That meant he did the lion's share of the work, and a gang of us dumped articles and suggestions on his desk once in a while. :)
This in our experience was very successful: having one person, or at most a small group, as the focus of the magazine. However, this has to be balanced by not frustrating interest among the readership. In other words, a clique cannot be allowed to develop.
If you are looking for examples of problems.... I was helping Bernie out last year, and that worked well. But I have a somewhat erratic schedule, and I keep odd hours, so when I took over as editor, I tended to discount the team effort approach. I emphasized that I needed contributors, not "sub-editors". Well, I am leaving here in May, and I need a replacement, and good ones are rather thin on the ground right now...
I have learned that letting people think they are important can do wonders for you. But at the same time, I have learned not to let them become particularly important until they have proved they will come through for you. (my production schedule went a month behind last issue because I trusted someone to do some photocopying for me. Boy was I upset when she returned the half photocopied edition to me a week later, saying she couldn't finish it!)
As for my contributors, well, much of what I get is generated as minutes from NSRRT meetings, reports from the Mate (president), notices of next meetings/activities, and stuff I reprint from other publications. The last one in that list is a Godsend. I receive Scouting Mag from the UK, Rovering Mag from Ontario, BP News from the Rovers in the UK, The Canadian Leader Mag., and I'll soon be getting the NZ Rovering Mag., and The Australian Scout. Quite a line up. I pull articles from some of them, drawings and comics from others (Scouting Mag. is really good for both), and encouragement from all.
It is a tough job to edit and run a magazine/newsletter, and if you don't want to rely as heavily as I do on reprints, you will have to build up a list of regular contributors whom you can depend on. One thing to do to help in this is to set your deadlines well in advance, and remind people of them fairly regularly.
One last thing that I am just now trying to do is establish who I am accountable to: NSRRT has an executive, but I am a member (not as editor, as Scribe/Secretary) and so most of the time I am left to be accountable to myself. I decided to rock the boat to see what reaction I could get earlier this year. I set the Excalibur's advertising policy on my own, without consulting anyone. I got told by the Mate that it would have been nice to let someone know first, and I know a number of people thought I was being arrogant. But it does prove my point as I go to get a constitutional amendment to establish who I work for. Well, that was quite a ramble on. If you like I can send you a copy of Excalibur. I'll also include if you like some articles I got on the duties & responsibilities of the group PR officer/ newsletter editor. And if you are really keen, I'll attach some subscription cards for some of the magazines I receive, as well as an explanation of what each does.
Good luck, you'll need it... :)
BJ Trim
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 95 11:43:07 EST-5
From: "Jim Miller, Jr." <jmillerjr@LSFCU.ORG>
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
I never took on the responsibility of doing one myself, but have been in units with newsletters. You seem to be missing a fundamental point in the questions, though. Who is the intended readership of the newsletter?
They must be done quite differently if they are for the boys than if they are for the parents. No matter what else you may include, a calendar is the most valuable part of any newsletter.
>2. What's different between doing a newsletter for a Pack Vs a Troop? (Other than the obvious lessened emphasis on camping.)
Not much, other than who the editor of the paper should be. In a Pack, a leader or parent should have primary responsibility. In a Troop, the Troop Scribe should be the one in charge of such an operation (with adult guidance). In either case, articles should come from youth members as often as possible. This can be a valuable learning tool for us adults.
If the Unit went on a trip somewhere, have one of the boys write the article on the trip. We often forget what the boys would consider the best part of an outing. By reading about it "through their eyes" we get a fresh look at a trip some we may have been on a dozen times already.
Good Luck!
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 14:35:13 -0500 (cdt)
Subject: RE: Pack/Troop Newsletters
To: westword@ix.netcom.com
Michael, for 12 years I did my troop's newsletter. It's size was as small as two sheets of paper to 12. I have sections, just like a newspaper.
Section 1 - Activities,
Section 2 - Leadership,
Section 3 - Troop Business,
Section 4 -Calendar/Schedule,
Section 5 - Phone Directory & yearly calendar.
