CubScoutIdeas Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 One of the readers of my website, CubScoutIdeas.com, asked how to recruit parents into leadership roles. Another reader asked how to recruit boys into her pack whose parents are willing to help out. What ideas do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scouter99 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Tell them it's just an ~hour a week; it's worked on me over and over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Ding Dong Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Promises of fame and fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IM_Kathy Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 biggest benefits I got in being a leader and a coach... being a part of child's life and being final say on days/times so will better fit schedules. another way that I got parents involved just to help out was to have them fill out a sheet of what they can do... it really paid off when we got to webelos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubScoutIdeas Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 Tell them it's just an ~hour a week; it's worked on me over and over.HA! I think I'll try that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubScoutIdeas Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 Promises of fame and fortune.So, that's why everyone looks down when I'm trying to get them to do something--they are stunned by my fame & fortune! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubScoutIdeas Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 biggest benefits I got in being a leader and a coach... being a part of child's life and being final say on days/times so will better fit schedules. another way that I got parents involved just to help out was to have them fill out a sheet of what they can do... it really paid off when we got to webelos Great idea, IM_Kathy! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubScoutIdeas Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 Thought you would all get a chuckle out of this. I found it on the BSA website: "There's no guarantee that you will be selected for a leadership position right away. The selection process is fairly competitive, and you may be competing with a large number of candidates for a small number of positions. But packs and councils are always grateful for volunteers and should be able to find a place where you can help out until the exact position you're interested in comes open." Seriously?!? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kari_cardi Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Thought you would all get a chuckle out of this. I found it on the BSA website: "There's no guarantee that you will be selected for a leadership position right away. The selection process is fairly competitive, and you may be competing with a large number of candidates for a small number of positions. But packs and councils are always grateful for volunteers and should be able to find a place where you can help out until the exact position you're interested in comes open." Seriously?!? Some local units have a plethora of volunteers, some do not. I think few have just the right number of skilled leaders to volunteer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kari_cardi Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 I've done most of the recruiting for adult volunteers for our units in the last 5 years or so. My method works as follows: 1. Start small. Design some meetings early on that require adults to work with their own scouts. Show them that they are needed and that BSA isn't a babysitting service. If the adults are left to sit in the back of the room, they will eventually leave the room. Or, for a troop, ask the parents to stay and help with the trailer or storage unit or other small job with another leader. 2. Give them a few simple jobs to do, one-time responsibilities. Praise them wildly. 3. Offer a volunteer position in flattering tones. Make them feel needed for the unit to function. Tell them why you think they are a good fit for the job, and how much you will enjoy working with them. Matching the person to the position really is key. 4. Promise cookies. The above method works over time, but when you need a warm body RIGHT NOW: 1. Beg shamelessly. Ask everyone and ask often. 2 Promise cookies. Take requests for favorite cookie flavor, and follow-up with a warm, fresh batch ASAP. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Ding Dong Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 I've done most of the recruiting for adult volunteers for our units in the last 5 years or so. My method works as follows: 1. Start small. Design some meetings early on that require adults to work with their own scouts. Show them that they are needed and that BSA isn't a babysitting service. If the adults are left to sit in the back of the room, they will eventually leave the room. Or, for a troop, ask the parents to stay and help with the trailer or storage unit or other small job with another leader. 2. Give them a few simple jobs to do, one-time responsibilities. Praise them wildly. 3. Offer a volunteer position in flattering tones. Make them feel needed for the unit to function. Tell them why you think they are a good fit for the job, and how much you will enjoy working with them. Matching the person to the position really is key. 4. Promise cookies. The above method works over time, but when you need a warm body RIGHT NOW: 1. Beg shamelessly. Ask everyone and ask often. 2 Promise cookies. Take requests for favorite cookie flavor, and follow-up with a warm, fresh batch ASAP. Great advise. I have been promising popcorn and not cookies. How stupid of me, everyone likes cookies, popcorn not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutNut Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Thought you would all get a chuckle out of this. I found it on the BSA website: "There's no guarantee that you will be selected for a leadership position right away. The selection process is fairly competitive, and you may be competing with a large number of candidates for a small number of positions. But packs and councils are always grateful for volunteers and should be able to find a place where you can help out until the exact position you're interested in comes open." Seriously?!? One year, at Graduation, I introduced the new upcoming Wolf den leaders from my (now former) Tiger den. We had a pretty hefty sized den that year, and I had recruited 3 parents. After the introduction, I had a dad come up to me all upset because I had not mentioned his name also. I apologized, and told him the more, the merrier! For that den of 12 we ended up with 3 registered leaders, and 3-4 other parents who helped out on a regular basis. Another year I had 4 Tigers. Every single parent wanted to be involved with the den. For the Wolf year we had 3 registered as leaders with the others helping. That group was a recruiting machine! By Webelos they were up to 10 Scouts in their den! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nike Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 I've done most of the recruiting for adult volunteers for our units in the last 5 years or so. My method works as follows: 1. Start small. Design some meetings early on that require adults to work with their own scouts. Show them that they are needed and that BSA isn't a babysitting service. If the adults are left to sit in the back of the room, they will eventually leave the room. Or, for a troop, ask the parents to stay and help with the trailer or storage unit or other small job with another leader. 2. Give them a few simple jobs to do, one-time responsibilities. Praise them wildly. 3. Offer a volunteer position in flattering tones. Make them feel needed for the unit to function. Tell them why you think they are a good fit for the job, and how much you will enjoy working with them. Matching the person to the position really is key. 4. Promise cookies. The above method works over time, but when you need a warm body RIGHT NOW: 1. Beg shamelessly. Ask everyone and ask often. 2 Promise cookies. Take requests for favorite cookie flavor, and follow-up with a warm, fresh batch ASAP. Brownies work, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packsaddle Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Thought you would all get a chuckle out of this. I found it on the BSA website: "There's no guarantee that you will be selected for a leadership position right away. The selection process is fairly competitive, and you may be competing with a large number of candidates for a small number of positions. But packs and councils are always grateful for volunteers and should be able to find a place where you can help out until the exact position you're interested in comes open." Seriously?!? ROTFL!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kari_cardi Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 I've done most of the recruiting for adult volunteers for our units in the last 5 years or so. My method works as follows: 1. Start small. Design some meetings early on that require adults to work with their own scouts. Show them that they are needed and that BSA isn't a babysitting service. If the adults are left to sit in the back of the room, they will eventually leave the room. Or, for a troop, ask the parents to stay and help with the trailer or storage unit or other small job with another leader. 2. Give them a few simple jobs to do, one-time responsibilities. Praise them wildly. 3. Offer a volunteer position in flattering tones. Make them feel needed for the unit to function. Tell them why you think they are a good fit for the job, and how much you will enjoy working with them. Matching the person to the position really is key. 4. Promise cookies. The above method works over time, but when you need a warm body RIGHT NOW: 1. Beg shamelessly. Ask everyone and ask often. 2 Promise cookies. Take requests for favorite cookie flavor, and follow-up with a warm, fresh batch ASAP. Brownies do work, of course! They are considered bar cookies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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