Fwd: Message from the Popcorn Kernel

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Message from the Popcorn Kernel
Date:	Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:58:08 -0400
From:	J.R. Brockman <brock.man@comcast.net>
To:	J.R. Brockman <brock.man@comcast.net>

Dear Parents,

 

Below is a message from Mr. Walt Livingston our Treasurer and our Popcorn Kernel, regarding our Popcorn Sale.  I concur with Mr. Livingston sentiments and support his efforts.  I encourage all of our parents to heed to his words and consider the importance of this sale and what it means to our Scout program and to all our Scouts.

 

Thank you,

 

J.R. Brockman

Scoutmaster

Troop 133

609-381-9981

POPCORN SALES

TO:                  All Parents of the St. Thomas Scout Program

FROM:            Walt Livingston, Troop Treasurer and Popcorn Kernel

The troop’s popcorn kick-off meeting Friday evening came with lots of enthusiasm from the few parents and scouts in attendance.  Thanks to new committee member Steve Buck, a delicious and plentiful spaghetti and meatball buffet was served.  At the meeting, Asst. Scout Master and District Executive Anthony Weiss and I presented the Council and troop plans' for reaching the $15K goal this year.  And, we instructed the younger scouts on how to sell.  The $15K goal compares with $12K sold during the 2009 popcorn season.  With an additional week built into this year’s sales season, and a more aggressive plan to reach the goal, the expectation is that the troop and pack will meet the goal.

 The sale of $15K represents the potential for a whopping $4,500 of income the troop and pack desperately needs this year for operating budget.  During several camping trips attended in the fall and spring of last year, the troop leadership realized the poor condition of the cooking equipment.  All of the troop’s stoves require repair or replacement.  And the other big plan for the year is the intent to attend summer camp in Tampa, FL.  Additionally, these funds are used to purchase manuals for our Cub Scouts and uniform items. None of these things will happen without a successful fund raising season.

 Unfortunately I have to report Saturday’s sales for the opening weekend as somewhat lighter than expected.  The cause for the light sales had a number of factors, including the inability to put into effect the sales plan.  Giving the light attendance at the kick-off meeting, we still have many parents are scouts who are unaware of our sales plan and the role they play.

 What the troop and pack are trying to do is make better use of its resources by taking advantage of additional sales locations rather than having all scouts and cub scouts selling solely at the Acme, as was historically done.  The cubs are assigned to the Bala Cynwyd Post Office, and Scouts will rotate Show and Sell locations between the Acme each Saturday and 30^th Street Station every Friday.  The third location for the third patrol will be to Show and Deliver in the area surrounding St. Thomas, Old City Philadelphia, and other locations.  That was attempted with limited effort last year.  You’ll also notice the plan includes VFW Posts that is not shaping up as expected.

While Show and Sell is where we sell at one location like the Acme, Show and Deliver is where we have parents with a vehicle and scouts canvass a neighborhood going door to door.  The neighborhood surrounding St. Thomas is a target resource we have not take advantage of that could yield a number of sales. 

Given the plan, on Saturday the pack had 3 cub scout parents and their cub scouts man the Post Office on Conshohocken Ave.  A big thank you to those cub parents!  We started very late at 12:30 pm at the Acme with 2 scouts that did not attend the Fairmont Park clean-up, and we ended up with nine at that location.  Back at the church, we had another half dozen scouts that could not participate at all with Show and Deliver because there was no parental support to call on to shadow the scouts as they canvas the neighborhood for sales.  Without parental support, Show and Deliver can not be implemented. 

If we can get ONE HOUR of time from each parent whose son is assigned to Show and Deliver for the week, we should have a productive, successful sales season.  We are also asking that you be aware that we are asking the scouts as their patrol is assigned to 30^th Street to get there as close to 3:30 pm as their school schedule will allow.  They are encouraged to bring their uniform in a bag on the Friday they are assigned there, make their way there after school, and they will be given a secure place at 30^th street to change into their uniform.  If that is not doable, we ask that the parents ensure their arrival and in either case, their return home in the evening at the conclusion of that Show and Sell session.

 The kick-off meeting also included the expectation for Take-orders, same Excel spreadsheet - different tab.  All scouts are being asked to sell a minimum of 10 containers each which will cover approx 55% of the $15K or $8,500 of the target goal.  With Show and Sell, Show and Deliver, assignment of Cub Scouts to a location, scouts rotating their locations, there are still several options not mentioned.  As an example please consider your place of worship as a potential Show and Sell.  Give us advance notice and we can provide support in getting you product and if necessary scouts to help you with your sale. 

Additionally, consider your place of business, your club, or organization as potential sources for sales.  Keep in mind the military contributions that can be made by bundling less than $25 contributions and consider sales to store owners you frequent, and corporate sales for those that can.  And if you take a look at the back of the order form it gives a little guidance for on-line sales.  Consider it another option.  If you need assistance with on-line sales please ask for help. 

We thank you in advance and remind you that this is a once a year effort that will make the difference between a successful year and a not so successful scout year.  We know we can do this, because we have done this - with your help and support.

Yours in Scouting,

Walt Livingston

Treasurer

Popcorn Sale Chairperson