What's the Incentive to Reconnect?

A Guide for Unit Leaders We, at the Boy Scouts of America, are proud to continue the mission we adopted more than 100 years ago, preparing every eligible youth in America to become a participating citizen and leader. More than 111 million young people have passed through the BSA since 1910. Now, through the Scouting Alumni Association, we’re inviting them to come back, make a new connection, and get involved again.

What could that mean for your unit? Quite a bit. Scouting alumni are people who know, understand, and appreciate the Scouting program. They could serve as merit badge counselors, volunteers at your unit activities, mentors, and unit leaders, to name a few options. Reconnecting with Scouting alumni could also open new doors with local business leaders, generate supporters, and strengthen the ties you’ve built with your community. Put them to work for you!

www.BSAalumni.org 10 Ways to Get Alumni Involved Who are Scouting alumni? We’re casting a wider net than “former Scout” to define Scouting 1. Publish an article or ad in your unit alumni. After all, no one ever journeys through Scouting alone. newsletter, Facebook page, or other That’s why we’re also inviting anyone who has been influenced by communications channel. the Boy Scouts of America to sign up, reconnect, and re-engage. That includes family members of Scouts (past and present), 2. Link your sites to www.BSAalumni.org. volunteers, Scouters, community leaders, and the tens of millions 3. Work with your local council to profile of Americans who benefit from Scouting in their communities. alumni from your unit in the media or in What's the incentive to reconnect? your council communications. There are fun perks to being a registered alumnus such as an 4. Send a letter or email explaining the affiliation card, free bugle-call ring tones, free membership to the program to alumni you know. National Scouting Museum for one year, a national e-newsletter, and more! Perhaps more importantly, reconnected alumni will be 5. Hand out business cards and hang able to find friends, learn about BSA programs and events, and posters. find out how they can positively influence Scouting’s next 6. Have a volunteer call them and talk about generation. Scouting in your council.

How can my unit benefit? 7. Place one of the small Scouting Alumni The Scouting Alumni Association is designed to get Scouting Association ads in your church bulletin or alumni active and involved again, leading to more volunteer community paper. support for your unit. Scouting alumni can work with Scouts on service projects, speak to units about their area of expertise, help 8. Host a unit gathering, such as a reunion execute major events, and become strong mentors. event, tree planting, day of service, or other fun activity such as geocaching. Are there tools we can use? Yes! Whether you’re communicating with a group or reaching out 9. Integrate outreach with programs that get you in front of the public, such as Scouting one-on-one, we have an arsenal of materials to help with your for Food and popcorn sales. outreach efforts. Our toolkit includes posters, sample emails and letters, business cards, ads, and logos. We also have guides that 10.Invite alumni to your existing events. If you want, you can even add a new twist just will help you build alumni outreach into things you do already, such for them, such as an alumni pinewood as Scouting for Food. The toolkit is available online at derby. www.BSAalumni.org.

Where can we go for help? Check with your local council to see if there is an active alumni committee in your area. If not, contact Bill Steele, national director of Alumni Relations and the National Eagle Scout Association, at 972-580-2436 or at [email protected]. We’re happy to work with you and get you the tools you need to be successful.

Help us invite our valued alumni to reconnect with Scouting, rekindle fond memories, and re-engage with the programs in your unit. Our alumni were part of the BSA's first 100 years. Let’s make sure they’re also there for Scouting's second century.

For more information, visit www.BSAalumni.org.