Getting Volunteers in a Cubscout Pack

[FScouter 24]

Members of the chartered org is another source. Plus that helps strenthen the relationship.

[Lynda J 10]

One thing we have to do is not overwhelm them. And we don't say. Can up help. What we do is give them a certain task. Like, We need drivers to go to the Zoo on next Saturday. Would you like to join us and drive. One task one at a time.

My mother was a pro at this. If a parent ever told her that they "didn't have time" my little 4'9" 92lb mother would gently put her hand on their arm and with her most sympathic voice say

" I am so very sorry your don't have a couple of hours to spend with your child". 99% of the time she got all the help she needed. She worked her magic for over 50 years in scouting.

[fotoscout 15]

The recommended method of nurturing parents then asking them to help is certainly preferred, BUT, most often it doesnt yield the numbers or adult volunteers needed to run a good operation. Unfortunately, this method presumes that all of the adult leaders in a Pack have the personality, desire, willingness, and BSA knowledge to nurture those adults who have not stepped up. In addition, it is only the den leaders who spend enough time with the parents to really get to know them, and the den leaders are generally just too busy being den leaders.

 

Weve been most successful, by pulling the parents aside and doing the ole....."Folks, this is a volunteer organization, without your help it folds". The problem with this method is that it takes someone with the right language skills and vocal tones to make it work. Its very easy to turn this into a verbal tongue lashing for the parents.

 

Good Luck

 

 

[SueM 10]

One thing that we teach in New Leaders Essential is that if you want to get more people involved, sometimes you have to -invent- simple jobs for them to do and then give them lots of praise and encouragement when they do the job. It also helps to just try and get to know your parents and their own areas of interest, so if something comes up in that area, you can tap into them for help. And the most important thing to do is to ask...ask...ask...if you keep asking, sooner or later they will do the job just to get you off their backs!!