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The American Legion Boys State of Missouri

Strategies to enhance participation in the Boys State program by recruiting high school leaders. Overcoming funding and competition challenges to maintain diverse representation and reach recruitment goals.

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The American Legion Boys State of Missouri

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  1. The American LegionBoys State of Missouri Optimizing Participation September 27, 2008 2008 National Directors Conference

  2. We Believe • There is no one “Silver Bullet” for increasing participation • We need to attack this issue from all angles • We should not limit our approach to the things that are short-term or easy --- we must build our program • A vibrant program takes a LONG time to build and a SHORT time to lose • It is not easy… but it is worth it!!!

  3. Our Mission & Challenges

  4. Our Recruiting Mission “To recruitthe highest caliberhigh school leaders from each school in the state of Missouri to participatein our program while best representing the diverse population of our state.”

  5. Challenges - Funding

  6. Challenges - Funding

  7. Challenges - Competition Competing for the Best Students!! Athletic Camps Debate, YMCA, and Other Programs and Camps Summer School Programs Working for College Money

  8. Our Results

  9. Total Participation Recruiting Goal vs. Actual # Citizens (1980-2008) 960 To Get 983 citizens to attend, we needed over 1,100 applications!!

  10. Student Representation • 75% of High Schools Represented • Up from 67% in 1995. • On Target for Per Capita Attendance • Missouri – 18th Largest State, 3rd Largest Boys State Program (2007) • # of Boys Staters per 1,000 17-Year-Old Males 9.5 23.1 Missouri Average National Average

  11. Diverse Sponsorship Base Example Non-American Legion Sponsors(shown by # of 2008 sponsors)

  12. Our Strategy

  13. Recruiting Strategy Organization + Staff to Do the Work!!! American Legion Organization (District Chairmen + Committees) Boys State Director of Recruiting (an Executive Committee Position) Boys State Volunteer Staff Assigned to District Teams (to Support Legion District Chairmen) Full-Time Director of Development (Paid Staff Position)

  14. Recruiting Strategy Actively Sell the Program!!! Send High Quality Recruiting Packet to High Schools Conduct Orientation Sessions in All Districts Focus on School Visits Show Recruiting Video

  15. Recruiting Strategy Achieve Full Participation Established a Sponsorship Fund for Areas without Sponsors Maintain School Counselor Contact List Target Non-Participating Schools & Assign Staff Web-Based Tracking & Reporting

  16. To do this, we MUST… Maintain a Quality Program

  17. Our Staff

  18. College Credit Schools of Instruction -- 3-Hours College Credit Available Journalism Law Legislative Law Enforcement Campaigning &Govt. Exec.

  19. Scholarship Opportunities “Citizen of the Week”Scholarship Boys State Scholarships Established at 30+ Missouri Universities American LegionScholarships

  20. High Profile Speakers Example of Speakers from Recent Years Gov. Mike Huckabee Att. Gen. John Ashcroft Def. Sec. Robert Gates PaulBegala Rep. J.C.Watts Sen. Bill Bradley Gen. WesleyClark Def. Sec. William Perry Gov. JesseVentura DavidGergen

  21. Our Approach

  22. Our Approach It is a part of our culture that… The Program we WantWill Dictate the Resources We Must Provide

  23. Our Approach We cannot allow… The Resources we HaveTo Limit the Program We Can Provide

  24. What Now?

  25. Steps You Can Take • Develop a Vision for Your Program • What kind of a program do you really want to provide? • Perform an Honest “Gap Analysis” • What staff, programs, facilities, and finances do you need versus where you are now? • What roadblocks will you face? • Develop a Plan with Targets that Gets You There! --- with Targets! • What are you going to do, each year, to go from where you are now to where you want to be? • You Must Have a Leadership Plan!! • Who will be leading your program in 20 years?... With 20 Years of experience? • Is your current leadership ready to do what is necessary?

  26. Steps You Can Take • Recruit Former Boys Staters to Your Staff • Be willing to give them true leadership positions in your program • Involve Your Staff Year-Round • Recruiting, fundraising, program development, etc. • Establish a Separate Corporation • Budget control, more stability, and better accountability to donors • Expand Your Sponsorship Base • Service orgs, businesses, foundations, former Boys Staters & parents • Organize Your Recruiting Efforts • Target specific schools, assign staff, monitor results • Establish a Scholarship Program • Organize a program and sign up Universities

  27. Additional Information Available • Recruiting Materials • Brochures, letters, videos, orientation presentations, applications, etc. • Staff Materials • Staff handbooks, schedules, citizen program guides, etc. • Citizen Program Materials • School curriculum, schedules, handbooks, etc. • Organization Information • Staff and board structure, recruiting structure, etc. • Scholarship Program Information • Program description, brochures, etc.

  28. The American LegionBoys State of Missouri Contact Information: Mike Plunkett, Director Email: mplunkett@moboysstate.org Phone: 913-314-3825 Thank you!

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