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2. Leave the jargon, complicated details, gossip, and war stories for a later time. These people are joining a den and a pack--not a district or a council--so just focus on pack-level terms. They're joining in August or September, so don't focus on day camp, resident camp, Summertime Pack Award, how our dens might weekly through the school year but then just meet monthly during the summer, etc.
3. Have a packet for each family that includes the year's calendar, key leader phone numbers, a page or two of general Cub Scout info, etc. That way they have the key information in writing, in case they have to leave early or miss something you say.
4. Have a sign-in sheet at the door and get everyone's name and phone number. Thay way you can contact people who don't sign up for whatever reason.
5. If people want to sign up and leave, let them. You can fill them in later on the details they missed. Don't turn them off to Cub Scouting because they have to endure a 90-minute meeting just to sign their kid up.
6. Explicitly tell people what they should do next (e.g., buy a Wolf book, come to the pack meeting next Thursday, etc.). Don't assume that they can extract the critical few details from the mass of information they'll receive.
7. Recruiting den leaders at School Night is a delicate process. Remember, these people don't understand (yet) that Scouting is a family activity. To them, signing up for Cub Scouting is no different than signing up for baseball. They assume you already have leaders in place and all they need to do is pay. Gently disabuse them of this notion.
8. Have a date/time/location for Fast Start training scheduled in advance. Gather your new leaders briefly at School Night and announce this training date. Don't worry about basic training (unless it's the following week), roundtable, Pow Wow, or Wood Badge. Just get them to Fast Start and get their den meetings going. (Some people think it's reassuring to explain all the training opportunities that are available--I think doing so makes people think the job is just too complicated.)
9. Well before School Night, confirm the leadership and membership of your existing dens. (In fact, they should start holding meetings even before School Night.) Also make sure as many pack leadership positions as possible are already filled. That way, on School Night you can concentrate on filling existing dens and creating new dens. You'll know exactly what you have and what you need. Current Scouts need not attend School Night to sign up again.
9. Displays are great because they tell the Scouting story without taking time out from your meeting. Plus, pictures and pinewood derby cars are more effective than speeches.
10. Have a pre-opening activity for those who arrive early (something simple like a Cub Scout word search).
11. Have plenty of pens, tons of applications, and spare change.
12. Have lots of leaders around in uniform to answer questions and direct traffic.
13. As for money, just focus on the basic registration and Boys' Life fees at School Night; this is probably the amount that the council puts on its flyers. You can explain that the pack charges dues and that there are fees for certain activities, but leave the details till later.
14. Have displays and other promotions in the school in the days leading up to School Night. Have boys wear uniforms one day or raise the flag or lead the Pledge on the school's morning TV news.
15. Ask your leaders to think back to the School Night where they signed up. What were their expectations? What did they need to know? What was good and bad about the School Night they attended?
Well, that's probably more than you wanted to know. Hopefully these ideas will help you have a GREAT School Night this year!