Boosting and Recruitment

The Lone Scout Booster Pin
It was about one-half inch in diameter

Boosting consisted of recruiting new Lone Scouts and organizing Tribes, along with related promotional and operational functions.

The elements of Boosting were already emerging by late 1915 because by then every Lone Scout was being encouraged through the Boyce publications, especially the early issues of Lone Scout, to recruit other boys as Lone Scouts. Also, very early, tribes of at least five members were being promoted.

The process was not formally begun until May 1920, when the Lone Scout Booster title was announced. Boys earned the title by either of the following methods:

1. For every new member secured, one point was awarded. Five points were awarded for forming and organizing a Tribe.

2. One point was awarded for every 25 cents worth of subscriptions secured for Lone Scout, chartered ALSAPs, cooperating farm journals, and later, Boys' Life.

Initially the Booster title was conferred for earning 10 points. The Lone Scouts of America soon concluded that setting a higher goal would be even more challenging and productive. As a result, the Lone Scout Organizer (LSO) title was offered (without a pin) for 10 points. The Lone Scout Booster (LSB) title (with a free gold Booster pin) was awarded for 20 points.

Progress in Boosting showed that the Lone Scout had influence with others. This was proved both to himself and to other Lone Scouts when his name and title appeared in either Lone Scout or Tribe papers.

There were many Booster Tribes aimed at being the best in boosting membership. One of these was the Black Hawks.

The title and the pin was discontinued in September 1933.