Field days, rallies, contests, etc., should be used. Public Courts of Honor are effective.

Parents' nights at troop meetings present an opportunity to acquaint Parents and the Public with Scouting.

Summer and winter camps and, as said before, practically every activity of the council, has in it publicity possibilities.

Emergency duty publicity is a splendid means of showing the public the value of Scout Training.

CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY

Proper publicity at the time a local council budget is raised has more to do with the success of the financial campaign probably than any other single factor. A strong Publicity Committee should be one of the first considerations in planning a financial effort. Financial campaign publicity might well be divided into, (a) Press, (b) Features and display.

The following suggestions will aid the campaign publicity committee in working out its program: Press

Prepare news items of the organization of the campaign committee and announcements of the plans as they develop and as they mature.

Enlist the co-operation of editors in writing editorials on the problems and needs of local conditions affecting boy-hood, and the value of the Boy Scout Movement in character building and citizenship training.

Secure appropriate cartoons.

Secure co-operation of local advertisers in carrying slogans and catch lines in their advertising copy. Supply copy for donated advertising space.

Note

A very effective series of articles, 21 in number, outlining from a "selling" standpoint the program and purposes and activities of Scouting was run by the

Aurora, Illinois, Council in their local paper before and during a campaign. These articles ran double column 14 to 18 inches per day. The constant presentation of Scouting and what Scouts are, and what Scouts do gave results that marked the plan as a success. This series has been printed by the National Council and is available at $2.95 per set, from the Supply Department.

Features and Display

a.

Window displays of Scout made material. b. Painted bulletins and special signs.

e.

Motion pictures and slides featuring Scouts; slides advertising the campaign.

f. Printed folder in connection with the campaign. There should be issued a printed folder telling briefly the accomplishments of the past and the things Scouting stands for. Such a folder should contain the Scout Oath and Law, endorsement from prominent national and local men and a definite statement of the benefits the boys, the community and the nation derive from organized Scouting.

g.

Other forms of local publicity will suggest themselves to the Committee. The publicity committee should not consider it its duty to merely attract people, but to educate and inform them as to the value of the Scout Movement.

The aim of the local council's publicity program must be to acquaint the community with what Scouting really is that it is not merely a pastime, but that it is a tremendous force for good in character building and citizenship training service. Publicity is a vital force in reaching the public and it is not for the Executive to say whether he shall or shall not furnish newspapers with news, put on demonstrations, organize speakers bureaus and promote other publicity stunts, for that is an obligation he must fulfill.

CHAPTER XIII

FINANCE

Why Money for Scouting?

For a community to provide for its boys the benefits of the scout program with its attendant adult companionship, costs much of time and something, relatively small, of money.

The Scoutmasters and other leaders give their time the community as a whole must supply the needed funds.

But since the Scoutmaster gives his time, and some institution gives a place of meeting, and the boy preferably earns but at least provides his own uniform, and the troop organization meets the incidental expenses of the troop-and since these contacts with boys are the essence and reality of scouting-why should the community provide money for Scouting?

It has no building program costs to maintain as it uses building equipments already available-so why should scouting need the community's financial support?

Only for the purpose of creating a service through a small group of one or more executive specialists to do certain things for the volunteer organization, which they have found it helpful and, because of the technical aspects, necessary to have someone do for them. In larger communities, the pressure of responsibility for so vital and growing a movement as Scouting becomes too heavy for volunteers and the Executive is secured to help the community recognize its boy need; to help it find and train and use and keep Scoutmasters and leaders; to help provide safe camping privilege and all needed council or city wide equipment; to help it plan and serve and