NOTICE- NEW FIRST CLASS REQUIRMENT STARTING 2006

[KB1KOI]

My dad recived this in an email (since he's a UC)

Beginning January 1, 2006, an additional requirement
will be added to the requirements for First Class Rank
in Boy Scouting. Scouts beginning their First Class
requirement 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 without
completing the new requirement.

The new requirement tests 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. Please share
this information with your troop leadership.

[wagionvigil]

This has been discussed here for month or so.

[pipestone1991]

must go tell everyone tomorrow at the meeting.

[evmori]

Stupid requirement.

[616kayak]

i dont mind it. it would be nice to get 5-6 more guys in my troop.

[pipestone1991]

i dont mind it. it would be nice to get 5-6 more guys in my troop.

I would have to agree

[vpalango]

I initially wasn't happy with it, but on reflection have less problem with it. We've integrated this requirement into our Webelo -> Scout transition as well, using younger scouts as part of our ambasadorial effort to Webelos as of this year. Each scout invites several webelos personally to a Troop meeting, and acts as thier host during the meeting.

[imjorman040991]

sounds like its just a recruiting tool for the BSA, doesnt really benefit the scout at all...

[JazerNorth]

sounds like its just a recruiting tool for the BSA, doesnt really benefit the scout at all...

It does benefit the Scout. Having to talk to others about Scouts helps the Scout learn to sale himself and Scouting. He has to learn more about what Scouting is and how it has benefited his life. These are the things a boy will want to know. OK, so the boy will not actually put the idea together like that, but in all activities and clubs the boy will want to know how they will have fun doing it (what will the activity club do to benefit me).

JazerNorth

[vpalango]

I recently bought a repoduction of the original Handbook for Boys, and one of the requirements for First Class.... Recruit a boy, and have him earn the Tenderfoot rank.


YIS,

[summertop]

I like this requirement. A big part of rank advancements is leadership. A true leader will mentor other scouts (or potential scouts).

[WVBeaver05]

I have no problem with this requirement. And, while it is undoubtably for recruiting, I think it does benefit the boys. First, having more Scouts usually improves the program. Second, the process of asking, explaining the program, etc. will help the Scouts learn a skill that they will need in many things throughout life. As with the other requirements we need to help them by teaching them the skill that they will need to do this requirement.

One other point. I was advised that a BSA study showed that the best way to get potential Scouts interested was by one on one discussion with a peer. The approach of flyers and group presentations had a negative effect after kids reached Boy Scout age. The theory is that in a group of boys that age, Scouts isn't "cool" so they will reject it verbally and publicly. Having rejected it, they can't later become involved without losing face. On the other hand, a one on one situation is "private". A discussion among peers and the Scout can relate the fun things. Doesn't always work, but it can. We have 2 new Scouts from this approach, and probably another one in the next couple weeks.

Just my thoughts folks!!

YiS

[evmori]

I recently bought a reproduction of the original Handbook for Boys, and one of the requirements for First Class.... Recruit a boy, and have him earn the Tenderfoot rank.


YIS,

Now this requirement makes sense!

[John F.]

I would like to see this requirement change from first class to a second class requirement. Unless the scout works on his requirements for rank out of order, he has been in scouts for at least 6 months before he is working on first class requirements. Most of his friends have already decided that they do or do not want to be in scouts. Working on second class he has been in scouts 2 - 4 months, has gone on a few campouts. Has a couple of BOR under his belt, knews if he likes scouts or not. This is the time for him to talk to his friends to join scouts with him.

[scoutaholic]

I would like to see this requirement change from first class to a second class requirement. Unless the scout works on his requirements for rank out of order, he has been in scouts for at least 6 months before he is working on first class requirements. Most of his friends have already decided that they do or do not want to be in scouts. Working on second class he has been in scouts 2 - 4 months, has gone on a few campouts. Has a couple of BOR under his belt, knews if he likes scouts or not. This is the time for him to talk to his friends to join scouts with him.

The advancement program is written so that a scout can work on Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class concurrently. There is nothing that says he has to wait to do this requirement until everything else has been done.

If a boy comes home from his first camp (required for Tenderfoot, so he is still Scout rank) and can't wait to share with his friends, then it can count for his 1st Class Requirement.

Where did you get the 6-months before he is working on 1st Class requirements? He can work on 1st Class requirments as soon as he joins, and the only time requirement is 1 month for Tenderfoot. A boy who is excited about scouting, and has a good and active troop could be done with 1st Class, and well on his way to Star before he reaches 6 months. (Actually, could have been a Star for a month, but that would require a really dedicated scout, and a really good and active troop).

[smtroop168]

To reinvigorate this post....how has this requirement been working for troops? Are you getting new scouts? Have you had scouts "invite" someone but they don't come to a meeting or event? Did you sign off the requirement?

[scubascout]

weve gotten some new scouts

[Hubert]

We honestly have had no change. We havent gotten any new boys in quite some time now. A lof of the boys say that their frineds think scouting is dumb, so they dont even wish to bring up the subject.

I myself am 17, almost 18, I am also waiting on my book to clear for Eagle. However, most of my friends do not wish to be in scouting. Even when I was younger, scouting was always looked down upon. So I am glad that this was not made for me, because I would have a hard time doing so, besause in a lot of cases, bringing up he idea for scouting just brought along harassment.

Overall, I think this a neat idea, but not for 1st class. I would rather see it as a tenderfoot or 2nd class requirement, but not for 1st class. For most, and I place much emphasis on MOST, scouts are older when they reach this rank, and their friends have made up their minds whether they will be in scouts or not.

So overall, I like the concept of it, just not the placement.

[mhjacobson]

As with most advancement requirements,k this one can be satisfied at any level prior to first class. In other words, if a scout bring in a friend while the scout is at the Tenderfoot rank (even the Scout badge level), that will fulfill the requirement for first class. One advantage of having this requirement for first class is that it gives the scout some time before he has to fulfill the requirement. This is especially important if the scout is on the "From Webelos to First Class in one Year" track.

[evmori]

YOu might as well just check off the requirement when the Scout joins the Troop since there is no real way to verify it was ever completed! Actually, all a Scout has to do is say to a friend "Wanna come to a Troop meeting?" & the requirement is completed. Stupid!