Communications Merit Badge Clinic Agenda

Communications was one of my favorite merit badges. It wasn't required for Eagle when I was a scout. The requirements have changed quite a bit over the years, but there is still plenty of room for fun as we work on developing communication skills that will serve you well in whatever career you pursue.

The are not many requirements that we can take start to finish at the merit badge clinic. You'll have to prepare for most of the requirements in advance. We will listen to each other's presentations, give helpful suggestions, and maybe even vote and award prizes.

Here is your agenda and "TODO list," requirement by requirement:

1. We will do requirement 1c together in the form of introducing ourselves.

   No long speeches -- 30 seconds to 2 minutes giving your name and your interests and experience in communications.  For instance, school report, youth Sunday, student body campaign, desire to by a DJ or TV news anchor, ambition to be a writer, newspaper reporter, blogger or Webmaster. Maybe you just want to get the required merit badge and communicate well enough to survive.

   Be prepared to keep notes and discuss the differences in communication skills you observe, like the requirement says.

2. Do ONE of the following:
1. Introduce yourself in a creative way with a collage, song, skit.  Short stories and poetry qualify. (You can avoid speaking in front of the group with this option.)
2. We don't have time for long sales presentations, so let's do the great American art form: the 30 second commercial! Advertise your product, real or imagined, in 30 seconds to 1 minute. (We will be timing!) Let me know in advance if you want to produce your ad ahead of time in your home studio so we can be sure we have equipment to play your creation. (I did a radio commercial with music, sound effects, and my voice over back in 1969. Surely 21st Century scouts can match that.) I had a lot of fun with this requirement.

   There will be prizes for the most convincing and the funniest.

3. Give a 5 minute speech on any subject.

   If you've done a recent presentation for school, do it one more time for us. Many presentations done for school require Powerpoint, so I'll bring a computer with USB flash drive capability and a really cool remote/laser pointer. (Powerpoint is not required.)

   Notice in the speech outline on page 21 of the merit badge pamphlet that the introduction and conclusion are completely written out. The body of the speech are sentence fragments and topics as you'd expect in an outline. Writing out the introduction and conclusion of a speech is a great speech preparation tip. Practice and memorize your introduction and conclusion so you can deliver them without taking your eyes off the audience. Your speech will have greater impact. The audience might not notice you peeking at your notes at other times.

4. Come prepared to pretend that you are really introducing a guest speaker.

   Conduct the interview suggested in the requirement so that your introduction can include information on the qualifications that make the speaker and authority on the subject. Some speakers, such a politicians, have introductions that their agent or secretary will give you. That will count if you decide to try to get somebody really famous like Russel Wilson. Most of you will stick to less famous people we may want to actually invite to speak or demonstrate at a troop meeting. We'll make sure your troop committee hears about any good suggestions that surface!

5. We can't do requirement 5, unless you've been to a public meeting yourself and kept notes. If you have, come prepared with either a written report or a one to three minute oral summary like your favorite newscaster would present on radio or TV.

6. Teaching and demonstrating are similar to giving a speech, yet different enough to warrant a requirement of their own.

   A recycled school presentation may fit better here than in requirement 3. I also know that some of you have done scouting skills presentations at troop meetings.

7. If you have done any of the things in requirement 7, come prepared to share with the group.
1. Write a letter to the editor of a magazine or newspaper.

   I know the Mukilteo and Edmonds Beacon newspapers and Boys Life are two publications that welcome letters from scouts.

2. Create a Web page.

   We'll have a computer, but no Internet access. Bring your Web page on USB flash, if you can. (Internet Explorer File/Save as works great for this.)

3. Use desktop publishing software to produce a newsletter, flyer, or brochure.
   

8. The planning and master of ceremonies experience in this requirement is important. If you've fulfilled this requirement in the past, you'll get credit. If not, I'll make sure the people in charge of planning campfires and courts of honor know that you need a turn.

9. We can certainly discuss careers in communications. If you're going to say that you are interested in a career in communications when you introduce yourself in requirement 1, take this opportunity to learn some of the step to achieving your goal. Come prepared to discuss them.
   

It will be a busy session. You'll get most of the requirements signed off ifyou do your homework. Hopefully you'll find that you've already done many of the requirements. At least we'll give you a good start and try to make plans for you to complete this merit badge soon. It will be more fun sharing our projects with a group than an audience of just a counselor.