El Llano Grande District, at 361 members, has 11 more than year-end 2009.  The district is down 2 units.

Chisum Trail District is down 51 members from year-end 2009, is +2 units, and in good position to achieve the 3% growth target this year.  The district “Key 3″ are district chairman Greg Sahd, district commissioner Bob Perry, and district executive Matthew Corp.

Oil Patch District is down 24 members, is +1 in units, and is also in good position to achieve the year-end growth target.  All three key district leadership positions are currently vacant.  A nominating committee is meeting to select the new district chairman and district commissioner. 

Rio Hondo District is down 131 youth members and is  minus 8 units, but ably led by district chairman Richard Gilliland, district commissioner Chip Fly, and district director Jim Bethel, the Rio Hondo should recover this fall and achieve the goal.

Danny Fulkerson, VP- Membership reports that the Conquistador Council has achieved a membership gain, July 2010, compared to July 2009,  of 15 Cub Scouts, a gain of 18 Boy Scouts, a loss of 5 Venturers, a gain of 8 Explorers, and even with 98 units.  The council achieved a 3% gain in membership over July 2009, and has 1,332 members.

 Fall is also the time for new member recruiting!  District leadership will be conducting fall membership growth training soon in your district for a successful membership drive.

 Membership growth and retention is an accurate measure of the quality of unit leadership:  good leaders attract and keep youth members and new leaders.  Membership growth is also an accurate measure of good program:  outdoor activities, den activities, advancement and recognition, youth and adult leader training, and good meetings.

 There are a few simple steps for successful membership growth for packs, troops, crews:

          Meet with school leaders to invite new youth members to join

          Prepare current leaders for a “join up night”

         Set a “new member-new leader” goal

          Make personal invitations to youth and families through current members

          Plan to recruit new leaders

          Install new members and leaders in a memorable ceremony

The Fall Join Up Rally Training will provide more materials and training for successful membership, and leadership, growth!  Plan now to attend!

William D. Boyce brought the Boy Scout program to the United States following a visit to England and his encounter with the “Unknown Scout” and meeting with Baden Powell.

Boys want to join Scouting, want the adventure, want to learn the skills taught in Scouting.  You can help make that possible by organizing a new pack, troop, crew, or post.

Contact your district leadership today to get more information about how you can help make Scouting possible for more youth and earn this recognition.

The score is kept by counting the number of new members and leaders who are registered into your pack, troop, crew, or post.  Scouting is a membership organization and is kept vibrant through new leadership and youth.

The Conquistador Council has a fall membership growth goal.  If each pack adds 15 new Cub Scouts, each troop adds 5 new Boy Scouts, and each Crew adds 3 new Venturers, we will achieve the goal.  But that’s just a number measurement.

A more important goal is that each pack organizes a Tiger Cub den that delivers a quality experience, and adds new Wolf, Bear, and Webelos members, and that den leaders, and other pack leaders, are trained. 

A more important goal is that each troop has added a new Scout patrol from last spring’s Webelos crossover and that Boy Scouts are inviting their friends to join every week (Add A Scout A Month).  It is critical that patrol leaders, and new troop leaders, are trained this fall.

A more important goal is that Venturers are so excited about their program that they are inviting friends to join, and that troop leaders are organizing Venturing crews to keep their older youth (and girls!) active in a Scout program.

Most important is inviting every boy to join.  There are 80 elementary schools in our council and less than half have a Cub Scout pack available to join.  A major goal this fall is that boys in every school will be invited to join the nearest Cub Scout pack and that sets the stage for organizing new packs.

Keep these numbers in mind:  15 new Cub Scouts, 5 new Boy Scouts, 3 new Venturers.  A new Tiger Cub den!

And trained leadership.

You are making a difference.