Terry Smith is the District Popcorn kernel and has created supporting materials for your pack or troop's popcorn sale.   Whenever possible, these materials will be reproduced on this page.  Critical dates will also be listed in the left hand column.

Message #9, Jan. 15, 2008

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Monday, January 14, 2008

TO: Pack, Troop & Crew leaders, Popcorn Kernels
RE: Popcorn thank you dinner & 2007 critique Tuesday, Jan 29

Please respond by providing the following information:

• Pack # _______________                       Troop #  _______________
  
  
• Will have ______   (number, up to 2) attendees  Names ________________________________
  
• Cannot attend ____________
  

Please use your "reply" button, then delete the rest of this message before sending your response.

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Contents:

• Popcorn thank you dinner Tuesday, January 29
  
• OSU Hockey tickets - the procedure
  
• Wanted - Assistant District Popcorn Kernel to assist with distributing web access codes
  
• Raw popcorn (unpopped "popping tins") - selling at $3 each for corn hole games
• We have extra 2007 product - looking for buyers!
• Please - consider being the Popcorn Kernel again next year!
  

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Popcorn thank you dinner Tuesday, January 29

THANK YOU, POPCORN KERNELS!  Buckeye District led the pack in Simon Kenton Council with $701,862 in popcorn retail, up more than 10% from last year, the highest percentage increase of all the Districts!  Without a doubt, it is testament to your hard work that led to these extraordinary results.  We had 80 units participating - also a record.  Overall, Simon Kenton Council was also up, coming in at 2.4 million dollars!  This is so important to supporting the Council camps and programming.

As a thank you for these efforts, Council is throwing a dinner for the Popcorn Kernels (up to 2 attendees per unit) which may include the Unit leader / Popcorn Kernel - whoever was actively involved in the popcorn program.  Notes are as follows:

• Date: Tuesday, January 29.  RSVP REQUIRED FOR THE MEAL!
  
• Time & place - Columbus area - details to be determined.  I will send out another message as soon as I find out.
  
• Critique on the 2007 popcorn program will follow the meal.  Please be a part of this round table and offer constructive criticism and ideas to make the 2008 sale even better.
• If you cannot attend, please send me ideas & thoughts for which I will give you credit at the meeting.
  

OSU Hockey tickets - the procedure

Hockey ticket applications (one ticket for each order form filled) were sent to OSU late in the afternoon on Friday, December 21.   Scout Prize Applications turned in after the December 21 deadline will not receive tickets. The procedure is as follows:

• The hockey game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb 2, 7:05 PM.  Visit www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com for game details.
  
  
• Each qualifying Scout should have received a mailing by this time, as the ticket information went to the Scout's address listed on the Scout Prize Application.  Please make sure all the appropriate parents in the unit are aware of this!
  

• The Scout must return the application by mail to OSU as directed, in order to receive the free, earned tickets. The Scout also has the opportunity to purchase additional tickets at $6.00 each with this form.  These applications need to be returned by Friday, January 18 (the application says "16th").
  
  
• OSU will return the tickets to the Scout via US mail.  Orders received after the Friday deadline will be held at the Will Call window to be picked up the evening of the game.
  
  
• The mailer states that parking will be free for these ticket holders.
  
  

Wanted - Assistant District Popcorn Kernel to assist with distributing web access codes

I am looking for a good man or woman (or a husband - wife team) who can provide simple assistance as follows:

• Have high speed internet service at home.
  
• Be able to provide Buckeye District Pack & Troop Popcorn Kernels with access codes to the Trials End web site.
  
• Be able to return phone calls evenings and weekends from late August through Mid December (or until all 85 units have their on-line information).
  
• Assist me with obtaining & setting up the names & addresses of the unit popcorn kernels on the Trails End site so passwords can be assigned.  This would be done in August - September
  
• Take ALL phone calls regarding  web site questions (you WILL be trained in this).
  
• A former Popcorn Kernel would be an ideal candidate for this position.  We need to improve our communications capability, and the help is important.  For motivation, just remember - you will be assisting in a fundraiser that resulted in $490,000 from Buckeye District supporting local Scouting in 2007!
  
  

Raw popcorn (unpopped "popping tins") - selling at $3 each for corn hole games

Council has an estimated 20 cases (120 tins, each 2.5 pounds, about 300 pounds total) of raw popcorn left over from the 2006 sale.  The product does NOT pop very well, but the kernels can be used to make corn hole game bags.  Each bag requires a pound of raw popcorn.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in helping us cut our losses on this product, let me know!

We have extra 2007 product - looking for buyers!

We have Butter, Butter Lite, Kettle Corn, Gourmet Caramel with almonds & pecans and Caramel Corn w/peanuts.  Call the Council office 436-7200 if you wish to purchase product.

Please - consider being the Popcorn Kernel again next year!

I hope to see many of you as Popcorn Kernels again next year.  Some PKs I spoke with over the past 3 weeks were concerned that they did not do as good a job as possible.  Just remember - the toughest year is the first, and your experience can only make the next year better.  There are many PKs who have been at this for 5 years or more.  It does take dedication, but to repeat what I said above, it is a critically important position in Scouting: you will be assisting in a fundraiser that resulted in $490,000 from Buckeye District supporting local Scouting in 2007!

Yours In Scouting,
Terry Smith

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Message #8, Dec. 12, 2007

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Message #7, Nov. 21, 2007

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Wednesday, November 21, 2007 

TO: Pack, Troop & Crew leaders, Popcorn Kernels
RE: Take Order Popcorn pickup dates & times; Sales record set!!  Other information

Please respond by providing the following information:

• Pack # _______________                       Troop #  _______________
  
  
• First choice date / time of pickup __________________    
  
  Second choice date / time of pickup __________________
  
  (I will respond back with "confirmed [time]")
  
  
• You MUST bring enough people to assist in picking & loading your popcorn order!
  
