Recruiting from the Hispanic Population

At our district's last Roundtable we had our annual Fireside Chat. This is where members of the Council (professionals, Commish, President, etc.) come to discuss important issues with unit volunteers in the district.

 

During the chat the issue of membership popped up. Our Council's Membership Chairman mentioned that the county's population is increasing. This is true. However, most of the increase is due to an increase in the hispanic population. It was noted during the chat that the district is not keeping up with the population growth.

 

So...how do your units recruit from the hispanic population? How do you appeal to them? As a unit we have had a 0% success rate. As a district the success rate cannot be much higher.

I don't know how successful this would be but I've noticed that the Marines seem to attract many Latinos. Call the local Marine baracks and ask if they have any Latino Marines who were Boy Scouts, especially Eagles.

 

Invite those Marines to accompany you on your recruiting efforts in the Hispanic community. It would also be nice to offer to feed them. :-)

 

 

Ola Amigos,

 

Both of my ASM's are Hispanic - 1st Generation. One is a former Marine and now a Baker. The other is a City economic Development Director. Both are really good role models and speak Spanish. One belongs to the church in town where most of the Hispanics attend. I am hoping that we can cultivate this field by spreading the message with a messenger with a familiar face.

 

Check out the last issue of Scouter magazine. A Hispanic Scoutmaster and his troop in CA were featured as the cover story.

 

Also- Mexicans especially have many cultural/religious celebrations that are really good opportunities for recruiting that I will be taking advantage of. Piatas are much appreciated. Boy Scots hosting such an event isn't stupid either. Showing them that BSA cares and that it isn't a Gringo organization is important.

 

One problem that I foresee arising is the issue of back ground checks and parents info. As a culture they have been put on the defensive about this. At least that is what my ASMs have told me.

 

WE have a little bit of an advantage because we are overtly a Catholic Unit. The Guadalupe and the religious/cultural divide is not as narrow as it is amongst most Caucasian Americans. Embracing their culture is a good gesture of embracing them.

 

Pappy

 

Boy Scouts' focus is on Latino recruiting

 

Betty Reid

The Arizona Republic

Jul. 26, 2005 12:00 AM

 

When it comes to recruiting Arizona's fastest growing population group, Arizona's Boy Scouts simply haven't been prepared.

 

But like good troop leaders, Boy Scouts of America officials assessed their situation and are trying to adapt with a marketing campaign aimed at beefing up Hispanic membership to better reflect the state.

 

"If you look at the demographics, if you look at how the Hispanic population is growing, as an organization we have a responsibility to offer our program to all families," said George Randall, national director of the BSA's Scoutreach. "It is the right thing to do. If you've got a growing population whose values dovetail with the values of Scouting, it's a match." advertisement

 

 

 

 

In Arizona, only one in 10 Boy Scouts is Latino, and leaders here, like many other Valley businesses and organizations, are pushing hard to find ways to tap into Arizona's quickly rising Latino market. However, they face some real challenges including apathy, misconceptions and, at least among immigrant Latinos, that the Boy Scouts are only for the affluent.

 

Arizona BSA leaders are especially looking to heavily Hispanic urban areas in Phoenix, Mesa and Glendale, in hopes of adding to the ranks. Nationally, the Boys Scouts have 3.1 million members; of that 7.3 percent are Hispanic, according to numbers provided by the National Council of Boy Scouts of America's Scoutreach offices in Irving, Texas.

 

In Arizona, there are 52,000 Scouts, and less than 10 percent are Hispanics, according to BSA's Grand Canyon Council. Those numbers exclude units, or troops, organized by many church groups. Larry Abbott, chief executive officer of the Grand Canyon Council, said in 2002 that not enough catered to Valley Hispanics.

 

The council added 50 units since January and is heavily recruiting in apartment facilities in low-income areas of Mesa and south Phoenix, he said. But it continues to struggle in heavily Hispanic areas such as the Pueblo District, which covers south, central and west Phoenix.

 

There are fewer than 100 Latino Scouts in the Pueblo District.

 

Alex Estrella is familiar with the challenges of troop membership. The 16-year-old from south Phoenix joined the Boy Scouts when he was in first grade and saw his troop's numbers dip from 16 to four. He said Scouting just isn't that popular among students.

