Keep your kids safe with a hot freebie!

For the rest of 2022, every household in the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) with a child under the age of eight (8) years old is eligible for one FREE custom-made cordless Honeycomb shade.

Window blinds are among the top five hidden hazards in U.S. homes according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Norman continues to take an industry stand against free-hanging lift & tilt cords and complies with some of the highest global product safety standards, including current Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for window coverings and are an active participant in the WCMA “Best for Kids” rigorous certification program.

“Our aim is to increase awareness for parents and caregivers of the risks associated with free hanging corded window coverings and make them aware of safer cordless alternatives. We intend to support this campaign by giving away in an excess of 10,000 shades per month, valued at more than several million dollars.” – Norman President, Ranjan Mada.

In order to access the free custom-made cordless honeycomb shade, patrons must visit www.normanchildsafety.com and fill out the required information. Please allow three weeks for delivery as each shade is custom built for each household.

Common Questions:

• How to qualify for a Free Cordless Honeycomb shade? Households with at least one child under the age of eight (8) years old and live in the 48 contiguous United States of America.
• Where do I order this shade? Visit www.normanchildsafety.com and follow the ordering instructions.
• What are the limitations to this free cordless Honeycomb shade? It is a custom-made shade for each household’s window and is offered in 2 color choices. There are certain size limitations that are specified on the www.normanchildsafety.com.
• Is there a daily limit? There is a daily promotion limit. If they are no longer accepting orders for the day, be sure to check back tomorrow!

For additional information on the safety commitment and giveaway, please visit www.normanchildsafety.com. There is a limit of one free Honeycomb shade per household. Additional shades can be purchased through an authorized Norman retailer near you, which can be found at normanusa.com/where-to-buy/.

As we continue our work to enhance the traditions of Scouting here in the 21st Century and augment the privacy and safety of our membership, the Mayflower Council will soon look to move most membership functions online. Long story short, the days of youth paper-based membership applications are coming to an end.

At their February 16 council executive board meeting, $250k was approved for a major marketing campaign to help entice new members to join Scouting in Mayflower Council. The campaign is being directed by the Council Marketing Committee and managed by Mittcom, a local marketing firm who excels at integrated campaigns unitizing social platforms. The executive board agreed to direct the funds from the council endowment fund.

Many volunteers have requested information on how to help Scouting in Ukraine. Please see the official statement from the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) below.

WOSM recognizes one National Scout Organization per country. For Ukraine, the Member Organization is National Organization of Scouts of Ukraine (NOSU). We encourage all NSOs that any Scouting support is channeled through the mechanisms made available through WOSM.

We are aware that many other non-WOSM but Scout-like entities are active in the region, including PLAST. We are not affiliated with organizations in Ukraine besides NOSU.

In most cases, the best way to help with the unfolding humanitarian crisis is to make a financial contribution through WOSM or another reputable NGO.

To directly support Scouts’ humanitarian relief work in Ukraine and for refugees, you can donate here. Representatives on the ground know what is needed and financial contributions help them purchase the most needed and locally-appropriate supplies.

For additional and ongoing updates, please visit here.

Questions? Email International Division at the National Council.

In collaboration with the BSA National Aquatics Subcommittee, ScoutingU has released an updated version of “Safe Swim Defense” online training that is also mobile compatible. Since the inception of Scouting, learning to swim and engaging in aquatics activities have been core to the program. Safe Swim Defense training is required for any BSA unit who will participate in swimming activities. This online training ensures that adult leaders are prepared to facilitate safe swimming programs by reviewing the eight points of Safe Swim Defense. To access the updated training, log onto my.Scouting.org and search the catalog in the BSA Learn Center for “Safe Swim Defense.” For additional information regarding BSA aquatics programs, please refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting and the BSA’s Aquatics Supervision Guide.

FAQs

Q. Does Safe Swim Defense training have to be renewed?
A. Yes, adults supervising a swimming activity must have completed Safe Swim Defense training within the previous two years.

