fred8033

I don't think the COR job description is the same as a group leader concept. COR is more representative of the CO and signs off on the leaders. But not really an involved executive role. The Group Leader concept seems more involved in getting the program running in a specific direction. There is overlap but a definit difference.

Beavah - I think we are confusing each other's words. I agree with you on this topic. COs don't have the skills for recruitment or helping packs provide a good program... as a rule of thumb. But then it's a catch 22. COs could structure their units in the one-unit-style if they are strategic about it. But COs aren't skilled in scouting. So they don't. The result is that units work separately within the same CO and not leveraging each other. Even worse, alienating each other. The COR could do this, if they thought strategically. But most CORs don't. They just represent the autho

Nicely said. I believe that in a one-unit concept ... those parents of Cubs that move up in rank become the elders that can guide, advise and support the new cub parents that come into the program. I really believe that the lack of such support is a key reason for the repeated pattern of packs problems.

Basementdweller ... What you describe is what I was thinking of as the concept. The only difference is there is no "join" situation. Just continue into the Boy Scout ranks, similar to continuing into the Wolf, Bear, Webelos or other ranks. Good concept too on events. The only important role is that the units need to still meet separately as different ages need different things. But, I'd argue Webelos need to meet separate from Cubs because Cub Scouts now starts at Kindergarten and that's too big of a difference between Webelos and K. Cambridgeskip ... "Group Scout Leader" ... I lik

Weaker troops ... Just looked at my district, we have 39 troops and 40 packs. In my experience, that's not enough packs for troops. I don't know how many are living functioning units. But we are very close to one-on-one now. Hmmm....

I had not thought about the weaker troop issue. You are right in that, RIGHT NOW, it does take multiple packs or so to feed a troop. In our city, we have equal number of troops and packs "officially". Unofficially, some of the packs are pretty small and about to fail. So, a troop in our city needs multiple packs to support itself. BUT ... one healthy pack can keep a troop going. In another words, a perfect troop is between 32 and 50 scouts. So troops need six to eight new scouts each year. A healthy pack can easily graduate six to ten Webelos. Plus troops gain one or two s

Beavah - "... that's really what da COR's role is supposed to be, eh? ... Why create somethin' new when da current structure provides exactly what yeh suggest?" I think that's partially what the COR is ... or could be. The issue is that most CORs don't take ownership of the job to think strategically about the success of the units in their charter. They see names on an application. They work with the IH to get the charter signed. I think key is that most (not all, but greater than 75% if not greater than 90%) charter orgs are just not significantly involved. So each unit charte

My favorite is when the troop recharters and sets the COR to a specific person. Then the pack recharters and sets it to a different person. The next year, it happens all over again. The charter org executive just signs the recharter paperwork and never notices a difference. Troop never learns until the next year. And then the troop criticizes the council for not getting the charter names correct.(This message has been edited by fred8033)

SeattlePioneer - I partially agree in that you can "adopt" a neighboring district. I disagree in that the other district can not adopt you. You can adopt another district's training, campouts, activities and roundtables. Most districts would be glad to have you. But the other district can't adopt you for .... ---- Support from your DE and district staff ---- Where your hang files are put for roundtable ---- Coordination - Popcorn sales ---- Coordination - FOS ---- Coordination - Recruitment ---- Advancement - Approving eagle projects ---- Advancement - Eagle boards o

If the issue is your district is bad, I personally don't find that a good reason to switch. Focus on making your unit the best it can be. As for the distrit, call the SE. Let people know the issues. Get things to change. I have had to do that a few times and things can change. It's not easy, but it helps everyone in the long run. You can also volunteer. Then when your helping, you can influence things. (This message has been edited by fred8033)

I know some have recommended just doing it yourself "unofficially" but there are reasons to either make it official or not do it at all. You can always attend training and learning from other districts. BUT ... - Hang files will be at your "official" district roundtable. The hang files will get your ... ----- Your rechartering packet ----- Your FOS packet ----- Your event fliers - Communication will be done through your "official" DE, district & roundtable staff. ----- I'd be surprised if another DE would "unofficially" communicate with you "long term" for risk of up

I am greatful for the advise. I am already to secede writing better to. The yolk I bear is Mis-Capitolization and it effects anything I write. Other authors may flout their own fancy words. Sadly, I have no angle on my shoulder to take me through the gamut. But my decent into grammatical confucianism is drove by commuter auto-correct. By and by, this is only my prospective, of coarse.

Pretty primitive still. I wanted to update the unit calendar without sending a notice. Couldn't find out how to do that. Could not add my cell phone. Only shows the "home" phone. Hmmm.... Found it interesting that of the three roster export formats, none of them export the email address. I wanted to compare the list against my roster list. Going into each account one by one is too much work. I won't do it that way. Instead, will wait for rechartering. The site is a nice beginning, but too basic to be of any use.