 

"We get called 'sissies.' It's sad because they don't know what they are missing," Estrella said. "I try to explain shooting 12 gauges and rifles. If they find that sissy, then honestly, they don't know the definition of sissy."

 

The number of Hispanics in Scouts has dipped, especially in Maricopa County since 1993 when 900 Hispanic youngsters were recruited and about eight units started, said Frank Ramirez, now associate director of Scoutreach Division of the National Council of the BSA.

 

A self-described "pioneer" of the Valley's Scout recruitment nearly a decade ago attributes the roller-coaster ride of Hispanic numbers in the Arizona Scouts to family involvement and affordability.

 

"Among Latino families, we don't have a long history of our grandfather or uncles having been Scouts," Ramirez said. "There really isn't that hand-down tradition of a grandfather passing down a uniform to a grandson."

 

Though units continue to exist in Latino neighborhoods, there was not a concerted effort given to the leadership until now, Ramirez said. Scoutreach started in 1998 with a threefold mission to recruit adult leaders, to ensure that minority youths had an opportunity to join and to create a community-based partnership with the national office.

 

Its marketing logo is "Scouting, vale la pena," or "Scouting, it's worth the effort."

 

Scouting can incur costs with the purchase of uniforms and necessary equipment for functions like camping, hiking and other activities. Ramirez said expenses can scare off poor families and immigrants.

 

Librada Martinez, Pueblo District community liaison, believes the Boy Scouts should be a perfect match for many traditional Latino families because the Scouts promote values they hold dear such as education, faith, family and strong relationships. But Martinez concedes that there are challenges to overcome.

 

"(In) our Latino countries, these kinds of programs are for privileged kids," Martinez said.

 

Then there is the language issue. Many Latinos in the Valley are Spanish dominant and some parents believe they won't be able to communicate their needs, so they don't pursue the effort.

 

Martinez said the Pueblo District has printed brochures in Spanish and bought time on Spanish radio and TV stations.

 

Some Hispanic families don't need a heavy nudge to join. Jonathan Fierro, for example, enjoys the Scouts.

 

The 12-year-old joined as a first-grader and spent time with Pack 907 Cub Scout Unit this month at Garfield School, where he learned about maps.

 

"My parents like it because I behave better," he said. "I used to get in fights every day. Student bullies used to push me around, and I would fight. After the Scouts, I just let them talk and I turn my back."

 

 

 

Reach the reporter at betty.reid@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8049

Girl Scouts successful in recruiting Hispanics

 

Associated Press

S

unday, January 28, 2007COMMENTPRINTEMAIL ATLANTA

 

- A program that seeks to recruit Hispanics for Girl Scout troops has been booming in metro Atlanta, with more than 1,600 girls involved by last year in some 46 Hispanic troops.

 

Though Hispanic girls have long been in the Girl Scouts, the organization has recently targeted those who might not speak English for specific recruiting efforts.

 

In 2003, two years after the effort started in metro Atlanta, there were 400 Hispanic Girl Scouts in the area, said Consuelo Luna, who oversees the effort for the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia. Last year, the number had quadrupled, and another 1,000 Hispanic girls belong to traditional troops.

 

"Girl Scouts is basically an American tradition, so being part of this allows them to be a part of America, too," said Jenny Kocher, who is originally from Colombia and oversees Hispanic troops in several metro Atlanta counties.

 

Ms. Kocher recently joined troop leader Norma Mendoza at a meeting in DeKalb County to discuss cookie sales, the Scouts' biggest fundraiser of the year.

 

Ms. Kocher said that girls from the Hispanic troops will have a tougher sale than other Scouts, in part because the Girl Scouts aren't well known among Hispanics.

 

Soledad Ramirez, a Mexican immigrant, had never heard of the Girl Scouts until her 9-year-old daughter asked if she could sign up.

 

But two years after the girl joined, Ms. Ramirez said she can see the benefits.

 

"More than anything, she is learning to respect people," she said.

 

 

From the Sunday, January 28, 2007 edition of the Augusta Chronicle

 

Hispanic/Latino American Demographics in a Changing America

 

 

Printer-Friendly Version

 

Overview

The word Hispanic is a generic term derived from the word Espaa, which is the Spanish word for Spain. People of any race who trace their family origin to a Spanish-speaking country are Hispanic. Hispanic people can be of any race. They constitute a pluralistic society of many national origins.

