Hello Scouters!
February is a special month for Scouts and Girl Guides worldwide. Each year both Movements celebrate February 22, the birthday of our Founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his wife, the World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell.
Canada celebrates Scout-Guide Week from the Sunday before February 22 until the Sunday after. At this time, members of Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada, plan and hold special activities to promote our Movements. Scout-Guide Week 2012 will take place from February 19 – 26.
This kit was designed to help you:
• Promote your Scout-Guide Week activities in your local area with marketing and public relations tools
and tips on how to use them effectively.
• Proved a few ideas and activities for use at community events (the local level).
The tools, ideas and activities in this kit are just suggestions to help you get started. Don’t be afraid to be creative and develop your own ideas as well. Remember to please share any of your own great ideas or suggestions with us. The more we communicate with each other, the better we work together to promote and grow Scouting in Canada.
Good luck with your celebrations!
The Scout-Guide Week PSA Template (Click to expand/collapse)
What is this?
Radio stations will set time aside during the day to promote local events and fundraisers through Public Service Announcements. This template provides you with a short 30-second script that can be sent to local radio stations ready to read.
Having a local radio station read your PSA will bring additional visibility to the organization and show the pride and support the community has for our movement. It recognizes the efforts of so many young Scouts and thousands of dedicated adult volunteer leaders nationwide to build stronger youth and more sustainable, healthier communities.
What to do next?
Most radio stations ask for PSAs to be submitted six weeks ahead of time. Call the station directly or check out the contact page on the station's website for info on how to submit your PSA.
Click here to download the PSA Template (.doc) - 30 second sample radio text.
The Scout-Guide Week Flag Raising Request Template (Click to expand/collapse)
What is this?
A letter template you customize and send to City Hall or other prominent community venue asking if they would raise the Scouts Canada flag in front of their building during Scout-Guide Week.
Asking your City Hall or other venue to raise the Scouts Canada flag will bring additional visibility to the organization and show the pride and support the community has for our movement.
What to do next?
Contact your local City Hall by phone or go online to the City Hall website and look for the Protocol Office. Each municipality will have a slightly different process so take note of the requirements needed.
For other community venues, contact their administrative office directly to find out if they accept applications for flag raising and what the process is.
In either case it would be best to send your request in no later than four to six weeks prior to the event.
Click here to download the Flag Raising Request Template (.doc)
The Scout-Guide Week Media Advisory Template (Click to expand/collapse)
What is this?
Will you be hosting an event or fundraiser that is open to the public? Will you be presenting awards to youth or volunteers? Will you have any government officials or other public personalities on hand for the event? Then you may consider inviting media to attend.
The easiest way to deliver your event details is through a media advisory. A media advisory allows you to provide all the details of your event in a short and succinct fashion and this template will help you capture what you need.
What to do next?
Send your media advisory to your local news editor at the newspaper (City and community ones too), radio station(s) and TV station(s). Go to the contact page of each outlet's website to find the proper contact information. Media advisories should be sent approximately one week in advance of the event and a follow up call will let you know if they plan to attend.
Click here to download the Media Advisory Template (.doc)
The Scout-Guide Week Statement for Elected Officials Template (Click to expand/collapse)
What is this?
A letter and statement you can customize and send to your local, provincial or federal government representative asking if they would deliver the statement about Scouting to their peers in their house of representation before or during the week.
This will increase the level of awareness of the Scouting community with our government officials and show them that Scouting is a very live and vibrant movement.
What to do next?
Contact your government official's office and ask how they you can submit the request. Each may have a slightly different process so take note of the requirements needed.
It would be best to send your request in no later than four to six weeks prior to the event so that it can get on the calendar.
Click here to download the Statement for Elected Official Template (.doc)
The Scout-Guide Week Speaking Points (Click to expand/collapse)
What is this?
This provides high level messaging and facts that can be used when speaking with the public or media about Scouting and Scout-Guide Week. This document should not be handed out but used as a reference guide.
What to do next?
Review the messages so you are comfortable with them. Should you have any questions contact your local council office.
Click here to download the Speaking Points (.pdf)
Click here to download the complete list of Tips for Effective Communications (PDF).