"Ownership" of Scouts

The attitude of unit leader may not be the only source of this problem where
some Troops feel they alone are entitled to the Webelos from a
certain pack. In trying to address the dropout rate of Webelos there
is a push (at least in my District) to form Pack/Troop relationships
so that each Troop can watch over the Webelos from specific packs
so that no Pack gets left out of invitations to District camporees.
The District has even published a list of Pack - Troop partners and
in many cases the partners may be a natural geographic choice
but do not share a common Charter Organization. This certainly
would lead a unit leader to believe that Webelos can only go to their
partner Troop. It would be better if the District published a list of
Troops, SM and telephone numbers, SPL and telephone numbers,
meeting nights time and places. Then give this list to all CM and
Webelos leaders with a reminder that it would be a service to their
own boys to schedule visits to several Troops.

When my wife was a Webelos leader last year she made the
"mistake" of only visiting the Troop from the same church as our pack.
We almost lost a boy because he didn't want to join that Troop but
he thought that was the only Troop he would be allowed to join.
Since I was the CM at the time I made sure to tell future Webelos
Leaders in my pack that they had an obligation to visit several
Troops. Well, this year the Webelos leader was too lazy to
schedule visits with more than just our Troop.

Now that I'm the SM for our Troop, I still encourage the Webelos
leaders from our pack to shop around. Next year should be better.
Now my problem is that I've invited Webelos from other packs
that are very close by to our meetings and even to a couple of
really neat trips. NO response. It's much easier for all Webelos
leaders to schedule just a single visit rather than deal with several
SM. It's going to be hard to work past the District imposed partners
and convince CM and Webelos leaders that it's OK. to visit my
Troop also.

Peter Murphy, SM, T125
Del-Mi District, Crossroads of America Council
Carmel, Indiana
murphyp@indy.tce.com

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