• Please provide names & time slots if your Unit can provide help loading other Units' popcorn:    ______________________________________________________________________________________________
  

Please use your "reply" button, then delete the rest of this message before sending your response.

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Contents:

• Take Order Popcorn Pickup dates & details - Nov 27 / 28
  
• Directions to the pickup location
• Please volunteer to help!
• Popcorn sales record exploded - great job!!!
• Military donations extended until December 31- INCENTIVES!
  
• Final details - need more popcorn? , prize and incentive orders, popcorn payments
  

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  Take Order Popcorn Pickup dates & details

The Buckeye District Popcorn pickup is scheduled for Tuesday, November 27 and Wednesday, November 28 in the time slots as listed below.  When you sign up for a time slot, you are assured of being able to arrive, load up without waiting in a long line and leave when you are done. 

Records indicate that 67 units are receiving Take Order popcorn.  Some units did their complete sale with Show & Deliver popcorn, and do not need to pick up product. Some of you may have received your Take Order product at S&D return / Take Order  pickup.  If you already received your popcorn, please respond to this message with  "already received popcorn".

Popcorn Pickup notes

• We will be distributing from four loading docks with adjustable dock plates at the warehouse.  If you have a truck that is "dock height", we will probably be able to move pallets into your truck.  We will not be able to bring the fork lift outdoors, so we cannot use the fork lift to load trailers or pickup trucks.
• I believe that we also have drive-in capability - while we may be able to load everything indoors, do NOT bring an open pickup truck if rain or snow is forecast - it will ruin the product packaging on the way home!
• You will be responsible for bringing Scouts or family to help pick popcorn and load your vehicles.  Any Council staff will be handling paper work, and volunteers (please sign up!) will be pulling product from inside the warehouse and setting it on the end of the loading dock.  
• A spreadsheet is available that figures the weight & volume of cases of popcorn; the spreadsheet was sent out for Show & Deliver pickup.  Use it to compute the vehicle(s) that you will need to bring.  If you have more than $ 1,000 in popcorn, and you do not have the spreadsheet, e-mail me with a request and I will send it to you. Product is packages as follows:
  • Chocolate Lovers, Buckeye, Three Way Tins, Cheese Lovers Tin & 30 Pack - one container to a case.
  • All other products EXCEPT 11 ounce caramel corn with peanuts - 6 containers to a case.
  • 11 ounce caramel corn with peanuts - 12 containers to a case.
• If you are picking up more than $12,000 in popcorn, you might think about renting a truck.  Go in with another Unit to save money. Several Units have rented with Pensky - a 20 foot long truck with hydraulic lift gate rents for about $85 per 24 hours plus mileage - call Byers Dublin at 457-7455 for rental info.  Confirm that the truck is dock height; then we can drive or walk in with your order!

Schedule (4 docks available per time slot - e-mail me back with your first and second choices)

• Tuesday, November 27:        4:00   4:30   5:00   5:30   6:00   6:30   7:00   7:30   8:00  
  
<>Wednesday, November 28:   3:00   3:30   4:00   4:30   5:00   5:30   6:00   6:30   7:00   7:30   8:00  

Directions to the pickup location (3750 Brookham Drive Suite H, Grove City OH 43123)

• Take I-71 South to STRINGTOWN ROAD (first exit south of I-270).
  
• Turn right on STRINGTOWN ROAD.
  
• Turn RIGHT at the first signal light onto GANTZ ROAD.
  
• Turn right on Brookham Drive just after passing the sign "South Park" on the right side of Gantz road.
  
• Look for the large sign "3750 Brookham Drive -  Prologis" sign on the left side of the road.  It is located right where the road curves to the right. We are around the rear of the right end of the building, Suite H.

Please volunteer to help!

We could really use volunteers to pull popcorn and help load other Units' vehicles.  Scouts are welcome, and the hours might be used as service hours (check with your unit leader).  Even if you do not sign up when replying to this message, you are welcome to stay and help if you see that we are short handed. Older Cub Scouts and all Boy Scouts are best suited to the task - while Tiger Cubs have lots of energy, they have trouble lifting cases of popcorn.

Popcorn sales record set again - great job!!!

Last year, Buckeye District sold  $634,000 during the fall sale.  Our goal this year was to exceed $700,000 - and we reached $698,000 with additional orders still dribbling in - and ANY additional orders received by  December 1 WILL be filled!   We also had a record 76 units (out of about 105 units in Buckeye District) participating in the popcorn sale!  Council had an overall increase of about 10 percent - Great job done by all of you!  This is so important to the funding of the Scouting program!  $490,000 of this sale will support local Scouting operations!

Selling popcorn is a team effort.  It begins with the Council Popcorn Team (Great job, Aaron Angel!) setting up a selection of outstanding products and promotional materials.  Your District professionals and Popcorn Kernels communicate this information to you.  BUT YOU UNIT KERNELS AND LEADERS are key to the process - you must motivate the parents and Scouts, educating them on the need to sell popcorn to raise money and the importance of setting goals and reaching the goals.  I attribute the addition of the Military program to helping us to reach our goal - even in light of rising energy costs and lower consumer spending!

Military donations extended until December 31 - INCENTIVES!

