Building Community: Effective Group Management

1. Effective Group Management Graham Coates

2. Effective Group Management Effective Group management inspires the confidence of everyone in the Group.

3. Effective Group Management • Building the Family of the Group • Youth Retention • Recruiting and Managing Adults • Worthwhile Tips

4. Building the Family of the Group Scout Groups are started by the community, franchised by the Scout Association and entrusted to a management structure.

5. The Group Leader’s Customers are... • Families of the Group • Leaders • The Community

6. The Committee’s Customers are... • The Group Leader • Families of the Group • Leaders • The Community

7. Building the Family of the Group A Scout Group exists because the community wants it - not because you want it or other leaders want it, but because the community wants it.

8. Building the Family of the Group The community must never forget that: “The Group exists because THEY want it for THEIR children.”

9. Group Information Brochure

10. Member Enrolment

11. Family Details

12. Individual Member Details

13. Subscriptions Management

14. Prompt Subscriptions Invoice

15. “ People go where they are invited and stay where they feel welcome”

16. Letter of Welcome

17. New Member Welcome

18. Group Events

19. Group Events • 2 or 3 per year • Plan to NOT be running the event yourself • Use the opportunity to meet and talk to families of the Group

20. Group Magazine

21. Group Magazine • Four Issues per Year • MUST be interesting reading • Reinforces the GROUP rather than the section • Builds anticipation of next section • Records history of the Group • Not good for event messages

22. Never miss an opportunity • Be on the lookout for ways of adding value to Membership. • Free National Publications • ScoutNet • Membership Cards • Insurance Booklet

23. Customer Perception • The Group is well run • The family has ‘joined’ the Group • They feel welcome • Belief that they have done something ‘good’ for their child. • Good decision (to join) has been reinforced

24. Youth Retention Recruiting members is easy - it is keeping them that is the challenge!

25. Youth Retention • A Scout Group is like a business… • Customers you attract keep you going • Customers you keep make you strong

26. Members that you KEEP... • Become Advocates (tell others) • Become Supporters • Develop a sense of ownership... • ...which leads to commitment

27. Members that you KEEP... • Attract new members • Help YOU to attract new members - directly and indirectly

28. Youth Member Advancement The Group Leader is the person most interested and most responsible for the advancement of Youth through successive sections.

29. Youth Member Advancement • The Advancement process is most assisted by Supportive Parents • The Advancement process succeeds through effective and sensitive Section Leaders

30. Expectation of Advancement • The continuous message to Parents is that their child has joined a learning and development program called Scouting. • Scouting is a program that operates in a series of age groups, increasingly self-governing with each age group.

31. Planning at Group Council

32. Planning at Group Council

33. Planning at Group Council

34. Planning at Group Council

35. Making it Special • An advancement is an event of significance in the Youth member’s life. • It must always be an formal ceremonial occasion. • The ceremony should highlight a journey completed and a new one begun.

36. Parent Info Evening

37. Parent Information Evening • Immediately following each Advancement Ceremony. • For parents of kids changing sections and parents of new kids in sections. • Run by Group Leader and Section Leader(s) • Cubs takes 1 hour. Scouts and Venturers takes 1½ hours.

38. Parent Info Evenings - objectives • To ensure parental understanding and support of program objectives. • To provide reassurance. • A forum for Section Leaders (and GL) to properly meet parents. • To reinforce the Group’s interest in THEIR child.

39. Cub Parent Info Evening content overview • Purpose of the Cub Section • Cub Scout Award Scheme • Cub Scout Jungle Theme • Organisational Structure • Camps and Excursions

40. Scout Parent Info Evening content overview • The purpose of the Scout Section • The Scout Award Scheme • The Role of the Scout Leader • The Patrol System • Safety Standards in Scouting • Personal Gear and Equipment • Jamborees

41. Venturer Parent Info Evening content overview • The Purpose of the Venturer Section • Unit Organisation Structure • Roles of Leaders, Unit Exec & Venturers • Queen’s Scout Award • Activity Planning & Safety Standards • Personal Gear and Equipment • National Ventures

42. Making it REALLY special

43. Youth Member Reaction • Thrill of receiving a letter from the postman • Renewed determination to do well and not let the GL down

44. Customer (Parent) Reaction • Pleasure at seeing the joy on their child’s face at the letter. • The Group and Group Leader really DOES care about THEIR child - well disposed toward GL. • Reinforcement of progressive sections. • Understanding of program objectives and commitment to encourage their child.

45. Customer (Parent) Reaction • Group is well run. • Reinforcement of good decision to encourage child to join.

46. Recruiting and Managing Adults

47. Recruiting and Managing Adults Parent Committee

48. Annual General Meetings The AGM is a critical event in the Group Calendar. Its success will determine the Group’s growth in the coming year.

49. Annual General Meetings • Make it an EVENT • EXPECT whole Group participation • Must be well planned and organised • Seek prior committee candidates and expect support

50. Making it an Event