ForTheBoys

I agree that National will probably not provide any rules or guidelines for implementing the policy change. So I ask all of you, what do you plan to do come Jan 1st? Will it be "business as usual"? Will you hold a meeting for all parents to inform them of the change? Will you use a Scoutmaster Minute to inform the boys?

For me personally I wasn't actually aware of the membership policy when my son and I first joined Cub Scouting 5 years ago. I learned about it after the 2 year project that maintained the previous decisions, but that was only due to my involvement at the Roundtables. I think most parents who are not leaders didn't know the full story then and may not come Jan 1st. save for what they hear in the news media.

When a boy joins a Troop, Pack or Crew do you read the membership policy to them?

So, are we unit leaders obligated to tell parents or boys how the membership change will be implemented in our unit? If we are, do we allow a discussion on sexual orientation with the boys?

Oh, the joys of leadership.

FTB

That is awesome! Glad to see the requirements were not watered down. Wish I was in good enough shape to pass. It looks like a great challenge to bring to my son's Troop. They have some motivated young men that might find this interesting.

Great ticket idea! I'll be interested in hearing about your final result. I had started a simple spreadsheet but the word document might be better. If I had the time & skills a database is probably best. Oh well, as long as I capture key items to pass on to the next leader.

Good luck!

FTB

I used to be a Buffalo.

Do you ever write up an After Action Report after a campout? I'm a new Cubmaster and I'm thinking it would be good to record items like good directions (Google maps doesn't always have the best directions), actual state of facilities (ex - the facility states they have picnic tables, but they were few and far between, water source was close to campsite A3, etc.) I know I can come up with some other items to record, but if I don't have to re-invent a wheel...

I searched for a pre-printed log book but haven't had any luck so far.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

FTB

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My Pack is looking for a new photo sharing website so I'll bring back this thread from 2 years ago (otherwise known as a lifetime on the internet:-). We have been using Snapfish which works well for viewing the photos and has a good price (free). But it costs money for a parent to download an image of their son. We want to move to a site that allows parents to download for free, even if that means we need to move to a site that the Pack pays for. We also use ScoutLander as the primary Pack website, but I've never really liked it for photo hosting.

Suggestions?

Are the Photo Bucket and Picasa sites still the ones of choice?

Thank you for any help,

FTB

This year my AOL Den is trying something new. The boys are making neckerchief slides for all of the other Dens as a way of saying "Thank You" to the Pack. Since they are the "Cobra" Den they are making snake slides. This is also completing one of the last requirements for the Artist Activity Badge.

Hi Stosh - I don't understand your point on "resurrect the old belt-loop program". My Pack and District have been actively teaching and awarding belt-loops and the associated pins ever since my son joined 4 years ago.

Was there a different program years ago?

Thanks,

FTB

Thank you everyone, those are some very constructive ideas. I will set up a time outside of the Den meeting if he is interested. And I like the idea of talking to other WDL's and/or Troops to see if anyone else is working of FA activities. I'll also remind him & his parents that he can bridge later.

I hope he chooses to complete this last requirement for AOL. He and my son were the first 2 boys in the Tiger den years ago. Unfortunately he and his parents still follow the Tiger Cub idea that mom or dad need to be at every event. I've offered to pick him up for Den meetings as I do with other boys, but they decline each time.

Thank you everyone, those are some very constructive ideas. I will set up a time outside of the Den meeting if he is interested. And I like the idea of talking to other WDL's and/or Troops to see if anyone else is working of FA activities. I'll also remind him & his parents that he can bridge later.

I hope he chooses to complete this last requirement for AOL. He and my son were the first 2 boys in the Tiger den years ago. Unfortunately he and his parents still follow the Tiger Cub idea that mom or dad need to be at every event. I've offered to pick him up for Den meetings as I do with other boys, but they decline each time.

Thank you everyone, those are some very constructive ideas. I will set up a time outside of the Den meeting if he is interested. And I like the idea of talking to other WDL's and/or Troops to see if anyone else is working of FA activities. I'll also remind him & his parents that he can bridge later.

I hope he chooses to complete this last requirement for AOL. He and my son were the first 2 boys in the Tiger den years ago. Unfortunately he and his parents still follow the Tiger Cub idea that mom or dad need to be at every event. I've offered to pick him up for Den meetings as I do with other boys, but they decline each time.

I have an AOL Den of 11 boys working on their final requirements for AOL and getting ready to bridge in March. One of the boys has missed all of the Den meetings where we worked on the Readyman Activity Badge. Most of the boys had earned it at Resident camp either last summer or the year before, but there were 4 who still needed it, hence the Den meetings to cover/review it. The one stand out chose not to go to camp either summer.

Now we're 1 month away from Blue & Gold and 9 of the 11 will definitely receive their AOL. (One boy joined this school year and his goal was his Webelos Badge - not AOL.) My suspicion is that his dad (who is the Wolf DL) will talk to his son for about 15 minutes and sign him off. (He did it with other Activity Badges.)

So how far have you Webelos/AOL Den Leaders gone to catch up someone on a required Activity Badge?

I think Roundtables can be just like our units. You will get out of it what you put into it. I don't have any experience with the Boy Scout RT, but I am a Cub Scout RT Comm. I consider myself very fortunate to have a staff of 5 experienced Scouters helping me run the program. Our monthly RT meeting has an average attendance of 20 to 25 people from the 24 Packs in our District.

