Communication

Communication

Communication with the scouters is the most important part of First Class. Communication is a core leadership skill and First Class is when you start to take a leadership role.

You are now the person taking the initiative and being responsible for organising activities. Communication is important so that there is co-ordination for the activities you are planning, the activities other patrols are

Climbing Sneeuberg

planning and the activities of the troop and the group as a whole. Troop activities take precedence over patrol activities so be careful that you do not plan something that clashes with a troop activity. It is essential that you discuss your plans with the allocated scouter before you commit yourself, a third party and other scouts to doing an activity.

Specific Points

1. Make sure you include the troop email (1stclaremont@gmail.com) in all emails to scouts, parents, to the district commissioner or his assistants and to third parties that you might be communicating with. This ensures the scouters can keep tabs on what is happening.
2. In emailing your patrol you must use the troops’ email system. The email system is on this website and you will need tobe allocated rights to access the system. Instructions to use the system are found on the website. Please do not start using other email systems such as MailChimp or your personal email. It is important that emails to parents and scouts are consistent and clearly from the troop. It is also essential we keep a single set of up to date email addresses and not have them spread across multiple systems.
3. Get familiar and make sure you have access to the Google Drive. The folder for scouts is at: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-MUZpxHIsP2WVJqMkdRbl9BWk0&usp=sharing and contains information on skills training as well as advancement (e.g. examples of patrol camp and First Class hike planning). This forms an essential resource for you. We do not email files so ensure that you have access. Tell the scouters if you cannot get access.
4. If you don’t have an email account of your own, we strongly suggest that you create a gmail account for
   

   Springbok Scouts 2017

   yourself. This helps with access to the Google Drive account but also means that you are responsible for the emails coming to that box. Ensure that the scouters know your email address so that the email lists can be updated.

5. If you have a smartphone, download the Whatsapp application and tell the scouters you want to join the First Class Whatsapp group. All First Class scouts with a smartphone are on the group which allows them to easily co-ordinate their activities; ask questions and share information about what they are doing for their First Class. 
6. You are allowed to create Whatsapp groups to co-ordinate your own activities but you MUST have an adult scouter (not a parent) on the group at all times. Once the activity is over you are required to remove all members and dissolve the group. Patrols may NOT have their own Whatsapp groups. Not all scouts have cellphones and the communication is asymmetrical (some scouts don’t get the information).