Q. Do I need to take the new version of Safe Swim Defense training if my current training is not expired?
A. No, you can complete the updated version of Safe Swim Defense when your current certification expires.

Q. Is Safe Swim Defense training available to take in person?
A. No, Safe Swim Defense is only available online. It is also mobile compatible.

In May of 2021, it was announced that 19 Cub Scout Elective Adventures would be retiring at the end of this program year (May 2022). See details here.

Elective adventures are reviewed for content and popularity. These 19 have been the least popular based on sales and advancement data. They will be archived in Scoutbook and Internet Advancement, removing the ability to mark them as completed after the retirement date of May 31, 2022. These 19 adventures are not being replaced with a new set of elective adventures.

Inventory at the Scout Shops for loops and pins is limited and will only be available while supplies last. Cub Scouts can still wear the adventure loops and pins after that date. Once it’s earned, it’s not taken away from the Cub Scout.

STEM Nova Award Impact – STEM Nova Awards that include Adventures also include an Option A and Option B to earn the award. Cub Scouts may choose to earn one of the remaining Adventures or Option A or Option B.

World Conservation Award Impact – The Wolf and Webelos rank are impacted. The Bear rank has no changes.

For Wolf Scouts who want to earn the World Conservation Award, the requirement to earn the Grow Something Elective Adventure will be replaced with the following activities:

1. Select a seed, and plant it in a small container. Care for it for 30 days. Take a picture or make a drawing of your plant once each week to share with your den or family.
2. Find out the growing zone for your area and share the types of plants that will grow best in your zone.
3. Visit or research a botanical or community garden in your area and learn about two of the plants that grow there. Share what you have learned with your den or family.
4. Complete one of the following:
   • Make a terrarium.
   • Using a seed tray, grow a garden inside your home. Keep a journal of its progress for 30 days. Share results with your den or family.
   • Grow a sweet potato plant in water. Keep a journal of its growth for two weeks. Share the information with your den or family.

For Webelos (including Arrow of Light) Scouts, the requirement to complete 1, 3a, and 3b of the Adventures in Science adventure will be replaced with:

1. Draw a picture of a “fair test” that shows what you need to do to test a fertilizer’s effects on plant growth.
2. Carry out the experiment previously designed as a fair test of fertilizer’s effect on plant growth.
3. Carry out the experiment again but change the independent variable. Report what you learned about how changing the variable affected plant growth.

Here is the complete list of adventures that will be retired on May 31, 2022:

Tiger

• Earning Your Stripes
• Family Stories
• Tiger Tales
• Tiger Theater

Wolf

• Collections and Hobbies
• Grow Something
• Hometown Heroes
• Motor Away

Bear

• Beat of the Drum
• Make It Move
• Robotics
• World of Sound

Webelos/Arrow of Light

• Adventures in Science
• Build My Hero
• Fix It
• Looking Back Looking Forward
• Maestro
• Movie Making
• Project Family

As part of the National Council’s ongoing mission to streamline and simplify the Scouting program, Scouting U, in collaboration with National Supply Group, has identified three Cub Scout device pins that will be discontinued from the program effective immediately.

These devices were traditionally worn on the Den Leader Training Award Knot, which recognizes den leaders who have completed training, tenure, and performance requirements. This Den Leader Training Award Knot (SKU 5016) will continue to be offered and is available to earn at any point throughout the den leader’s tenure.

Limited inventory of the Cub Scout Device Pins is available in Scout Shops while supplies last. These items will not be restocked once fully depleted.

The following SKUs have been eliminated:

• 932 / Device WE Pin
• 604950 / Device CS Pin
• 620592 / Device Tiger 2015

As part of the Mayflower Council’s Spring Membership Campaign, we would like to encourage your participation in Operation Re-Engagement between now and March 31st, 2021. This effort, which is council wide, is designed to invite former Cub Scouts who may have dropped from your roster back into your pack. Your participation will be beneficial to the health of your pack, district, and the Mayflower Council.

