Cape Cod & Islands Council News
President's Minute
October 2011
It is October, and all Scouting units are no doubt back in full swing with their planned activities for the 2011-2012 calendar year! Hopefully by now, units have also put into action their membership recruiting drive and plans for growth during this next year. As we all know, it is vital for the continued success of units to have an influx of new members each year to replace those who are transitioning out either to new Scouting activities or on to further life adventures. Since new membership is part and parcel of your unit’s “Journey to Excellence” for 2011-2012, it is a very important. Retention is just as important, so keep an eye on that as well. If you need assistance with this, contact your Unit Commissioner.
In terms of unit fund raising, this year’s popcorn campaign is going extremely well, according to “field reports”. Thanks to all of the units who are participating in this event. But, don’t stop now! The campaign continues on until October 31st! Kudos to Popcorn Kernal John Poole and his team for what looks to be like another outstanding year. And, for those units who raise operating funds through other activities, perhaps next year you could consider incorporating the popcorn drive as a part of your fund raising activities, thus broadening your base for acquiring unit funding.
Camping activities for the fall are starting out very well at our fantastic Camp Greenough with units from our own council and other councils filling the campsites. Be sure to check the Council Calendar and participate in as many Council activities as you possibly can. Your unit will benefit greatly from these activities and the camaraderie that they engender. A very special thanks goes to our Camp Master group of volunteers who make this all possible. Without their direct supervision, weekend camping by multiple units would not be possible. And, starting next spring, a new addition to our camp will appear in the form of a 32 person winterized bunkhouse behind the Trading Post and next to the shower house. This is being made possible by an extremely generous grant from the George Magee Memorial Trust Fund over a two year period along with donations of labor and materials from other Cape Cod based friends of Scouting. As anyone who visits Camp Greenough knows, the Magee Memorial Trust has been very generous to our council over the past ten years. Most of the recent infrastructure of our camp (buildings and equipment) would not be there without their grant monies. We make sure that each building or piece of equipment funded by the Trust is clearly identified. So, take a look around the next time you are at Greenough (e.g. “Magee” the truck, Pavilion, Maintenance Bldg., etc.)
As regards financial stability, the Council remains in good shape, even with wild financial market fluctuations. The F.O.S. (Friends of Scouting) campaign for 2011 continues until the end of this year in an effort to meet its goal of $90,000. Thank you to all who have contributed thus far to this crucial part of our fundraising efforts to meet annual Council operating expenses, especially the Family Phase, which has achieved 93% of its goal of $20,000, and the Executive Board Phase, which has achieved 72% of its goal of $45,000. Special events for 2011 have substantially exceeded net gain over 2010, and we still have a couple of more to go before years end. Many thanks to all who have diligently chaired or worked on these events and those who have contributed from their discretionary income, which keeps eroding each year in our current economy. Without their enthusiasm and support we would not be in the stable financial condition that we are.
Lastly, your Executive Board is working on our next strategic plan which will guide the Council for the next 5 years. So look for information that will emerge over the next year or so regarding program and capital improvements that will position Cape Cod & Islands Council as the premier youth serving organization in our area. Ideas and details are currently being defined for these exciting and ambitious projects, which I fully support.
Yours in Scouting,
John C. Follas, Jr.
President
