Scouting for Food 2003
Post-event News and Survey
Greetings to All.
Our Scouts once again did a wonderful job on this fall's Scouting for Food campaign, and we had yet another very successful and possibly record-setting year. However it's clear that the current signup format (which has been in place since 1988) can be improved. Therefore the SFF Coordinators have decided to revamp the way we handle SFF signups, and are revisiting the issue NOW, before everything fades away for another year.
In short, we want to establish semi-permanent areas for the traditionally participating Units, and also take this opportunity to where possible gerrymander areas to better fit each participating Unit, and also where possible return displaced Units to their traditional areas, and so on.
When the finalized areas are hammered out, they will be posted as colorized maps on the District website, so that each participating Unit will know exactly what area they are signed up for, hopefully for many years to come. In addition, once those areas are "counted" we'll also know exactly how many bags each Unit area needs. In this way, we hope to make future SFF signups as hassle-free as possible.
In addition to the mapping project, we are trying to get Units to man the Safeway stores in their areas on Collection Saturday, and solicit donations from the patrons. That is, hand out bags to people going into the store that they would fill and return to the Scouts on the way out. (This is a new aspect of SFF).
Finally, we want to encourage Units to post a few reminder signs on the main arterials in their map areas. As you know, one of the reasons why the District is so successful at SFF is our broad use of insert flyers and reminder signs. Unfortunately, only a few Units post such signs. Massively saturating an area like Troop 111 does is highly effective, and results in their collecting about 6,000 pounds of food each year, but posting even a few signs on the main roads can be very helpful. Accordingly we'd like to encourage all Units to have a goal of posting (and removing afterwards) a half-dozen signs on the main roads in their map area (of course, more is always better).
In order to help achieve these various goals, we would like to have your SFF Unit Coordinators answer the questions below in the body of the email, and, if possible, provide a jpeg indicating your "traditional" areas and the areas you'd like to cover in the future. An example of a jpeg map is enclosed. (This is merely an example, showing the 2003 map area for Pack 162; your map doesn't have to be this fancy, just readable). If your SFF Unit Coordinator could complete the survey below, and return it within the next week - preferably BEFORE Thanksgiving, we'll be able to start the process.
Please email your responses back to Dr. Bob drbob-at-troop111.org
and cc the following:
Rob Beckman - rbeckman-at-ix.netcom.com
Dave Carson - carlsonBSA-at-comcast.net
Paul Maloney - paul.maloney-at-solers.com
Finally, please keep the jpegs down to less than 1 MB. If over 1.0 MB please mail them to Dr. Bob.
Unit_Name and Number:
SFF coordinator name:
SFF coordinator email:
SFF coordinator phone:
Please provide an exact description of the area you were assigned in November 2003, either as a colorized jpeg image or by verbal description. (Example: "North Arlington. Area north of I-66, South of Washington Blvd, West of George Mason Drive, East of Patrick Henry Drive.") Please do not return an answer that states "The area you already have marked on the District map". Please pretend there is no District map, and that we have no idea what area your Unit had.
Did you actually cover your entire assigned area? If not, can you detail what parts you did NOT cover, and indicate whether you wish to keep those areas or give them up? (again, a jpeg is good but we can work with a verbal description).
How many bags did you order?
How many bags did you actually use?
If you used all your bags, how many more bags would be required to cover this area next year?
If you didn't use all your bags, how many extra bags did you have?
Did your Unit have a previous traditional area that you were displaced from and would like to have back if it could be arranged? If so, where was that area? (a jpeg is good but we can work with a verbal description).
Would your Unit like a different/larger/smaller area than you had in November 2003 and if so, please indicate (by description and/or on a jpeg) the areas you'd like to give up or the areas you'd like to cover.
Did your Unit have Scouts man a Safeway store in your area and solicit food?
Would your Unit be willing to handle a Safeway if it was located in your area, and you received a "How-To" Guide?
Did your Unit post signs the week before the SFF pick up? Would you be willing to make it a goal to have (at least) a half dozen signs on the main roads in your area next year? Thank you for your help.
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