 

Growing ethnic diversity will continue to create new challenges and opportunities for the Hispanic Emphasis of the Boy Scouts of America.

 

U.S. Hispanics experienced the largest population growth of any racial or ethnic group between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2002. According to the latest U.S. Census figures, the Hispanic population rose to 38.8 million, bringing the total U.S. Hispanic American/Latino population to 42.7 million people.

 

Hispanic Demographics

More than three-quarters of Hispanic Americans/Latinos live in the West and South; half of all Hispanics live in just two states: Texas and California.

The Hispanic population has increased by more than 50 percent since 1990.

People of Mexican origin represented the largest group of Hispanic Americans/Latinos, at 66.8 percent, followed by Puerto Ricans (8.6 percent), Cuban Americans (3.8 percent), and other Hispanic (20.8 percent).

Some counties in nontraditional Hispanic states, such as Georgia and North Carolina, had sizeable proportions of Hispanic populations.

Thirty-five percent of Hispanic Americans/Latinos were less than 18 years of age.

The median age for Hispanic Americans/Latinos is 25.9 years.

Challenges Faced by the BSA

Many professional Scouters and volunteers have discovered some real challenges in organizing traditional Scouting units in predominately Hispanic communities. The reasons are many, but two factors seem to contribute to the struggles many unit-serving executives face:

 

The perception that Scouting is for wealthy families.

Scouting is not a household experience shared by most Hispanic Americans/Latinos.

Many newly arrived immigrants (first-generation Hispanics) from Mexico and parts of Central and South America, and a large number of second-generation families perceive Scouting as a youth program reserved for wealthy families. When a child brings a Cub Scout flier home from school, the conclusion many of these parents draw is that Scouting can't possibly be for them.

 

The second factor is equally challenging. Most Hispanic Americans/Latinos don't have a long tradition of Scouting in their families. The vast majority can honestly say their grandfathers, fathers, and uncles were not in Scouting as youths. This is an unfortunate reality when one takes into account that Hispanic Americans/Latinos are among the most "brand loyal" consumers in this country.

 

Solutions to These Challenges

 

Council executives who are serious about serving their growing Hispanic American/Latino communities should keep in mind that it will take some time for unit-serving executives and volunteers to establish the trust and confidence of Hispanic American/Latino parents about a program that's fairly new to them. Hiring local Hispanic men and women who are bilingual and knowledgeable about the benefits of Scouting can quicken the pace. Also, recruiting Hispanic community leaders to serve in council Scoutreach committees and executive boards is a tremendous plus.

 

Community Resources Available to Local Councils

Most cities in the United States have Hispanic community?based organizations that address the social, political, and economic growth of their communities. Members of these organizations are themselves "movers and shakers" of Hispanic communities, and can be great resources to councils. Examples of these organizations include

 

Hispanic/Latino chambers of commerce

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Local chapters of the National Council of La Raza

Letters of endorsement from these and other national Hispanic organizations are available through the Scoutreach Division and can be helpful in selling Scouting to local Hispanic chapters.

 

Other community resources include

 

Hispanic-owned community newspapers and TV stations

Hispanic small business owners

Churches with a large Hispanic population (e.g., Roman Catholic Church)

Resources Available to Local Councils

The national office produces a wide array of Spanish-language resources designed to assist unit-serving executives in promoting Scouting's awareness in Hispanic communities. These resources, most of which are parent-focused, include bilingual, colorful brochures, fliers, posters, booklets, videos, and training manuals. Especially helpful to unit-serving executives are the following:

 

Marketing to Hispanic Americans in Your Local Council (No. 94-070)

Scouting: It Works for Your Youth brochure (No. 94-098)

!Scouting! Vale la Pena (It's Worth the Effort) posters (No. 94-110)

Your Organization and Scouting brochure for prospective chartered organizations (No. 94-003)

Que Es Scouting? (What Is Scouting?) orientation video for parents (94-124)

Spanish translation of the following handbooks for Hispanic/Latino youth:

Manual del Tiger Cub (94-219)

Manual del Wolf (94-244)

Manual del Bear (94-217).

Manual del Webelos (94-252).

