CM Help
Kevin Pate (kevinpate@YAHOO.COM)
Sat, 30 May 1998 13:50:43 -0700
Linda Bates wrote [in part]:
> group. Help is needed here. I had the CM job "thrust" upon me last >
month. ......
Congrats! idea #1, Recruit 2, not 1, but 2 CA's. Don't laugh and
say, yeah right, think it through first, then cuss at me :)
it sounded like reluctant parents are rather common in your pack,
something no one else has ever seen :)
They think the jobs are too hard or time consuming,
but by going after a tag team so to speak, you are selling it as only
1/2 an hour a week :) :)
I really do think it will be easier to find 2 than 1 since your
parental invovlement has been low in the past. I started out as one
of those parents, too busy.
one selling point when I became a CA was that there was already a CA
and it seemed "safe". Since then, have jumped in with both feet to my
neck and loving it every day, except for that pesky "work" thing I
still do to pay the rent :) But my dive into Scouting started with
only putting my toes in the water.
Get exisitng and new leaders to training. Cover the cost from pack
budget, if possible, pick them up and drive them. Find out who is
doing the training and get them to also invite your parents and
leaders. As you already know, our Scout community is full of people
who will offer ideas and the CS lititature is extensive. Non-trained
parents and leaders don't know that, yet.
Promote continued training, not only basic training, but Roundtable
and Pow-Wow, and frankly, now the internet, to new leaders, exisitng
leaders and parents.
Those without computers at home may find access via schools in area,
library, community college, perhaps even make an arrangment with a
business for some computer time as a service to your group.
Build on the network in your area. Frankly, I'm about as smart and
creative as a buffalo chip by a fence-post, but in my profession and
in Scouting, my rolodex grows almost daily with folks who are smarter
and more creative than me. (Best darn lesson I ever learned from my
father.)
Approach the DE and your dist. comm. If you don't have one, urge,
beg, demand help for explaining to parents that Scouting is Family
centered, and not baby-sitting in blue. You will probably get
introduced to at least four folks willing to help promote involvement
in your pack.
Try this with your chartered org. too. Is the exisitng lack of
presence a lack of interest, or a lack of knowledge or due to past
misinformation that all is well, don't worry about us.
> Boy #2 deserves the Tag-A-Long award for putting up the hours and
hours of meetings, discussions, den meetings, and family time involved
this year alone.
here's one idea for your not quite tiger. Orange T-shirt, some puff
paint and free hand a paw print. Arch words "Honorary Tiger Cub" or
Tiger Cub, Class of 19__ over the paw print.
>We are always the last house on the block to get the
> grass cut, if you know what I mean.
Yep, I have that same yard, only in Oklahoma, but now I wouldn't have
it any other way.
Best of luck to you, Mike, your boys and your pack.
Kevin Pate
Pack 271 CA, Adams Elementary, Norman, OK
Cub Roundtable Comm., Sooner District
Last Frontier Council
SR-CS-10 "burn baby burn ..... BUFFALO chips!"
Troop 248, Norman/Noble SU, Sooner Council, GSUSA
Camping Services Committee member, Sooner Council
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