It's Cub/Boy Scout Popcorn time again...

[BabyTigger99]

Bear mom here! Our big popcorn blitz is tomorrow. The kids go through the neighborhood with their den leaders, as a den, and this is where the majority of our sales come from. It is not mandatory to attend the blitz or even sell popcorn, but it is encouraged, as it is our only Pack fundraiser. We also do a brat sale at one of the local grocery stores in the spring, with the profits going towards those boys that are attending summer camp.

Our Cubmaster told the kids their year if they sell $13,000, he will shave his head at a Pack meeting! So they are all excited about that!!!

 

[nuke]

Our Cubmaster told the kids their year if they sell $13,000, he will shave his head at a Pack meeting! So they are all excited about that!!!

My husband has no hair to shave but if the scouts sell over $500 each they get to throw a pie in his face.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I totally understand the costs involved in scouting. We also don't charge the adult voluteers registration fees after the first year. The boys aren't charged to re-register each year. The pack pays for advancements. I know it is costly. Also the pack bought pinewood derby cars, refurbished the track, and bought the software for the derby race. Talk about expensive!! Our crossing over ceremony wasn't too expensive. The boy scouts cooked. Each family paid $5.00 to attend. Each den did a skit, or song for entertainment. I don't think our pack spends too much money on these things. I just wish we could do something different than popcorn. A lot of the parents don't understand where all this money goes. I tell them to attend the committee meeting if they would like to know more about it. Also, no one wants to go pick up the popcorn from the warehouse so it looks like I am going to do it. Thats a lot of popcorn

 

[SCQ86]

District Chair here....in scouting up to my eyeballs. Words of wisdom....if you are not happy with paying huge fees for your boys, you can always move them over to a different unit. I've done it for my boys. Get involved and ask to see the books and see where the money is going....I've done this too and I got people in trouble. OOOPPPSS! But I feel...my boy, my money and I have a right.

And as hard as the times are right now, the percentage that your unit makes for the sale of popcorn is tax deductible. Visit your local business and see if they want to make it their x-mas gives....it's a win-win situation....they give out their gifts...get a tax dedcution...and your boy makes their sale.

HTH.

 

[wildfan1473]

In our unit we are required to sell at least $225.00 worth of popcorn per scout. If we don't, then we have to pay $55.00 scouting fee. Our committee chair says it costs this much to fund a boy for a year of scouting. Once we meet our $225.00, then anything over that we get 10% for our scouts fund for camp. Last year it was $200.00 minimum.

The boys aren't old enough for scouts 'til next year, but we have hockey this year. We had to pre-pay for the fundraisers at registration - $220 for calendars, and $100 in Kwik Trip gas cards. And that was just for 1 kid. They did give us a buy-out option this year, I can't remember the amount, but it was more than buying the items by $25-$50.

 

[DebMcDonald]

My DD's do girlscouts and I'm not doing their fall sale, nor am I doing the school fall fundraiser that just came out. Our GS troop only makes $1 per item sold and I know the schools make anywhere from a 40-60%, but I would rather donate money to them vs selling worthless over priced items. I'll sell the GS cookies and everyone loves them, though they are very expensive, but they taste so good, but otherwise I am not comfortable asking people right now to spend money that they just don't have.

 

[imthatgirl]

My DD's do girlscouts and I'm not doing their fall sale, nor am I doing the school fall fundraiser that just came out. Our GS troop only makes $1 per item sold and I know the schools make anywhere from a 40-60%, but I would rather donate money to them vs selling worthless over priced items. I'll sell the GS cookies and everyone loves them, though they are very expensive, but they taste so good, but otherwise I am not comfortable asking people right now to spend money that they just don't have.

yeah we found that out too. plus you know that little book that comes with the magazine where you send all the post cards to your friends. the individual girlscout troops arent getting a dime from those sales. so dont do the book. they try to seduce you with the pretty patch, dont be seduced!!

 

[otisandmaggie]

We sold the magazines that were offered last year, but I'm too embarrased for him to show anyone the popcorn brochure. People feel pressued to buy when those precious little eyes are looking at them, but the stuff is just too expensive. Until they can come up with something reasonably priced like GS cookies, we won't participate in this fund raiser.

 

[DawnM]

Interesting. How old is a beaver? We don't have Beavers in the US.

$180 is high for membership! Wow! I just paid dues and I think I paid $38 total for both boys for this year.

Dawn

I have SUCH mixed feelings on the popcorn this year. I paid $180 for membership for each scout. There is a discount for the 3rd child so my Beaver is only $100. Last year the older boys sold over $600 worth of popcorn and they had picked scout shop certificates as their incentive prize. They were given the incentive sheet showing the things they could pick when we got the forms for the popcorn. 1 of the boys got a $5 certificate when it was supposed to be $10 and some stupid dollar store thing. The other boy that sold about $450 worth and should have had a $20 certificate got this whistle compass thing that was crap. I was really unhappy with the way they went about this dangling the incentive and not even giving it after they worked their butts off. Some of the popcorn came REALLY late too and I was embarassed at having to make people wait so long.

BUT..there were structural issues with Scout hall last year and the pack now owes a lot of money or Scouts Canada is going to make them sell a peice of land they have that the kids use for various things to pay for the hall repairs. So we're pressured to amp up the fundraising.

 

[marcyinPA]

I bought from my son's friend, but I have to say it is pretty pricey~~ I got the chocolate covered caramel corn, but $18?? Wow....

We are having the same issues, btw, selling for band. My DS needs to earn $200 towards his "fair share" for their spring band trip, and it's not easy asking people to buy Entertainment books and what not, especially when people don't have two nickels to rub together.

Instead of selling, I've been saving. Saving a little out of each paycheck to pay my son's fair share in cash. It makes me feel better to do it this way!

 

[savage1]

I have to agree. I am the mother of two scouts, one a tiger and one a life scout. I am also a two-time Den leader. I hate popcorn time! My oldest elected to let his brother have all the sales profits this year, and now he is being harassed by the popcorn chairman from his troop for not selling! We joined that troop because we were told they did not care about the popcorn sale! I am ready to flip.
My Tiger has sold $300, but only to our neighborhood (We are a close one) and to family and our c-workers. I will not push it on anyone. I wish that the scouts would come up with something else - the prices keep going up and the tins get smaller. I would rather sell subs or chicken BBQ . Everyone I know grabs these when offered.

 

[minniebeth]

In our unit we are required to sell at least $225.00 worth of popcorn per scout. If we don't, then we have to pay $55.00 scouting fee. Our committee chair says it costs this much to fund a boy for a year of scouting. Once we meet our $225.00, then anything over that we get 10% for our scouts fund for camp. Last year it was $200.00 minimum.

I hate selling popcorn. I have 2 boys in scouts so that means $450.00 for our family. I try to keep my attitude positive because I am a den leader. I just feel so bad for the people I'm asking to buy. I wish we could do a different fund raiser. I know one unit that sells candy bars. They said its much easier to sell. We also do a cake auction each October.

My boys love scouting, so we will be out selling the popcorn again.

We are asked to sell minimum $200...see AND you donate your time as a den leader, as do we (and leaders to both my girls' GS troops). I know it is more idealistic, but eveyone has some gift, whether it be time, talents, funds.
We give a lot of time and talent, it would be nice to get a break financially. We would rather give a direct donation as well. However, one of the goals for DS to sell popcorn is to get a percentage so it can offset some of his costs throughout the year, particularly high adventure this year.
We'll try and see what happens. Unfortunately, my DD has a sever peanut/ tree nut allergy, so we can't even buy it ourselves. Perhaps for gifts. Like I said, we'll see.

 

[minniebeth]

Don't want to "stir the pot too much" BUT....

I was a Den Leader for Cub Scouts 5 years and the Packs Trip Coordinator as well (all those trips....bass fishing, stock car racing, Harlem Globetrotters, circus, canoe trip, overnight on carrier, overnight at museum, lighthouse tour with Spooky story night.. the list goes on and on and on) I was also in charge of the POPCORN fundraiser ONE year, NEVER AGAIN!