I'm amazed how many new web solutions exist for scouting and how quick those tools are evolving. - troopwebhost looks promising, but sort of klunky on the interface. It feels like a web version of TroopMaster. - ScoutManager looks promising, but in it's early stages. Not necessarily fully featured. - Our troop uses SOAR (www.soarol.com) and Troopmaster. We don't renew the licence every year as it's not required. - Our pack uses SOAR and ScoutTracks. ScoutTracks has a klunky interface, but is very good at tracking details. But of course, I'm not sure unit leaders n

I'm not a lawyer, but a key difference here is that teachers and school administrators have been subject to mandatory reporting laws for a long time. I don't think scout leaders were subject to mandatory reporting laws until the 1990s, 2000s or even 2010s. I'm assuming teacher reporting laws extended to universities in addition to elementary, middle and high schools. I'm sure it varied state by state.

I fully agree that unit leaders need further training but I don't think it is formal structured training. New unit leaders need to be mentored. Existing leaders need on-going fresh set of ideas and examples. IMHO, the unit commissioner program is supposed to address this. BUT, again IMHO, the unit commissioner program is fundamentally structurally flawed. Maybe some districts have a functioning commissioner program. But I've yet to see it. Heck, we have not had a unit commissioner visit in the last twelve years in any of my three units. Again IMHO, the solution is to put a pro

SSScout, emb21: Thanks. I think I had read it briefly a long time ago, but had never absorbed the concept of equipment patches and trunk patches. We never really used them other then as temporary patches. Your answer is consistent with what I found on BSA's site. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide/06F.aspx But still ... I'd be okay if someone put them on the back of their sash. I know my son puts temporary patches on the back of his sash. If he wants to put other patches there (not rank), fine. The issue I have with rank patches is it's a been there done

Eagle732 - Nope. Nothing automatic. I'm just saying it's one of the first things to get done. Right up there with completing scout badge requirements, teaching them how to setup a tent, choose a camp site and use the troop stoves. Heck, I'm always happy when scouts cook over the fire instead of using a stove. So we want them to have their Firem'n Chit. For the last eight years, in our troop, scouts earn their Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit on their first camp out. Usually, they receive the cards on same day. Heck, the requirements are pretty simple and it's more of a commitme

perdidochas wrote: "To make those boys wait to get second class to carry a pocket knife again is counterproductive. " I had not connected those dots. You are so so so on target. Waiting for 2nd class??? Some kids will roll with the system. But you will lose credibility with your natural leaders. Many of them have strong personalities and can see thru the B.S. Treat them straight and they give you straight answers. Game them and they will start gaming you. Give them contradictions and they will resolve it. The contradiction I see is giving them a Scout Law that starts with "T

qwazse - Chill. I was just explaining what our troop does. So your troop, as you said, uses the card a reminder. "and let him know that, by rights, his PL should have a look at his chit." We try not to do that. That's our troop and yours is different. Fine. Also, I never said adults. I was speaking generically when I said "if you". Of course, I prefer the scouts mentor/lead/teach/correct other scouts. The main reason that we treat it more like a recognition and then move on is not because of the scouts. My experience is that the scouts handle it fine. It's the adults t

We use the Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit as probably one or the first recognitions in our troop. Nothing more. We're going to get it covered on the 1st camp out or one of the first troop meetings. Our attitude as for "license" is that you're a Boy Scout and that's your license. After that, it's continual observing and teaching both by scouts and unit leaders. Our goal is to get these fundamentals taught immediately and to fix problems immediately. The tearing of corners just seems so petty. My question is if you tear off a corner do you immediately re-teach the correct behavior /

We don't compensate for gas unless it's an extraordinary distance, over an hour drive each way. And it's planned on an event by event basis. For us, it takes a committee decision on a case by case basis to decide what's "fair". - Do do you make it by who drove or who committed to drive? - Do you compensate by actual number scouts driven or the number of seats committed for scouts? - How do you adjust for changing plans? - Do you control who rides in what car? - Do you control the list of cars and tell them you don't need them to drive? Examples - If a father driv

Judging always depends on context. For BSA, that context is the policies and guidelines. Though expressing it thru a friendly conversation is best, but ya better know the context. Otherwise those confronting a wrong often end up looking foolish.

WasE61 wrote: "Same is true in the youth baseball league I work with...and the volunteer has to pay the costs." Not where I'm at. Some youth leagues require background checks. Others don't. Depends on if they are an "independent" association or tied to a school or the city. Very inconsistent. The other thing I've seen is that there are no "policies" for youth protection. Just because someone has a clear background check, doesn't mean they are safe. So schools now do background checks. How about training? Expectations?

Get a copy of your local ballot for this November and have a practice election. See who the scouts would elect.