The more the youth input into it, the better. After 12 years, the newsletter became the norm. However, I had to stop it as I took on the Unit Commissioner job, District Activities Committee, and the Council's Computer Consultants Committee.
The troop has lessened in the communications because it was assumed the newsletter gave you it all.
As to the Cub Scout Side. Its a parent information vehicle. Let the parents and leaders know the schedule, including the assigned jobs at pack meetings.
Hope it helps!
From: Murphy Peter <MurphyP@rnd3.indy.tce.com>
Subject: Pack/Troop Newsletter
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 95 13:45:00 PST
"Newsletter" can mean lots of things. In my pack I just started banging out something on my PC using MS Word. The banner has the Pack number, charter org., date, and Cub Scout symbol. I use the clip art from BSA a lot. The body of the newsletter is triple column and contains brief articles of all the announcements I want to put out from what we will be doing special at the next pack meeting to district events such as training and such.
On the front page I have a two column wide calendar of events for the next 2 to 3 months. At the bottom I put my name and telephone number along with the CC. I also list every boy receiving an award that month with a picture of the award. This is especially nice for the Webelos activity badges because they are hard to keep straight. If room permits, I include a song or two that we plan to use. Sometimes I include a word search or other pre-opening. The newsletters are available at the door as everyone comes to the meeting. Den leaders should take extras for boy who are absent. The Tiger Cub coach distributes one to every Tiger Cub through their monthly meetings.
I do the newsletter myself instead of the publicity chair just because district and council info is mailed to the CM and it usually arrives without much advance notice. Also, since I need to know who is getting what awards anyway so I can plan which ceremonies to prepare, I have all the information and involving another person would increase the lead time for getting info into the sheet. Right now we do not include any den news even though I've invited such input. Guess I will have to ask again.
Pete Murphy
CM, Pack 125, Crossroads of America Council
From: RobBotti@aol.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 22:25:46 -0500
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
I wish that I could tell you that my experience in starting a pack news letter was a positive one, but it wasn't. After three months of writing and publishing the news letter myself, I gave up. Although there was always interest from the boys (and parents) in receiving the news letter, no one was willing to contribute articles to it. This left it up to me to call other leaders to get information on events that took place in other dens or at activities that I was unable to attend. I even tried to get the boys to write articles and acknowledge them as the author but in three months I received only one article from a Scout. I am not advising you not to give it a try. I will only warn you that you may start something that you may have to publish alone. By the way, I really enjoyed writing the articles; I just didn't have enough time to devote to it.
Good Luck and happy writing.
Rob Botti, Cheshire, CT
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 95 23:26 CST
From: srtobin@skypoint.com (Steve Tobin)
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
For what it's worth, I am copying the list with this. You may find something useful for your own newsletters.
Just don't think that _I_ do all of this stuff. I'm just as human as the rest...
We have unfortunately had a troop newsletter sporadically since I started. I say unfortunately because I feel it is an important tool to help build an organization, and keeping it healthy.
I attended a session at Indianhead Council's Show 'n Do a couple of years ago, and received took some good notes on the topic, which I will kind of summarize.
There are really 2 questions to be answered here: should we, and, if so, how is it to be done. There are many good reasons to do one.
The most important thing: You must know your audience. In our case, you will have 3 targets; Adults, scouts and the community.
It must be read before you can communicate. It must be presented clearly and coherently. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it shouldn't be messy or cluttered.
In this vein, we learned to mail them home. If we didn't, they didn't make it home from the meetings. If they did, they remained in the bottom of packs or pockets.
This also means it must actually be done. Find a _Willing_Volunteer_ (like you an I are), and then support them, guide them and help them. Everyone providing input should do so on time. Keep them current on what is happening. Give feedback, ideas, help and praise.
As far as the mechanics, I will briefly summarize what they presented. (As far as I am EVER brief...)
The newsletter should be:
Good writing should:
Some more tips are:
The instructor recommended a book, _Editing your Newlsetter_, by Mark Beach; Coast to Coast books, if you can find it.
Hope this helps.
