Communications

Keep your troop connected with announcements, forums, and messages.

Announcements

Share important information with your entire troop.

Navigate to Admin Dashboard → Announcements.

Creating Announcements

  1. Click Create
  2. Enter a descriptive title
  3. Write the full announcement content
  4. Add a short summary for preview
  5. Choose category (General, Event, Advancement, Important)
  6. Optionally attach an image
  7. Set as public if viewable without login
  8. Choose publish date (now or schedule for later)

Tip: Use the summary field wisely - it appears on the main announcements page. Keep it to 1-2 sentences.

Announcement Categories

  • General - Routine troop information
  • Event - Event reminders and updates
  • Advancement - Rank and merit badge news
  • Important - Urgent or critical information

Public vs. Private

  • Private (default) - Only logged-in members see it
  • Public - Visible on your troop's public landing page

Use public announcements for recruiting or community events.

Forums

Discussion boards for ongoing conversations and questions.

Navigate to Admin Dashboard → Forums.

Creating Forums

  1. Click Create
  2. Enter forum name (e.g., "General Discussion", "Patrol Leaders")
  3. Write description of forum purpose
  4. Assign to a category if using multiple forum groups
  5. Set display order

Suggested Forum Structure

  • General Discussion - Open conversation
  • Trip Planning - Discuss upcoming events
  • Advancement Questions - Help with requirements
  • Patrol Leaders Council - Leadership discussions
  • Equipment Buy/Sell - Gear exchange

Managing Forum Posts

As an administrator, you can:

  • Edit any post or reply
  • Delete inappropriate content
  • Pin important threads to the top
  • Lock threads to prevent further replies
  • Move threads between forums

Moderation: Establish clear forum rules and monitor discussions regularly for appropriate content.

Direct Messages

Private communication between members.

All users can access messages from Messages in the main navigation.

Sending Messages

  1. Click Messages in navigation
  2. Click New Message
  3. Select recipients (one or multiple)
  4. Enter subject/title
  5. Write message
  6. Send

Group Conversations

Messages support group conversations:

  • Add multiple recipients to start a group
  • All participants can view and reply
  • Conversation admin can add/remove participants
  • Set a custom group name and photo

Message Management

  • View all conversations in inbox
  • Unread messages shown in bold
  • Search conversations by name or content
  • Leave a group conversation if desired
  • Notification when new messages arrive

Notification Settings

Members control how they receive notifications.

Navigate to Profile Settings → Notification Settings.

Notification Types

  • Announcements - New announcements posted
  • Events - New events or changes to RSVPed events
  • Forums - Replies to posts they've participated in
  • Direct Messages - New messages received
  • Advancement - Rank or merit badge progress updates
  • Payments - Invoices due or payments received

Notification Delivery

Choose how to receive notifications:

  • Real-time - Immediate email for each event
  • Daily Digest - One email per day summarizing activity
  • Weekly Digest - Weekly summary
  • Off - No email notifications (in-app only)

Email Notifications

The system sends automatic emails for key events:

  • Welcome email for new users
  • Password reset requests
  • New announcements (if notifications enabled)
  • Event reminders (3 days before)
  • Payment reminders
  • Advancement milestones
  • Direct message alerts

Note: Ensure members have valid email addresses to receive notifications.

Best Practices

Announcements

  • Post weekly to keep engagement high
  • Use clear, descriptive titles
  • Include all relevant details (dates, times, locations)
  • Add images to increase visibility
  • Schedule important announcements in advance

Forums

  • Respond to questions within 24 hours
  • Pin important reference threads
  • Archive or lock old, irrelevant discussions
  • Encourage positive, helpful conversations
  • Model good forum etiquette

Messages

  • Use for time-sensitive or private matters
  • Keep messages professional and appropriate
  • Create group conversations for committees or patrols
  • Respond to parent messages promptly

Communication Guidelines

  • Follow BSA Youth Protection policies in all communications
  • Never communicate with youth one-on-one through messages
  • Include multiple adults in youth conversations
  • Keep all communications positive and respectful
  • Verify important information through multiple channels
  • Protect member privacy - no personal information in public posts