Activity 1 | Income and Expenses
Prepare flip chart paper or a markerboard for the following discussion.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Leaders who desire a meaningful, exciting, and comprehensive youth program that achieves the objectives of both Exploring and of the participating organization will find this budget planning activity rather fruitful.
What is the unit’s budget plan? It is implementing the elements of a complete annual Exploring program for youth, committing as a unit to incorporating these elements, and then providing adequate funding for them. Even more, it is committing to implementing the plan with the entire post or club—Explorers, leaders, and families—by raising enough dollars to fund the program. The result is a well-managed, well-financed program.
The steps to planning your post or club’s annual budget are:
Refer to your Exploring program’s previous budget, if applicable.
Calendarize the unit’s complete annual program – meetings, meals, site visits, parties, events, etc.
Develop a budget that includes enough income to deliver the complete program.
Identify all sources of income (program fees, participating organization contributions), and then determine the amount that should be raised through Exploring fundraisers.
Obtain sales goal commitments (including by dates) from parents, leaders, all Explorers, and/or the participating organization.
Text in italics should be read aloud to participants. As you engage your Exploring unit (club or post) in activities each week, please include comments, discussions, and feedback to the group relating to Character, Leadership, and Ethics. These are important attributes that make a difference in the success of youth in the workplace and in life.
Prepare flip chart paper or a markerboard for the following discussion.