Canceling Unit Fundraisers

For the last 2 months the Ship has scheduled a fundraiser only to be canceled at the last minute when everyone had something else come up and couldnt make it.

It looks like this is going to happen again this month.

A big difference between the last two months and this month is that this has been on the schedule since Feb. and the others where planned at the last minute.

Back in Feb. when a budget was created, we discussed yearly dues to raise the funds.

The youth decided that they would be willing to do fundraisers instead of dues.

The fundraiser for this month is helping out at our COs monthly dinner.

The Ship would be helping to serve and clean-up.

As the food is catered there are no pots and pans and clean-up is clearing the tables, putting away the table and chairs and sweeping and mopping the floor.

Canceling this will affect future fundraisers as our CO has said that they will pay the Ship to do this at their monthly dinners through Sept. (and may be willing to add more if this works out).

It's becoming frustrating as I have kept my schedule open and given up my plans to be available only to have things canceled at the last minute.

I also have a problem with the reason why they cant attend.

The Ship decided to attend the regatta next weekend instead of the Council Camp-o-ree this weekend (doing both was not an option due to costs and getting adults to attend).

It seems that a Troop has invited some the Ship members to tag along with them to the Council Camp-o-Ree which leaves only a couple of Sea Scouts even available to do the fundraiser.

The Ship at this time has less than $10 in its account.

I am not really sure what to do at this point.

Any suggestions on this situation?

If I were the CO, and the unit backed out on a commitment like this, I would have to think twice about rechartering the unit. The youth need to understand that their behaviour is not only un-scoutlike, but it's rude, selfish and inconsiderate. It's not just a matter of funding their fun, the CO is depending on their help. There should be consequences.

Yah, I'm with scoutldr on this.

Yeh first need to honestly look at your communication, and whether their involvement in the choice to do this fund-raiser was genuine, or whether the adults actually "sold the kids' time" without really consulting them. If it was honestly the kids' show/commitment, then...

They need to feel the consequences for this choice. Do yeh have a meeting this week? Do a call-around, make sure almost everyone is there. Then I would use it to share your disappointment and your honest, blunt feelings on the matter. I'd talk about how much it hurt relationships and the potential future of the Ship. Then I'd let them know that the regatta trip is canceled, and the future of the program depends on them "making this right". Let them discuss how to do that and come up with a plan. Formal apology to the CO, perhaps service work for the CO instead of going to the regatta, promise to actually show up and do the next dinner for free, etc.

These things are tough, eh? But they're our most important teaching moments. Don't let it pass you by.

Beavah

Time for a reality check.

The ship's leaders need to learn that decisions have consequences. Burning bridges and ignoring finances, so you can have more fun is a VERY short sighted approach to life and management. (On the other hand, some of the erstwhile leaders of our recently high-flying corporations may disagree.)

I would sit everyone down & tell them the results of their decisions might force the ship to go into dry dock. While you don't need thousands in your coffers, $10 ain't gonna cut it. And aren't we, as adult leaders, supposed to be helping these young men to learn to make moral & ethical decisions?

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

CNY, Remind them that "Back in Feb. when a budget was created, we discussed yearly dues to raise the funds.

The youth decided that they would be willing to do fundraisers instead of dues." Now it's time to step up and do the fundraiser. Besides, cleaning tables doesn't sound so bad.

I'm with scoutldr. Why should the CO remain their CO in the future? Sponsorship is not a one-way street.

Along with all of the above, I'd expect the youth leaders to contact the CO right away and explain to them why the scouts will not be at the fundraiser. You might already have done this but even so, make them do it too - and I don't see much need to tell them you've already done so. A little squirming on their end might be good for them.

This kinda goes with the thread about beating yourself up.

Dave, I know if I were in your boots that I'd be going through all sorts of emotions and feelings.

Mad, Upset, Confused.

Please know that if your feeling like this? That it's OK in my book.

The big question is of course "What happens next?"

A lot depends on how you are feeling?

We have all heard the one about the Doctor saying that the operation was a success but sadly the patient died.

Maybe the time has come to take a long hard look at the Ship and see if it is worth carrying on?

The idea was / is a good idea, but maybe it just isn't going to work out?

I think I'd sit down and work on making a list of goals and set a time by when these goals should be reached. Much as I hate to make threats, I'd let everyone know that if they are not met, they will need to find my replacement. This more than lightly will mean that the Ship will fold.

