Conquistador Council

What’s New At Scout Shop

The 2009 council camporall emblem is available for sale at the council Scout shop.

Popcorn Sale - Leader’s Guide

Trail’s End Popcorn Sale- 2009
FUNDING YOUR IDEAL YEAR OF SCOUTING

VISION– “The Ideal Year of Scouting”
$100,000 earned by local Scouts for their program—that’s the vision.

Did you know that four of every five households will buy popcorn from a Scout?

Did you know that only one of each six households was contacted last year?

Did you know that most people will buy at least one popcorn product if asked?

PURPOSE OF SALE: A simple, successful money-earning project that has low-risk, does not fill your garage with inventory that is losing value, shares the program cost with the community, and provides the most program benefit for less-time-invested (and reduces out-of-pocket program costs for parents).

And the sale provides needed funding for your council services, properties, and programs

How you can join in this year’s POPCORN SALE:
Unit committee approval, submit unit commitment form
“Sales Kernel” and “Distribution Kernel” attend orientation/ kickoff in your district

Key Dates and Action Steps:
May 15 Unit Sales Commitment
August 14 Submit “Show and Sell” product order
August 27 Kickoff/ Training- your district
August 29 “Take Order” sale begins
September 12 “Show and Sell” weekend (distribution on September 10)
October 11 “Take Order” Sale Ends
October 14 Order due to council
* Popcorn Product Order * Trail’s End prizes
* $1,500 Sales Prize form * $2,000 Scholarship form
October 28 Product distribution to units
November 13 Payment checks deposited
Goal– 2009: $300,000 with 1,000 Scouts and 70 units participating

WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE?
Sign up as a unit (pack, troop, team, crew, post)
Sign up as a den/ patrol
Sign up as an individual. (including Jamboree 2010 Troop)
Commitment forms are available at roundtables and the service center

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS IMPORTANT– As a part of the Conquistador Council “Team,” you share in the success of the Scouting in providing a values-based program for our young people; a program which offers a positive choice in activities and friends; a program which provides character-building activities; an opportunity to develop leadership and responsibility, while learning new skills; and under the guidance of caring adult role models.

Your participation means that the council can provide basic services, and enhance services such as staffing, the Scout Shop, and camping programs. Participation in the Popcorn Sale will make Scouting grow for everyone.

With an average sale of 25 items per member, you can make a big difference for your program..

Here are a couple of sales method example: Boy Scout troop that challenges their Scouts to sell at least $300, and successfully grows their sale; Cub Scout pack finds this sale “so easy, I don’t know why everyone doesn’t participate.” (And in first year sells $13,000 worth of popcorn with return of $4,000 to pack program.)

The popcorn sale is an investment in your Scouting future.

Action: Appoint your “SALES KERNEL” now and commit to the 2009 SALE.

SALES METHODS:
1. Take Order: Traditional door-to-door method of taking orders, placing a unit order, distributing popcorn and collecting payment.

2. Show and Sell: Pre-order a supply of popcorn products which can be purchased “on the spot” by the customer (combine with Take Order method). (Order no more than one third of your prior year’s “take order” quantity.)

3. On-Line Ordering: (Perfect for older Scouts and Venturers—www.Trails-End.com) Your crew or post can earn popcorn dollars too. This is a year-round sale.

4. Individual Scout/ or Den/or Patrol Sales: Individual Scout members, or dens, can sell on their own, following the same procedures for take order.

This method (and the on-line method) can be used for Scouts going to national events (Jamboree 2010, NOAC, Philmont, or Florida Sea Base)

FUNDS FOR YOUR “IDEAL YEAR OF SCOUTING”

Commission: Basic sale: 28% of gross sale amount will be returned to the participating unit.

33% Incentive: 33% of gross sale income will be returned to units (+ all prize programs) who meet the following requirements:

2%– EARLY BIRD Payment-In-Full to Council by October 31, 20092% — Popcorn Kernel attend AUGUST kickoff training and submits all orders on time (product and prizes), with no changes (includes prize order)

1% — 75% of unit members complete one Fill-a-Sheet or more

38% NO PRIZE- straight commission option: great for Troops and Crews Unit must meet same 3 criteria listed above!! Units may order patches. Youth will qualify for Trail’s End bonus prizes and council “Fill-A-Sheet” awards.

Units keep their commission up front, and pay the council only what they owe for product.

Units give council a post-dated check for the amount owed at the time of delivery. The council will deposit the check in November (see calendar date)

HOW THE UNIT AND COUNCIL SHARE THE INCOME:
Some leaders complain that the unit does not receive enough of the total dollars raised through the popcorn sale, but aside from the popcorn company, the greatest amount is returned directly to the unit program (39% of the sale income). And remember that when you attend camp, call the service center for help, or visit with your district executive, it is your popcorn sale that helps makes provide services and programs of your council.

35% of the gross dollars is paid to Trails’ End for product and shipping

33% (or less) is returned to the unit in commissions

5% covers the prize costs

1% covers council expenses for training, recognitions, printing, postage, and other miscellaneous costs

13% provides for staff costs: time spent by the field and office staff to manage the sale and unit service

13% provides for council program, properties, and other program support and service needs

PRODUCT SELECTION 2009—See product order form for items and prices

“FILL A SHEET” PLAN- More Dollars For Your Program
A Scout who “fills a sheet,” averaging $12 per sale from 25 customers, will net $100 for the unit program and increase community awareness for local Scouting in the process.