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 09:11:45 -0700
From: Vicki Andros <KAVLA@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
Subject: Troop/Pack Newsletters
We have a 'newsletter' for both our Troop (20 scouts) and Pack (approx 70 scouts). They have different purposes and creators.
I started the Troop newsletter. The purpose was to notify parents of the plans for the Troop and to recognize the scouts in any way we could. (Yes, We know that the Boy Scouts are supposed to be responsible for notifying their parents of activities, and they were doing so, about 1-2 hours before the activity took place) The idea was to issue the newsletter monthly, and snail mail it to the parents. Covered in the letter is any rank or merit badge earned that month, calendar update for the coming 2 months, Recognition of any accomplishment in school or sports or... outside of scouts, patrol activities, a Scoutmaster's Corner, and any other tidbits we can find that are of interest to parents (like making parents aware that there is an Eagle scholarship that can be applied for, even tho we do not have any current Eagles. This newsletter is typically 2-3 pages long.
The Pack newsletter is written by the Cubmaster, and is sent home with the scouts from a meeting approx once per month. It lets the parents know of Church activities that they may want to participate in, and notifies parents of pack meetings, etc. It is 1 page in length.
Hope this helps.
Vicki Andros, DL Pack 5, ASM Troop 5, Grand Canyon Council, Phoenix AZ
Vicki Andros - Application System Analyst, Sr. (5-2291) Internet: KAVLA@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU
Bitnet:
KAVLA@ASUACAD
From: "Christopher Strauss" <Chris_Strauss@unt.edu>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 18:56:37 CST6CDT
Mike, the hardest part is finding someone willing to commit the time to getting it published on a regular basis. The second hardest part is getting the information to that person soon enough for them to include in the newsletter.
In my Pack when I was a Cubmaster, I depended on one of the Den Leader coaches to take input from me and the committee meetings and knock out a short newsletter. He did a great job for a number of years, using nothing more complicated than Printmaster or some similar simple newsletter software. I picked up the job myself before and after his service by printing one page announcement sheets and handing them out at Pack meetings. We never did mailings, but distributed through Den leaders or at Pack meetings. With a Pack of 100 boys (counting Tigers) and 30 leaders, I never had time to do a newsletter myself.
Now I am a den leader coach (several Councils removed from the previous experience), and am doing the newsletter for our Pack here. I am using Microsoft Publisher for ease of use, even though I am proficient with Pagemaker. Chances are, whoever follows me (if anyone) will be willing to get Publisher at under $100, whereas Pagemaker would be out of the question. I include short articles about last month's exploits, all or most of the advancements for this month, and news about upcoming events, district training, camps, etc. that most parents never hear about. We also discuss Pack policies if we make changes or need to reinforce them with the parents.
Again, we give the newsletter out at Pack meetings... only the monthly committee meeting minutes get mailed out (by the secretary to registered leaders only). The hardest part IS getting my hands on the advancement list, and getting input from the other leaders for articles. I haven't had any sort of an article "submission" since I started publishing it almost a year ago. I take suggestions at committee meetings, soak it up at roundtable (when I am not teaching the split session), and follow up by phone.
Whoever your editor is, they will have to seek information aggressively and WANT to get it to the parents, or it won't happen.
In my opinion, the biggest difference between Pack and Troop is that there is no intermediate adult leadership level in Troops, and parents are usually less well informed in a Troop without a newsletter than in a Pack without one (how much does YOUR son tell you when he gets home from Troop meetings on a school night?). Den leaders often pick up the slack with Den newsletters, or just through the direct contact before and after Den meetings. If anything, a Troop newsletter is more important than a Pack one. We lost our editor this year for the Troop, and I never know what is going on now it seems.. even though I go to committee meetings and have two boys in the Troop. Some Troops even have the boys help with the newsletter, although a stable adult editor is a necessity.
That's all I can think of... hope it helps.
YiS, Chris.
Christopher E. Strauss, MLS
From: jbemis@cass.ma02.bull.com (John Bemis)
Subject: Newsletters
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 12:33:54 -0500 (EST)
I have done a number of these newsletters. One for a Pack is in its 3rd month. The focus is to provide the den leaders with info from the pack committee (I am the CC). To announce names and awards, fund raisers, etc. The information is intended for the parents via the den leaders. There are graphics in it.
