During the months of November through February, each Pack, Troop, Team, and Crew should schedule a "Family" Friends of Scouting presentation. This presentation by a volunteer explains to parents how our Council is financed and educates them about our mission, services, facilities, and the "true cost" of Scouting. Units should sign up for their presentation now so we can give district volunteers enough time to plan for your presentation.

The annual "Friends of Scouting" drive raises approximately 15% of the council's operating budget each year. On average, $150 is needed per youth in our council to provide the programs and services that we have come to expect for one year.

This year we are excited to announce some new features of the family campaign:

• Unit Incentive Program: The campaign team has set some challenging yet achievable goals for our units to encourage you to participate in this year's campaign. There are two levels of goals:
  
  
  • Silver Level: Units reaching this level will qualify for a piece of outdoor equipment or a tool from a catalog that will help your unit offer a better program for the youth.
    
  • Gold Level: Units reaching this level will qualify for free rank advancement patches from the date of achievement until October 31, 2008. This is a great deal for units that advance a large number of youth each year (that's every unit in Del-Mi). Free rank advancement patches do not include belt loops, arrow points, merit badges, palms, etc. It only applies to ranks.
    
• Unit FOS Chair / Coordinator: This person from the unit is responsible for coordinating and/or presenting the annual Friends of Scouting presentation. They should be the person listed when the unit registers for their Friends of Scouting presentation online.