Recruiting

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RecruitingRetainingYouth
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Objectives

• Develop a successful recruiting program
• Elements of a Crew Open House
• Role of VP-Admin in recruiting youth members
• Tools for retaining youth

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Why Recruit?
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Recruiting Tools

• Venturing Activity Interest Survey
• Publicity Promotion
• Personal Contacts
• Marketing Visits

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Activity Interest Survey

• Council or district sponsored
• Identifies youth with Venturing-type interests in
  local area
• Crew president or COR should write a personal
  invitation to visit
• Open House or Activity
• Follow up invitation with a phone call

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Publicity Promotion

• After school meeting
• Notice posters in school, church, teen center,
  student union
• Radio public service announcements
• Newspaper articles
• Notices in outdoor stores
• Promotional spots on school TV systems

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Personal Contact

• Friends invite friends
• Shared interests and goals
• Already a sense of belonging
• Helps overcome fear of something new
• Most successful recruiting tool

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Marketing Demonstrations

• Scout troops
• Youth groups
• Service clubs
• Scout shows
• Junior Leader Training
• Order of the Arrow events

• Camp staff
• Scout shows
• Youth leadership camp
• Eagle courts of honor
• University of Scouting
• Municipal service events

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Recruiting Tips

• Make visitors feel welcome included
• Follow up the visit with a phone call
• Or other personal contact (school, church, etc)
• Include them in an activity
• Avoid jokes about initiation or hazing
• Advisor call or visit prospective members parents

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Crew Open House

• Exciting, enthusiastic, energetic program
• Primary purpose is recruit new members
• Also, encourage current Venturers and kick off
  the new program year
• Keys to successful Open House

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Be InnovativeBe Bold!

• Hands-on program
• Pictures 1000 words
• Try something related to your crew
• Discover Scuba event
• Skeet or rifle shoot
• Rappel off meeting place
• Water sports picnic
• Accident scenario
• First impressions are lasting impressions

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Role of VP-Admin

• Primary responsibility for recruiting new members
• Develops a recruiting plan
• Promotes the crew
• Follows up with members who seem to be losing
  interest
• Usually the chair for the Open House
• Recruits a committee to help plan conduct
• Conducts the Reflection afterwards

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Tools for Retention

• Program, program, program!!!!
• Meets youths desires and needs
• Exciting, fun, challenging
• Supportive welcoming environment
• Safe, inclusive, positive
• Capable youth planning, preparing, leading
  crews program
• Leads to youth ownership
• Caring supportive adults
• Coaches mentors

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Jamie S. Crew 2000

• Recruiting never stops and the program sells
  itself if you get the message out.

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Summary

• Recruiting is a continual process
• New youth members are vital to the vitality and
  longevity of the Crew
• Personal invitations are the most effective
  method
• VP-Admin is the key leader in the recruiting
  process
• Youth leadership ownership retention