Recruiting Beginners

"1) What things should children learn and experience during that first year (considering that one year of instrumental music may be the only opportunity that a Child has)?"
Within the first year students should develop the two main things in music education, basic technique and a passion for the art. One builds off the other, students wont have a respect or passion for the art if they cant play it, and if they don't have the passions to play in music, they wont learn.
Learning an instrument for the first time can be frustrating, As music educators we should prescribe music that is mostly easy for them to play, while having one more difficult piece to make progress. Students should learn how to assemble the instrument, have a concept of tuning, reading notation (simple melodies/rhythms), and basic fingerings. The goal is to not overwhelm them in their first year, or they will be shut down thinking they can not learn.
Students who have a respect and passion for this art they will continue to build on what they know and seek out new knowledge, whether it be returning to your class or looking for private lessons. While students are in your class, providing them performance opportunities, master classes, concert attendances, etc. Helping students understand the music and where it comes from can also build this passion. I think brief interesting history facts are one of the best tools to spark interest as well as help students interpret how to play the music.

"2) Briefly describe your approach for recruiting students into your program. What selling points would you use to encourage students (and parents) to join now while they have the chance?"
For parents I would show them the educational opportunity that my music program will provide their student. If the parent is engaged and know that it will help their student they will "bother" their student to be in the music program. With students I would show them the fun opportunities that being in a music program will provide them.
Parents want their students to learn as much as possible so that they will be successful in life. I don't think that telling parents the "music has been proven to improve students abilities in other subjects, allows them to think out side the box, etc" Is good enough to convince them. But saying that this will build on communication skills, Independence, as well as provide them amazing performance opportunities (such as state tours/festivals, and international tours)
For students advertising performance opportunities, and tours are impressive to students. Whitefish the band travels to music festivals in Seattle and Vancouver, Bozeman high school has tours to Germany. especially in small school states such as Montana opportunities that are in big city's and out of the country are very appealing to them because they haven't experienced much of the world.