'Tis the season for giving!  In order to provide a special gift to our troops stationed all over the world and to exceed the $700,000 sales mark, the Military program has been extended.  Details for this voluntary program are:

• Report all your Military sales by Sunday, December 9 in order for Scouts to qualify for prize levels and incentives.  These sales would be added to the Scout's Take Order sales record.  Call or email me with these totals which will be placed on your Take Order popcorn invoices (payments to be made by December 21).  This provides Scouts the opportunity to gather more Military donations as they deliver popcorn - simple, as payment is made at once and no product needs to be delivered.
  
  
• Sell to neighbors, relatives, co workers, parents.
  
  
• All Military sales not reported by December 9 should be reported by December 31 (enter on  line or communicate with me).  These sales will earn the unit 35% commission, but will NOT count toward prizes or incentives!
  
  I will take 2 pies in the face - BUT:
  
  
• We must sell at least 400 more Military donations between right now and December 31.  That averages about 5 per unit.  To date, we have sold 1,191 Military donations in Buckeye District.
  
• EVERY traditional unit (Pack, Troop, Crew, Ship) must have sold at least one Military donation during the course of the September - December popcorn / extended Military sale.  Talk to your counterparts to make sure they are on board for this program.  This will put EVERY unit in the selling column!
  

<>Who throws the pies?

• The unit that has the greatest per Scout Military donations - this puts EVERY unit on an equal playing field.  If there is a tie, I will do ALL those units in the tie!
  
• The Scout with the most Military sales in that unit gets to throw the pie at a unit meeting of your choice.  I will provide you a choice of the pie to throw - including creamed spinach!
  
• The unit leader that has the greatest per Scout Military donations can throw a pie at me at a Round Table meeting.

Available thank you cards & facts on the Military sale program

• For a full page thank you card and order form, to to www.trails-end.com > Leaders > Support Our Troops.  You will find "Thank you card to consumer" and Support Our Troops order form" both in PDF format.
• For a 1/4 page thank you card, go to www.skcbsa.org > Popcorn Sales (down the left column) > under "2007 Information" , "Support Our Troops thank you card -new" (second item from the bottom of the list).
• For great info on the program, go to www.supportourtroops.org > mouse over and click the headline "Popcorn project - Scouts gift to the troops" and explore the links, including the story of 105 tons of popcorn sent to the Pacific Fleet!
• According to Trails End, the popcorn is supplied to about 300,000 active duty troops here and abroad.  Packaging & product is exactly as we receive it (tins included to protect product from crushing) and product is selected by the military based upon the climate and local conditions.  Sometimes individual microwave packets are included in care packages, other times tins are distributed to the troops.
  

Final details - need more popcorn?; prize orders; popcorn payments

• Need more popcorn? Did you receive late orders from your Scouts?  Are your customers asking for additional popcorn when you deliver their order to them?
  
• At this time, we need to wait until after the popcorn has been distributed to see if there is any extra.  Ask at your pickup time, but we may not release extra popcorn until after Saturday, December 1, to confirm that all existing Take Orders are filled.
  
• If you need more popcorn after December 1, please e-mail me.  I will forward the message on to Council, as I will likely NOT know what is available. 
  
• If Council is out of product, you may use the www.orderpopcorn.com web site to obtain more.  This order does NOT qualify for prizes or incentives.  Popcorn may be purchased in containers or cases (cases only for the 11 oz caramel corn), but the product is more expensive and freight is a minimum of $9.75.
• It is the Council's goal to satisfy all unit popcorn needs - contact me before using www.orderpopcorn.com.
  
<>

• Popcorn Payments are Due December 21 - once you have picked up all your popcorn, you should receive a mailed invoice by December 15.  If you have not, call the Council office (Jan's number above and ask for the accounting department).  Any payments NOT made by December 28 will incur a 2% penalty.
• TIP -  ask parents to NOT give you any cash!  They should deposit any cash payments from popcorn into their own bank account and write you a check for that amount.  This will make your accounting task easier and safer (cash can get misplaced).
• TIP - ask parents to write you a check for small amounts of popcorn not delivered or paid for; they then collect the money for themselves.  This allows you to close your books sooner.  Set a deadline of Sunday, December 16, for parents to have all their money to you.
  
• Customers should make checks payable to your Pack / Troop / Crew account (example - "Pack 000") and NOT to "Boy Scouts".
  
  
• Prize orders and incentive sheets and Unit Master Records are due December 21.  EVERY UNIT SHOULD ORDER PRIZES!  They cost you nothing, and the Scouts should receive the deserved incentives.
• A Scout may receive multiple prizes as long at they do not exceed the popcorn sales level.  Example: Scout sells $1,150 in popcorn.  Scout may receive a prize from the $1,150 level OR a prize from the $425 AND $640 level.
  
• PLEASE - obtain your log in information and enter your prizes on-line.   The Council staff and volunteers are overloaded, and prizes that you do not enter on line may not be submitted until after New Years.  You may contact me for log in information.
  
• Prizes will not be released for shipment until the popcorn invoice is paid in full and the Unit Master Record has been received.  You may use the UMR which is part of the spreadsheet that I sent earlier via e-mail.
• INCENTIVES (fill a form, the $1,500 level and $2,500 scholarship level) require that you submit a completed Individual Scout Incremental Prize Application for each qualifying Scout.  Copies of the Scout's order form(s) must be attached.    I recommend that you take those completed forms, along with the Unit Master Record, and drop them off at Council.
  
• Allow three weeks for prizes to arrive after Council has released the prize order for shipment.
• Contact Council if you have not received your prizes after a month.
• If there is a problem with the prizes, do NOT contact me or Council until you have first called the number on the Prize Packing List sent with the prizes. 
  
