New First Class Requirement

[TCC7]

I just found out about a new requirement coming down the pike for First Class. To paraphrase, the scout will have to talk to a boy qualified to enter scouting or an inactive scout about his troop.
It seems to be kind of a weird requirement for FC or just weird period. More of a scouting promotion. If anywhere, it should probably be a Tenderfoot requirement. Should start January 1, 2006 and if a scout has already started FC requirements it will have to be completed by mid-year 2006. I guess a new edition to the handbook will be available soon. Anybody know how this came to be?

[JazerNorth]

Sounds more like an Urban Legend.

Interesting to find out.

JazerNorth

[evmori]

Where did you find out about this requirement?

[TCC7]

I wish this was an urban legend, but it came from our council Director of Field Service.

[EagleBoy62204]

This is definitly weird, they need to change first class to make it a bit challenging but adding promotion requirements? Thats not like the BSA.What i want out of the new requirements is having it required for the boy to get at least one merit badge for first class in order to move up to star. Along with the book being more organized, how the previous edition one was before this new edition in 2000 (?)

[Mick Scouter]

It does sound like an odd requirement.

[evmori]

It does seem to be a little weird to require a Scout to recruit to earn a rank.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Leads us back to the para-military thread?

[Chief J]

I first heard about this at the National Jamboree. The folks at the Professional Scouting Desk in the National Exhibits Area were explaining it.

Seems they want all Scouts to bring a friend to a meeting to earn First Class. The friend does not have to join Scouts, but it seems that they will have to at least come to a meeting.

I to hope it is an urban legend, but I fear this is National's attempt to shore up recruiting and hopefully increase it's membership numbers.

Chief J

[wagionvigil]

They could come to a meeting or go on an outing with the troop. Yes they are covered by insurance for ONE outing. Make sure you have permission forms etc. Sometimes if you get them out in a tent in the woods it works wonders.

[riverwalk]

Hopefully, if this came from the recent National Meeting, it's an elective among other choices. We already have the recruiter recognition, which only interests certain people. We should encourage recruiting by Scouts and Scouters, and most of us do this now. But if it is a Requirement for advancement, most advancement is likely to stop at this point.

[EagleBoy62204]

Does anyone know of any other new requirements for the ranks? Or when the official date for the book is supposed to be released?

[diamondbackAPL]

I really hope it's not true. If it is, I'll be glad that I'm getting my first class soon (before it goes into effect), because I don't know anybody who would want to be a scout. It's kind of sad really.

[ASM-142]

From what the originally posting stated was to just talk to someone about joining scouting. The do not have to join. What harm is there is asking a scout to talk to a non-scout friend about the benefits of scouting?

[TCC7]

This came from the California Council website

Beginning January 1, 2006 and additional requirement will be added to the requirements for first class rank in Boy Scouting. Scout beginning their First Class requirements work after this date must complete the new requirement. Scouts working on first class requirements prior to this date will have until June 30, 2006 to complete First Class rank with out completing the new requirements.

The new requirements test the candidate’s persuasive communications skills and can help make Scouting available to more boys. It reads as follows.

“Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your troop’s activities. Invite him to a troop outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active.”

The Boy Scout Handbook and 2006 Requirements book will be updated with this new detail.

[ynotquilt]

I think this is one of the most ridiculous requirements. Luckily, my son is almost done with his 1st class. Just thinking about my son, any of his friends are either already in scouts or it would be the last thing on earth they would do (the type that all their family promotes is sports). I think that the recruiter strip/award is sufficient for this.

[Mick Scouter]

Let us wait and see.

[Lynda J]

From the way I read this new requirement they must "invite" someone. But it does not require that the person invited comes to an activity or meeting.

This may be coming out of the problem some areas are having with recruiting in schools. There are two schools in our district that does not allow any group to recurit on school property. This includes groups like YMCA and youth sports groups. They excluded everyone.
So if a boy talks to another boy one on one it is friends talking not BSA recruiting.

I still have a problem with making it a requirement.

[riverwalk]

I guess the procedure will be clear, when it's finalized. But I'll be wondering how we know when an invitation was made?

[ASM-142]

From the way I read this new requirement they must "invite" someone. But it does not require that the person invited comes to an activity or meeting.

This may be coming out of the problem some areas are having with recruiting in schools. There are two schools in our district that does not allow any group to recurit on school property. This includes groups like YMCA and youth sports groups. They excluded everyone.
So if a boy talks to another boy one on one it is friends talking not BSA recruiting.

I still have a problem with making it a requirement.

Does the school allow for recruiting of PTA/PFA? If so, they may be forced to allow recruitment of other organizations to include scouts.