Scout Alumni for the Troop

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As Troops go on year after year Scouts grow into manhood and leave the Troop, to go away to school or pursue a career. These young men may later become leading citizens in the community. There is a great deal to be gained by the Troop through building the proper tradition around these former members. These former members or "alumni" can be of considerable assistance to the Troop in future years. Many Troops throughout the country have organized an Alumni or Old Scouts Association to help keep track of these former members. This association need not meet often nor carry on any great responsibility--but the members should be kept up to date as to activities of the Troop and their former associates Scouting.

Alumni Activities

Troops that have an Old-timers group organized usually bring them together at a dinner once a year. At this dinner they discuss old times and hear about the progress the Troop is making. At another time Old-timers are invited to visit the Troop meeting or a special Reunion Hike may be arranged for them.  If the Troop publishes a paper, it is a wise plan to have the former members on the mailing list. A Troop in Topeka, Kansas, issues a monthly bulletin of the activities of former Scouts.

"Graduation"

Scouts who have grown up with the Troop should be given some kind of graduating ceremony when they leave. This need not be elaborate but it should be enough to insure that the Scout is leaving with the good wishes of the Troop and is welcome to return for a visit at any time.

If the Troop has its own meeting place it might be a good plan to have the pictures of former Scouts arranged on the wall. One Troop that has been in operation for many years has two pictures of each former Scout--one when he was a member of the Troop and one as a full-grown man of affairs in the community.

Alumni Service

These former Scouts can often be of service to Troop. As special instructors and occasional speakers they can be invaluable. When the Troop needs funds for special equipment they can be a big help. The Troop Committee will find the former Scouts helpful when they are looking for transportation to some special event.

If these men are to be of service it is necessary to have a record of them and to maintain their interest in Scouting by keeping them acquainted with what is happening.

Alumni Organization

The Old-timers should be organized in such a way that the time of the Scoutmaster is not taken to keep their organization alive. Three officers, elected at one of the annual dinners, are sufficient to carry on the activities of the group: president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer.

One very important fact to keep in mind is this: an active Old-timers' club helps to build Troop tradition and to hold the interest of the Scouts in the Troop. They enjoy hearing about old times and meeting the persons they hear about around the camp fire.