• Gift cards on the prize program will likely ship with the physical prizes - check the package carefully!  $50 gift cards and hockey tickets from the Individual Scout Incremental Prize Application will be mailed directly to the appropriate Scout. 
  
  
• Hockey tickets - Those Scouts who completed the fill a form incentive will earn a hockey ticket for every form filled.  Details:
• The  OSU hockey game is scheduled for Saturday, February 2.
• Extra tickets CAN be purchased through Council so everyone may sit together.
• Details are not known at this time, and a message covering this information will go out in early January.

Happy Holidays to all of you and your families!

Yours In Scouting,
Terry Smith 8-)

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MESSAGE #6 -- November 4, 2007

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November 4, 2007

TO: Pack, Troop & Crew leaders, Popcorn Kernels
RE:  Show & Deliver return; Take Orders due; Pick up popcorn

Please confirm that your counterpart (the unit leader or popcorn kernel) has also received this message.  ALL messages will go the the leader & PK to insure continuity of communication!

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Press reply button, then select and delete all the following.  The original message will remain on your computer.


Contents of this message include:

Show & Deliver return Sunday, Nov. 11, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Take Order pickup 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (small quantities only)
Location of the return & pickup location
Take orders are due November 14, 4:00 PM
Late orders will likely not be filled
Scheduling your Scouts' order turn in
Does anyone have or need popping tins (raw popcorn)?
MIlitary orders can still be accepted - separate from previous orders!
Fill-A-Form, Hockey tickets, prize turn in, payments, etc.
Terry Smith out of touch Monday - Thursday
Next message - take order pick up details 

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Show & Deliver return: Sunday, Nov. 11, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
     

If you have S&D popcorn product left over, you may deal with it in one of the following two methods:

1. Apply the left over S&D product to your take orders (eliminating the need to double handle the product!).  Return any net left over S&D that you do NOT need to fill take orders.  (This is the preferred method)
   
2. Return all the left over S&D product at the time listed above.   Then place an order for all your Take Order needs.
3. You may return product in individual container amounts.
4. Raw popcorn (popping tins) CANNOT be returned.
   
5. REMEMBER - no product can be returned after Sunday, November 11!
   

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Take Order pickup Sunday, Nov. 11, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM  (small quantities only)   

If  you have a SMALL Take Order (probably under $3,000), you may be able fill it  during these hours.  There is no guarantee that all the product will be available as it depends upon the products that units are returning.  Bring your completed take order to the center, location as listed below.  First come - first served.  There is NO product pickup prior to 2:00.  If you are also returning S&D product, you MUST come after 1:00.

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Location of the return / pickup 

          Big Bear Warehouse, 851 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212
        This is located in Grand view Heights, and the docks are at the far east side of the warehouse.

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Take orders (including the first round of Military donations) are due Wednesday, November 14, no later than 4:00 PM

If you do NOT bring your take order to the Show & Deliver return / Take Order pickup this Sunday, there are several options you have for placing your order:

• Note that take orders may be placed in individual container quantities.  Full case lots are not required.
  
• Place the order online at www.trails-end.com.  A user name and password are required.   This is the preferred method of placing the order.  OR
  
  
• E-mail the order to me (Terry Smith) using the electronic Unit Take Order order form that is part of the spread sheet that I sent to everyone.  If you do not have the official order form, simply send me a list of number of containers of the popcorn you need. I will confirm receipt of the order by 9:00 PM.  If you do not receive e-mail confirmation, CALL ME to see what went wrong!  OR
  
  
• Take the order to the Council office on Dublin-Granville Road; Give it to AAron Angel or Jan Berry or Myia Ellington.  Keep a copy for your records in case it gets misplaced.  OR
  
  
• If all else fails, call me (Terry Smith) with the order, and I will place it on line for you.

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Late orders will likely not be filled

Unlike past years where we had Popcorn Plus (the post popcorn sale after the popcorn sale), there is NO plan this year to have extra popcorn available.  Make sure you, as Popcorn Kernel, have accounted for EVERY Scout so that all orders are included in the November 15 Take Order deadline.  Council will likely have very little, if any, popcorn left over to accommodate Scouts whose orders did not get in on time.

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Scheduling your Scouts' order turn in to maximize the length of the popcorn sale

We recommend that you let Scouts continue selling at least through Saturday, November 10, to allow for the benefits of a full sale.  If you have the following communication procedure in place, order information can be gathered in the matter of 2 days:

• For order turn in, make it clear that you do NOT need forms - just each Scout's totals.
• Make it each Scout's parent's responsibility to double check the totals on order forms.
  
• Have a deadline for Scouts to report to a Den leader or Patrol leader.  It is THAT leader's responsibility to accumulate ALL Scouts' orders under their leadership.
• Have a deadline for that leader to  bring you (or read over the phone) each Scout's order.  This may be placed in the spreadsheet that I sent, or a spreadsheet of your own making.  Your spreadsheet should already be prepared with the entire list of the unit's member Scouts.  This may be by Den / Patrol, or an entire alphabetical unit list.
• When every leader has reported to you, double check to confirm that every Scout has an order, or that the Scout is known to be not selling.
• You are now ready to place your order with Council!
• If you have show & deliver product that may need to be returned, you might poll a few higher selling Scouts to see if you need to return product.  If this is not practical, simply return any unsold S&D product on November 11 and order whatever take order you need.

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Does anyone have or need popping tins (raw popcorn)?

Some of you may have extra popping tins (raw popcorn) from the full cases that you ordered last month.  Others of you may need some popping tins, but you did not order any.  I am aware of 18 unsold popping tins in the system.  If you have extra tins or need tins, please email me, and I will put those popcorn Kernels in touch with one another.  REMEMBER - popping tins cannot be returned.

