After waiting since March 18, 2010 for feedback on policies pertaining to appropriate practices in the Utica Schools on flier distribution and boy talks, I received a call from Patricia Gonser, Director of Administrative Services for the Utica Community Schools informing me that the Cub Scout fliers have been approved for grades 1-5 to be distributed as decided by the individual school. I am to provide a scan of a Boy Scout flier for 6th graders as well. As for boy talks, outside organizations such as the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are not allowed in during class time to promote their program. Schools either have to allow all outside programs or no outside programs access during school time, so Utica Community Schools decided not to allow outside organizations in. This includes assembly talks, lunch talks, classroom talks, PSA’s or recess for any of their schools. All talks will have to be done after school hours. This is an obvious change from what we have been doing for many years with the Utica Community Schools. At this point, continue to schedule your recruitment nights. Each Utica school will allow one meeting time a week at the school for regular meetings (den meetings, pack meetings and fall recruitment nights). More than 1 meeting a week and special programs like Pinewood Derbies come at a cost. There are four other opportunities to consider in order to promote attendance at your event.

1. Set up a Booth at your school curriculum night/open house

2. Talk with your PTA at an upcoming meeting on the importance of our program and how it supports our education system (as it has been chartered to do by Congress since June 15, 1916).

3. Utilize the resources from our website listed under “My Best Friend is a Scout” and see if there are class opportunities for students to share these experiences.

4. See if your school will allow talks to the students before getting on the bus.

Other invitation methods are listed on our website under membership. For all of these ideas, make sure you get prior approval to do so. I am sorry for the delay in communication on this topic but was not able to get a response from the school district until this morning. If you have any other questions regarding membership, please contact myself, your unit commissioner, or our Membership Chair, Danielle Wernis (dcv226@gmail.com).

Mike Thomas-Senior District Executive for Ojibwa District

248-338-0035 ext. 130

There will also be an optional social gathering beforehand with food and refreshments. For $3.00 you get two slices of pizza, salad and a beverage.

Here is the time schedule for the evening:

6:45-7:30 Social gathering ($3.00 for food/refreshments)

7:30 – 9:00 Kickoff Presentations

See you there!

Please sign up online at http://www.glcscouting.org/popcorn

Popcorn Key Dates:

• August 21, 2010- Council wide Training (location pending) a morning and afternoon session will be offered on this date
• August 24, 25, 26- Three evening trainings
• September 17- Show and Sell Orders are due
• October 2- SALE BEGINS
• November 5- SALE ENDS
• November 5- Popcorn Returns/Take Orders due
• December 9- Payment Due

It is very important to attend training this year.

Every Unit that attends training will receive a “Popcorn Sale in a Box” for selling popcorn this year.  These kits will come pre-assembled by Trails End and we will have them shipped to each training site.  Each Unit will receive the following in their box:

Training DVDs                      Leader Playbook                  Online Selling cards

Marshmallow Blaster            Scout Rewards Poster         Military receipts (25)

Tracking Poster                     Sample Product                    Sale Banner

Support Our Troops Poster                                     Sale Promotion Poster