So I'm crazy (troop revival)
David F. Delman (Delman01@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Sat, 27 Dec 1997 13:44:54 -0500
<<-----Tread Kick Off
<<Fri, 12 Dec 1997 10:00:45 Jonathan Dixon <dixonj@ROCOCO.COLORADO.EDU>>
<<-----One of the many Great Responses
<<Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:54:29 aka Chris J. Martin)" <smiley@TESOMAS.COM>>
Jon,
You know of course you are in our man Lupton's neck of the =
woods as well as a few New Hampshire, and Maine scouting back
woodspersons. OK, Maybe they are I-95 or I-93 buddies in these =
post 1900+ times.
Chris gave a great Kick in plan and our man in MO Mr W Dilla
gave a good critique. Earlier this year Feb or March I believe
that one of our Mikes' gave a long run down on how to start
a troop that also appears appropriate for your consideration.
My own start up plan would be a bit slower rather than assuming
everything is a GO. =
MISSION and GOAL Statement
-------------------------
Be Flexible and want to win for the boys, the adults, =
and the chartering partner. See yourself as the Senior
Partner that wants to retire someday and collect bennies.
(This is a bit outside of normal official scouting advice and =
(our present scouting life style in 1997/98. Well maybe it =
(isn't officially but it seems so within the span of my =
(scouting experience and many who post to this list and
(have the same experience.
This Mission and Goal Statement will drive your plan of attack
as well as your flexibility to adapt to potential hurtles.
Step:1
------
See if you can call an EATING MEETING of the Parents, Chartering
Partner Head, CoR, your DE or DC, and those 3 boys. Invite all
associated women as well. Each participating family unit providing
something for the feast. No slackers except for the DE or DC.
You can bring the "Jelly Babies" for the afterwards discussion =
snack so you can joke that you really are "Dr Who" and are =
currently only visiting the planet Massachusetts. If there
is an associated feeder pack invite a few of the dynamos.
In cubs a dynamo might act differently and still be one.
Have the boys make all the calls with you as their side-kick.
A little more work yet sends the right message. You invite
the DE, DC, UC, or whatever, so everyone won't think you are crazy.
Introduce yourself, your experience, some short funnies, your
resources, each current boy, and each strong participating adult.
Who knows maybe a Scout-L'r from CO has some good slides of
boys having that fun, they will have and enjoy so much.
If everyone is amenable create a 21 day plan of Human Resource =
Identification. You know your personal schedule so stretch or
compress the time. Speed is critical but so is your ability as
the leader to keep up. Do NOT stretch yourself since you are
the weak link.
You know about the Troop Survey yet what I am suggesting is =
called beating the bushes and scaring up mouses that can =
or want to be gregarious peacocks "OK maybe gregarious Swans" =
(So our youth leader Han C from Denmark won't privately flame me)
Only hand that form as a way of documenting what has been
already agreed and understood.
The first person you want to find is another YOU. Being the best
SM in this situation requires consistency of presence and
smoothly adding new attributes to the program. When you can't
come to a "thing" you will need a trusted Side-Kick that will be =
present when you are un-available and perform consistent.
The second person is the Committee Chairman. Make sure it is
someone you can work with and supports your scouting goals.
Hate to say it but you should want to replace the current =
CC if they have a different priority structure as so many of
them do.
The next persons added are right from the books like Committee
Secretary which is often overlooked by most troops and the
Outdoors Program Coordinator and the Advancement Coordinator
etc etc. Yes for a while you can double or triple up a few
of these positions yet plan and end to doubling up any adult
positions.
PreCaution to Step:1
--------------------
IF or WHEN you get dull faces so that job becomes only yours
help the young men move to a much better place and join up
for a spell as an ASM. If you still want to start a troop I
am sure you can find some non-dull faces that will work with
you and become the Adult Scouting Team that will depend upon
each other. If you really want to invest the time I am sure =
with your experience that you will make it a success even with
dull faces and taking on the entire challenge yourself. =
Beyond Step:1
-------------
Put all the adults on Page:1.
Borrow or Buy the Troop Committee Guide Book for group
reading and discussion. Hey they can read it during the
Simpsons and learn something from both sources.
("What I have to read and learn to be a scout leader")
("Please Jon don't make me do it")<<=3D=3D=3D Kidding and Not
Borrow the Council's or Order of the Arrow's (TV and VCR)
Your DE or Council Office has some excellent videos
Again for Adult and Key Boy Leader Watching so they in =
advance will know why you do the seemingly crazy things =
you will undoubtedly will do Like BOY ALMOST everything.
Have Everyone read that silly little book in the front
of the Scout Handbook on Youth Protection. Yes again
during the Simpsons unless they want to read it during
some show that stimulates their desire to appreciate
Youth Protection by and for Youth issues. Test them
all on the three "R" when done. Again I know I know
they all should have read it to be where they are
("Wanna Bet")
Beyond Step:1
-------------
Get the Boys on a Campout for which they planned, shopped,
and cooked everything for themselves and you and your
other adult leaders. The boys led by the PL make the duty =
roster and since there is only 3 of them they will have to =
make sure each adult if you have more than 2 has a duty =
like latrine. Save all the fun duties for them and share
the remainder.
Where you go and What you do on the Campout depends on
the troop, its supplies, and its experience. Mount Washington
which is one of the greatest challenges might be too much
for this first or second outing and at this time of the year
but the Naval Base in NH or MA might be a go still. You
get the idea a little on the adventure side so they get
to brag.
Now with this you have your first marketing tool to bring
in some other boys and you haven't even gone to the school
yet or be creative.
Keep us posted,
YiS, IMHO, and may we each attempt to live the SO,SL,SS,SM
Mr Dave (David F Delman (Susquenango[soon Baden-Powell] Council
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
