Remind Your Parents and Volunteers: You Make a Difference!

Perhaps the most important factor in keeping parents and volunteers engaged and fulfilled is knowing that they are truly making a difference. Amid hectic and demanding lifestyles, volunteers and parents need to be reassured that by investing their time in Scouting, they are heroes to their children and the children of others. They are making a difference that will last a lifetime.

Here are just a few ideas that you and your key volunteers can implement:

• Focus on communication within your district; make it a priority! Remember, not all leaders attend roundtables, and not everyone who attends the roundtable will share the information with others. Remember: Communication is a key to keeping members and volunteers engaged!
• Ensure appropriate volunteer support from your district; make sure unit commissioners visit the volunteers.
• Send a letter to your volunteers with the message that you appreciate them taking the time to volunteer and make a difference in the lives of the youth in your community.
• Encourage unit leaders to send a letter to parents thanking them for being involved in Scouting with their son or daughter.
• Send a card to the parents of the youth in your district congratulating them on their child's rank advancement.
• Attend unit events; be seen by volunteers and parents. Let them know that the council supports and appreciates them.
• Take the time to thank parents and volunteers at pack meetings. Spend two or three minutes speaking about the importance of being involved in Scouting and promoting the good things happening in your council/district.
• Recognize individuals for their contributions. Be sure to "spread the wealth"; be careful not to recognize the same people each time.
  • At each roundtable or in your district or council newsletter, recognize a different group, e.g., those who have worked hard on the recent training events or the day camp, or those leaders who have taken the time to become fully trained.
• Make things easy to attend. Simplify registration by making it impressively streamlined, quick and accurate, and most important, very friendly.
• Provide information about events far enough in advance to allow busy families to participate. Also send a reminder closer to the event.
• Send a Happy New Year or special occasion card to parents and volunteers; be sure to include information regarding events that are planned for the upcoming months.
• Provide units with a district calendar to assist them in preparing their unit calendars. This will also assist families in preparing their schedules.

The Merits of Marketing (marketing.scouting.org) is a resource for local councils, developed by the Marketing & Communications Division of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America.