The fairest way to deal is to pay $5.44 - the cost of the tin (list price is $8.00).  Call me if you have questions.  These can go to a Scout's prize incentive.

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MIlitary orders can still be accepted - separate from previous orders!

We decided to continue the Military Donation portion of the sale.  If EVERY Scout in Buckeye District averaged ONE extra military sale @ $25, that would account for more than $75,000 MORE in the fall sale program!!  Points regarding this program:

• All Military donations as of November 14 should be reported with your take orders - this enables us to determine the success of the traditional popcorn sale, and lets us project our Council budgets as usual.
• Units and Scouts interested in continuing the military sale should use a new order form (or a new section of an existing form) for military ONLY - no product can be ordered.
• Any additional Military donations will count toward prize levels and unit sales goals (remember - prize forms and final payments are not due until December 21 - that's what makes this work easily).
• If people approached ask if they can purchase the popcorn, tell them that the traditional popcorn sale is over, but they can order via www.orderpopcorn.com OR take their name and add them to the customer list for next year.
• We will communicate in the next message as to the details for reporting the additional military sales.  We look at this as a Holiday gift that our customers can make to the men and women in the armed forces.

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Fill-A-Form, Hockey tickets, prize turn in, payments, etc.  

Following are notes on questions that I have been receiving.  For the most part, details on these topics will be handled in future mailings.

• Take-Order pickup dates: Council has scheduled Wednesday, Nov 28 through Saturday, Dec 1 for Take-Order pickup for several Districts.  A future message, about a week before we are scheduled, will provide you a selection of time slots for you to sign up on the day or days that we will be given; I do NOT have that info at this time.  It will likely NOT be at the Big Bear warehouse!
  
• Payment is not due at this time, but must be made by December 21.  If you do not have an invoice, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact the Council office at 436-7200 to obtain an invoice.  I have received several messages indicating that invoices are being incorrectly mailed  to previous Popcorn Kernels. Please remember that payments received after December 28 will result in a 2% penalty to your unit's commission.  
• Unit Master Record (UMR) and Prize Orders are due by December 21.  UMR's must be turned in and payment made in full before the Council will approve the Prize Order.   It will take about 30 days for the Popcorn Kernel to receive prizes.
  
• Fill-a-form incentives should NOT be mailed to Trails-End, but should instead be entered on the Individual Scout Incremental Prize Application form found in your Kernel packet.  Info on distribution of patches will follow in a later message.
  
• I do not have info on the distribution of hockey tickets (prize for Fill-a-form).  More details will follow in a later message.

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Terry Smith out of touch Monday - Thursday, Nov 5-8

I will be in the hills of West Virginia on business (really!) and will have very sporadic access to cell phone service, and no internet service.  I will reply to messages when I return Friday morning.

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Next message - take order pick up details

The next message will cover the details of the Take Order pickup - exact dates, times and  location.  It will be sent no earlier than Monday, November 19, and no later than Friday, November 23.

Terry Smith   8-)

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MESSAGE # 5 -- October 17, 2007

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October 16, 2007

TO: Pack, Troop & Crew leaders, Popcorn Kernels
RE:  Popcorn spreadsheet attached

NO RESPONSE REQUIRED!  Note- this message sent to several units simultaneously.

Please confirm that your counterpart (the unit leader or popcorn kernel) has also received this message.  ALL messages will go the the leader & PK to insure continuity of communication!

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Contents of this message include:
    Popcorn spreadsheet is attached
    Bring unneeded Show & Deliver product back Saturday 8:00 - 10:00 AM!
    Electronic version of the take order form
    Selling the Military product is just like selling a tin of popcorn
    Dublin Kroger has banned popcorn sales due to unruly Scouts!
    Does your business have a warehouse within 5 miles of I-71 / Dublin Granville Road?
    Next message - early November
    And a special note - if you have a Scout hoping to be in the top ten Council sellers, he will likely need to sell more than $3,500!
     

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Popcorn spreadsheet is attached

Attached is the 2007  version of  the Popcorn Kernel spreadsheet that I have updated for this year in Excel 97 format.  It is designed to:

• Let  PK enter all pertinent data one time on the Instruction page.
• Enter Scouts names once.
• Provide a flexible Unit Master Record that can be used for tracking a Scout's sale, calculate  money to the Scout Account (if applicable), provide totals for Take Order (totals transfer to the TAke Order order form), with names transferring to a prize worksheet.
• Permit printing the UMR to e-mail or give to Council as required.
• Incorporate a Take Order unit order form that may be printed out to give to Council, or used to enter quantities on the Trails-End web site.
• Include a prize worksheet (with names transferring  from the UMR) that easily enables leaders to select and total the prizes for a unit.  Totals transfer to the Prize Order Form, along with Popcorn Kernel name & address data.
• Finally, the Prize order form allows for web ordering or printing out for turning in to Council.

Please - print out the two pages of instructions and follow them step by step. Although the spreadsheet has been checked and debugged several times, please confirm that everything is accurate, and advise me if there are any glitches!

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Bring unneeded product back Saturday, Nov 20 8:00 - 10:00 AM - very limited amounts of product are available for exchange days!

We believe that there is a great deal of popcorn that units ordered for Show & Deliver  remaining unsold.  If you have a lot of product that will likely be returned on November 11, PLEASE return some of it Saturday so others who want popcorn can obtain it.   A small amount of additional product has been ordered, but that will likely be taken on Saturday.  Due to the amount of Kettle Corn microwave that was ordered and taken for S&D, and based upon the large amount returned last year, NO more Kettle Corn microwave has been ordered, and we will have that product only if some is returned.

