Openings in our upcoming Fall Woodbadge course

[eaglebeader]

Hi everyone,

We are filling our course for the fall of 2006 and need a few more bodies, how have others recurited for the course. We have about 30 days to recruit 10 more particapants. What has worked for other councils? We are a small Council in Southern MN and have not had a course since 2002. Please help me brainstorm some ideas.

Thanks,

 

[emb021]

Some things I've seen: one-on-one recruitement at scouting events by WBers with those who have not gone thru the course.

 

Letters from SE to those who haven't attended, asking them to.

 

If cost of the course is making it hard for some to attend, work on creating a WB scholarship to help defray the costs (this is a more long-term thing). Also encourage units to help cover the costs to get their adult thru the course (perhaps contingent on them completing their tickets).

 

And you can always look toward surrounding councils as well. There may be scouters in the other councils who haven't been able to attend their council's event because of scheduling conflicts (and since many council typically use the same dates each year, this can be an on-going problem for some).

 

[SueM]

Make sure that you check with your council to see if perhaps they don't have a "benefactor" who would be willing to subsidize WB Scholarships.

 

Also try to get a list of Cub Scouter's...don't overlook them!

 

sue m.

[Eamonn]

Set a goal for all the Staff members.

Eamonn

[CubsRgr8]

Don't just include Cub Scout leaders - target them! A letter from the SE to each Cubmaster, Committee Chair and WDL, specifically mentioning his/her desire for more Cubbers to attend Woodbadge, followed up by phone calls from their DEs, and then the Woodbadge staff. If they say "no thanks", find out their reasons so that the staff can address those concerns for next time. Then, make SURE the staff treat the Cubbers well during the course so that they come back to their units ready to spread the news of how great Woodbadge was. Remember - for every SM, there is at least 5 registered Cubbers out there, many who don't know much about Boy Scouting and for whom Woodbadge would be an eye-opening experience. Go for it!

[Cheerful Eagle]

Here's my 2Cents:

 

Most extra circulars/form letters to CC and CM are going to go into the "circular file". Recruiting for this kind of time/monetary committment needs a more personal approach.

 

Ask your TG's to visit Cubber's roundtables (Ok maybe it's too late for that but maybe August isn't too late?). They could do a short humorus skit to recruit for woodbadge. Make 'em laugh and realize that maybe this could be alot of fun discuised as "training". [Virtious Scouter to spouce: "Honey, I'm off to a greuling three-day training." *looks nobel, sacrificing*. *Once out of house, with other scouters, gleefully "Last one to camp's a rotten egg!"]

 

For example:

 

10 reasons Not to go to WB

--10. The garage/home office/yard really needs to be organized NOW.

-- 9. Laughing gives you hives.

-- 8. You've heard of "critter lust" and it sounds too scarey.

-- 7. Women can't camp. *duck and cover on that one :-)*

-- 6. You have too many friends now as it is.

-- 5. ...

 

anyone?

[SueM]

5. I've heard ALL this stuff before!!

6. I look terrible in Tartan