One for the Troop lasted three years (89-92) while I was SM. SPL, Venture Crew, Scouts submitted articles for monthly pubs. It forced the issue of planning to the surface for these kids and me. The idea didn't meet the needs of the new SM, so it died. Lots of activity based names which allowed patrol leaders to use it as a reference. We worked it together with our advancement package Troopmaster.
The last newsletter is for the District Training Comm, its 5th year with 9 issues a year. I have a large amount of stock material that I use as filler plus current issues that are on the 'net. Pre- planning for the pubs is vital plus setting up budget/focus.
Hope this helps on your presentation.
Yis, Jay Bemis
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 00:42:29 -0500
From: John Spacher <JSpacher@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Pack/Troop Newsletters
One of the things that I do as Committee Chair is to put out a "Leaders Packet" every month. This consist of the meeting minutes along with ideas and articles that go with Scouting. These include everything from Council news, crafts, stories that go along with the monthly theme, and so on. The topics covered, format and distribution are really up to you. The way that I'm handling it is that I will format the information, print it out, and distribute it at the monthly Committee meeting. As our meetings are in the first week of the month this works good.
Problems encountered are that I do this alone. Finding material that is fresh each month can be hard. I use a lot of the information found on the Internet (This list, rec.scouting newsgroup, FTP, ect...). The cost can be prohibitive. It takes me about 500 sheets of paper and a new ribbon for the printer each month. If you will distribute to all members of the Pack cost would be more of a factor.
This can be offset by using Pack/Troop funds. Printing takes time (This month packet took about six hours to print)
On the plus side, this is a great way to get the news of the unit out to those that need it. Also it is a great way to assist the leaders of the unit with the program. It is interesting to see the different ways that they use the info. It will bring the unit closer together, and helps to ease the feeling that sometimes crops up in the leaders minds that they are alone in this.
Would I still do it after I just thought of it? YES, I sure would. It is worth it when a leader tells me that they found the information I gave them useful. I used it as an inducement for the leaders to come to the Committee meetings and the idea took off. Several people have suggested topics, and offered to help with it. Topics this month will include Council and Pack news, the info that has appeared hear on the Lion badge and the start of WEBELOS. History on the start of Scouts in the USA. Some game crafts, and an article on teaching first aid.
About the only real difference that I could see in a Troop/Pack newsletter would be in the material covered. I would lean heavy on material that would help with the Merit Badges.
YIS
John Spacher
Committee Chair, Pack 50, Land of the Oniedas Council
Rome NY
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 1995 10:07:53 -0500
From: John Waidner <JTWaidner@AOL.COM>
Subject: Religious freedom and GSA
[deleted the discussion of relig. freedom. this is included because of the following newsletter comment. . . ]
BTW, for all you newsletter enthusiasts, "Sage News" is a great example of how to do a newsletter. If you would like an example, Silver Sage might send you one. Their address is 1410 Etheridge Lane, Boise, ID, 83704, Tel:208-377-2011 or 800-846-0079, Fax: 208-377-0504.
YiS
John Waidner
CC, Pack 132
Carmel, IN
From: jim.speirs@canrem.com (Jim Speirs)
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 95 05:56:00 -0500
Article #R164.
This article is only one of a few that I have on the topic of newsletters. Although it doesn't give a 'definitive list' on what to put in one, it has a couple of good pointers. Feel free to kick it apart and throw in your own comments.
I'm off to Scout Camp, and the 'Article-every-second-day' will return on July 16. All Scouters camping at Haliburton Scout Reserve for the second week of July are invited to drop by Ojibway Point. Bring your own mug.
From: david.botteron@tek.com (Dave Botteron)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 1995 13:46:02 LOCAL
Folks,
I am the editor of the Boy Scout Troop 351 newsletter (Portland, Oregon). We put out our first edition at the beginning of August. I recently joined the troop and they didn't have a newsletter. The August edition was easy because the boys had just returned from summer camp and most of the 1 1/2 pages was a listing of the merit badges each boy had earned at summer camp.