SHOW AND SELL UNITS– NO PRODUCT RETURN…PRODUCT REASSIGNED
Council cannot accept returned product. Show and Sell units can arrange to reassign their remaining product to another unit prior to the Popcorn Order deadline. The Show and Sell unit must return their remaining product to the warehouse assigned for distribution to another unit. The Show and Sell unit will get credit (and pay) for only the product they sold, if they meet these guidelines.

PRODUCT/ PRIZE ORDER:
All order forms (product, prizes) must be submitted by Orders Due date. Indicate WAREHOUSE on order form.

No prize orders will be accepted following the deadline.

Order patches using Prize Order Form
Trails’ End provides bonus prizes for $1,500 sales, scholarship program for $2,500 in sales
Get on-line applications and submit by due date. (See www.trails-end.com)
Order on-line using Trail’s End “Unit Order and Settlement” form

Prizes are mailed directly to leaders from a prize company contracted by TRAIL’S END. We will submit prize orders to them immediately following the ORDERS DUE date. They cannot deliver to P.O. Box. Costs of handling late orders will be charged to unit (1% 0f unit commission).

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT ORDER: Additional orders will be accepted, and each week a new order will be placed. It takes about a week for the product to arrive, so leaders should plan accordingly.

Plan Your Ideal Year of Scouting- and Build a Budget (How much do you need?) “Build a budget that includes everything!” How much money do you need? The average boy sells $300, returning $100 to the unit, which could cover unit budget items: books, badges, activities, BOYS’ LIFE, registration. With a little extra effort, a Scout can earn his camp fee and pay for parts of his uniform. Don’t forget that Webelos will transfer into a troop and should be given the chance to earn their camp fees too. (The recommendation is to develop a “Webelos account” to transfer his funds to the troop.)

Unit committees should set an annual budget, and then set a goal and use for the popcorn dollars. What other money-earning projects do you conduct? Do you raise enough dollars for the effort? How much more do you need? The popcorn sale is a method for boys to earn their own way and to keep parents from digging into their own pockets.

SALES TIPS:
Publicity: Newspaper: Take a few Scouts, in uniform, to your local newspaper office, with a display of each popcorn product and a news release. Ask for a photo in the newspaper. Radio: A Scout, in uniform, and a leader, visits the station with “samples” to give to the morning or “driving home” announcers, along with news release. (Open a can or liner for sound effect!)
Talk about your program: Develop a brief “sales pitch” about your program for Scouts. “Sell the sizzle” of your Scout program!
“Leave Behind” Order Form: No one home? Create your own order form to “leave behind” on the door. Delivering product? Include an order form, with a Thank You note, for a repeat sale. Parents can take the form to work or put them in the church bulletin. And don’t forget the service clubs or fraternal organizations!
Most people will buy one of whatever the Scout is selling. How much does a unit make from the sale of a $1.00 candy item? How much does the same Scout make from the sale of the most popular $15 sale item? And after a unit buys prizes and makes all the other arrangements and subtracts the loss on remaining inventory, which product sale produces the most dollars for program? Reminder: 83% of all households are not asked to buy.

WEAR THE UNIFORM. This sale is approved by our council’s executive board, which allows your youth to wear their uniform while selling a commercial product. The number one reason a customer buys is because it supports Scouting. Most households are not contacted, and most will buy the program and the product.

NOTE: Due to the early planning and preparation date of this document, some later revisions may be necessary following meetings with leaders. Revisions will be noted and dated.

For More information call: Conquistador Council, BSA
575-622-3461
Email: conquistador@bsamail.org
Website: www.conquistador-bsa.org

Camp Wehinahpay — Camp of the Rising Sun

Camp of The Morning Sun
In the Sacramento Mountains near Ruidoso, New Mexico, is a BSA camp named We-Hin-Ah-Pay. It was founded in 1924 by the Conquistador Council. The book Saga of Potato Canjon, A History of The Conquistador Council Boy Scout Of America, describes how they chose the name of their camp. They took it from a story about a tribe of American Indians. Each year the men of the tribe would take their young boys out to a special place to teach them the ways of warriors. They always made their camp in the hills where the light of the rising sun would flood the camp at an early hour. They called their camp We-Hin-Ah-Pay.

Popcorn Sale Begins August 27th

SCOUTS!
Fill up your popcorn take-order form and receive a free marshmallow blaster!!

SPORTING CLAYS FUN SHOOT

SPORTING CLAYS

FUN SHOOT

June 27

Eddy County Shooting Range

The annual sporting clays Fun Shoot is drawing near. The proceeds from this special fundraising event go towards the programs and services provided by the Conquistador Council.

If you haven’t signed up for the Fun Shoot, call Diann at the Conquistador Council, 575-622-3461.

Water water! Earn those aquatic badges. Dowling Aquatic Base on the Pecos River opens June 8.

Camp in the Mountains of New Mexico! Wehinahpay opens June 21. Additional information on camp page.

Wehinahpay Mountain Camp now in operation.  The first week of camp went smoothly, Scouts and leaders found the new program format very good, and all enjoyed the cool mountain weather.  With the rain, it was possible to have campfires once again.  Come enjoy Scout camp in the mountains of New Mexico!

Kids Having Fun!!

2009 Day Camp Registration

Don’t forget to register for Day Camp 2009 in your district! This year’s theme is Crime Scene Investigation.

Download registration and info here!

Wehinahpay & Dowling Update

Dowling Aquatic Base and Wehinahpay Mountain Camp are open for business this summer! Leaders should contact the council service center to register now.