Re: Tricky meeting
Wilbert E. Beran (wberan@WORLDNET.ATT.NET)
Thu, 20 Nov 1997 20:10:02 -0500
I've been there on the Pack level. It wasn't the Cubmaster, but a
Committee Member/Den Leader. Such situations are extremely difficult
and stressful and potentially divisive.
A review of the adult application form may help in this regard. Those
who are to approve have the right to disapprove or to withdraw that
approval. The COR's application has to be approved by the head of the
Chartered Organization. The Committee Chair's application has to be
approved by either the COR or Chartered Organization Head. All other
adult leader applications have to be approved by the Committee Chair
and the COR or Chartered Organization Head.
If I understand this chain of accountability, the Scoutmaster serves
at the pleasure of the CO and the Committee.
Now your message did not clarify why the Scoutmaster is being
dismissed. That is an entirely different issue which I can't address.
The COR's attitude is not untypical in my experience. That's why I'm
firmly convinced that everyone from the Committee Chair to the
District Commissioner and on up should have knowledge of, familiarity
with, and contact with the Chartered Organization and its head. If
the COR won't do his or her job, work around the COR!
In our Council (Gulf Ridge Council, Tampa, Florida), the commissioners
are provided with some instruction and direction how to handle this
situation. It's my understanding that the commissioner handbook is a
source of some information.
John Conley wrote:
>
> Hey, All,
>
> I'm attending a troop committee meeting tomorrow night that I am looking
> forward to like a root canal. I think I know what my role is "by the
> book", but sometimes you folks have amazing insights, so feel free to
> chime in...
>
> A troop committee in my district has written a letter to their scout-
> master, basically saying, "Thanks, but your services are no longer
> needed." The committee seems fairly united on this front.
>
> The scoutmaster is responding that he rescued the troop from folding a
> few years ago (which is true), that they don't have the authority to
> fire him, and that if they don't like him, there are other troops.
>
> The chartered organization (a local church) is apparently one that
> furnishes a room and signs a charter once a year, not much else. The
> committee chair called the person listed on the charter as COR, and she
> said that she hadn't had anything to do with scouting for several years.
>
> I think the committee may have some legitimate gripes with the scout-
> master, but I've only heard one side of the story.
>
> The unit commissioner has asked me to step in, because she has a sort
> of conflict of interest, being too involved with one party to be seen
> as objective.
>
> If the unhappy committee people leave, (taking their kids with them, of
> course) there will be enough of a core left to enable the troop to
> recharter (in January), but that's about it.
>
> This isn't the first time I will have met with this troop this year,
> there has been a good bit of conflict since fall. Emotions are
> guaranteed to run high. Sounds like a fun evening, huh?
>
> I have a plan of action, but think it might be best if I don't share it
> yet so as not to influence your responses. (Besides, it's subject to
> change if one of you has an idea that's way better than mine.)
>
> I look forward to any sage advise. I kid with my doctor that my
> commissioner job is a lot like his. Nobody ever calls to
> say, "Just thought you would like to know, everything's fine."
>
> YiS,
>
> John Conley
> Arrowhead District Commissioner
> Finger Lakes Council (NY)
>
> *Better to build boys than mend men*
--
Wilbert E. Beran <wberan@worldnet.att.net>
Committee Chairman, Pack 324, Morgan Woods School
Committee Member, Troop 165, St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Tampa, Florida
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