I'm planning the September edition and I'd like some suggestions. A few months back in Scouting, there was an article about including the former Eagle scouts of a troop and writing about them in the newsletter.
Has anyone else done that?
My goal is to improve the communication to the parents who aren't at every activity. Also, to provide ways for them to become involved. I'm including a 'Help Wanted' section which includes small, clearly defined tasks that parents can help with. Also, after each outing, I want to publish the names of the parents who helped.
I'd like to get the boys to write their experiences at outings. Has anyone done that?
Thank you.
Dave
From: hsparrow99@aol.com (Hsparrow99)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: 9 Aug 1995 22:16:33 -0400
We have a troop newsletter for our Troop. It includes a feature atricle (usually about outdoors, nature, etc.), an advancement recognition section, a skill instruction section, an upcoming events section, a parents info section, a scoutmasters minute, and usually a cartoon or other picture.
The boys love it.
H. Sparrow SM Troop 245
From: Michael Starr <starr@hrfocus.att.com>
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 1995 15:06:16 GMT
david.botteron@tek.com (Dave Botteron) wrote:
> ...
I have been editor of our troop's newsletter for the last two years. The *EASY* way would be to write articles myself (which I do occasionally), but the more rewarding and interesting way is to get the boys to author the articles.
On camping trips, I assign at least one boy to submit an article, on bigger events I try to get a boy from each patrol to write one. At the end of summer camp, *ALL* boys write an article about their experiences (we ask them to do this the last day of camp).
This can be quite a task, since you have to stress to the boys that they have a deadline and must submit their article by a certain day. But the rewards in doing the newsletter this way can not be overestimated. It is amazing the inner thoughts and hidden events that are uncovered from the boy's articles (even more amazing given the fact that they know that parents and leaders will be reading the articles). For instance, problems with this past year's summer camp that the leaders thought were trivial were common enough in the boy's articles that we have decided not to return to that camp next year.
On the mailing list, we try to include as many of our troop's alumni (mainly Eagle) as we have kept track of. They seem to appreciate it, since I do receive change of address cards from those who move. I, too, saw that article in Scouting, and will be contacting the alumni for articles for inclusion in the newsletter.
I have found that including BSA clipart (that have been floating around on various ftp sites) is a great way of both dressing up the newsletter, and adding filler to balance it out.
Hope this helps,
YiS,
Michael Starr
ASM, Troop 8
Old North State Council (NC)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
From: crenn@cv.hp.com (Charley_Renn)
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 1995 20:20:19 GMT
Why are all these adults involved so intimately in the newsletter? Doesn't "boy run" apply here also? I would expect there to be a boy scribe, responsible for activly soliciting articles from the boys, obtaining the current, up-to-date troop schedule, and getting the list of current advancement from the advancement chair each month. This boy may not be the publisher of the newsletter, but he should darn well be the editor! Otherwise, you're missing yet another opportunity to do what you say and provide a real-world learning experience to a boy.
By the way, why not have an older scout (or team of scouts) provide a Cooking Article each month. Since food is such a big part of a boy's life at this stage and outdoor cooking is always challenging and often poorly done, a recorded record of options could be very valuable.
Charley
From: David.B.Haseman@dartmouth.edu (David B. Haseman)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: 10 Aug 1995 23:39:01 GMT
If you have access to a scanner, you may want to put in some pictures of the previous outings.
For parents, you may want to have them work with you on the newsletter as article authors. They can help on prep articles for upcoming merit badge efforts for the troop.
The newletter could contain an inventory of some materials and a plea for missing articles to be returned.
You may want to include any addtions to the troop library over the summer. We buy used merit badge books from boys that went to camp to add to our collection and then send the current editions to camp the next summer save some here and spend some there. We pay half price so you may want to put in an add for used MB manuals.
