In my career, I have been privileged to recruit top level people to promote Scouting.  Here are my key steps in getting the right people involved:

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1.  Use Steering and Nominating Committees

As professional Scouters, we are only one person, with limited knowledge and influence.  These committees are essential in expanding our reach.  Every entity of Scouting needs a few people to widen the net and help provide direction.  As a board member, you are familiar with Nominating Committees.  Steering committees are a more informal process for getting the right people and direction for anything from operating committees, fundraising campaigns, or starting new units.  

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2. Finding Who You Have

Oftentimes we already have people connected to Scouting who could impact a need, and we don't even know it.  When I take on a new Scouting role, I assess who we have from our board, givers, council operating committees, district committees, unit leaders, parents, local Eagle Scouts and alumni.  We have a lot of parents and alumni who have a lot to offer but are underutilized.  I will get our team to target units and research all the parents in those units.  Over the years, these parents have become board members, event chairs and large donors.  

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3.  Do Ongoing Research

I learn the communities I serve.  Who are the largest employers?  Who are the most active community organizations? Who are the most influential people in the community?  Where do they meet each other for breakfast or lunch?  What clubs do they join?  Where do they live?  Who do we have that are connected?  In these communities, I will keep a chart like the one  I did below.  I take the knowledge to help find the right person and setting to recruit the right people into Scouting.  Doing this has helped me recruit CEO's, school administrators, partners of law firms, military officers, physicians' local politicians, business owners, pastors and others who have helped further Scouting's mission.​​​​

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