We try to keep the topics informative and timely. Tonight we are holding breakout sessions to cover Day Camp planning, Pinewood Derby planning, Bobcat Award ideas (held over from last month), internet advancement updates, AOL Award ideas and bridging ideas. Last month we set up 6 different craft tables to give Den Leaders an opportunity to try something they can then teach to their boys. Sure I had some of the old guys come up to my leather craft table to show me what they had made years ago. But I just put them to work teaching 2 new Tiger Den moms how to make a neckerchief slide. The night was well attended since we had 96% of the Packs represented!

Are newbies snubbed? - I've never felt that way or seen it. (I guess I'm still a newbie since this is only my 5th year as a Scouter; 3rd year on RT Staff, 1.5 years as RTC.)

Belittle Scouters? - no, but I do encourage others to participate

Redundant program - sometimes, but that is the nature of Cub Scouts. Each year we get new Scouters. Breakout sessions help keep things pertinent.

Little or no info given - not the case at mine. Yes, we get the messages out with email, websites and the quarterly Council newspaper. But some people prefer a more personal contact.

Waste of time - not in my experience. Every single meeting I have attended for the past 4 years there have been Den Leaders or Cub Masters hanging around asking questions until we are locking the doors. It's great!

Difficult to recruit - I know my RT Staff is an exception in my Council and maybe in the country. I have yet to meet another Commissioner with 5 people helping.

Better served with a virtual meeting? - I don't think so. I can read about the crafts, but it sure helped to have a teacher. I can read about other ideas, but most likely I won't change my own Den program without talking face to face with someone who has successfully implemented something else. I like the personal touch.

Base it sounds like you care about helping other Scouters or else you wouldn't be going to Roundtable and you wouldn't care about the quality of the program. I think you have mentioned in the past that you have been unsuccessful in changing your RT program. Is that on the Boy Scout side only? I would think the Cubs side may have a faster turnover and you could influence the CSRT program.

FTB

I would have been more impressed if the President had actually used his own money to buy the popcorn vice having someone else buy it.

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Hi ghermanno, as a fellow RT Commissioner, I understand your challenge. One suggestion would be to use your next meeting to ask those 4-6 people what keeps them coming, what would make others come back, etc. Basically they could be a pseudo staff for that meeting (and maybe longer). I think I have it easier as a Cub Scout RTC since I see new faces all the time and I can repeat the program for the new Tiger Den Leaders. But I still want the old timers coming back to share their experiences with the newbies. I advertize what we will cover in our District mailer and in a direct email sent to all Cub Masters, Committee Chairs and those who attend regularly. I'm still only getting about 75% of the Packs to send someone, but I think they have fun and get new ideas each month.

I wish I had the time to attend roundtables at neighboring districts, but I'm happy to pick up new ideas at our quarterly Roundtable Commissioners meetings held at Council.

Good Luck and look for some new blood to help out!

Hi Ohanadad, good question - thank you for asking. I am a Cub Scout RT Commissioner and I have been guilty of making small purchases out of pocket. We like to use the Cub Scout posters (Law of the Pack, Motto, etc) as part of the RT opening and then give the posters to a first time attender. We also do random drawings and occasionally hold craft teaching classes (leather work, making AOL arrows, etc.) I'm always asking the DE for anything for the drawings and have occasionally scored some great items like left over shirts or water bottles from recent functions. Last year he found 2 fleeces that I think were from the golf tournament.

To offset some of the costs we put a donation box out by the sign in sheets. We emphasize that it is totally voluntary. Then I look for the sale items at the Scout Store.

Hope that helps.

Hi ScoutWolf, I agree with BDPT00 on going with an open mind. That worked well for me when I went last year. Pre-conceived notions can lead to disappointment if the instructors turn out to be only human :-)

As far as learning Spanish, I too considered it until I was reminded that my time in the Pack will eventually end. If I have learned the language but no other Pack Leaders buy into the learning, or I can't recruit other bi-lingual parents, what happens when I leave? I could get more into it, but then I would spoil your fun!

Enjoy the time with other Scouters. Adult camping can be fun and less stressful than family camping!

I used to be a Buffalo.

Dave - AOL Den Leader

Has anyone seen any mention of the Learning For Life program in any of the BSA articles covering the policy on homosexuals? It seems to me that National has missed an opportunity to say that BSA does have a program that is all inclusive. I'm not nearly as familiar with that program as I am with the traditional programs, and I'm guessing the general public knows even less.

What do you think, is the Learning For Life a good program for the BSA? Is it just a farce to appease the critics or is it a viable option for those who disagree with the policy for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts?

Last night we incorporated an idea I heard mentioned here. We included 3 younger brothers in the bridging ceremony. These boys will all be in first grade next Fall. They have been around the Pack with their older brothers and were very excited to cross the bridge to receive their Tiger neckerchiefs and slides. (And their parents received the membership applications!) The smiles on their faces are what keeps me doing this great activity.

FTB

Hi Rob, as I understand it, the boys can keep on working on their rank requirements all the way up until the last day of school. If they complete everything by that day then I would present the Rank patch to them as soon as practical after that (ex. summer time pool party, etc.)

As to including them in the ceremony - absolutely. Even if a boy doesn't earn his Tiger Rank by the end of school, he can still be in the Wolf Den and is eligible to wear the Wolf neckerchief on the day after the end of school.

FTB