 We, as a Council, ordered a large percentage of last year's total popcorn sale for the S&D portion - much more than last year's S&D order.  Aaron Angel, the Council Popcorn Coordinator, cannot in good conscience order much more, as there is the real possibility of large quantities being returned on November 11.  Product that Council has ordered cannot be returned to Trails End, and the potential failure to sell that product represents a financial loss to Council.  Remember that product you do not have in hand CAN be obtained in the Take Order portion of the sale for Delivery on or before December 1.

Exchange Saturdays will continue 8 - 10 AM at the Big Bear Warehouse, 851 West Third Avenue (Grandview Heights area) on the FAR EAST side of the building unless otherwise notified.

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Electronic version of the take order form

I have prepared an electronic version of the Take Order form.  It does not include the product picture & description page, and is designed to log orders because the Scout's primary form is filled.  The primary form including color pictures would be used to show customers the products.   I can email the electronic version if requested.  Regular forms are available at Saturday exchange day or from me; call before you come to confirm I still have some.

The complete product page and order form is also now available in PDF form on the www.skcbsa.org web site.  Paper order forms may be picked up at the Council off ices.

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Selling the MIlitary product is just like selling a tin of popcorn

There have been some questions regarding the sale of the "Military donation".  It is just like selling any other popcorn product:

• The customer wants to order X units of the military donation.
• You enter the number of units on the order sheet (hopefully along with his own order for popcorn).
• You collect $25 for each Military Donation unit sold.
• The customer writes a check to your Pack / Troop / Crew (or pays in cash) for the total popcorn purchase.
• You will ideally issue the customer a thank you note for the Military Donation (thank you notes are available on the Council web site).
• Your unit (Pack, Troop) will be invoiced 68% of the total popcorn sale including the Military Donation.  The unit retains 32%, your share of the profit.
• There is no popcorn to handle - the amount allotted to the Military sale goes to Trails End which will earmark those funds for the Military program.

This means that if you are a Pack / Troop doing JUST Military sales, you still have the order and payment / Unit Master Record deadlines that everyone else has.  Please call me if you have any questions regarding this matter.

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Dublin Kroger banned popcorn sales due to unruly Scouts!

We are guests at the stores that invite us to set up Show & Sell operations.  There are a few units every year that forget this principle, and ruin it for all.  I received this message from one of our Popcorn Kernels:

......the Pack had a lot of boys there and they were quite unruly,  blocking customers access to and from the store.  The manager asked them several times to move their location and the Pack wouldn't do it.  So, the manager actually asked them to leave right then.   At that time the manager was frustrated with popcorn selling and called all Packs/Troops and canceled selling at his store.

PLEASE -  limit the number of Scouts who attend a sale so the effect is not that of a hoard of locusts!  Have enough parents to supervise the Scouts, and keep them in control.  There are other stores which have banned popcorn sales, and willing participants may soon be very limited.  If you have many Scouts who want to share in the sale, rotate them in and out in 1/2 hour increments, and share the total for all those attending throughout the sale.  REMEMBER - it is generally more effective to do door to door sales in the neighborhoods.

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Does your business have a warehouse within 5 miles of I-71 / Dublin Granville Road?

Council is looking for a warehouse that might have an area about 20' X 60' (1200 square feet) of space that we could use for short term storage of popcorn, have unlimited access and have dock high loading facilities (for tractor trailers).  If you know of a larger warehouse within 10 miles which has 100' X 200' (20,000 square feet of space) that would be available the last week of November, let me know.  Our present warehouse facilities offer very limited access, and we are always looking for the ideal facility.  Grove City (used the past two years) was excellent, but it is quite far away.

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Next message - early November

Unless something unexpected comes up, the next message will go out about November 3, and will cover Show & Deliver return ( Sunday, November 11) and Take Orders which are due Wednesday, November 14.

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Please call me if you have any questions.  Lets make this a great sale!

Terry Smith 8-)

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Message #4 -- Sept. 28, 2007
Popcorn sale begins Saturday - misc. important information
.

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Contents:

• Health hazard Diacetyl powder removed from Trails End Popcorn
• Capitalize on the Support Our Troops program!
• Exchange days (pick up & return product) 8:00 - 10:00 AM
• Trails-End Trading Post now active
• Take special care of your Show & Deliver product!
• Are the appropriate leaders receiving popcorn emails?
  
• Unit master record spreadsheet coming in 2 weeks
  
• Summary of messages sent to date
• 2200 miles in 2 weeks across UK - a summary
  

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  Health hazard Diacetyl powder removed from Trails End Popcorn

You likely heard about the microwave popcorn health warning about a month ago.  Specifically, the Diacetyl powder used to provide the great buttery flavor has been found to cause lung problems in plant workers, and even health problems in people who consume huge amounts of microwave popcorn.  

Trails-End, in an industry leading move, eliminated the diacetyl from its products before the news came out, and we are selling a product that is diacetyl free.  The microwave boxes should all have stickers on them; many Popcorn Kernels have received stickers for the order forms, and more are available from the Council Service Center.  A flyer explaining this whole issue in detail may be found on the www.Trails-End.com web site.  Under the 5 large buttons at the top of the page, you will see the "microwave popcorn with no diacetyl" download.  Every Scout should have a copy with his order form!

Capitalize on the Support Our Troops program!

Remember that there is great potential to add to your sales by asking the customer if they care to order a Support Our Troops popcorn gift.  Details include:

• Individual serving sizes are distributed to troops.
• Distribution may include overseas and domestic locations as requested by the military and as available from this sale.
  