If indeed this does happen, I'd try to walk away knowing that I'd done my best and given it my best shot.

Maybe this is a good time to think about reorganizing?

From what you have posted in the past it seems like you really need to find some adults that are willing to be active and take on some of the work load?

I'm a little unsure what the others who have posted mean by Consequences?

It would seem clear that having less than ten bucks in the bank is the consequence and if the money isn't coming in from fundraisers it has to come from somewhere else.

Also if the Quarterdeck had given the CO a promise to help and isn't doing what it said it would? A letter from the Quarterdeck apologizing might be a good idea.

Over time the Scouts in the Ship will start to plan things around what the Ship is doing. This isn't going to happen overnight and they are not all going to start doing this at the same time.

We are going on two years. We have a few Scouts who do try and put the Ship first.

We of course have others who will participate in the activities they choose if they are free and don't have anything else on at that time.

Sadly we will not be going to the regatta. We have some Scouts who will be going away to work at Camp Blue Heron, some who are in the HS Band and will be playing in Memorial Day celebrations.

One family has planned a Eagle Scout COH over the weekend, a few who just weren't interested.

The number who did want to go was so small that I was unwilling to give up the holiday and drive 520 miles. I did make arrangements so they could participate with another Ship if they could arrange their own transportation. But no one wanted to.

But to be fair to them, I was the one pushing for them to attend.

Maybe next year if they think that the idea has come from them, there will be more interest?

Eamonn.

Everything said here is exactly what I have thinking and feeling the last couple of weeks.

"Dry docking" the Ship has been one thing I have been considering.

How long to do so is the question?

I really would like to stop activities until a fundraiser has been done but since the Regatta was expensive trip the Ship made little plans in June and I just comitted my last open weekend in June to go with my daughters GS Troops on their year-end trip.

The main reason I started the Ship was to try and get my son interested in Scouting again. He had become bored with his WEBELOS 3 troop and they were offering nothing for him.

In this aspect it has worked as last night he finished up the last MB he needed for Life and only needs 4 MB's (plus his POR and Project) for Eagle and has his sights set on making it.

Stepping down as Skipper not only would fold the unit but it also would put an end to my son's Scouting carreer. He won'y go back to a Troop and I still haven't met another crew around here that is doing very much.

I think that not only a discussion with the Scouts is in order but a talk with the CO.

Also a semi-related question, when is a unit considered chartered?

The Ship has paid its fees but at the last roundtable our new DE handed me a charter agreement and asked me to get it signed by my CO. He's new to Scouting and no idea what he should be doing.

So are we considered "chartered" or not?

I guess I have some tough decisions to make in the next couple of weeks.

The Ship has paid its fees but at the last roundtable our new DE handed me a charter agreement and asked me to get it signed by my CO. He's new to Scouting and no idea what he should be doing.

So are we considered "chartered" or not?

My guess is when yeh did rechartering this year, you forgot to do the charter agreement, and they didn't catch it at the time. Or you did it and they lost it.

For all practical purposes, you are chartered (meaning that your kids can earn awards, you can go to training and RT, insurance covers you, etc.). But yeh should still get the form in.

Beavah

"So, are we considered chartered or not?"

A "charter" is a certificate presented by the BSA to the CO. Has your CO been given one of those? Do all the members have membership cards with a Member number on them? Have their member applications been processed and the checks cashed? Do you have a printout of the membership roster from Scoutnet? Are the leaders getting Scouting magazine?

These are all characteristics of a chartered unit. If the answer is "no", then your son's advancements may be in question as well. You need to have a chat with your Council's registrar, and request a current roster printout from Scoutnet. She/he will quickly let you know your status.

Eamonn I hear you brother and that is the exact reason I went with an outdoor crew instead of a ship. I love the water and sailing, but a ship is so expensive to maintain. When we go sailing we rent some nice sailboats for a day or two. Another ship in my council went under last month, similiar reasons to yours and they finally lost their CO. I wish you all the success possible, but if the teens don't do the work they don't deserve the benefits. Don't beat yourself up, it's not your fault. If my kids drop out of a fundraiser then the activity is cancelled. A ship is run by the youth , they need to have the responsibility and suffer the consequences when they are not. I wish you calm seas for the future.