Here’s How To Make This Work…

• Download a report of Scouts who have dropped from your unit over the past two years. Step by step instructions on how to download this report on My.Scouting.org is available here.
  • NOTE:  Be sure to select the FILTER Button and enter dates from 1/1/2021 through 1/1/2022.
• Reach out via a callout campaign (If necessary, designate several volunteers to help you) to the parents of these “lost Scouts” to invite them to your next pack meeting. Use this meeting as an opportunity to welcome them back into Scouting by encouraging them to re-register with your pack (Some key points to promote with the parents include the Pinewood Derby in May, upcoming pack meetings, Chuck Wagon Derby in June, summer day camp and other activities you have planned for your pack.)
• If they indicate interest in re-joining, whether as part of the callout campaign or at the pack meeting, refer them to your page on BeAScout.org

A Few Tips for Success…

1. Review the list with your volunteers to see who may have a friendly/personal connection with certain parents. Sometimes a call from someone they know can be very influential.
2. If your attempt at a callout does not work, try an email.
3. If the parent indicates interest in attending the next pack meeting, schedule a time to remind them, whether it’s another callout, or an email reminder a week prior to the meeting.
4. If possible, work with them 1-on-1 with the online application. Try not to let them to “do it when they get home.” Remember, after that meeting, life happens. Help them transition back to Scouting by helping them in that moment, instead of possibly losing them to the things that happen after they leave your meeting.
5. Consider using your April meeting as a membership building meeting, whereby these “lost Scouts” can come back to re-discover the Scouting experience.

We appreciate your effort in Operation Re-Engagement. If I can be of assistance, please email Rob or call him directly at 508-217-4623.

As part of The Mayflower Council’s Spring Membership Campaign, we are primarily focusing on Scouts BSA troops and Venturing crews and 4 opportunities to increase participation in these aspects of the Scouting Experience.   

WHAT’S INVOLVED 

The Spring Membership Campaign involves several different elements: 

• Operation Re-Engagement
• Webelos To Scouting AND Scouting to Venturing Transitions
• Peer To Peer Recruiting
• April Membership Event

SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS 

We have complied LINKS for the following documents to help you succeed, including: 

• A Checklist for Success & Overview on each phase/element of the membership campaign
• Suggested social media posts that you can use to promote your troop and/or your upcoming membership event:
• Instructions on how to download a list of Scouts who have dropped from your roster
  • (NOTE: When downloading this report, be sure to use the FILTER and select the dates of 1/1/2021 to 1/1/2022)

PLEASE NOTE: Once you have set a date for your April membership event, please let the council know by filling out the form located here.

THE INCENTIVES

• Top five units who recruit between now and May 31st will receive a weekend cabin at one of our camps.
• Any Scout who recruits a friend using our peer-to-peer campaign will be entered into a drawing to win one of three restaurant gift certificates

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Additionally, the following resources are available upon request: 

• Photos/videos from BSA  
• Buddy cards 
• Posters/fliers to promote your membership event 
• Sign in sheets for your membership event 

Simply email Rob to reserve yours.  

NOTE FOR VENTURING CREWS:  Use this as an opportunity to invite prospective members to an upcoming meeting or event.  Additionally, we will be working on getting you information on Scouts who have “aged out” of Scouts BSA.

NEED HELP OR TO DISCUSS IDEAS ? 

If you would like to set up a time, please click here to schedule a time with Rob to discuss.

OR  

You can also register here for Virtual Office Hours on Tuesday, March 22nd and Monday, March 28th from 7 to 9 PM each night. 

We appreciate your effort with our Spring recruiting effort.

Due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and in an abundance of caution, for the health and safety of our attendees, the Council Recognition Dinner has been postponed until April 28 at 7pm at the Franklin Country Club. If you have already registered to attend, please mark the new date on your calendar.

The Annual Business Meeting scheduled for January 26 will move to a virtual format from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Information to access the virtual meeting will be emailed to all board members and chartering organization representatives.

Other upcoming council activities, including the Freeze Out, are still being held as scheduled.