It’s Time to Plan Your Unit’s Fall Roundup

Schools are back in session and it's time for packs, troops and crews to plan their fall recruitment. As students return to school it is time to reach out into the community and recruit new youth and adults into packs, troops and crews. Here are a few suggestions to help make your fall recruitment a success:

• Order recruitment flyers from your District Executive and distribute them to the schools your unit serves. Flyers should invite families to attend your unit’s Recruitment Night.
• Plan early since flyers must be approved by the school district.
• Recruitment Night is your unit’s opportunity to show off – demonstrate and display your program at its best. Actively involve visiting families in your program. Adult leaders should be available to answer questions and help fill out application forms. Distribute your unit’s annual calendar and a list of contact people with their phone numbers.
• Know, before your Recruitment Night, which leadership positions need to be filled.
• Create leader biographies and distribute copies to new families.
• Invite families to attend the first few unit meetings.
• Provide each new family with a six month unit calendar.
• Register at least one adult in every family as a member of your unit committee. This will encourage them to become involved in your unit – and you can never have too much help.
• Hold a new parent orientation within a week after your Recruitment Night.
• Each pack and troop should plan to make a presentation at its elementary or junior high school open house. Try to secure a table in an area of high visibility. If possible, secure a few minutes on the agenda (the school principal and PTA President can help with this).
• Challenge each boy in your unit to bring a friend to the Recruitment Night, and also to your next meeting.
• Finally, make sure all new boys and their parents get registered with BSA promptly.