Regards,
David (Doc) Haseman
From: Kevin 'Randlay Rebel' Wright <Kevin@westwind.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 95 09:51:15 GMT
I edit 'PATHFINDER' the newsletter for 1st Randlay Scout Troop in Shropshire UK. My main problem is getting the lads to repond. I'm a venture scout, but seeing as we meet on the same night as the scouts, I try to persude them to write something. The leader dosn't seem interested. The Beavers, and now the cubs, on the other hand are VERY enthusiastic and I get lot's of input.
Has anyone got any tips on how I can MAKE scouts write me an article (other than suspending them over a campfire upside down).
Yours In Scouting Publications
Kevin 'Randlay Rebel' Wright
TELFORD SOUTH, EAST SHROPSHIRE DISTRICT'S
From: Martin Webb <m-webb@nimr.mrc.ac.uk>
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: 11 Aug 1995 13:16:40 GMT
Kevin 'Randlay Rebel' Wright <Kevin@westwind.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> ...
> Has anyone got any tips on how I can MAKE scouts write me an article (other
than suspending them over a campfire upside down).
Try looking at the requirements of the Scout Award and Pathfinder Award (the first two progress awards in the UK scout training program). Can the scouts' contributions be designed to cover one of these requirements?
Certainly newsletters are mentioned (Pathfinder Culture probably) That would help encourage one or two scouts to contribute, while getting part of their Award, as well as their name in print.
Martin Webb
Scout Leader
18th St Albans
From: scottdd@halcyon.com (Scott Drown)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 1995 09:25:13 -0800
I edit Smoke Signals. A Troop Newsletter for Troop 39, Evergreen Council in Everett, Wa. Have been doing so for almost 4 years now.
I don't know the answer as to getting the Scouts to write an article. I have tried. Best I have been able to get is input from the PLC as to what they want said. Now we have an older group and I have hopes that this will change.
From: rreid@airmail.net (Randy)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 1995 02:03:48 GMT
I also am the new editor of a Cub Scout pack newsletter which hadn't been published for the past few years. Does anyone have any Cub Scout specific ideas for a pack newsletter that could help me?
Thanks,
Randy, 8/11/95
Randy <rreid@airmail.net>
From: troop24@emf.net (Alan Houser)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: 12 Aug 1995 15:58:18 GMT
Randy (rreid@airmail.net) wrote:
: ...
When I was with Pack 1, our pack newsletter contained a mix of reports written by the Scouts about what their dens had been doing the last month with an annotated calendar of what was coming up prepared by the adult leaders. All reports had to be in by the committee meeting, a week before the Pack meeting.
Alan R. Houser ** Scoutmaster, Berkeley Troop 24 ** troop24@emf.net
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
From: scottdd@halcyon.com (Scott Drown)
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Re: Troop Newsletter - Just Starting
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 05:45:15 -0800
In article <40h28i$949@news.iadfw.net>, rreid@airmail.net (Randy) wrote:
> ...
Randy, Have you tried the graphics on Scouts-L? There are a ton there, plus other articles.
From: GERDESJH@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu ()
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: RE: Newsletter
Date: 14 Aug 1995 01:59:30 GMT
I publish a newsletter for two separate troops (it gets confusing sometimes). I also try to put in a lot about current outings, along with pictures if I can get them. I try to get the scouts to write something, but this has been very spotty. I include a calendar of upcoming events, a report from the SM and the avtivity chairperson, which often highlights recent advancement and Merit Badge work.
One thing I have been doing lately is to put a fun activity in for the boys and leaders. I have used crossword puzzles with focuses on ropes and first aide. Generally to finish the puzzle requires the use of their boy scout books. I often will award a prize to any boy that tried the activity, and a bonus to the boy in each patrol that did the best. Other activities I have tried with success was a word find (without giving them the words - the one who found the most scout/troop related words won). The most unusual activity was a snipe hunt. I had an article indicating that there was an infestation of snipes and the troop was asked to hunt them out. These snipes had the unusual trait of chainging words in printed text. So I had about 25 occurances of snipe in the newsletter which they had to find. To add some challenge, I placed some in pictures (one was a biker, with snipe written on his shorts like Nike). The boys (and leaders) had a lot of fun looking for the pesty critters.
Does anyone else do anything similar, or have any other suggestions?
John
Last edited: February 22, 2004
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