See this Website Guide to see what is on this website - useful for many, not just local Southern Crescent people.  Email webmaster@southfultonscouting.com if you need the login.  FYI, this Website is an "off the shelf" website product used by Scout Troops and Packs. 

Dear Cub Scout Leaders (and Commissioners and other District Volunteers who love Cub Scout Leaders): Evolving since 2019 and confirmed by Field Staff in 2024, the Atlanta Area Council Membership Recruiting Plan is Pack-Run, Year-Round and -- because "All Scouting is Local" -- focused on your local program, your local promotions, your local schools and community, your local leader needs, and your local joining events!

Go to the Atlanta Area Council Recruiting Resource Page at scoutingatl.org/recruitingresources where you’ll find:

• a link to the Recruiting Rollout Video at the top of the page
• in the downloads, the Guide to Cub Scout Family Recruiting and Spring + Summer Cub Scout Fun Ideas Guide.

Want Even More? Related pages tie into the Steps to Successful and Sustainable Recruiting:

1. Make a Calendar of Fun Activities that families like – your Pack’s big fun activities that current and future families will want to join -- activities that are fun and enriching for all.
2. Let People Know – Promote Your Pack Program!  There are many ways to let families know what you're doing -- and highlight the benefits of Cub Scouting in your local Pack.  (Don't forget to update your BeAScout Pin and Online Registration Tools)
3. Find More Leaders and Helpers - one by one, find folks who can help your unit out (do this throughout your recruiting process).  That page now has links to the recent Engagement Series Videos and many more resources.
4. School and Community Presence – “Adopt a School” and many many methods to cultivate interest and awareness in your local Pack program, and get more School and Community support.
5. Once you've laid that foundation, have Sign-Up Events: not just School Sign-Up Nights, but Fun Den and Pack Welcoming Events Too!  Any fun den or pack event can be a welcoming joining event ... and not just at "back to school" time.
6. More Fun Events.  Keep expanding and extending your Calendar of Fun Events … want ideas?  See these Fun*Simple*Easy Activities.  Many!  Want Advancement?  We have simpler, easier fun "Assembled" Den Meeting Plans and resources.   

Other Pages cover Parent Orientation and Scouts BSA Recruiting (honestly, the key methods for Troops are like the Six Steps above minus School Sign Up Night because Scouts BSA aged kids will join because they want to not because Dad and Mom want them to).   And the Council's Membership Plan is found in these downloads from the District and Council Tools page -- the Plan includes both a "School Playbook" for Professional and Pack partnership and planning for School Sign-Up Nights, plus The “What Do We Do When We Have No School Access” Playbook.

You may have noticed ... knowing about Hazardous Weather is important.  Take Hazardous Weather Training every two years at my.scouting.org.  Be Safe.  More about Scouting's Hazardous Weather Training is here.

See the Atlanta Area Council Popcorn page for information and to register for this fundraiser. 

As you develop a Pack Program Plan (your fun events) and Promote It to your parents and through your parents (and recruit leaders and helpers) … be sure that you’ve got positive presence and profile with your school population and your community.  Let them know the value of Scouting – let them see that your Unit delivers that value – help them help you share what your Unit does. 

Say Thank You!  Now is a great time to thank your School personnel.  

• By all means, send a thank you note, email or text to the Principal and staff – baked goods or a basket of fruit would be super too!
• Just to let them know we’re grateful for all they do, and we’re here to help the community in any way we can.

School Connections.  And -- no need to wait on the appointment of a new District Executive (if you feel you need help to do this, you may contact our District Chair, Broderick Talley) -- to schedule your Pack Run Sign Up Night for August.  Just remember to be patient with schools – administrators, teachers and staff have a lot to juggle, even during summer planning time.  So be patient. 

• Yes, in Pack-Run Recruiting, you do not need to "wait" for your District Executive to schedule your School Sign Up Night.  (Even if we had one.)
• Packs and District Executives/Council Staff need to work together.
• Ideally, jointly visiting the School to set up a School Sign Up Night.
• When we do get a new District Executive, be sure you and the New DE are in sync.

Things You Can Do Now.  There are things that Packs – not just leaders, but parents too – can do now, before any Sign Up Event.

• When you have your Pack Program, and have a flyer that is your “Pack Packet” of key information and contacts and any information website (including photo pages) to share online, you can ask if you can get it linked on School or Community Websites.  Be sure you can show the school that your program lines up with their aims – Cub Scouting’s aims of Character Growth, Citizenship Training, and Personal Fitness should line up nicely with any school and community aims!
• If parents in the Pack are in touch with other parents at the School, encourage them to share the Scouting story.  Parent to parent promotion is more effective anyway.  Let them share  your “Pack Packet” of key information and contacts and any social media you post.
• When you’ve done activities – Day Camp, Service Projects, Advancement Awards, Summer Activities – share the good news with the school and community. 
• As you find out about school access (and whether there will be in person “registration days” or “meet the teacher” days), if you ask nice and make it easy, you might be able to leave materials for pickup by parents, and maybe also be there yourself, maybe outdoors with a tent or other display.

More ideas at www.atlantabsa.org/recruitingpresence. 

What are the Possible Committee and Commissioner Roles Supporting Units, Leaders and Youth:  Scouts, Scouters and Scouting Units are part of a worldwide brotherhood of Scouting, and we gather together at National, Territory and Council events, Multi District events, District Events, and events just between Units that connect to do things together.  The Atlanta Area Council organizes units in Clayton County and South Fulton County as a District called “Southern Crescent”. Districts are responsible for carrying out four standard functions: program, unit service, membership and finance.

• The program functions concentrate on helping Scouting units through training adult volunteers, youth advancement support, camping promotion, community service promotion, multi-unit activities (such as camp o rees, cub twilight camp, scout fairs, pinewood derbies, shooting sports events, fishing), and recognition of youth and adults, all of which activities are “unit support” to help units do more.
• The unit service function of “commissioners” provides coaching and consultation by volunteers for unit adults to help ensure the success of every Scouting unit -- so commissioners stay abreast of and/or are involved in nearly all district unit support functions, and have a communication function to ensure units know of good program support opportunities -- all designed to support Membership growth and retention.
• The membership function strives for growth through new members and leaders joining existing units and (where needed) growth through the organization of new Scouting units – this must work closely with unit service and program areas (like training, activities and commissioner service) to help units be successful.
• The finance function supports units in fundraising and can help with financial practices, and sees that the district provides its share of funds to the total council operating budget.

Paid professionals, including District Executives, support these functions.

In our "Ways to Volunteer in the District to Help Units" page are some ways that volunteers can help "beyond" just one Unit through these functions.  Want to Help?  Contact the District Chair or District Executive or take this Point and Click Survey, as nearly every role could use more help, assistants, potential successors.  Also, teams can form based on interests, plus new services, events and programs may arise if someone has the passion for it ... contact information for current district leaders and committee and commissioners are found in the "Adult Leader" section of the Roster.  email the webmaster if you need Login information.