Re: Try again
Pat & Mike Sempsrott (sempsrot@PEGANET.COM)
Sat, 9 Nov 1996 08:31:53 -0500
At 04:58 PM 11/6/96 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello;
> I am a new subscriber. I am a Cubmaster in Texas. (P244, Alamo Area
>Council)
>I'm in my second year as a leader and take all the advice and help I can get
>from anyone who knows anything about how all this is done. I also train
>others at Pow Wow & such on the subject of ADD Cubs, spotting them and
>handling the problems that can arise from the disorder.
> If there is one thing that I would like to know, (and who wouldn't) is
>how to get more adult volunteers to put out some work to help the Pack go.
Patrick,
I can only tell you what my son's den leader for wolf and bear did - but it
worked
as I will explalin. Start at the den level, asking one parent to help by
collecting dues, another to help with reviewing the boys' books to see what
has been signed off, etc. You will need to spend a little time training them
on how to do what you've asked, but we got a committee secretary and a Webelos
den leader out of this. Next, ask for help with different activities as they
come up in the den - you know, a parent to teach the boys a song, help with
teaching flag folding, supervising a gathering game, helping with a woodworking
project. We got another den leader and 2 assistants out of that strategy.
Finally, at Pack activities and campouts, try to recruit parents to help
lead the activities, and get your other den leaders actively involved in
asking their parents to help. You will probably still end up wearing more
than one hat, but they will be the hats that you choose to wear, not the
ones that no one else will wear.
By the way, my son's ex-den leader is now the committee chair, I was her
assistant, and now serve as assistant cubmaster, and Den leader coach, she
I split the Tigers into 2 dens (we draw from 2 schools) and each act as
Tiger Coach to one den. My husband is one of the Webelos den leaders -
recruited by Alice and I last year, so that we could move into committee
positions and the boys could have male leadership this year.
The key for us has been getting parents to stay at the den meetings, not
just drop the boys off - they see how much fun everyone is having, and
are more willing to get involved. Provide coffee, tea, perhaps popcorn
for the adults, as well as an atmosphere where they feel welcome and even
needed, the boys will help - "Please Mom, I would really like you to teach
us a song" and we got to do things she and I did not have the ability to
do, i.e. woodworking projects! The dads all loved those and got involved!
Wow, sorry it's so long, but this is a subject I get passionate about, as we
have 1 den leader who complains about being a babysitter, but does not allow
anyone to help, because it would mean relinquishing a little bit of control.
Pat Sempsrott
Roundtable Staff
District Cub Training Team
Popcorn Kernel Pack 66
+ the hats I mentioned earlier
Am I busy - YES
sempsrot@peganet.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
