Lessons from Cub Scouts Pack #365
We sure do love this story.
It’s All in the Follow Through
The Cub Scouts behind this story had more than candy on their minds this Halloween.
As some of the pack members headed out in their costumes through the Dundee neighborhood in Omaha, NE, one of the boys happened to mention his troop’s upcoming food drive while trick-or-treating at one of the homes.
That single moment could have ended there, but it didn’t.
The next day, the same scout, along with a friend and fellow Cub Scout, returned to the man’s home to follow through. They handed the man a flyer promoting the Sunday food drive, then continued leafletting other homes in the neighborhood to spread the word.
That man was Omaha’s longest-serving City Councilmember Pete Festersen.
Always Be Connecting
Festersen took a look at the flyer and immediately started connecting the dots. He asked the students and their parents if he could help promote the effort and attend the event. Then it kept getting better: Pete’s colleagues from CHI Health brought a planned donation to support the Food Bank of the Midlands, and Pete invited the Mayor of Omaha John Ewing.
And this is what happened:
(And here’s another great news story the food drive received.)
Some of the Cub Scouts were part of the press conference. Some were crawling on the boxes as the cameras rolled. Some kept taking donations. It was an authentic alignment of strategy and care for the community, from the youngest cub to the city’s most powerful.
What the Cub Scouts are Teaching
This story has been on my mind all week. I keep returning to the scene at Councilmember Pete’s front door. The youth caring about strangers as much as their candy haul and promoting the food drive and returning with a flyer. Pete connecting with colleagues and the Mayor. The parents and Cub Scout members waking up early to set up. And the media recognizing the news value on a Sunday morning when they could easily have passed.
These connected moments show how meaningful communication happens.
Here are some takeaways:
1. Look for the double word scores.
If an action already connects people, adds value, or builds goodwill, ask how to amplify it without adding unnecessary complexity.
Hat Tip: We learned the concept of a double or triple word score from our former University of Nebraska at Omaha colleague Dan Shipp, who is now leading the Saints of Maryville.
2. Always be connecting.
Your networks are assets. Activate them to lift up good ideas, good people, and good work. The Cub Scouts and Pete modeled this perfectly.
3. Authenticity beats polish.
Expand who can be involved. Let the kids stand at the lectern, be a spokesperson, and climb on boxes. It makes the story even better and authentic.
4. Small interactions can unlock big outcomes
A flyer handed to the right person at the right time can bring a Mayor, Councilmember, media, and citizens to a food drive. Never underestimate the chain reaction your work can start.
5. Follow through
Do the thing you say you are going to do. Envision the event. Pull a team together. Decide the details. Make the flyer. Promote your event. Distribute the flyer. Collect the food. Deliver the food. Celebrate the achievements. Amplify the successes.
This story illustrates how strategic communications can make the place you live better.