When Ralph Stanley was collecting congratulatory letters for his two sons’ Eagle Scout courts of honor, he wanted more than just the usual roster of elected officials and athletes. Instead, he enlisted help from family members and encouraged them to think about what would truly resonate.
That meant reaching out mostly to celebrities and voice actors connected to his sons’ favorite movies and television shows. Added to that mix was a request to the Los Angeles Lakers cheer squad, who sent a signed picture.
“This way, they would have something personal and truly meaningful from people or experiences that meant something to them,” Stanley says. “A single heartfelt message can outweigh a stack of generic form letters.”
Securing congratulatory letters for an Eagle Scout court of honor is a long-standing tradition. Letters are displayed or compiled in a book for attendees to enjoy before the ceremony begins. Parents and troop leaders often work together to obtain these letters — but some are easier to get than others.
Here’s advice from the experts on snagging an impressive collection of congratulatory letters for your Eagle Scout.
Start early. High-profile personalities, like national politicians or movie stars, get hundreds of similar asks every day, so you might wait months — or even a year — to get a response.
“Letters from national leaders, including the president or vice president, often require significant lead time and may not always arrive in time for the ceremony,” says Robby Cohen, a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA).
Do your research. Check to see if your unit has a database with helpful hints and examples of success or failure. For instance, if former Scout Jack Black has been particularly responsive to local requests, reach out. If LeBron James hasn’t responded to any request in years, skip him. Unit committee members and other leaders also often have systems in place to obtain letters from national, state and local officials, so check on that as well.
Also, poke around online to see which well-known organizations, government agencies and elected officials have online templates for these kinds of requests. You’ll be surprised how many of them do.
Think outside the box. Celebrities and high-profile leaders are great. But you might have better luck — and receive more personal responses — by seeking out different kinds of letter writers. For instance, if a Scout has attended a high-adventure base, consider reaching out to leadership from that location. If they’re active in a religious community, a letter from a national or regional faith organization can carry deep meaning. Local and state officials can also be very responsive.
Write the best request ever. Stanley secured handwritten responses from celebrities Jay Leno, Betty White and Tom Skerritt, among others. One reason his requests resonated was because they were personal: Each request clearly explained the significance of earning Eagle Scout and why his sons were chosen. Another tip: Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and any items to be signed.
Need a solicitation template to help you get started? Download this one.
Expect the unexpected. Some organizations require advance notice, login credentials or even fees. And some celebrities even charge for signatures, so be prepared to pay if that letter is important.
If all else fails … here are two you can get right now!
• Scouting America offers a letter from Scout the Maileagle. Get it here.
• Scouting America’s Order of the Arrow has a congratulatory letter available. Click here to download it.