• Packaging does not include tins.
• Distribution is done directly from Trails End warehouses.
• The military is very thankful for the program thus far!
• The program has resulted in a very positive reaction towards Scouting.
• The Unit (Pack, Troop) and Council retain their profit margins with the military program, so the sale supports both military with product AND Scouting with financial support!

Exchange days (pick up & return product) 8:00 - 10:00 AM

The popcorn calendar shows the exchange days.  NOTE: October 13 has been canceled!  Notes on the exchange days:

• Location: The Old Big Bear Warehouse – 851 W. Third Ave., Columbus, OH 43212
• Time: 8:00 - 10:00 AM
  
• You may return product that you ordered too much of, and will likely not use.  Please make it available to other units which might be able to sell it.
• You may pick up product for which you ordered too little.
• Even if you did not order show & deliver product at all, you may still obtain product for S&D.
• Note that there is no guarantee of which products and how much will be available!

 

Trails-End Trading Post now active

The Trading Post may be found on the Trails End web site within the Families, Councils and Leaders buttons at the top of the T-E home page.  The Trading Post offers materials for sale that can be used to improve unit popcorn kickoff programs.

   

Take special care of your Show & Deliver product!

Show & Deliver represents a substantial investment in product.  PLEASE - take care not to dent the tins (do not load boxes with tins on their sides) and do not leave caramel products in a hot car.  We received several returned cases of melted product last year, which results in Council eating (literally) product that WE pay for but cannot sell!

Unit master record spreadsheet coming in 2 - 3 weeks

Repeating the practice of previous years, I will product an Excel spreadsheet that ties in the Unit Master record, Take Order product order form and prize order form.  I will attach it to an email message and sent it to everyone when it is completed.

Are the appropriate leaders receiving popcorn emails?

If not, please email Terry at waterwizard@beol.net and  if you have any urgent questions, you may phone him at 614-268-7560 (home and office number).  I may be out of town for a whole day; if you have not received a reply after 2 days, please call me.

Summary of messages sent to date

The following key messages have been sent to date.  If you need messages resent, or copies of training materials, please request them via email.

• Message #1 - Popcorn training dates; popcorn information card enclosed. (Unit Popcorn Kernels cannot order on line without our having this information).
• Message #2 - Show & Deliver orders due; popcorn tools attached including 2007 popcorn details for the Kernel; sample popcorn fund raising letter to parents (different version for Pack and Troop).
• Message #3 - Show & Deliver pickup dates & times (applies only to units doing S&D).
• Message #4 - Popcorn sale starts Saturday, Sept. 29; misc. important details (this message).
  

2200 miles in 2 weeks across UK - a summary

Many of you have asked how our trip to the UK went.  So here is a brief synopsis:

The main purpose of the trip with my wife, son and her parents was to attend our daughter's wedding - which was lovely!  The trip also included castles (pristine & in picturesque ruins); beautiful landscape & flowers; coal mine; cave in Cheddar; Welsh cultural & woolen museums; coastal cliffs;  Edinburgh castle; Scottish highlands; Harry Potter's Hogworts Express (steam train) across the arched bridge in northern Scotland; pubs with local ale; sampled black pudding and haggis at full Scottish breakfast; shifting gears with my LEFT hand!  Travelogue available upon request - AFTER popcorn season!

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Message #2 -- August 27, 2007

TO: Pack, Troop & Crew leaders, Popcorn Kernels
RE:  Are you doing Show & Deliver; sales tools

  Unit # (example: "Pack 356"):  ___________
Will / will not participate in show & deliver :  ________
*** It is important that we know who intends to participate.  If you indicate that you are participating, and we do not have your order, we will endeavor to determine where it is.

Please confirm that your counterpart (the unit leader or popcorn kernel) has also received this message.  ALL messages will go the the leader & PK to insure continuity of communication!  Let me know if there is someone who should be added / deleted from this list!

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Contents of this message include:
     Show & Deliver orders due Monday, September 10, 4:00 pm
     Popcorn sales & kickoff tools for your use
        No selling or order taking until September 29!

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Show & Deliver orders due Monday, September 10, 4:00 pm

Show & Deliver is the most profitable method of selling popcorn:

• This is selling door-to-door (or taking samples to the work place) with a take-order form and product in hand.
• Having product in hand lets the customer see the beautiful packaging.  This applies especially to the OSU Tin, where customers may be encouraged to purchase for tailgate events (GO BUCKS!)
• You may hand out samples of the product - may encourage a customer to purchase popcorn for a Holiday gift or buy up to a more expensive product.  Having the Chocolate Lovers Tin in hand can really generate gift sales!
  
• Research shows that customers spend more at home ($ 14 per sale) than they do at a storefront ($ 7.45 per sale).
• Selling, delivering & collecting money in one step eliminates multiple visits to the same house.
• Makes the sale more profitable - you do the sale in half the time, enabling you to sell more popcorn.
  
• Show & Deliver makes the most productive use of family time!

Ordering product - no risk!

• Units are encouraged to order 50% - 75% of the previous year's sale (figures available on-line at trails-end.com.)
• Any remaining product may be used for the take-order portion of the sale.
• Any and all unused product may be returned (in individual container quantities) for full credit on Sunday, November 12.
• Please take care to NOT dent tins or leave product in hot garages, cars - melted globs of popcorn result in loss of revenue to Boy Scouts!
• Place orders on the Trails End web site no later than 4:00 pm, Monday, September 10. This is the preferred method
• Contact Terry Smith or Jan Berry (phone numbers above) before Friday, Sept. 7, if you need help getting set up on the web site.
  