Our UNIT was responsible to raise money and some Leaders decided that they would DICTATE what their Scouts were required to sell, ie 25 boxes/units etc EACH. It was a NIGHTMARE for the little ones, the PARENTS did the selling, the product was overpriced and NOT even the best in quality. Those that tried to sell it on their own without parent help had a really hard time of it. Many did not meet their quota. The COMMITTEE decided that it was easier to Raise money with this (???) than anything else (they talked about candy and wreaths and dough which was all turned down)

I digress.....the POINT here was the UNIT/PACK throws these HUGE blow outs each year for the moving up ceremonies (hall, music, activities, food, basically a mini wedding) and THATS what the fundraising was really about. The % that the boys got back in their own "account" for the popcorn was very minimal.
Our Parents paid registration fees of $50 upfront and that had nothing to do with fundraising for anything else. There was no offset.
So, I WONDER if the $$ is really going to "other things" like ceremonies that perhaps ALSO need to be cut down on???? I mean ALL the kids were required to sell but many families could not afford to go to the ceremony because of cost, which WAS offset by the popcorn $ raised, though slightly. SO I wonder if some Packs use the POPCORN and other overpriced items to help a "few" rather then the group as a whole. Perhaps THAT should be discussed and cutting back on these "things" would cut down on some of the NEED to fundraise.

By the way, EVERYONE knows to come to MY house to sell stuff because I was so involved with school, scouts, on PTA board, etc, so it turned into a Curse for me, I REALLY try to buy minimal now, its CRAZY!!
Best of Luck!!
As an aside, all our trips were paid for BY the parents, we got CRAZY deals since so many people participated. I must say they were amazing experiences for the kids and the parents (who also brought siblings to many things)

BINGO!! Wow, you hit the nail right on the head. Now I can say, our troop does not do extravagant events such as these (sounds like a blast for the boys, though, I have to say!) but yes, there are things that can be cut back on and the equipment doesn't always have to be state of the art/high tech/the best of everything all the time....

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Interesting. How old is a beaver? We don't have Beavers in the US.

$180 is high for membership! Wow! I just paid dues and I think I paid $38 total for both boys for this year.

Dawn

Beavers are Tigers, though (someone in Canada correct me if I'm wrong...) girls can also join.


$180?! Locally it's $30/year ($10 to national + $20 dues to the pack or troop) Though, I guess aruguably folks pay alot more than that for a sport or dance group that has less activities year round...

 

[LisaNJ25]

wow.. I couldnt imagine being told there is a min $$$ amount I would have to sell.

For my girls scouts we plan affordable events and dont count on large products sales. I could just imagine the comments if I told my parents they had to sell X amounts.

 

[vegasnative]

My boys just started cub scouts last week! Last night was their first pack meeting and I learned all about the popcorn sell. The first thing I thought of was the economy and how can I ask people to buy a box of popcorn for $15 when they can get it at the store for $2-3.
I looked through the merchandise and I guess I will buy 2 tins since I have twins, I can't buy from one and not the other. I will ask the grandparents as well. My boys "may" sign up for the Blitz sale, not sure about that yet though. However, they are excited about trying to sell it. So, we may go around the neighborhood and see what happens. I don't want anyone to feel pressured to buy anything though. Gheesh, I would be a terrible salesperson!

 

[dougsmom98]

I have not read all the other posts so this might be repetitive. I have three scouts. I refuse to buy or sell the popcorn. It is way over priced. We told the pack leader that we will not be participating in this fundraiser ever. I buy girl scout cookies every year even though the packages are getting smaller and smaller, because I can afford less than $4. The popcorn is just nuts.

 

[trip]

I agree it is expensive and I don't think it tastes that great. We will not be asking anyone to buy I will buy probably a box or 2 as will my mom.

How much is it?

 

[luv2nascar]

I happen to love the Boy Scout light Microwave popcorn. I have run out so I can't wait for my local scout to sell me some.