1. Recruiting & Retaining Youth

2. Objectives Develop a successful recruiting programDevelop a successful recruiting program Elements of a Crew Open HouseElements of a Crew Open House Role of VP-Admin in recruiting youth membersRole of VP-Admin in recruiting youth members Tools for retaining youthTools for retaining youth

3. Why Recruit?

4. Recruiting Tools Venturing Activity Interest SurveyVenturing Activity Interest Survey Publicity & PromotionPublicity & Promotion Personal ContactsPersonal Contacts Marketing VisitsMarketing Visits

5. Activity Interest Survey Council or district sponsoredCouncil or district sponsored Identifies youth with Venturing-type interests in local areaIdentifies youth with Venturing-type interests in local area Crew president or COR should write a personal invitation to visitCrew president or COR should write a personal invitation to visit Open House or ActivityOpen House or Activity Follow up invitation with a phone callFollow up invitation with a phone call

6. Publicity & Promotion After school meetingAfter school meeting Notice & posters in school, church, teen center, student unionNotice & posters in school, church, teen center, student union Radio public service announcementsRadio public service announcements Newspaper articlesNewspaper articles Notices in outdoor storesNotices in outdoor stores Promotional spots on school TV systemsPromotional spots on school TV systems

7. Personal Contact Friends invite friendsFriends invite friends Shared interests and goalsShared interests and goals Already a sense of belongingAlready a sense of belonging Helps overcome fear of something newHelps overcome fear of something new Most successful recruiting toolMost successful recruiting tool

8. Marketing & Demonstrations Scout troopsScout troops Youth groupsYouth groups Service clubsService clubs Scout showsScout shows Junior Leader TrainingJunior Leader Training Order of the Arrow eventsOrder of the Arrow events Camp staff Scout shows Youth leadership camp Eagle courts of honor University of Scouting Municipal service events

9. Recruiting Tips Make visitors feel welcome & includedMake visitors feel welcome & included Follow up the visit with a phone callFollow up the visit with a phone call Or other personal contact (school, church, etc)Or other personal contact (school, church, etc) Include them in an activityInclude them in an activity Avoid jokes about initiation or hazingAvoid jokes about initiation or hazing Advisor call or visit prospective member’s parentsAdvisor call or visit prospective member’s parents

10. Crew Open House Exciting, enthusiastic, energetic programExciting, enthusiastic, energetic program Primary purpose is recruit new membersPrimary purpose is recruit new members Also, encourage current Venturers and kick off the new program yearAlso, encourage current Venturers and kick off the new program year Keys to successful Open House:Keys to successful Open House: Greeting Icebreaker “What is Venturing” “About our crew” Past Programs Invitation to join Activity Registration & followup

11. Be Innovative…Be Bold! Hands-on programHands-on program Pictures = 1000 wordsPictures = 1000 words Try something related to your crew:Try something related to your crew: “Discover Scuba” event“Discover Scuba” event Skeet or rifle shootSkeet or rifle shoot Rappel off meeting placeRappel off meeting place Water sports & picnicWater sports & picnic Accident scenarioAccident scenario First impressions are lasting impressionsFirst impressions are lasting impressions

12. Role of VP-Admin Primary responsibility for recruiting new membersPrimary responsibility for recruiting new members Develops a recruiting planDevelops a recruiting plan Promotes the crewPromotes the crew Follows up with members who seem to be losing interestFollows up with members who seem to be losing interest Usually the chair for the Open HouseUsually the chair for the Open House Recruits a committee to help plan & conductRecruits a committee to help plan & conduct Conducts the Reflection afterwardsConducts the Reflection afterwards

13. Tools for Retention Program, program, program!!!!Program, program, program!!!! Meets youths’ desires and needsMeets youths’ desires and needs Exciting, fun, challengingExciting, fun, challenging Supportive & welcoming environmentSupportive & welcoming environment Safe, inclusive, positiveSafe, inclusive, positive Capable youth planning, preparing, & leading crew’s programCapable youth planning, preparing, & leading crew’s program Leads to youth ownershipLeads to youth ownership Caring & supportive adultsCaring & supportive adults Coaches & mentorsCoaches & mentors

14. Jamie S. – Crew 2000 “Recruiting never stops and the program sells itself if you get the message out.”

15. Summary Recruiting is a continual processRecruiting is a continual process New youth members are vital to the vitality and longevity of the CrewNew youth members are vital to the vitality and longevity of the Crew Personal invitations are the most effective methodPersonal invitations are the most effective method VP-Admin is the key leader in the recruiting processVP-Admin is the key leader in the recruiting process Youth leadership = ownership = retentionYouth leadership = ownership = retention