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 An Introduction to the Basics of a Troop Mascot | |||
 COURSE 3 | |||
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Hi Classmates! How are the classes going? Did you find anything useful? Are you ready for a Mascot yet? Would you like more info? Well then lets get started with our next lesson. Disclaimer: Parts of this lesson get rather harsh, this is not ment as a slam on anyone in particular. But those that have been there, done that, got the T-shirt can take solace in knowing that we are trying to teach the next generation of mascot troops good mascot etiquette. | ||
| Setting up your Mascots Schedule. There are many ways to keep your schedule. Troops keep schedules differently, you will have to find what works best for you. We keep ours in a MS Word 97 document. We used a table to keep Skip's Schedule info organized. I keep the document on a diskette just in case of (Oh, can I say the words?) a computer crash. We also printed out the e-mails from the host troop with all their info and keep it in a file labeled SKIP. Some troops will only do even exchanges for protection, others do even exchanges because its kind of neat when the girls know that the mascot they are hosting right now belongs to the troop hosting their own mascot. Sometimes even exchanges just do not work due to booked schedules or circumstances beyond your control. Some troops schedule their mascot so it takes a certain journey, all 50 states, just the East Coast, just the West coast. We know of one mascot that visited a troop that belonged to the council where each girl in the troop was born. Some troops just host mascots. There are a few thing to consider when starting you schedule: 1. Do you have major events planned that you would want the mascot home for? 2. How long do you want the mascot on the road before coming home? Start by writing each month down starting with the first month you want your mascot to go out. We got Skip (our first mascot) in January and the first month on his schedule was April (plenty of planning and playing time). Fill in the months that you want your mascot home (for example October-campout, May-Court of Awards). Then start filling in the months as you make arrangements. It was helpful to have a printed copy when answering email or posting requests on forums. We required certain information from our hosts in order to track our mascot in case the got lost or delayed. Leader's Name Mailing Address and phone # Troop # and Level # of Girls E-mail address Council Name & Phone # Alternate Contact with email and phone # Some troops now require references from another troop that you have hosted for before. Remember, troops that have had a good experience with you will almost always be a reference for you, just ask them. Return to the Mascot U Course Listing | |||
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| How do you find hosts for your mascot? You can find hosts over the Internet at the Mascot Exchange Program Forum, the GS/GG Forum, All Troop's Exchange Forum, the Mascot Lists, at troop websites, America On Line Traveling Mascot forums. You can also try a troop in your Service Unit or Neighborhood. How about letting you Sister Troop or Pen Pal Troop host the first month of you schedule? Return to the Mascot U Course Listing | |||
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| How to be a good host troop! Being a good host is easy if your remember a few simple things. 1. Always communicate with the home troop. 2. Make the visiting mascot part of your troop. 3. Take the mascot to all your meeting and events. 4. Read the mascots journal and stories to your troop. 5. Record your adventures with the mascots in it's journal. 6. Tell the home troop about your troop and your home town. 7. Have Fun! 8. Mail the mascot and all it's belongings to the next troop on time. Return to the Mascot U Course Listing | |||
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| Mailing a Mascot This is very important to the success of the Mascot Exchange Program. Mailing the mascot out on time will ensure that the next troop get its full time with the mascot. US Priority Mail gets there relatively quick, but it is your responsibility as a good host to mail it on time. We request that our mascots be sent by the 25th of the month so we are sure it arrives the First Week of the Month. We also ask that in order to keep on schedule host do not wait until the last minute to develope film. We would rather the mascot go on time and the pictures be sent directly to us if necessary. We know events happen at the end of the month also, but we can get the pictures in the photo album later. Before you mail the mascot out, make sure the box is secure and the addresss are legiable. We send pre-printed labels with our mascots. That way if there is a mistake in the address it is our fault. We also want our address to be the return address. That way if the address is wrong it will be sent home and we will pay to send it out again not the last host troop. The average cost to send an average mascot box is between $5.50 and $7.50. You must be prepared for this cost plus the cost of any patches and souvenirs that you include. Please think seriously about the cost before hosting a mascot. Do not host a mascot and them decide that you can not afford to send it back out. Return to the Mascot U Course Listing | |||
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| E-mailing E-mail, E-mail, E-mail It's also very important to e-mail the Home troop when the mascot arrives and when it is sent out. This way the Home Troop can let the next troop know the mascot is on its way. And they can also keep track of their mascot. It's not necessary to write a book for this, just a quick note is good. It's also very important to return e-mails from the Host troop. We know life gets crazy, things happen and computers crash. There are other way to contact the troop. Make your whole troop (even parents) aware of how the program works. Deputize your Co-Leader or another Mom or Dad. Ask how many hve e-mail accounts, you may be very surprised. If an emergency comes up and you are unable to contact the home troop have someone else do it for you. If an emergency or something comes up and you are unable to send the mascot out on time have someone else do it. Under no circumstances are you allowed to keep the mascot and ignore the home troop. We have called councils and done what is necessary to get mascots back. We know of one leader that held several mascot and would not send them out. We even suggested she send them COD and we would pay the shipping. Her council took a very hard look at this leader and she was not reappointed as a leader the following year. Don't get in over your head and don't be afraid to ask for help. Almost every Mascot Mom understands and will help out if asked. | |||
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