"Timely" recognition versus "timely" ceremonies
Barry C Runnels (Barry_C_Runnels@MMACMAIL.JCCBI.GOV)
Thu, 5 Jun 1997 13:10:11 CST
The problem with Cub Scout Packs is the constant change with adult
leadership. The rules and habits the Pack Committee creates should be
simple and easy to minimized disruption and confusion for the Pack when new
adults join. If you know that Den Leaders will need last minute awards,
then design a system that works with that in mined.
Our Awards Chair calls the DLs a week before the Pack Meeting to get a
general count for the CM. But she waits to buy the awards until the day
before or the day of the Pack Meeting so the DLs can add awards. This way
the awards chair only makes one call to the DLs and the DLs only call to
add an award. This should solve the problem of DLs buying the awards. Our
last three Awards Chairs had good success with this system.
The CM only needs a ROUGH count a few days before the Pack Meeting to plan
the ceremonies. It doesn't matter much if there is two or twelve Wolves
just so they know there are some Wolves. I asked for a rough count by
Friday before the Pack Meeting so I could plan the ceremonies during the
weekend.
Last minute awards are tough at first but the CM quickly learns how to
handle them because they happen a lot. Sometimes they are the best
ceremonies. However, a CM can prevent many last minute awards just by
staying in touch with the DLs. I tried to contact my DLs twice a month and
I generally knew who was completing religious and other special awards.
Perfect Attendance Awards:
When we allowed one or two activities grace for the PERFECT ATTENDANCE
AWARD, more than 50% of our Scouts received the award because the Den
leaders couldn't always remember if the Scout missed one, two or three
meetings. Sometimes they just hated to not give the award to the Scout who
went over grace by one. The year we required 100% attendance in both Den
and Pack activities, two Scouts received the award, but we had the fewest
complaints.
BCR
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |