Yard Sale Pep-Rally Email

[brian taracena]

Dear Scouts and Families,

Thanks to advancements in technology you can now enjoy all the thrills of attending a good old fashioned Pep-Rally without the nauseating smell of an end-of-year gymnasium in a school without A/C.  Just read the following paragraphs while listening to your favorite motivational music and enjoy!!

Ready...3...2...1... Read:  

Here we are at the brink of our annual Troop Yard Sale! Allow me to share a few thoughts before we dive into the fray.

When the scouts talk about our what we do throughout the year, Scout Camp is often referred to as,  "the best week of the year," - which I agree.  However,when it comes to keeping the troop alive, the Troop Yard Sale week is the most important week of the year! I cannot underscore how critical it is for everyone to provide as much help as possible to support this project.  Allow me to explain why:

First,  our operating budget, which is lean and frugal, is about $4,000 per year. Our expenses include such things as: camping fees, equipment upkeep and replacement, insurance, food, training opportunities for our boys, and costs for various activities.  The yard sale is our only source of funding.  Regarding how we utilize the funds here's an example: On a typical weekend excursion, each scout pays $10 - $20 dollars which is designed to cover their food; however, the troop pays for camping fees, registration fees, fuel, equipment etc. These cost can range anywhere from $100.00 to $300 per weekend depending on the event.  Surprisingly these "troop" costs tend to be the same whether we have 5 or 15 scouts in attendance.  In other words, you scouts will get more out of your hard-earned funds by attending weekend activities.

Second, scouts earn money which goes into their own separate Scout Account. This can be used to offset additional costs of equipment, summer camp fees or anything else related to their troop experience.  Often scouts simply utilized this amount for scout camp, however it can also be used to purchase or off-set the expense of scout equipment such as; backpacks, sleeping bags, head lamps etc.  Additionally, parents, siblings, neighbors, friends, etc, who sign up under that scouts name earn money at the same rate. When a scout's family helps out they have been known to accrue over $300 in their accounts from this event! This year we will be closely monitoring scout participation and work ethic.  Remember, although we like to have lot's of fun at the yard sale, our primary objective is to help with the event (as opposed to testing out all the used sports equipment or making sure the refrigerator is adequately stocked with soda :) .

Third, we benefit from a select few individuals (none of whom have scouts in the troop) who donate hundreds of hours before this week's event opens the doors. These activities include: collecting items, advertising, coordinating with local business, gathering permits, scheduling etc. When this event goes "live," the process is essentially turned over to the scouts and their families.  In essence, we are expected to finish the job. This includes: sorting items, selling and carrying items to vehicles, and tearing down the event on Sunday (leave no trace).  

I would ask that you please be prepared to contribute and participate in this event. Even though it requires effort, we really do have loads of fun!  The customers are very generous and enjoyable and look forward to this event every year.

Hope to see you all there and a huge thanks to those who have helped thus far!  You've been a great audience!

 

YIS 

Brian Taracena

Scoutmaster