Cub Scouting Tiempo Bien Utilizado (No. 02-453)

More Than Ever, American Families Need Cub Scouting (No. 13-077)

Cub Scouting: Un Buen Programa Para Neustras Familias (No. 13-125)

Su HijoUn Gran Tesoro (Your SonA Great Treasure) (No. 94-018)

ScoutingSi Funciona Para Sus Ninos (ScoutingIt Works for Your Youth) (No. 94-098)

Unit-serving executives can order these and all other Spanish materials directly from the National Distribution Center by calling 800-323-0732.

 

BSA's Spanish Web Site

www.scoutingvalelapena.org gives Spanish-speaking parents an overview of the various traditional Scouting programs, including BSA's Soccer and Scouting program. A council locator enables interested parents to identify the council service center near their homes and provides the names of bilingual staff who can assist them.

 

Top 10 Hispanic/Latino Markets for 2006

Place Hispanic/Latino

Population (millions) Percent of

Area's Population Primary Country of

Origin by Market

1. Los Angeles 8.4 46.7% Mexico 80%

2. New York 4.3 20.7% Puerto Rico 31%

3. Miami 2.1 48.6% Cuba 46%

4. Chicago 1.9 19.5% Mexico 81%

5. Houston 1.9 33.6% Mexico 81%

6. San Francisco 1.7 23.7% Mexico 76%

7. Dallas/Fort Worth 1.6 24.5% Mexico 88%

8. Phoenix 1.2 26.6% Mexico 93%

9. San Antonio 1.2 53.8% Mexico 91%

10. Rio Grande Valley 1.1 NA Mexico 96%

 

Source: Synovate U.S. Diversity Markets Report 2006

 

Isn't this one of the things "scouting and soccer" was supposed to help with, recruiting hispanic youth? I have my doubts about that as a strategy, but then, I haven't seen it in action. I would expect that, like many minority populations, hispanics might suppose that scouting is a primarily "white" activity and therefore it may not be on the radar for many families. The idea of finding local members of that community who were scouts as youth seems like a great place to start. So does the idea of approaching organizations that work in the community and asking for their help - whether as COs for new units, or to promote existing units to a more diverse community.

 

I hope you will keep us informed on how things unfold in your area as I think this is something many more of us should be paying attention to in our own towns and districts/councils.

Practically, it means seeking them out. They aren't going to just magically come to you.

When a new elementary school is established the local packs crowd the place trying to get a foot in the door with the new "populace".

It's the same thing here in a way, if you aren't getting word of mouth advertising from your Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts then you probably aren't getting good recruiting going anyway.

You've got to go find a youth of whatever population you want to serve and get him involved - any additional recruiting is either a redoubling of your efforts in the same vein or his word of mouth back into his community.

 

I forget the actual numbers(below) but any Marine Recruiter could give you the correct ones.(Using what I remember, which could be fatally flawed) You make twenty phone calls to get five appointments, you set five appointments to get two interviews, you get two interviews to get one recruit. Numbers change based on demand but you can count on at least needing five recruits a month per recruiter to have a successful month.

So, roughly one hundred phone calls per month for the initial contact(doesn't count subsequent calls to verify the appointment, speak to a concerned parent, find out why they missed the appointment, reset the appointment, etc.)And if you lose a prospective contract anywhere along the way thats twenty more initial contact phone calls.

Are any of us doing anything near the comparable activity in getting our Scouts from our existing pool - much less in our outreach efforts? I'm not.

Remember it's only an hour a week, -

 

 

 

 

per boy.

Scouting and Soccer...that's a good one.

 

Our SE held out a piece of paper at a meeting a year ago or so, read "Scouting and Soccer"... looked around the audience, saw absolutely no enthusiasm, wadded up the piece of paper and tossed it behind him. The crowd went wild.

 

Looking at the numbers, most Scoutreach activities focus on the latino community here in So Cal. Unfortunately, since the $$ are drying up faster than a lake in Death Valley, we've lost probably 30,000 Scoutreach youth this last year, and that's just in my neck of the woods.

 

My troop is about 15% hispanic at this time, it was about 25% at one point. Having active energized hispanic leadership helps the recruitment, I think parents are more willing to let thier sons be involved, and become involved themselves, if they see a friendly face among the crowd. When we had an active hispanic ASM, we had a larger % of hispanic boys and families involved. When he moved on, so did they for the most part.

 

Last year I was on WB Staff, we had one woman out of 48 participants that spoke almost no english. She was spoon fed by one of the staff, a new DE that spoke fluent spanish. We're hoping her husband attends this year. We're ready for him.