• OR bring orders to Council Office and give to Jan Berry no later than 4:00 pm Monday, September 10.
• OR email orders to Jan Berry at the address in the header.
  
• Do  NOT send orders to Terry Smith - Terry will be unavailablre for two weeks, Sept. 7 - Sept. 22, and your orders will live in email limbo until late September!
  
• A Show & Deliver order form is attached for your convenience.
  

    **** Popping Tins (unpopped corn) MAY be available for Show & Deliver ONLY with no option for returning unsold              tins - let me know if you are interested!

     

  Sales tools for communicating with parents, doing popcorn kickoff

• In keeping with past years, I put together a detailed, 4 page how to guide on training your Scouts, holding the kickoff, etc.  You will find it attached above as " 2007 Popcorn Training Details".
  
• Verbal communication is not sufficient; your popcorn sales policy and unit sales goal MUST be put in writing and given or mailed to each parent, and a list maintained as to which parents have received the communication.    The attached "2007 popcorn letter to PACK parents" (and a similar one for TROOP parents) serves as a draft for you to modify as you need to for your unit. 
  
• We highly recommend using  Scout Accounts as described in the letters; please call me if you have any questions on how this works and how it results in MORE popcorn being sold!  I have a presentation and handout written for Unit Committee and all parents.
  
• You may obtain a selection of the smaller Trails-End prizes from our Council Service Center on Dublin Granville Road.  Call 436-7200 and ask for Aaron Angel, Council Popcorn Coordinator to arrange for a box of prizes.  Pick it up the day of your unit kickoff, return it the next day.  First come, first served!
  
• Log on to trails-end.com, click on "families" and check out some of the great help located therein; ALL families should view these pages!:
• The "What's New" page.
• <>The "Trading Post" (coming in late August) - kickoff in a box will be available!
• The "Fedex - Kinkos" page (coming in late August) - TRails End materials available locally!
• The "Support our Troops" page - publicity materials and thank you cards that can be downloaded and printed.
  

REMEMBER - the better you prepare for the kickoff, the better you will motivate your Scouts to sell more popcorn to support their program!

Remember - NO selling, order taking or order forms taken to work before September 29!


Please call me or Jan Berry if you have any questions.  Lets make this a great sale!

Terry Smith 8-)

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Message #1 --August 4
Contents of this message include:
     Simple & Profitable for '07
     Popcorn training will be on Wednesday, August 15 - attending a training is required for units receiving free insignia!
     Important dates throughout the sale

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Simple & Profitable for '07 - the highlights
      Our Popcorn Action Team has set up a super program for us this year, very similar to that of 2006.  The highlights include:

• Sale dates - Saturday, September 29  - Wednesday, November 14
  
• 32% profit to the Pack / Troop / Crew
  
• Trails End prizes are free - no loss of profit to the unit!  Prizes encourage more selling.
• Same products as last year PLUS the ability to give a $25 donation of popcorn to the military (unit profit & prizes apply to this sale).
• Some products are now lower in salt and fat, and lower in trans fat!
  
• Fill a form (25 orders) - Scout receives a special patch and certificate PLUS one ticket to the February 2, 2008 OSU men's hockey game for EACH form filled!
• Top 10 selling Scouts in Council will receive an OSU men's basketball experience of a lifetime for 2 persons
  
• Scout sells $1500 > receives $ 50 gift card from Trails-End
  
• Scout sells $2500 > qualifies for Trails End Scholarship program (once qualified - 6% of initial qualifying sale and 6% all future sales add money to scholarship)

Popcorn training will be on Wednesday, August 15

• Location - Northwest Christian Church, 1340 Fishinger Road, Upper Arlington (on Fishinger road about 1/4 mile west of Kenny Road)
  
• Time - 7:00 - 9:00 pm
• Presenters - the training will be presented by Aaron Angel, the Council Popcorn Coordinator, along with representatives from Trails-End!
  

     Training will include (but will not be limited to) the following topics:
     1.    Responsibilities of the Popcorn Kernel – training the Scouts, record keeping, etc.
     2.    How to plan a successful unit kickoff which will increase unit popcorn sales!
     3.    Using the Ideal Year of Scouting concept to set unit & Scout sales goals.
     4.    Details of the show & sell (pre order) program – how it generates more sales!
     5.    Blitz day – assigning areas; record keeping for continuing sales on a street.
     6.    Selling popcorn to a business to enhance sales.    
     7.    Ensuring that you receive Scouts’ orders on time.
     8.    How the Trails End prizes - at no cost this year -  result in greater sales.
     9.    Preparing your unit popcorn order form and turning it in.
     10.  Ordering your popcorn on the Trails End web site.   

    

Important dates throughout the sale:

• Wednesday, August 15 - Training
• Monday, September 10 - Show & Deliver orders due
  
• Saturday, September 22 (might be scheduled Thursday / Friday) - Show & Deliver product pickup
• Saturday, September 29 - Popcorn Sale starts
  
• Saturdays September 29 and October 6, 13, 20, 27, and November 3 - Popcorn Exchange Day - come to the popcorn warehouse to return excess popcorn or pick up more popcorn to increase the effectiveness of your show & sell program!
  
• Sunday, November 11  - Show & Deliver product return / pick up small take order (if product is available)
  
• Wednesday, November 14 - Take orders due - on line ordering or paperwork to Council office
  
• Saturday, December 1 - Popcorn pickup (might be scheduled Thursday / Friday)
• Friday, December 21- payment due; last day to submit prize orders
  

       Additional timely messages will provide details on pertinent aspects of the sale!