Jump to content

What are your best/most effective volunteer recruitment ideas?


Recommended Posts

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 post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites

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?!?

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites

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.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites
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 post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...